cleaning and stain removal for dummies

TeAM YYePG Digitally signed by TeAM YYePG DN: cn=TeAM YYePG, c=US, o=TeAM YYePG, ou=TeAM YYePG, email=yyepg@msn.com Reason: I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Date: 2005.02.06 21:11:56 +08'00' by Gill Chilton Cleaning & Stain Removal FOR DUMmIES ‰ 01_570293 ffirs.qxd 6/25/04 11:22 AM Page i Cleaning & Stain Removal For Dummies  Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd The Atrium Southern Gate Chichester West Sussex PO19 8SQ England E-mail (for orders and customer service enquires): cs-books@wiley.co.uk Visit our Home Page on www.wileyeurope.com Copyright © 2004 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, West Sussex, England. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, West Sussex All Rights Reserved. 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Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. Library of Congress Control Number: 2004008490 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN: 0-7645-7029-3 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Biddles Ltd, Kings Lynn. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 01_570293 ffirs.qxd 6/25/04 11:22 AM Page ii About the Author Gill Chilton is a consumer journalist with 20 years experience in writing on practical subjects. She writes for, among others, Family Circle, Woman, and Good Housekeeping magazines, and answers questions on a regular consumer advice page for Family Circle. Cleaning is forever a hot topic: Readers may love or loathe it, but, as they tell Gill, they can’t ignore it. Gill is also the author of Home Basics: The Complete Guide to Running Today’s Home published by Reader’s Digest and she has appeared on radio and TV demonstating practical house- hold tips. Gill lives in a beautiful Cotswolds village where, despite her best endeavours, the three children and two cats with whom she so happily shares her home present a constant cleaning challenge. 01_570293 ffirs.qxd 6/25/04 11:22 AM Page iii 01_570293 ffirs.qxd 6/25/04 11:22 AM Page iv Dedication This book is dedicated to Holly, to Alice, and to Robin. I can’t wait until you all get old enough to put its advice into regular practise. Also to my beloved parents and to Sue and Tim for your love and continual support through changing times. Author’s Acknowledgments I’d like to thank my editors, Jason Dunne, Amie Tibble, and Kathleen Dobie for introducing me to the good-sense, clear- read concept that is Dummies. Your skill and enthusiasm made the months I spent writing this book a real pleasure. Thanks also to Sam Clapp at Wiley for beautifully smooth admin support. A subject as wide-ranging as cleaning calls for a multitude of research. So I’d like to acknowledge the PR teams for Addis, Armitage Shanks, Bissell, Brabantia, Cif, Domestos, Dri-Pak, Electrolux, the Home Laundering Consultative Council, Jeyes, JVC, and WD-40. Thanks also to Dale Courtman, Institute of Plumbing; Bob Moore, Jessops School of Photography; and David Rogers at Autoglym. Finally, to get back to the very start: Many thanks indeed to Aggie MacKenzie for recommending me for the project. 01_570293 ffirs.qxd 6/25/04 11:22 AM Page v Publisher’s Acknowledgments We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/. Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following: Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development Executive Editor: Jason Dunne Project Editors: Amie Jackowski Tibble, Daniel Mersey Development Editor: Kathleen A. Dobie Copy Editor: Martin Key Technical Editor: George Hughes, TipKing.com Editorial Assistant: Samantha Clapp Cover Photos: © Peter Samuels/Getty Images Cartoons: Rich Tennant, www.the5thwave.com Production Project Coordinator: Erin Smith Layout and Graphics: Amanda Carter, Denny Hager, Stephanie D. Jumper, Michael Kruzil, Heather Ryan, Jacque Schneider, Julie Trippetti, Mary Gillot Virgin Proofreaders: Andy Hollandbeck, Carl