Cut the Clutter

by Dorling Kindersley

  an abrasive cleanser or scouring powder. For a seriously stained Clean granite with a solution of warm water and a few kitchen counter or grimy shower wall, apply a thin paste of drops of liquid dishwashing detergent. Use a wrung-out cleaning cleanser containing a bleaching agent and water, and allow cloth to clean the surface, then rinse with a cleaning cloth to stand for 15 minutes to several hours before wiping away soaked in clear water. Avoid cleaning products containing acid, cleanser haze. Rinse the area well with water, then wipe dry.

  such as white vinegar, since they can etch or dull the surface.

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  How to clean windows

  When it comes to cleaning windows, nothing beats the professional cleaner’s tool of choice: the squeegee. You’ll also need a squeegee wet cover (or a cleaning cloth attached with rubber bands) and dry cleaning cloths. Have your preferred window-cleaning solution ready in a large bucket.

  Dunk the squeegee with the wet cover or attached cleaning Remove the wet cover or cleaning cloth from the squeegee.

  cloth into the bucket, then smear the cleaning solution over Working from top to bottom, draw the squeegee across the the entire surface of the window. Don’t worry about drips; window, skimming the cleaning solution and dirt from the we’ll catch up with them at the end.

  glass. Curve the squeegee downward at the end of each stroke.

  Wipe the squeegee dry after each pass across the window Finished with the squeegee? Run the cleaning cloth along the with a fresh cleaning cloth; remember to work from the

  “wet” side of the window to dry the drips left behind. Move top moving to the bottom of the window. A dry squeegee to the window sill and soak up any puddled cleaning solution.

  avoids drips and keeps unsightly streaks from forming.

  Polish the sill dry with a fresh cleaning cloth—and let the light shine.

  Preser

  Floor care is like weeding: a little work at

  the right time prevents a jungle of problems.

  Daily floor-care routines remove dirt and soil

  quickly, before it bonds with the floor—but

  ving

  passive resistance can play a role, too.

  Preserve your flooring investment with these

  tips to keep floors clean without trying:

  flooring

  ▪ Mats matter. Placed both inside and

  outside household doors, entrance mats

  remove 80–85 percent of the dirt coming

  into the home. Look for mats with a raised,

  ridged surface that cannot be compressed

  easily and has non-slip backing.

  ▪ Shoes off—but socks rule. Worn

  outside, shoes become covered with tiny bits

  of grit and dirt that grind into flooring with

  each step. Spike heels can dimple hardwoods,

  puncture vinyl flooring, and pierce carpet

  backing. Even bare feet leave a film of body

  oils that attract dirt. Be kind to your flooring

  and wear socks or soft-soled house slippers.

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  Fresh underfoot:

  caring for floors

  Dirt on the floor isn’t just unsightly; it’s the prime cause of premature wear on floor materials. Dust and grit scratch smooth floor finishes, remove wax and protective coatings, and crush carpet fibers and backings. The solution: simple daily care routines that keep them clean—and avoid the need for elbow grease down the road.

  Caring for carpets

  T

  The three keys for clean and healthy carpets? Vacuum regularly, Speed is of the essence when removing

  reating

  treat spills and stains promptly, and have carpets deep cleaned spills and stains from carpeting. The longer

  once a year. First rule of carpet care: vacuum regularly, even if the stains stand, the more chance that the

  carpet doesn’t look dirty. The vacuum delivers a one-two punch: substance will soak through the carpet backing

  combining suction, which pulls free dust inside the vacuum bag and pool up in the carpet pad beneath.

  spills and stains

  or dirt cup, with agitation from a beater bar, which fans carpet fibers, raising them and releasing dirt and soil. For high-traffic To treat liquid spills and stains:

  living areas, daily vacuuming keeps carpet dirt under control;

  ▪ Blot up as much of a liquid spill

  less-used rooms, such as guest rooms, still need weekly or bi-as possible. Use clean white cleaning cloths

  weekly attention. Here’s how to vacuum carpet for best results: or white paper towels to avoid dye transfer.

