Really Useful Cleaning Tips

 

Easy Microwave Cleaning

Time to clean your Microwav e. We suggest that you do this regularly - at least weekly depending on how often you use it. It's very simple - just get a bowl of cold water. Add a slice of lemon and place in your microwave. Turn on the microwave at the highest setting for 3 minutes. Remove the bowl - take care it will be hot. Then just wipe out the microwave, all surfaces including inside the door and under the plate.

Remove the plate and clean it seperatley.

Put everything back and Hey Presto, a shiney clean microwave!

 

How to Clean Leather Furniture

Most of today’s leather furniture will be made with top-coat protected leather which is generally safe to clean with the method below. Again, it is important to read the tags to determine what kind of leather you have and any cleaning solutions or methods to avoid.

 

What You Will Need

  • Vacuum cleaner with soft brush attachment
  • Mild liquid facial or body soap (such as Dove or Neutrogena)
  • Distilled water. It is best to use distilled water because tap water may contain chlorine and other contaminants which can damage the surface of the leather.
  • Buckets
  • At least four soft rags
  • Water-based leather protector/conditioner

 

Cleaning Instructions

  • Vacuum the piece of furniture thoroughly, being sure to use the soft brush attachment (leather scratches easily). If the suction on your vacuum is too strong, consider using a smaller hand held vacuum with less power to prevent leaving marks on the leather.
  • Mix a few drops of liquid soap with about a quart of distilled water, mixing until suds form.
  • Remember to ALWAYS test a small, inconspicuous area of the furniture first before using any of these methods.
  • Dip one of the rags in the soapy water and wring out thoroughly.
  • Working one section at a time, wipe the surface of the furniture with the damp rag.
  • Dip a separate rag in clean distilled water (no soap), wring thoroughly, and wipe away the soap residue.
  • Dry thoroughly with the third rag.
  • Buff the surface with the fourth clean rag to restore luster and treat the surface with leather protector/conditioner as per product instructions.

Additional Tips and Advice

  • NEVER use baby wipes or bleach on leather furniture, any other alkaline cleaner on leather furniture as it may damage the finish.
  • NEVER use any kind of oils (such as mink oil), furniture polish, or any product containing waxes or silicone (including many car care products) on your leather furniture as it may damage the leather and leave it feeling sticky. Consequently be very careful when using Pledge, or any other type of furniture polish, around your leather.

 

Tomato Based Sauce on Your Clothing or Carpet

Tomato or spaghetti sauce contains oils and sugars and can be difficult to remove if left untreated. Work as fast as you can the sooner it is tackled the easier it will be. Do not let it dry.

  • Remove any excess sauce with a tissue making sure not to rub in the stain or spread it over a larger area
  • Now rinse the garment in cold water, preferably running the water through the garment from the back of the stain, to flush it out. On a carpet you will need to keep blotting the stain with an absorbent tissue or cloth
  • Apply a little washing up liquid to the area, scrub gently and then rinse again in cold water and repeat as necessary
  • If the stain is stubborn then you may need to apply a dishwasher solution (make sure it does not contain bleach) or preferably lemon juice. It may help to rub the satin with an ice cube as well.
  • Rinse in cold water and only when the stain has been removed launder the garment as normal. Carpets should be let dry and then vacuum as normal.

Please let us know if this little tip has been of use to you.

General Cleaning of Stone Surfaces

General Cleaning of stone surfaces with a neutral cleaner designated safe for natural stone.

Use a clean mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results.

Use a small amount of warm water with PH balanced washing up liquid to clean the surface instead of using abrasive cleaning products. Don't use more than the recommended amount of any cleaning product. Too much may leave a film, causing streaks. Change rinse water frequently.

 

Do's

  • Do dust mop floors frequently.
  • Do clean surfaces with a neutral stone cleaner.
  • Do thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing.
  • Do blot up spills immediately.
  • Do use a small amount of an acidic liquid such as red wine or citrus fruit juice, lemonade, Coka Cola etc diluted in water.

Don'ts

  • Don’t use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners, or tub & tile cleaners.
  • Don’t place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.
  • Don’t use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces.
  • Don’t use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
  • Don’t mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.
  • Don’t use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.

 

Red Wine on Your Carpet

 

That feared Red Wine spill on your new carpet, don't panic - but do act fast. The sooner you can work on removing the stain,

the easier it will come out. Do not allow it to dry. There are a few ways of treating the stain but take care.

