Every now and then house cleaning becomes more complicated than expected. A number of surfaces may need special attention and involves much more than simply sweeping, dusting, and vacuuming. We have listed several suggestions to help clean and care for some surfaces. For additional information and some house cleaning knowledge, visit our Company Blog. 

 

Follow these suggestions to avoid damaging glass, marble, and other delicate surfaces:



Glass | To clean, rub with lemon juice, dry with paper towels, and polish with newspaper. Use toothpaste to remove small scratches from glass.

 

Marble  | To remove stains, sprinkle salt onto a freshly-cut lemon. Rub lightly over stain. Wash off with soap and water.

 

Wood Furniture  | To clean carved furniture, dip an old toothbrush into furniture polish and brush lightly. To remove polish build-up, mix one cup water with one cup vinegar. Dip soft cloth in the mixture. Wring out before wiping furniture. Dry immediately with a soft, dry cloth.



Wallpaper  | To dust, tie a dust cloth over a broom and dust from top to bottom. To remove pencil marks and other non-greasy spots from non-washable wallpaper, use an art-gum eraser. To remove greasy spots, crayon marks, fingerprints and food stains, apply Fuller’s Earth Clay (available at pharmacies). Let dry and brush off. Repeat until spot is removed.



Wicker  | To remove dust from wicker, vacuum using dust brush attachment. To remove grime, wash with a solution of two tablespoons ammonia per gallon of water. Rinse well. Let air dry.



Mini-blinds | To clean, fit an old sock around each hand (like a mitten). Dip one hand into a bucket of warm, soapy water. Use the wet sock to clean the blind while holding the blind with the other hand. Use the dry sock to dry off the blind.



Do you have tips for removing tough stains?  |  Use these suggestions to tackle tough stains (and always be careful when working with delicate fabrics or surfaces. A test patch is a good idea.



Blood stains |  To remove fresh stains, rinse with cold water, never hot. Apply a paste of water and cornstarch. Let dry and brush off. Cover fresh or dried stains with meat tenderizer and add cool water. Wait 30 minutes then sponge off with cool water.

 

Ball point ink  |  Use cheap hairspray: better brands won’t work. Spray the stain lightly (test the fabric in an unnoticeable spot first), and gently wipe or brush. Rinse fabric when ink has lifted.



Crayon marks | To remove marks from painted walls, scrub with toothpaste or an ammonia-soaked cloth. Rinse and dry.



Heel marks | Use a pencil eraser.



Candle wax |   To remove from carpets and upholstery, place a paper bag over the dried wax and run a hot iron across it. For dried wax on wood floors, soften the wax with a hair dryer, then remove with paper towels. Wash the spot down with a solution of vinegar and water.

 

Water stains |  To remove hard-water stains from glasses and bottles, rub with steel wool dipped in vinegar. Remove hard-water stains from bathroom fixtures by applying a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Cover with a towel and let stand for one hour. Wipe off, rinse and dry.



Pet urine | Treat with commercial pet stain and odor remover. For cat urine, we recommend Nature’s Miracle, which is widely available in pet stores.



Cigarette odor | Place bowls of vinegar, pine-scented cleaner, or activated charcoal around the rooms in your home, being mindful to keep the bowls out of reach of children and pets. Close off the rooms overnight, if possible. Sprinkle baking soda on carpet and upholstery, let sit overnight, and vacuum.

 

Smoke and fire damage |  Because of the difficulty in removing smoke odor from a home, we recommend a professional.