  Continue to blot gently, using fresh cloths,

  ▪ Inspect the area to be vacuumed. Remove any small until no more liquid can be absorbed.

  objects that could be sucked into the vacuum.

  ▪ Don’t scrub or brush the stain.

  ▪ Check the vacuum. Straighten kinked hoses, and empty

  ▪ Apply an appropriate carpet

  the dirt cup or vacuum bag if needed.

  spot-remover. Spot-test the product

  ▪ Plug in the vacuum, and go to it! To save your back, in an inconspicuous place before using.

  vacuum in short strokes, moving forward across the room.

  Overlap strokes for even coverage of the carpet.

  For solid or semi-solid spills:

  ▪ Work in alternating directions. For best cleaning and to

  ▪ Use a spoon or spatula to scrape up

  raise carpet nap, make passes across the room in alternating as much of the spilled material as possible.

  directions. After covering the carpet, turn 90-degrees and Don’t use a knife, even a blunt one, as it

  vacuum again in a perpendicular direction.

  can harm carpet fibers.

  ▪ Finish with baseboards and wall edges. Use an

  ▪ Allow the spill to dry, then brush gently

  extension wand and crevice tool to clean dust from these areas.

  to release it from carpet fibers. Vacuum up

  as much of the spilled material as possible.

  ◀ Household carpets are a major investment. Regular

  ▪ Treat any remaining stain with an

  vacuuming extends their useful life—and enhances their beauty—

  appropriate spot-remover.

  by removing dust and grit that damage carpet fibers and backing.

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  CYCLES OF AN ORGANIZED HOME

  Do-it-yourself carpet cleaning. Carpets keep their beauty Laminate, vinyl, and linoleum floors To care for vinyl, longest if deep cleaned at least once a year. This job is one linoleum, and laminated flooring, sweep, vacuum, or dust-mop where it pays to bring in the pros, as they have muscle, methods, daily to remove surface grit. Damp-mop with clear water to and machinery not usually available to home carpet cleaners.

  remove dirt and restore shine. For more heavily soiled floors, If your budget won’t stretch to professional carpet cleaning, vacuum first, then damp-mop floors using a very light solution there are do-it-yourself alternatives that make a respectable—if of about 1–2 teaspoons liquid dishwashing detergent per sweaty—job of home carpet cleaning, as long as you work gallon (4 liters) of warm water. Rinse the floor with clean carefully, use the right equipment, and observe these cautions: water before drying it with white cleaning cloths. If there are depressions in the floor, use a scrubbing pad to loosen any soil

  ▪ Know your carpet. Be sure you understand the type of in these areas as you clean, then rinse with fresh clear water.

  cleaning method recommended by your carpet’s manufacturers.

  ▪ Stick to steamers, not shampooers. When you buy or Hardwood floors These floors are susceptible to abrasion, rent a carpet cleaner, choose a carpet steamer. Older “carpet are easily dented, and can be damaged by moisture or
incorrect shampoo” units use rotary agitators to apply detergent cleaning methods. Remove dust and surface soil from hardwoods solution and may overwet carpets. The shampoo film can be daily, preferably with a large-headed microfiber dust mop.

  difficult to remove, causing resoiling.

  Alternately, hardwood floors may be vacuumed, but be sure to

  ▪ Vacuum first. Dirt plus water equals mud, which is almost turn the beater bars off to avoid scratching the floor. When impossible to remove. Before cleaning the carpet, vacuum necessary, damp-mop with plain water to pick up dirt, using thoroughly to remove as much loose dirt as possible.

  a barely-wet mop. Avoid any drips or standing water; the mop

  ▪ Buy the right cleaners. Stick with cleaning products head or terry mop cover should be wrung till nearly dry before designed specifically for home carpet cleaning, and follow it touches the floor. A solution of white vinegar and water will package directions to mix cleaning solutions.

  up the cleaning ante, so try it for stubborn dirt.

