Guide to Cleaning Household Surfaces

This page contains a list of household surfaces and some solutions for cleaning dirt and stains. The cleaning methods we propose here have been thoroughy researched and represent a concensus on safe and practical household cleaning practices. However, use caution when cleaning a surface for the first time. Use light pressure on a hidden spot, before proceeding to be sure it won't be harmed by the cleaning process.

Aluminum Siding

Scrub with a mixture of 1 gallon warm water and 1/8 cup laundry detergent. Wet the siding with a hose and scrub with a soft bristled broom. A broom with synthetic bristles will usually be soft enough for this job. Dip the broom in the cleaning solutions and scrub the siding. Rinse with the hose before the cleanser can dry. To kill mildew add 2 cups of bleach to the cleanser.

Auto Paint

Remove tar and other stains on auto paint using WD-40 on a cleaning rag to rub the stain. Wash as usual.

Brass

Remove tarnish with a lemon slice dipped in hot vinegar and salt. Or try a paste of equal parts salt, flour and vinegar. Rub until all tarnish is removed, rinse with warm water and dry. To protect brass after cleaning, apply a paste floor wax and buff.

Brick

Clean green algea using a mixture of chlorine bleach and tsp. Seal brick to make future cleaning easier and to help preserve the masonry.

Carpet

Soak carpets with a cleaning solution appropriate for the stain and use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to draw out all the excess liquid and stain.

Ceramic

Clean aluminum marks and other stains on ceramic tile with a paste mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Also Try: using a plastic dish scrubber or use an acid ceramic and porcelain cleaner for tough marks.

Charcoal Grill

Use a spray–on oven cleaner and steel wool to clean a greasy outdoor grill. Let the solution sit on the grill for several hours before trying to scrub with steel wool. On the inside of the grill top use several coats of oven cleaner to cut the thick build–up.

Concrete

For grease and oil stains make a paste of TSP and warm water. Apply the paste to the stain and let it stand for about an hour. Rinse with hot water and repeat if necessary. If you have tough stains on concrete, try using muriatic acid but be very careful, it is very corrosive and will burn everything it touches, including skin. Even a minor splash of the acid solution can do damage so wear long sleeves, gloves and eye protection. Use a nylon bristled brush to scrub very gently to minimize splashing. Rinse the acid from the surface using lots of clean water. Watch the run–off; soak it up with absorbent rags and wipe all surfaces down well to prevent the acid from damaging things like floors.

Copper

Clean copper tarnish rubbing with a lemon slice dipped in hot vinegar and salt. Or use a paste of equal parts vinegar, salt and flour. Rub paste on with a cleaning rag and rinse in warm water after all tarnish is removed. Dry with a clean, soft rag.

Corian and Other Acrylic Solid Surface Materials

This surface doesn't usually stain but if you do have a stain on your solid surface counter top, try cleaning it with a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Use a 3M® abrasive pad (those blue or green fibers attached to dishwashing sponges) to scrub in a circular motion. If that doesn't work to remove stains you can always sand acrylic counter material to a new finish. This will work to remove scratches as well. Use 400 to 600 grit metal oxide sandpaper to lightly sand the surface. Use a little warm, soapy water and wet sand in a circular motion. Restore the shine to the surface by buffing with a rag and a little olive oil.

To fix deep scratches use a coarser paper to remove more material. Start with 120 grit, sanding in a circular motion. When the scratch is gone, wet the surface with warm soapy water, enough to make a slurry and sand with about 320 grit metal oxide paper. Use progressively finer 400 and finally 600 grit paper to finish sanding the surface. Rinse off all slurry residue with warm water. Let the counter dry and apply an oil such as olive oil or use a commercial solid surface counter polish. Pour some oil onto the surface and buff with a 3M® abrasive pad in a circular motion and then buff with a soft rag to restore the shine.

Fiberglass Shower/Tub

Spray mildew stains with a solution of 1 cup bleach and a quart of water. Ventilate to avoid breathing fumes.

Glass

When glass cleaners won't cut tough residue, use a plastic kitchen scrubber dipped in vinegar and warm water. Spray with ammonia and water and wipe with newspaper to clean streaks on glass.

Granite

Although granite is not absorbent, liquid can seep into cracks between the minerals in the surface. Clean food stains using a solution of two tablespoons hydrogen peroxide and and half teaspoon ammonia. Cover the solution with plastic wrap and let it stand overnight. Wipe clean with a damp sponge.

Clean oil and other tough grease stains using a mixture of two tablespoons whiting and one tablespoon acetone. Cover overnight and wipe clean with a soft rag dampened with mineral spirits. For everyday cleaning of granite countertops use a mild detergent and water. Don't use harsh cleansers like "Formula 409" or acidic cleaners like vinegar that can dissolve protective sealers. To help pervent staining, granite counters should be sealed with a stone sealer periodically.