Pierce, Brian H. Walls Indexer: TECHBOOKS Production Services Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies Kristin A Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel Brice Gosnell, Associate Publisher, Travel Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel Publishing for Technology Dummies Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User Composition Services Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services 01_570293 ffirs.qxd 6/25/04 11:22 AM Page vi Contents at a Glance Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Your Hands Dirty: Cleaning Basics 7 Chapter 1: Recognising the Value of Cleaning Well 9 Chapter 2: Equipping Yourself 17 Chapter 3: Talking Timing and Techniques 37 Part II: Cleaning Your Home Top to Bottom 47 Chapter 4: Cleaning Ceilings, Walls, Radiators, and Window Treatments 49 Chapter 5: Standing Up to Floors 61 Chapter 6: Scouring Everything and the Kitchen Sink 75 Chapter 7: Bringing Brilliance to the Bathroom 93 Chapter 8: Polishing Furniture and Furnishings 107 Part III: Keeping Up Appearances Outside 123 Chapter 9: Washing Up Outside 125 Chapter 10: Making Windows Sparkle 131 Chapter 11: Sweeping Up the Garden Path: Decks, Driveways, and Patios 141 Chapter 12: Devoting Time to Your Vehicles 157 Part IV: Cleaning Special Items and in Special Situations 167 Chapter 13: Tuning In to Electrical Equipment 169 Chapter 14: Shining Sports and Hobby Equipment 177 Chapter 15: Treasuring Personal Valuables 187 Chapter 16: Facing Family Cleaning Challenges 201 Chapter 17: Cleaning for Special Occasions 223 Part V: Removing Stains 231 Chapter 18: Caring for Your Clothes 233 Chapter 19: Understanding Basic Stain Types 255 Chapter 20: Treating Everyday Stains 265 Chapter 21: Tackling Scratches, Scuffs, and Rips 277 02_570293 ftoc.qxd 6/25/04 11:20 AM Page vii Part VI: The Part of Tens 283 Chapter 22: Fast Fixes for Unexpected Guests 285 Chapter 23: Ten Tips for Facing a Landlord Inspection 291 Chapter 24: Being Clean in Other People’s Homes 295 Chapter 25: Extraordinary Uses for Ten Ordinary Items 301 Appendix: Stain Removal Guide 307 Index 317 Cleaning & Stain Removal For Dummies viii 02_570293 ftoc.qxd 6/25/04 11:20 AM Page viii Table of Contents Introduction 1 About This Book 2 Conventions Used in This Book 2 Foolish Assumptions 3 How This Book Is Organised 3 Part I: Getting Your Hands Dirty: Cleaning Basics 3 Part II: Cleaning Your Home Top to Bottom 4 Part III: Keeping Up Appearances Outside 4 Part IV: Cleaning Special Items and in Special Situations 4 Part V: Removing Stains 5 Part VI: The Part of Tens 5 Appendix 5 Icons Used in This Book 5 Where to Go from Here 6 Part I: Getting Your Hands Dirty: Cleaning Basics 7 Chapter 1: Recognising the Value of Cleaning Well . . . 9 Reaping the Surprising Benefits of a Clean Home 10 Setting Your Cleaning Priorities 11 Finding the Time to Clean 11 Finding ways to cut your workload 13 Offering shortcuts for busy people 14 Treating Stains and Repairing Damage 15 Chapter 2: Equipping Yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Brushing Up on Brushes, Brooms, and Mops 17 Polishing Up with Pastes, Sprays, and Cleaning Solutions 26 Mixing up a multi-purpose cleaner 29 Going green with alternative cleaners 31 Storing and Using Strong Chemicals Safely 34 Working safely 34 Storing for safety and savings 35 02_570293 ftoc.qxd 6/25/04 11:20 AM Page ix [...]