  ▪ Pretreat. Use a traffic-lane cleaner or pre-spray to treat More intense cleaning will require a cleaning product areas of high soil before cleaning.

  formulated for the floor’s specific finish. Do not use oil soap

  ▪ Keep it dry. Over-saturated carpets aren’t cleaner, just wetter.

  on hardwood floors; it will create a dirt-trapping sticky film After extracting, make a second dry pass over the carpet to and it can interfere with recoating or refinishing floors later on.

  remove as much moisture as possible. Keep traffic off freshly cleaned carpeting until it is dry.

  Ceramic tile floors Keep ceramic tile floors looking their best with daily sweeping or vacuuming to remove surface grit. If using Hard-surface floors

  a vacuum, set the beater bar to the off position to vacuum. Every As with carpets, routine cleaning is the best way to maintain week or so, damp-mop with a solution of 2 tablespoons liquid the beauty of hard-surface flooring. Daily sweeping, vacuuming, dishwashing detergent to 1 gallon (4 liters) of warm water.

  or dust-mopping removes abrasive grit and dust from the floor.

  Use a cleaning toothbrush to scrub stained or dirty grout.

  Establishing a “shoes-off” policy and using entrance mats Rinse with clear water. Buff the tile with a clean, dry towel to helps prevent street soil from entering the home and being remove any water spots. Never apply wax to ceramic tile floors; tracked onto floors.

  it can be difficult to remove, can cause slip-and-fall injuries, When it’s time to clean, clean with a light hand. Hard-and may interfere with resealing grout. For advice on cleaning surface floors look best when clean and clear, but detergent use heavily stained grout, see pages 188–189.

  or cleaner build-up can create a hazy film that dulls floors—and attracts and holds more dirt. Rely on these cleaning tips to

  ▶ Ceramic tile floors are tough—if brittle—and are easy keep hard-surface floors looking clean and beautiful: to keep clean with a daily sweep plus a damp-mop once a week.

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  CYCLES OF AN ORGANIZED HOME

  Sitting pretty:

  caring for furniture

  Fine wood furniture is a treasured possession in any home, and with good care, it can last for generations. Upholstered furniture provides us with comfort, color, and texture. Who doesn’t love sinking into the cushioned softness of a favorite sofa?

  Fine wood furniture

  Care for fine furniture with these recommendations:

  Leather upholstery can last for many years

  e if looked after correctly. Follow these tips to

  ▪ Avoid heat and light. In a natural state, wood contains take good care of leather furnishings:

  a surprising amount of moisture. Preserving appropriate nitur

  moisture levels is key to the preservation of fine furniture.

  ▪ Keep away from heat and light.

  Accordingly, position fine wood furniture away from heating Leather furniture is very sensitive to heat and

  vents, fireplaces, or radiators. Don’t store fine furniture in sun damage. Position it away from windows,

  attics, where temperature and humidity levels vary widely from and from heat sources such as fireplaces,

  summer to winter, day and night. Avoid placing furniture in radiators, and central heating vents.

  areas where it will sit in direct sunlight, which can fade fine

  ▪ Uncoated leathers. Furniture made from

  furniture; use drapes, sheers, or protective window films to uncoated leathers should be dusted frequently.

  leather fur

  guard against the sun’s rays.

  An art gum eraser may remove some stains or

  ▪ Protect from damage. Everyday life can be hard on wood deposits safely, but do not use leather creams,

  furniture. Moisture from sweating beverage glasses leaves round conditioners, or saddle soap on uncoated

  rings in the finish, while the heat from a hot dish can ruin the leather, since these products can change the

  wood finish beneath. Provide cork- or felt-bottomed coasters if color or appearance of the leather.

  you will set glasses or mugs on fine wood, and always use trivets

  ▪ Coated leathers. Check with the

  to support hot serving dishes. Place mats, tablecloths, or padded manufacturer for recommended cleaning