  • Add a Little Salt: Shake a thick layer of salt over the red wine stain to prevent it from spreading and setting. Then, when you are ready to treat the stain, remove or vacuum the salt. Beware the salt may remove colour from your carpet if it is left too long.
  • White Wine: When it comes to red wine stain removal, try white wine which counteracts the red wine and makes it easier to remove the original red wine stain. Simply pour a small amount of white wine over the red wine stain and blot with a clean, absorbent towel. Be sure never to rub or wipe at red wine stained fabric, as this will only set the stain deeper within the fabric. Once you have blotted as much of the stain as possible, treat any stain remnants in the manner below.
  • Water, Vinegar and Soap: The water, vinegar and soap method is best applied immediately after blotting the red wine stain with a clean, white cloth or paper towel. Combine one tablespoon of dish soap or detergent with one tablespoon white vinegar and two cups lukewarm water. Apply the water, vinegar and soap mixture to the stain using a clean towel. Blot the stain with a clean, dry towel as you go. Once the stain is gone, blot the area using a clean rag with cold water. Finally, blot the area once again with a clean, dry cloth.

 

Nail Varnish Spill

 

So you are in a hurry applying that Nail Varnish and some how it just spilled all over your carpet. To remove it again move quickly before it all dries in.

 

You will need : Nail varnish remover (Non – acetone with no colour) ,a white cloth and white paper towel, a spray bottle of warm water, a spoon and a weight.

 

Firstly remove any excess varnish with the spoon and a paper towel but do not rub into fabric. Pour a small amount of nail vaenish remover onto a damp cloth and blot the stain. Repeat until the stain has lifted. Now spray with warm water and dry with white paper towel. Finally put a layer of white towel on top of area and place the weight on top and leave fora few hours to dry.

 

 

 

Candle Wax on a Carpet or Couch

 

Another Christmas spill is Candle Wax which may have dripped from the candle stick holder onto you carpet when you weren't watching.

 

You will need: Ice cubes, paper towels, an iron, powdered starch, cornflour or talcum powder, and dry cleaning fluid.

 

Remove as much of the excess wax as possible. Make it easier for yourself by first chilling the area. Place ice-cubes in a plastic bag and leave on the candlewax for a few minutes. Scrape off the wax bits. Now place paper towels onto the wax residue. Heat your iron up to a moderately hot temperature and iron over the paper towels. You might have to repeat this with mutiple paper towels.

 

Coloured candle drips leave a stain. Mix a paste of talcum powder, cornflour or powdered starch and dry cleaning fluid. Work this into the pile. A thick paste of borax and water has the same effect. Vacuum your carpet when it dries and it should be as good as new!

 

 

Autumn Cleaning Tip  -  Silver Ware

 

Since Christmas is around the corner it’s time to check on the Silver Ware for the dinner table. Have you been using your silver all year long, if so it only needs a quick polish and buff.
For those who only use their silverware on special occasions, you may now find that it has become tarnished.

 

The traditional and most reliable method of cleaning is to use a special silver polish:

  • Use a soft but moist polishing cloth
  • Wear a cloth glove to hold the silverware
  • Dip the cloth into the polish
  • Now rub your silver item gently and repeatedly with the cloth back and forth in a straight line not in a circular motion
  • Rinse in warm water
  • Repeat the exercise with cloth and polish if necessary
  • Finally dry with soft clean cloth and buff

Do Not

  • Wash silverware in a dishwasher
  • Use rubber gloves as rubber tarnishes silver
  • Rub too hard as this may scratch or even remove the silver from silver plated items
  • Scrub silver with anything abrasive such as baking soda, or cream cleaner as they will scratch.

Alternatively if the silverware is very tarnished then a simple bath in a hot water solution of salt and baking soda and aluminium foil may be needed.

 

However some silver with an oxidised or grey finish are not suitable for this method as the electrochemical process can remove more than the tarnish. If in doubt try a small invaluable piece first

  • Select a bowl big enough to put all your silver in and allow it to be covered completely with water
  • Line the bowl with aluminium foil
  • Heat sufficient water to cover the silver items in the bowl
  • Dissolve a large amount of salt in the water and make sure it is all dissolved
  • Next add baking soda to the solution taking care to do it a small bit at a time to prevent it bubbling and spilling
  • Place the silver items in the aluminium lined bowl making sure each piece of silver touches the foil
  • Pour the salt and baking solution over the silverware ensuring it is completely covered
  • After a few minutes the tarnish on the silver will disappear
  • Remove the silver from the solution taking care not to burn yourself
  • Should the silver take on a pitted texture then rub with a soft cloth to remove this aluminium sulphate If necessary revert to the traditional cleaning method above
  • Carefully dispose of the water solution after cooling

Do Not

  • Scrub silverware with baking soda as it is abrasive and will scratch
  • Try this method without first testing on a small and invaluable item
  • Put hands into hot water as it may result in burning

If in doubt Pristine Home will be delighted to help you this festive season to clean your silverware for the festive table. Call any of our offices to arrange a free quotation  1890252309  or info@pristine.ie