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Cleaning
There are many types of cleaning that need be done around the house. There are also many methods, tips, and tricks on how to clean. These question and answers about types and ways of cleaning.
11,817 Questions
How do you remove furniture polish buildup from wood furniture?
Please, please, please do not "strip" your furniture just to remove wax buildup. Understand that "stripping" your furniture removes its original finish all the way down to the bare wood. This is not good for your furniture and if your treasured piece is an antique, "stripping" and refinishing will decrease its monetary value by as much as half. Would you remove the paint finish on your car because it was too hard to remove the dried turtle wax on the surface? The same principle applies here.
It is safer for your wood finish to have coating of wax than to be "stripped" of its finish altogether. In fact it's preferable. A good wax coating actually protects a wood's finish from many household pollutants such as cigarette smoke. And in environments where there is a lack of humidity, the wax will also protect the wood from splitting.
Also understand that wax buildup is a sign that your furniture's finish needs a proper cleaning, not a "stripping". Wax buildup is noticeable when a wax-base or oil-base furniture polish is applied over and over again without a proper buffing of its surface. The furniture surface will look dull. It might even feel slightly sticky to the touch. There are two methods to try to remove excess build up. One is to actually buff the piece with a soft lint-free rag. Old yet clean cloth diapers are perfect (if you can find them). First wipe off any excess dust then buff in a circular motion with some pressure applied to the surface. Keep doing this until the surface becomes less dull and sticky. If your cloth gets dirty, change to a clean one. Remember you want to remove and smooth out the excess wax on the furniture, not reapply it. Finish by buffing again with another clean cloth with the grain of the wood. If this is done properly, you will feel that your arms have gotten a good workout. Don't be afraid to use a little elbow grease.
If this does not work to your satisfaction or if the wax build up is too old, then its time to remove the excess wax. There are several products on the market designed to do just that. My favorite is a product called Vernax and is produced by the Hagerty's silver polish people. This can be purchased at Harry's Ace Hardware, any good antique furniture store, or online at http://hagertyusa.com/home/products/vernax.htm This is not a furniture stripper but is designed to remove excess wax, dirt and oils and will not harm your finish as long as it is used properly. To use apply a little to a clean cloth (not to the wood surface). Then buff the surface of the wood as describe above going first in a circular motion and then with the grain of the wood until dry. You will see a difference immediately. Remember a little will go a long way. After the Vernax treatment, I usually follow up with a good beeswax and/or carnuba wax based furniture polish which does not contain any linseed oil or silicone. Briwax or Johnson's paste wax is acceptable. The paste wax is applied in the same manner as the Vernax. Remember to keep changing cloths until they no longer pick up any residue and that a little wax goes along way. I use this method maybe once a year on furniture that is not in heavy use and twice a year on pieces that are in use everyday. The finish is maintained by weekly or bi-monthly dusting and buffing using only clean lint-free cloths. I use no other furniture polish or sprays other than what I've mentioned here on this website. I have even made my own beeswax furniture polish. The formula and its applications can be found on this Website under "How do you make beeswax furniture polish?"
As a curator, I've seen the damage done to beautiful furniture by overzealous, but well-meaning, do-it-yourself restorers. It takes practice and lots a patience to properly "strip" and restore a finish. In many cases where the finish is botched, the piece can be restored but its monetary value has dropped to almost nil. And the cost to properly refinish a treasured piece of furniture is exorbitant and not worth the value of the piece. Therefore Great-Grandmother's Hope Chest gets moved out into the garage and used as a tool chest or worst yet, tossed out into the garbage.
Murphy's oil soap is an easily found product, and works on some finishes. Do be careful, though as it will cloud some finishes. Those are best cleaned using the methods above. Never use a brillo pad, only 0000 steel wool.
COMMENT: Let me just say that Vernax, IS NOT, designed to remove EXCESS WAX. It is a cleaner, but not that kind of cleaner. I contacted Hagerty, maker of Vernax. They said that they had heard about the comment made online in regards to this claim. However it is untrue. They do have a great cleaner, polish and protectant. A wax remover, they do not have. So, save the $15 to $20, and put it in your gas tank. Your welcome.
How do you clean leaked ink from inside a Parker Ballpoint pen.?
You can try soaking the pen in warm water or using a solution of water and mild detergent to gently clean the inside. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and let it air dry completely before using it again. If the ink has dried, you may need to replace the refill.