  Caring for

  table covers protect dining-room tables from spills or scrapes.

  methods. Vacuum regularly to remove surface

  ▪ Clean safely. Dust frequently ( see page 169). Occasionally, soil. Commonly, leather creams or conditioners

  wood furniture will require heavier cleaning. To remove greasy may be used to clean coated leather once or

  soil or the film from cigarette smoke, mix a solution of oil soap twice or year. Test leather cleaners in an

  and water as instructed on the oil soap package. Using a natural inconspicuous spot before using.

  sponge, moisten it with oil soap and wring out most of the

  ▪ Avoid unsuitable products. Never use

  water. Gently stroke the furniture to loosen soil. Rinse the residue oil, furniture polish, dusting sprays, or ordinary

  from the wood with a sponge wrung out in clear water, and stain removers on leather furniture.

  then dry the piece with fresh cleaning cloths.

  Note: Seek professional advice before cleaning if the wood is in poor condition or the item of furniture is an antique.

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  Polish or wax? Both wax and furniture polish are applied to fine wood furniture to protect the surface—but you’ll need to pick one or the other. Don’t try to combine these products or you’ll create a gummy mess. Make sure that you have selected the appropriate treatment for the piece’s finish. Check with the manufacturer for recommended polish or wax options.

  Which to choose? Wax is a semi-solid product; it requires elbow grease to apply, but it creates a long-lasting coat.

  Furniture polish is easier to apply than wax; it is made using petroleum distillates (a solvent), and evaporates fairly quickly.

  Most people overuse polish to restore a fresh finish. Layers of polish build-up, combined with body oils and dirt, create a sticky, dull film over the surface. If you use polish, use it with restraint.

  The same applies to furniture sprays. They contain silicone oil, which is inert and which does not evaporate like furniture polish. Use them sparingly, and buff the sprayed area well with a clean cloth. Buff it again to raise the shine.

  Apply wax or polish to furniture that has been freshly cleaned with oil soap ( see Clean safely, opposite), and allowed to dry thoroughly. Follow package directions, and have plenty of clean white cleaning cloths available.

  Note: Seek professional advice for the care of antique furniture, or if the wood is in poor condition.

  Upholstered furniture


  ▲ Wax adds shine and provides the best protection against Dust and dirt act like sandpaper on furniture fabric, so remove scratches and damage. It’ll remain on the piece longer than it frequently. Vacuum upholstered furniture weekly; lift cushions, furniture polish, and needs less frequent maintenance.

  and use the crevice tool to remove hidden crumbs beneath.

  Keep upholstered furniture looking new with these tips: upholstered furniture with arm caps tailored to fit snugly over chair and sofa arms. Made from the same upholstery fabric,

  ▪ Flip, swap, and rearrange. Being territorial creatures, they’re all but indistinguishable as they protect fabric from wear.

  most humans gravitate to their favorite places—but when it’s

  ▪ Slipcovers. In areas with hot summer weather, consider the same seat on a long sofa day after day, that preference washable slip covers. Traditionally applied to furniture during will start to show. Flip loose cushions regularly, and rotate the warm season, slipcovers protect against sweat, suntan oil, them on a multi-cushion unit. Similarly, rearrange upholstered and other summer hazards.

  furniture once or twice a year to distribute wear more evenly.

  ▪ Fabric protection. Spray-on fabric protectors coat fibers Switch the position of a love seat and a sofa, or swap the and protect upholstery from spills and stains. Fabric protectors positions of a set of chairs as the seasons change.

  can be applied at the mill as the fabric is processed, by the

  ▪ Arm caps. Places where bare skin or hair come to rest—

  furniture retailer, or at home using commercial spray products.

  armrests, chair backs, seat cushions—are subjected to higher If you apply fabric protection yourself, read the product levels of soil and abrasion. Protect high-contact areas of instructions and observe safety procedures carefully.

  Dusting

  Dust is everywhere, but no one wants to

  see it film fine furniture. Keep your cherished