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Cleaning & Laundry : Home & Garden
How to Steam Vacuum Floors
Using a steam cleaner on floors provides carpeting with a deep shampooing action. Embedded dirt becomes trapped within the carpet, slowly destroying the fibers and making it appear worn and drab. Steam cleaning revives carpeting by scrubbing the floor, removing ingrained grime and allowing fibers to
How to Use Armor All on Plastic Windows
Original Armor All is a type of spray-on protectant that is designed for use on cars. Applied to both interior and exterior surfaces, Armor All is routinely used to clean rubber, plastic and vinyl. While Original Armor All should not be used on clear plastics, as it causes streaking, Armor All Car W
How to Clean Mildew From Finished Paneling
Mildew can grow on almost any surface that has been exposed to a damp, poorly ventilated environment. Finished paneling is certainly susceptible to mold, particularly in areas like basements. The best way to prevent mildew from occurring is to combine adequate ventilation with a drier environment --
Why Is Bleach an Important Cleaning Tool?
Bleach can lighten and whiten your clothes as well as disinfect many surfaces around your home. However, not all bleaches found in the cleaning aisle are made the same way or are used the same way. Cleaning bleaches are either chlorine bleaches or oxygen bleaches. Be careful which type of bleach you
How to Clean Pen Marks Off a Wall
In really severe instances, it may be necessary to hide pen marks by adding a new coat of paint to your walls. But before breaking out the paint, try cleaning the pen marks off the wall with everyday items such as a pencil eraser, toothpaste or even hairspray. Make sure to have a dry cloth ready to
Natural Cleaning Tips for Vinegar
Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spray across your carpeting.green spray bottle image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.comVinegar is a cleaning element used in many homes, as it provides a more natural alternative to expensive, chemically-based cleaning products found in stores. You...
How to Clean a Canvas Bag
Canvas bags are a popular accessory for carrying groceries and other purchases, as well as for toting along books, papers and other supplies for school or work. Canvas bags are an eco-friendly alternative to paper or plastic, but these useful accessories can quickly accumulate stains and get dirty.
How To Get Rid of Mold on Exterior Walls
Mold needs to removed from an exterior wall to keep a large buildup from occurring, which over time could cause some structural damage to your home that is difficult and expensive to repair. A good time to remove mold is just before you paint your house, for the exterior needs to be cleaned to ensu
How to Remove a Red Stamp of Paper Ink
Red paper stamp ink can cause an irritating stain if it gets on your clothes or another cloth surface. Luckily paper stamp ink is not as difficult to remove as pen or printer ink. The quicker you treat the stain, the more chance you have to remove it before it completely sets. The best treatments co
How to Bleach a Leather Couch
When you bought it, your leather couch was a precise shade of cream, caramel or some other hue. Over time, though, soil has darkened the leather in places, making it look dingy. While most people think of bleaching only in regard to items like their clothes and other textiles that you can toss in a
How to Get Floors Not to Track After Mopping
Tracks are a common problem that gets left behind on your hard floor surfaces after you mop. Some tracks are caused by footprints, while others are a result of cleaning residue that dries onto your floor. To prevent the tracks, use the proper technique along with the right cleaning ingredients. A ho
How to Use a Lapping Compound
Lapping is a process of polishing whereby an abrasive is rubbed between two pieces of material, one harder than the other, to produce a shiny surface on the harder material. This is accomplished because the abrasive embeds itself into the softer material, creating a perfectly flat abrasive surface t
The Best Way to Clean Grout on the Floor
Grout does more than provide an attractive appearance for the space surrounding tiles. It seals and protects, and requires routine cleaning in order to maintain its bright appearance. White and other light-colored grouts may become especially dingy-looking if not cleaned on a regular basis, and so y
Treatments to Remove or Cure Household Mold
Mold is a common problem both inside and outside your home.home sweeet home image by .shock from Fotolia.comMold is a common problem in many homes. Mold is a fungus that lives and thrives in dark and damp locations. There are several methods to cure and remove mold from your home. Many of...
How do I Trap a Raccoon & Not a Skunk?
Wherever you live in North America, your home is likely to be visited at night by uninvited four-legged interlopers looking for food. It may be a pack of marauding raccoons turning over your garbage cans or a lone skunk helping itself to your pet's leftovers. Raccoons in particular can present a rea
How to Remove Glue From Concrete for Staining
There are many reasons why glue may be present on a concrete surface. Carpet is often glued to concrete, as are other forms of flooring. Cabinets, wallpaper and other decorations may also be glued to concrete. Removing this adhesive is necessary before the concrete can be stained with a colored stai
Minimalist Landscaping
Sometimes less is more. Minimalist landscaping is simple, with clean lines and uncluttered appearance. Some minimalist landscapes look peaceful and quiet in contrast to the hustle and bustle of "busy" designs. This bare-bones approach suits many gardeners' preferences, lifestyles, or budgets. Wi
Home Remedies for Removing Pet Stains From the Carpet
petsPuppies of the spitz-dog and cat in studio image by Ulf from Fotolia.comIf you have any pets, it's inevitable they will have an accident and soil the carpet or rug. If not removed as soon as possible, pet urine and feces can leave behind stains and unwanted odors that can be hard to...
How to Remove the Smell of Fire Damage From Wood Furniture
A fire in your home has the potential to cause a great deal of damage to the furniture. Even the smallest fire will coat a piece with soot, extinguisher residue and water. You can salvage some of the treasured pieces in your home that have fire and smoke damage with proper cleaning techniques. Fire