Marble

Clean oily food stains from marble using a solution of two tablespoons hydrogen peroxide and and half teaspoon ammonia. Cover the solution with plastic wrap, let it stand overnight and wipe clean with a damp sponge. Clean oil and other tough grease stains with a mixture of two tablespoons whiting and one tablespoon acetone. Cover overnight and wipe clean with a soft rag dampened with mineral spirits. Buff the marble to restore the shine. Use a marble polish on dull spots and buff. To remove scratches from marble, sand with 400 or 600 grit oxide sandpaper, polish and buff.

Masonry

Use muriatic acid to clean old, dirty concete floors before painting. Otherwise, clean most stains with detergent and water. For tough oil and gease apply a poultice of equal parts TSP and hot water. Let it stand overnight and rinse with hot water if possible. If the stain persists repeat the treatment.

Pyrex

Soak baked on food in a bath of 1 cup vinegar and 1/2 gallon warm water. Let the solution stand overnight and scrub with a plastic kitchen scrubber.

Rayon

Fill a large sink with cool water. Add a squirt of liquid dish detergent and stir gently but avoid foaming. Lay the fabric gently into the sink. Don't agitate at all. Leave the fabric in the water for half an hour or more. Remove the item from the sink and place in a large bowl without stretching, wringing or twisting. Drain the sink and fill again with cool water. Lay the fabric in the water and let it soak for 5 minutes, remove the item and repeat. Remove the garment from the water and place in a large colander without stretching. Set the colander in the sink to drain for about 10 minutes. To dry, lay the item on a flat surface covered with a large bath towel without stretching. Lay a second towel over the wet fabric and blot to absorb excess water. Hang the garment to dry.

Silk

Gently hand wash in a solution cool water and mild detergent. Don't twist or wring the fabric. Hang to dry. Spot clean with a rag dipped in dry–cleaning or a solution of 1 tablespoon vinegar and 3 tablespoons cold water.

Sisal

Sisal may be pure natural grass fibers or it may be a synthetic blend of nylon and wool. For thorough cleaning, natural sisal should be dry-cleaned. Spot clean with a rag dipped in dry-cleaning fluid or mild detergent and water. Dab at the stain until it disappears. Don't saturate natural sisal with water or cleaning solutions, this can cause shrinking. Clean synthetic sisal following manufacturer's instructions. Also try water and detergent to spot clean. To prevent stains on both natural and synthetic sisal a protective coating may be applied. This is often done by the manufacturer but if the coating has worn off it will need to be reapplied.

Stainless Steel

On matte finishes like a kitchen sink, scrub with a soapy steel wool pad. Also try making a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, scrub with a sponge to remove stains.

Suede

Don't use any cleaning solution on suede, the best coarse of action for stains is to have it professionally cleaned. Always dab liquid spills immediately. Also try a pencil eraser to remove some smudges on suede. Stains on shoes may be treated with a rag dipped in white vinegar. To restore suede nap on shoes use a suede brush.

Upholstery

On cloth upholstery, soak stains with the appropriate cleaning solution. Use a wet/dry shop vacuum to draw out excess cleaner and the stain.

Vinyl Siding

Wallpaper

Use an art gum eraser to lightly rub smudges on wallpaper. Take care not to remove the printed pattern when rubbing. Also Try: Clean grease spots by dabbing with a rag dipped in dry–cleaning fluid or a solution of warm water and detergent.

Wood

Use a orange extract wood cleaner or Murphy's oil soap and warm water to clean natural finished wood. Dry and polish the wood for protection.

Wood Siding

Wool

To spot clean wool dip a rag in dry–cleaning solvent or a solution of warm water and vinegar. Dab the spot until the stain disappears. To wash wool follow these setps: Before washing lay wool garments out on a board and mark the outline with a pencil. Fill a large sink with warm to hot water. Add a squirt of liquid dish detergent and stir gently but avoid foaming. Lay the fabric gently into the sink. Don't agitate at all. Leave the fabric in the water for half an hour or more.

Remove the item from the sink and place in a large bowl without stretching, wringing or twisting. Drain the sink and fill again with warm to hot water. Lay the fabric in the water and let it soak for 5 minutes, remove the item and repeat until no more soap rinses out. Remove the garment from the water and place in a large colander without stretching. Set the colander in the sink to drain for about 10 minutes.

To dry lay a large bath towel on a flat surface and lay the item on top without stretching. Lay a second towel over the wet wool and blot to absorb excess water. Use more towels if needed to dry the garment so it is not weighed down by water. Place it on the outlined board and adjust to lay within the lines to dry.

Return to Top

Home