How do you remove sticky tack from hair?
Try cooking oil or peanut butter to help make it removable. You may end up pulling out hairs while scraping it. When you have most of it out, wash and condition your hair. While the conditioner is in, try gently removing the remainder.
How is rubbing alcohol made and can it be homemade?
Yes, it can be homemade, but in most parts of the world this involves distilling to produce a spirit, like producing whiskey or vodka, and is illegal. The raw alcohol produced by fermenting and distilling biomass (ie it doesn't have to taste nice) is then blended with substances such as methyl salicylate (wintergreen) which have an effect on the skin's circulation, and on its nervous supply, making the surface hot. This blending also makes the alcohol quite poisonous: drinking it will get you drunk but the effects on the lining of your stomach are spectacular. In the UK its known as "surgical spirit."
How do you remove stains on furniture?
Mix equal parts of vinegar and water, or use a mild detergent mixed with water. Dab the solution onto the stained area with a clean cloth, then blot with a dry cloth. Repeat as needed until the stain is removed.
How do you remove silicon gel from tile?
petrol with an acid (lemon or vinegar or battery acid) in it will soften the silicon. (break some of the bonds) talcum powder will abraid it if you rub it in with something soft (finger-tip). hope this helps. Don't sand it. or use anything that's harder than the surface or you will leave some marks.
How do you get rid of the urine smell out of your bathroom ceramic tile?
Put straight white vinegar on the tiles and close the door and let sit for 1/2 hour. Rinse off then use the general tile cleaner you use. Or use Clorox spray. Let it sit. If that doesnt work there is a product called Urinegone, its in a black bottle.
I would say the best thing that you should use is the GROUT AND GRIME CLEANER which can be found at Costco,Target,and practically every store in The United States that sells household and emergency car products.
Where do you pour the detergent in the dish washer?
You typically pour the detergent into the designated detergent dispenser located on the inside of the dishwasher door. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions on the amount of detergent to use for optimal cleaning results.
How do you get candle wax off a table cloth?
Place a paper towel or a brown paper bag over the wax and run a warm iron over it. The heat will melt the wax, which will be absorbed by the paper. Repeat as needed with fresh paper until the wax is gone.
How do you get rid of the smell of fabric softener in your laundry?
To remove the smell of fabric softener from your laundry, try rewashing the clothes with just hot water and no detergent or fabric softener. You can also try hanging the clothes outside to air out, or place them in a well-ventilated area with baking soda or activated charcoal to absorb the odor.
What is different about front-loading laundry detergent?
The detergent used in a front loading washing machine generally uses less surfactant, the agent in all detergents that creates suds to lift out dirt. It is also more concentrated than the top loading kind. Front loading washing machines have been used in Europe for a long time, but are just now coming into their own here in the US. They require less water, and therefore less detergent. It may be a matter of opinion, but these machines wash better, and put less stress on clothes. Surfactants reduce the surface tension of a liquid. When used in washing clothes, it allows water to penetrate garments, break up soil, and allow dirt to easily disperse into the liquid.
What is the best tile and grout cleaner?
i accidently poured some "mr. clean" on my tile floor and left it there becaue i was in a hurry, i came back later to get it up and the grout was like new. i thought the grount was brown, when i moved into the house i didn't know the true color. turns out, it was a light tan, not dark brown. they didn't put sealer on the grout.
Tilex, there are some acids always test a small area first.
There is a product from Australia called Pink Stuff it is a broom on mop off grout and tile cleaner, no nasties. www.pinkstuff.com.au
Stain removers work by breaking down the chemical bonds that hold the stain molecules together, making it easier to lift the stain from the fabric or surface. They contain chemicals called surfactants that help to lift the stain, as well as enzymes that can break down specific types of stains like protein-based or organic stains.
How should you clean white cloth on shoes?
Okay, I just tried to clean my white-cloth shoes with a scotch rag and softsoap. I'll let them dry in the sun since it's 104 degrees here. So far, it looks like the green from the scotch rag worn off a little on my shoes. I may have to get them sitting in bleach. I read somewhere that you should set the shoes in mild dish detergent with a little bleach. Maybe I'll try that one, but for the momento, I don't recommend what I did in the first place. :)
How do you get candle wax out of cotton clothes and nylon gym pants?
