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Cleaning & Laundry : Home & Garden
How Does Rust Remover Work?
Chemical ReactionMost rust removers clean the rust off of objects by changing the molecular structure of the rust via a chemical reaction. There are dozens of these solutions available commercially, but the most common contain phosphoric acid, oxalic acid or another acidic substance, such...
How to Make Threads Through Metal
Creating threads in metal requires first drilling a hole into the metal, and then using a device called a tap to create the threads on the inside walls of the drilled hole. The tap itself is a cylindrical piece of metal looking somewhat like a drill but with its sides threaded at one end. It is manu
How to Get Clay Mud Out of Carpet
Clay mud tracks on the carpet result in quite a mess. Trying to clean up the mud stains while wet often results in spreading the mess further. Although thick, clay mud squished into your carpeting looks unsightly, there's no need to worry that the stains are permanent. When you approach clay mud sta
How to Remove Stains on Vinyl Tile Floors
Even though vinyl tile floors are durable, they are not completely resistant to staining. The success you have removing a stain from a vinyl floor has a lot to do with what caused the stain and how long it has been on the floor. To avoid getting stains on your vinyl tile floor, wipe up all spills as
How to Clean Aluminum Boats
Heavy use from the water can cause any boat to get dirty, especially aluminum boats if they are not painted and left with their natural aluminum finish. Cleaning the surface is an easy task if you are willing to use a little elbow grease.
How to Remove Laundry Stains Naturally
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of laundry care products on the market. Along with plain old laundry soap, you can also buy everything from pre-treaters to spot removers to whitening boosters. If you are concerned about the chemicals you are using on your family's clothing and linens, not to m
How to Soften Paint With a Propane Torch
Propane torches have many different uses including soldering and sweating copper. They are also used to cook and often times to strip paint. When paint is applied to metal, it can sometimes be difficult to scrape off. One quick and easy way to get paint off of metal is to heat it up with a propane t
About Removing Odors
Household odors are most commonly from disposed food or other items in the garbage, but this is not always the case. In fact, these repulsive odors can come from a variety of areas. When they do, they tend to permeate through an entire room or floor. Unfortunately, you can't completely prevent or av
Proper Way to Wash & Sanitize Your Dinner Dishes
To properly wash and sanitize your dinner dishes, use a quality automatic dishwasher or wash them by hand. Washing dishes is a multi-step process that should be done in an established order for proper cleaning.
How to Use Oil Soap on Antique Wood
Oil soap is a gentle cleaner appropriate for cleaning wood furniture, floors and some non-wood surfaces. When using oil soaps on antique wood, it is important to determine if the item requires refinishing. Oil soaps can cause damage to raw wood or antique pieces if the finish has worn thin and disap
How to Clean a Drool Stain From a Peacoat
A drool stain, like those caused by blood or other bodily fluids, is a protein-based stain. The classic peacoat is made of wool, which usually requires dry cleaning. If you have a drool stain on your wool peacoat, you can attempt to remove it with the eco-friendly cleaning power of hydrogen peroxide
How to Get Rid of Deep Stains on Wood Floors
This depends on the stain. If the stain is very deep, you will probably have to replace the actual floor board(s).
Stain Removal on an Infant Carrier Strap
If the shoulder straps on your infant carrier become dirty or stained, it's important to determine what caused the stain before attempting to remove it. Most carriers should be spot-treated only to protect the shape of the carrier and prevent the padding in the straps from becoming damaged. Spot cle
How to Remove Stains From Porcelain Urinals
Stains can build up over time in a urinal, caused by everything from hard water to rust. Normal urine stains can be removed from urinals using a scrub brush and some commercial toilet cleanser; vertical stains are probably mineral deposits. Different stains may need different treatments. Because of
Helpful Cleaning Hints
Some people actually enjoy cleaning their houses, and it's almost understandable why. When done right, you can see practically instant results, get some mild exercise and appreciate a job well done. If you're not convinced about the joys of cleaning, however, a few hints can be employed to make the
What Are the Cycles for Washers & Dryers?
Standard washer and dryer cycles can be used for delicate and heavy items.Martin Poole/Lifesize/Getty ImagesItems of clothing that you might have had to hand wash or send out for dry cleaning in the past can often be cared for in today's washers and dryers. That's because the modern...
The Best Way to Strip Paint Off of Brick
If you plan to paint a brick surface that has already been painted, there's no need to strip off the old paint. Instead, the best course of action is to simply paint over the old coat. However, if you would like to strip off the old paint because you want to expose the original brick as part of a re
Help With Removing Burned-On Stains From a Stainless Steel Range Top
Stainless steel ranges are a popular item in home kitchens. Stainless steel appliances lend a modern, eye-catching look to a kitchen, but they can become unsightly when blighted with burned-on stains. Cleaning these stains can be a frustrating chore, but there are methods that will remove a burned-o
How to Polish Scratches Out of Silver
Silver objects, whether made from sterling silver or silver plate require polishing to maintain their shine. Over time, silver becomes tarnished and scratched. Tarnish is a dark gray or black corrosive coating caused by humidity and sulfides in the air. Polishing removes the tarnish and fades scratc
How to Care for Feather Dusters
Feather dusters are usually gentler than synthetic dusters, and ostrich feathers in particular are used to make quality dusters as their feathers are naturally loose and soft, making them ideal for building up static electricity. This static is what picks up dust instead of just spreading it around.