Saturday, June 02, 2007

Sherri's Helpful Hints





Cleaning Household Surfaces

How to Clean Slate

Use: A few drops of dishwashing liquid and warm water.
Tools: A soft cloth, sponge, or mop.
Tips: Sweep or vacuum regularly. After cleaning, dry thoroughly with a clean cloth. Apply a penetrating sealer, available at stone dealers and home centers, to countertops and floors every two years to prevent deep stains. Don't use abrasive cleansers, vinegar, or lemon-based cleansers.
Tough Stains: To remove soap scum, clean with ammonia and water (a half-cup of ammonia to one gallon of water).

How to Clean Solid Surfacing (Corian, Avonite)

Use: A few drops or a spray of all-purpose cleanser.
Tools: A damp sponge, cloth, or soft nylon pad or brush.
Tips: Occasionally wipe matte-finish sinks with a solution of one teaspoon nonchlorine bleach and one quart hot water.
Tough Stains: Rub matte finishes with a dampened green Scotch-Brite pad and baking soda. For satin finishes, use a white Scotch-Brite pad and undiluted all-purpose cleanser. For high-gloss finishes, use a one-part-vinegar to one-part-warm-water solution and a soft cloth.

How to Clean Stainless Steel

Use: Four tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in one quart of water.
Tools: A soft cloth.
Tips: Wipe dry with a clean cloth and polish with a dry cloth. Immediately wipe up acidic spills, like lemon and tomato, which can discolor the finish. Don't use abrasive cleansers or bleach, which can pit the surface.
Tough Stains: Remove streaks and water spots with a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol let air-dry.

How to Clean Vinyl Flooring

Use: One-half cup of ammonia per gallon of water.
Tools: A soft cloth or mop.
Tips: Sweep or vacuum frequently. Don't use detergents, abrasive cleansers, mop-and-shine products, or paste wax, all of which leave a film on the shiny, waxlike finish applied by the manufacturer.
Tough Stains: Rub scuff marks with a nylon pad, sponge, or soft nylon brush dampened with the ammonia solution or isopropryl alcohol.

How to Clean Soapstone

Use: A few drops of dishwashing liquid or all-purpose cleanser and warm water.
Tools: A soft cloth or sponge.
Tips: Rub with mineral oil every couple of weeks during the first year to help the stone oxidize (darken) evenly. Oil every two months after that.
Tough Stains: Soapstone resists water, chemicals, and acids, so it rarely stains. Small scratches can be removed with fine sandpaper.


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