For your cotton clothes use a piece of paper toweling and a medium warm iron. Put the paper toweling over the wax and hold the iron on for a few seconds at a time until all the wax comes out. DO NOT USE THE IRON on your nylong gym pants. Put your gym pants in the freezer and pray you can chip the wax off the next day, then wash as usual.
How do you get tape residue off ceramic tile?
Use Goop or Goof-off available from Home Depot or any hardware store. If you don't want to use a chemical (although ceramic tile is very tough stuff) you could first try rubbing the area with baby oil. I suggest you try it on an area that isn't in the middle of your floor first to make sure that nothing bad happens in a visible area.
Hair spray generally cleans up most ink stains, ONLY if you use the hair spray before you wash the item. After it's washed it won't work. Before you wash it, spray it with hair spray then rub and the ink disappears. When the ink stain is on a cabinet or table, you might want to try to spray some eau de cologne or eau de toillette on there. It worked wonders for me when my son drew on our white cabinets. I used "Hugo Boss" ;) Before you do, TEST IT on a non visible side of the object.
How do you remove wrinkles from jeans?
Here are two suggestions: * Promptly remove jeans from the dryer when they are done and hang them up. This will prevent deep wrinkles and creases. * Toss a damp towel along with the pair of wrinkled jeans into the dryer, and let them spin for ten minutes or so on high heat. If you have a wrinkle release setting, use it.
How do you get blue dye off a white couch?
Use a fabric cleaner or a rug stain remover. Folex is a great all around spot remover. Do not use bleach because there could be other colors in the fabric. If that doesnt work call a rug or apolstry cleaner.
How do you remove salt stains from shoes?
How do you get candle wax out of a microfiber sofa?
My wife has always used ice, a toothbrush and a vaccuum. The ice makes it very brittle and the toothbrush breaks it up, then simply vaccuum the area. I'm not sure what "microfiber" consists of but I don't see why this would not work on it. It certainly wouldn't do any damage.
What does acid do to copper pots?
To some degree yes. Most acids, even strong ones such as hydrochloric acid usually have no immediate effect on copper.
However if copper is left to sit in concentrated hydrochloric acid for several days it will oxidize.
Copper will react vigorously with nitric acid.
Will bleach clean urine stains?
Do not use bleach to clean urine. After urine has been sitting out for a while, it is full of ammonia. Ammonia and bleach mixed together create Chlorine gas, which is extremely dangerous. Specifically, it causes a lot of respiration problems and can even be fatal if you are exposed to it for too long.
You're better off using something like nature's miracle or white vinegar on the urine.
How do you clean armpit stains on white shirts?
Many people perspire heavily (body chemistry) or when stressed. STAY AWAY FROM SYNTHETIC SHIRTS! BUY ONLY 100% COTTON OR AT LEAST A COTTON/SYNTHETIC BLEND. Synthetics don't let the body breath.
You need to get to the problem to stop the staining. This is an American non-prescription under-arm roll-on called "Certain dri" to be used every other day and it works according to the chat boards.
Make a paste out of Oxy-clean and smear a light paste on all areas in the armpit area of the shirt. Leave on for an hour or so and then wash as usual.
We have a product in Canada called "Gal Friday" (don't know if you can get in the States) it's liquid and gets many stains out. It's sure saved on my dry-cleaning bill! There is also a product out called "Yellow Out" that DOES get stains out.
Persperation reacts with minerals in the water, causing yellow or brownish stains on clothes. This is especially true of whites. Bleaching only makes the problems worse. To get these rust stains out I use a product full strength called Rust Stain Remover from Whink. You can see the stains (rust) dissolve before your eyes. Do not get this on your washing machine or sink, however, since it takes off the glaze. It is also expensive and does not work as well when diluted with water.
For general rust caused by hard water I use "oxalic acid". The best and cheapest place to find this is in boating stores (call first). It is used to clean up teak wood on boats. Oxalic acid comes in powered form, but be aware that it is a poison so store it carefully. Every once in awhile I put a couple tablespoons in the empty washing machine and run it through a cycle. This cleans up all the "rust" that has built up in your washing machine. You will see the sides of the washer go from yellow to white. Then run a load of white "rusty" clothes through with another couple tablespoons. Let them soak a little.
The oxalic acid also cleans up the inside of a yicky looking dishwasher and makes it look like new, but run it through an EMPTY dishwasher, since it is poison. Put some in the water storage comparment of a toilet and it will clean out all the mold and slime (but make sure your dogs do not drink from the toilet!!)
