How To Remove Urine and Feces Stains From Vinyl Flooring

vinyl flooring

Karen asks: We have vinyl tile in our bathroom. A family member struggles with incontinence at times, and there is a dark brown stain around the toilet. I think if may be due to urine/feces being on the floor. Is there any way to remove the stain without damaging the tile? The rest of the floor is fine; it’s this one area that is the problem. Incontinence can be an intensely embarrassing issue to deal with. Those who suffer with it may feel shame and discomfort at the thought of it, and when it actually occurs it can be a…

Filed Under: Cleaning Guides, Floor & Carpet, Floors Tagged With: , , , , , 1 Comment

How To Remove Masking Tape From Clothes

masking tape

Sharon asks: I found a sweat  suit with masking wrap around the outfit that had been taped together for organizing a garage  sale. It has been in a storage tub for several years. When I took the tape off, it left white marks where the tape had been. How do I remove the marks?   Removing tape residue from a table or other hard surface can be difficult enough, let alone an article of clothing. Since you can’t safely scrape off the residue on a piece of clothing with a razor, other options are required. Hopefully, with these tips, you…

Filed Under: Cleaning Guides, Clothing & Fabrics, Fabrics Tagged With: , , , 2 Comments

Turn Old Household Junk Into New and Useful Stuff

Repurpose everyday items into awesome inventions

Have a treasure trove of organizational supplies, recyclables, or other common household items?   100Uses.com can tell you what to do with it all. Here are some examples: Collect your old plastic bread clips and use them to label that nest of wires. Use an old towel and some binder clips to make a ceiling mop. Create a stable bottle pyramid in your fridge by using a single, jumbo binder clip.    

Filed Under: Cleaning Blog, Cleaning on the Net 1 Comment

How to Clean Mildew From Rubber Doll Parts

plastic doll

R Asks: My daughter’s American girl doll was in the basement for some time and developed what appears to be mildew on its rubber arms. How do I remove it without  damaging the doll? If rubber or vinyl doll parts are exposed to mildew long-term, it may be impossible to get the mildew completely out, but if you’ve caught it in time, you can save the doll using these simple steps. Be sure to clean your dolls regularly as to avoid this happening to any others in the future.

Filed Under: Everything Else, People & Pets, Stuff, Things You Own 1 Comment

How to Clean a Keurig Coffee Maker With Vinegar and a Toothbrush

Cleaning a Keurig Coffee Maker

Melissa Maker @ Clean My Space shares a quick and easy method of cleaning your expensive Keurig coffee makers with a toothbrush, vinegar, dish soap, and a microfiber cloth. Most of the machine can be cleaned in your dishwasher, with minimal manual labor involved. Head on over to Clean My Space for the full instructions, along with a how-to-video.

Filed Under: Cleaning Blog, Cleaning on the Net 5 Comments

How to Clean a Kiddie Pool

kiddiepoolbig

Nothing helps beat the heat like jumping in nice cool water. While larger pools have their own cleaning systems, small backyard kiddie pools do not. They require some cleaning from time to time to keep bacteria and algae growth away. Here’s how to keep your kiddie pool clean and safe for your little ones.  You Will Need: Bucket Bleach Old rags or towels    Steps to Clean Your Kiddie Pool: Unless your pool has a pump and filter, you will need to drain and refill it each week. Chemicals are only to be used with the proper system. Larger kiddie…

Filed Under: Cleaning Guides, Outdoors, Strategies 1 Comment

Spring Cleaning Checklist

springcleaning

Spring is here! The weather is gorgeous and it’s time to open the windows and start that spring cleaning. But where to start? What needs to be done? If you’re not sure exactly what needs to be cleaned, we’ve got the checklist just for you. Throughout the House Vacuum/Wipe Down Walls and Ceilings: Start by vacuuming to remove as much loose dirt and dust as possible. Follow this with a soft cloth. Wash with water and soap mixture to clean really dirty areas. Furniture: Vacuum and clean upholstered items and polish wooden items. Clean all dust and treat any problem…

Filed Under: Cleaning Blog, Strategies 3 Comments

How to Remove Rubber Feet Stains from Wood

woodentablephonelaptop

Patty asked: How do I get a stain from the rubber feet on a clock radio off of a light maple bedside table? A cheap clock radio’s protective feet left black circles on my son’s light maple bedside table. Is there any way to remove these stains without completely refinishing the table? I also have these stains on a maple kitchen cabinet. When rubber transfers to the surface of wooden furniture, it is best to treat it like a scuff mark. There are a couple of different items that can be used to remove the rubber from the surface. Follow…

Filed Under: Cleaning Guides, Surfaces 1 Comment

How to Remove Olive Oil Stains from a Wool Sweater

woolsweater

Robin asked: How do I remove olive oil from a wool sweater? I recently splashed some olive oil and lemon juice mixture on a wool sweater. How can I get that out? I have not done anything yet except blot as much as I could. Removing stains from wool can be a little tricky to tackle yourself. It’s often best to take it to a professional cleaner and allow them to treat the stains. If you want to remove them at home, here is a method that many have found safe and effective. If your item is machine washable, see…

Filed Under: Cleaning Guides, Stain Removal 2 Comments

How to Remove Stains from Unfinished Wood

unfinishedwood

Gail asked: How do I clean unfinished wood? I think it’s pine. Our dining room table has wine and food stains on it. I once used olive oil, but it did not remove the stains that well. It’s unfinished wood, so I’m not sure how to clean it and also protect the wood. If you’ve had the misfortune of finding unwanted stains on your unfinished wood, you’ve learned firsthand why experts recommend a protective coat over wood surfaces. Whether you’ll ever be able to remove the stain depends on a couple of factors, namely, the type and condition of the…

Filed Under: Cleaning Guides, Surfaces 4 Comments