Stains, Marks, & Spots
How do I remove hard-water stains?
Fabric:
If the fabric is non-washable, gently scratch off the stain (made up
of mineral deposits) with your fingernail. If it remains, hold the spot
over a steaming teakettle until well dampened. As it dries, rub the stain,
working from its outer edges toward the center.
Glasses and bottles:
Rub them with steel wool dipped in vinegar.
Bathroom fixtures:
Cover hard-water stains with a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Drape
with a terry cloth towel and let stand for about an hour. Wipe off, rinse,
and dry.
What's the best way to remove scuff or heel marks?
Add 3 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate (TSP) to a gallon of water.
This will clean scuff marks or crayon marks from walls. TSP can be found
in the paint department of a hardware store. Wear gloves while working
with TSP. Do not use this solution on semi-gloss or gloss paint, or on
wood surfaces. You can also take a pencil eraser and rub them off.
How do I remove tar spots?
Use paste wax to remove tar from floors and shoes.
How do I remove blood?
- Clothing or furniture: Use hydrogen peroxide to remove blood
from clothing or furniture. Rub gently.
- Fabric: If you get blood on fabric, quickly wet a long piece
of white cotton thread with saliva and place it across the spot. The
thread will absorb the blood.
- Fresh stains on leather: Dab on a little hydrogen peroxide.
After it bubbles, wipe it off.
- Fresh spots: Apply a paste of water and cornstarch, cornmeal,
or talcum powder. Let it dry, then brush off.
- You can also use cornstarch to remove blood stains. Rinse the stain
in cold water, then rub in moistened cornstarch. Place the item in the sun.
- Cover fresh or dried stains with meat tenderizer and add cool water.
After 15 to 30 minutes, sponge off with cool water.
How do I remove candle wax?
From carpeting and upholstery:
Put a brown paper bag over the dried wax and run a hot iron over it.
The bag will absorb the hot wax.
From wood floors:
Remove dried wax from wood floors by first softening the wax with a hair
dryer, then removing it with paper towels. Wash the spot down with a combination
of vinegar and water.
From walls:
Use an iron and facial tissue to remove candle wax from walls or other
surfaces. Set the tissue over the wax and gently iron. When the wax seeps
through or the tissue begins to brown, apply a new tissue.
How do I remove pencil and crayon marks from walls?
From painted walls:
Scrub the wall with toothpaste or an ammonia-soaked cloth to remove crayon
marks. Rinse and dry.
From wallpaper:
Remove pencil marks and other non-greasy spots from non-washable papers
with an art-gum eraser or a slice of fresh rye bread. To remove crayon
marks, greasy spots, or food stains, apply a paste of cleaning fluid and
cornstarch. Let dry and brush off. Repeat the treatment until the spot
is gone.
What's a good tip for cleaning chrome?
Use club soda or seltzer water to clean chrome.
How do I remove hair spray from mirrors?
Apply a little rubbing alcohol to a soft cloth and wipe gently.
How do I remove gum?
Use ice to harden the gum, then remove with a dull knife.
How can I remove magic marker ink?
Hair spray will remove magic marker ink from surfaces.
What is a quick way to empty ashtrays?
Spray furniture polish on hard-to-clean ashtrays. The ashes will release
without sticking.
How do you get rid of odors?
To get rid of an odor, you have to remove the source, not just cover
it up with perfumed air freshener. Clean up and disinfect. Kill the germs
that cause most household odors. The quicker you get after odors, the
easier they are to remove.
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For more assistance removing carpet stains, schedule carpet cleaning
from the professionals at ServiceMaster Clean.
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