... tackle a 2 Cleaning & Stain Removal For Dummies task and in this book it is my pleasure to share my research and experience with you About This Book Cleaning & Stain Removal For Dummies is a ready reference for people wanting to make their home life run smoothly This book is designed to help you to maintain a clean home and to do so cheerfully and without undue effort The sections on stain removal provide... Carpets and Clothes against Stains 261 Chapter 20: Treating Everyday Stains 265 Putting Together a Stain- Shifting Kit 266 Choosing Cleaners and Solvents That Work .268 Getting Rid of Stains .270 Taking six steps to treat every fresh stain 271 Treating older stains 272 Fighting impossible stains: What to do when nothing seems to work 274 xvi Cleaning & Stain Removal. .. Getting Your Hands Dirty: Cleaning Basics This part of the book introduces you to the many benefits of maintaining a clean home I give you advice on choosing the 4 Cleaning & Stain Removal For Dummies right equipment and materials, plus tips that will save you a great deal of effort and often money as well Chapter 3 gives you a room-by-room guide to what needs to be done, and how often Daily and weekly... it ready for sweeping ߜ Pay for help Either have someone come regularly or get a cleaner in for a catch-up cleaning session 14 Part I: Getting Your Hands Dirty: Cleaning Basics ߜ Avoid situations that create mess Parties, pets, and visiting children are obvious ones (See Chapter 16 for tips on dealing with kids and pets and Chapter 17 for advice on hosting.) ߜ Make more use of the garden Eat and entertain... how to fit cleaning into a busy lifestyle and gives you schedules for daily, weekly, and occasional cleaning I also tell you what materials and equipment you need to get the job done quickly and give great results Chapter 1 Recognising the Value of Cleaning Well In This Chapter ᮣ Benefiting from cleanliness ᮣ Deciding your cleaning priorities ᮣ Keeping on top of cleaning ᮣ Taking spills and scratches... it stand out Removing stains isn’t an exact science When you’ve exhausted obvious ideas, this icon points out a final suggestion to try at your own risk The only guarantee I make is that it worked at least once for someone it may well work for you When I share an idea that saves money on equipment or materials, you see this icon 6 Cleaning & Stain Removal For Dummies This icon highlights a cleaning. .. that most of them do not become stains And many of those that do don’t have to stay stains forever Take that ink, for example With the right solvent, it’s history In the chapters on stain removal I show how getting to a problem quickly and then behaving gently and with extreme persistence pays off Likewise, whilst a scratch on a new piece of furniture is never cause for pleasure, it absolutely doesn’t... shower .103 Going for the sparkle 103 Treating and Beating Condensation .104 Chapter 8: Polishing Furniture and Furnishings 107 Basics for Burnishing Your Furnishings .107 Caring for Upholstered Chairs and Sofas 109 Washing washable fabrics 109 Calling in the professionals 111 Laving leather 111 Handling Hard Furniture 112 Cleaning cane and wicker 112... it from cover to cover and perhaps plan how you would like your clean home to shape up Or you can skip to any point in the book as you look for the advice and tips you need right away Oops! Just sent your coffee cup flying as you turned a page in this book? Turn to the Appendix pronto In plain, clear English, Cleaning & Stain Removal For Dummies is arranged so you can get the information that you need... Off Office Equipment 170 Cleaning your computer the foolproof way 171 Troubleshooting tips for printers .172 Cleaning facts for your fax and copier .172 Getting tough with telephones 173 Focusing on Cameras .174 Chapter 14: Shining Sports and Hobby Equipment 177 Keeping Your Music Collection Sound 177 Cleaning CDs and DVDs .178 Caring for audio cassettes 178 Dusting . brandreview@ wiley.com. Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, A Reference for the Rest of Us!, The Dummies Way, Dummies Daily, The Fun and Easy Way, Dummies. com. 296 Taking Responsibility for Your Party 296 Looking for Mats, Covers, and Coasters 296 Helping Yourself from the Fridge and Home Bar 297 Cleaning & Stain Removal For Dummies xvi 02_570293. accuracy and integrity of this document Date: 2005.02.06 21:11:56 +08'00' by Gill Chilton Cleaning & Stain Removal FOR DUMmIES ‰ 01_570293 ffirs.qxd 6/25/04 11:22 AM Page i Cleaning