How to Remove Red Chili Pepper Stains from Blender Lid

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Rod asked: How can I remove red chili pepper stains from my blender lid? I was making red chili paste and used the blender to puree previously soaked, dry, red chili peppers. The white lid of my blender is now stained. I already tried soaking it overnight in bleach, and it did nothing. I also used vegetable oil and vinegar with no result. Thanks for your help. Red chili peppers create a notoriously stubborn stain. Fortunately, there’s a cleaning product that can handle their intensity and provide sparkling results. Here’s what you do. You Will Need: Bar Keepers Friend Liquid…

How to Clean a Stainless Gas Stove Surface

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Mizuho asked: How can I clean a stainless gas stove surface? My almost 2-year-old gas stove has the stainless surface. It has brown stains around the burners. I don’t want to scratch the stainless, so I’m afraid to use harsh chemicals or scrub hard. I’d appreciate any suggestions to clean it. Stainless steel may sound like a low maintenance surface, but keeping it clean can be a chore. Although it wipes down easily, getting rid of stains and scorch marks can be problematic, especially when scrubbing is required, as scratches will remain vivid long after the stain is gone. The…

How to Clean Dingy Whites in a Front Load Washing Machine

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Libby asked: I have a front loading washing machine and cannot get my whites white. When replaced with new whites, within 2-3 washings, they are just as grey and dingy. I only use HE detergents and have tried different brands, hot water and adding bleach, all to no avail. Help! With the trend toward front loading washers comes an unfortunate truth:  clothes need water to come clean, and lots of it. Front load washers use a relatively small amount of water and as such, it has become apparent that dingy whites are a side effect of these types of machines….

How to Clean Silver and Pearl Necklace

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Blair asked: How do I clean a silver and pearl necklace. I have a sterling silver chain necklace with pearls every 1 ½. How can I clean the dulling of the silver without harming the pearls? Cleaning it by hand is difficult to get to the links that are close to the pearls. Silver requires a delicate touch, but cleaning techniques appropriate for silver can be too much for pearls. Cleaning a piece of jewelry with both silver and pearls can pose a bit of a challenge, especially with intricate silver pieces featuring “nooks and crannies” that are difficult to…

How to Clean Vintage Aluminum Kitchen Canisters

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Heather asked: How do I clean vintage aluminum kitchen canisters. The canisters are about 1940/1950. They have dust and oil on them. I would like to clean them without damaging them. If mild soap and water won’t cut the buildup on your vintage aluminum, it’s time to amp up your cleaning power. You will have to use some judgment on your particular pieces, but assuming they’re in otherwise good condition, you should enjoy good results from this process. You Will Need: Baking soda Lemon juice Cloth scrubber or sponge Damp cloth Dry towel Steps to Remove the Buildup: Make a…

How to Clean a White Corian Kitchen Sink

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Monika asked: How do I clean a white Corian kitchen sink? I have had the sink now for 10 years. The sink is a seamless part of the Corian countertop. The sink stains don’t come out with regular kitchen cleaners. I have also used bleach without success. Any recommendations? To keep Corian looking its best, wipe up spills as soon as they occur and avoid prolonged contact between Corian and anything that might mar or discolor the surface. Even the most diligently cleaned surfaces can still have trouble, though, so whether you have stains or an overall dinginess, you should…

How to Remove Luminol

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Selene asked: What cleaning products will remove luminol stains from porcelain and plastic? Luminol is created by mixing two chemicals together, producing a chemical reaction that causes blood to illuminate under specific lights. It is used at crime scenes and makes a major mess. My husband is a maintenance man for a hotel and has been given the task of removing all luminol used in an investigation there. So far, no luck. It seems to be embedded in the pores. Is there a product or method for removing luminol? Help! This has to be the worst stain I have ever…

How to Remove Red Wine Stain from Satin/Silk Wedding Dress

Rose asked: How do I remove red wine stains from a satin/silk mix wedding dress. I’ve been told white wine will remove red wine stains, but how does that work with ivory colored silk/satin blend. There is a red wine stain in the train. How, I can’t imagine, but it’s there. I read the article that Woolite delicates works well on satin shoes. It the stain comes out, how do I keep from getting a “ring” where the spot was cleaned? A red wine stain on a wedding dress is a particularly horrifying one to deal with, especially since you…

How to Remove Rubber from Concrete

Lexia asked: I tried to remove a rubber non-slip pad from my stained decorative concrete floors, and it left behind half of the rug pad that was still stuck to the floors. There is still lots of rubber stuck on the concrete, and I want to remove all of it without ruining the polish on my floors. I have tried to scrape them, but it is still not getting the rubber up. I am afraid that a razor blade will just scratch the floors. Any ideas? Sticky rubber backing used for carpet or matting can create a stubborn bond with…

How to Restore Shine to Silk

Carly asked: I was wondering if you had any advice on fixing silk. My boyfriend was trying to be nice one day and threw some laundry in. My fabulous silk blouse went through the wash, and I want to try and save it if I can. It lost all its luster and doesn’t shine anymore from the washing and drying. The fabric still feels smooth and hasn’t popped a thread or anything. Is there any way to give it back its shine? Is there an oil or anything at all I could use? Silk is a finicky fabric, requiring quite…