Homeowner Forum / Cleaning / August 2006

We just purchased new dining room chairs.  We passed on the seller's offer
to apply fabric protection ($30 for a $100 chair?).  The fabric is
microfiber
but these are dining room chairs and a relatively light color.  Would it be

My friend had a citronella candle on his patio and the thing ended up
getting so hot that it kind of burnt through the metal and all of the
wax stained the cement.  He got all of the excess wax removed, but there
is still the stain that has penetrated the bricks.  I guess he ...

Hey, all.
Just bought a Hoover Steamvac Duo carpet cleaner, and it seems to work
a treat on my synthetic carpets.
I'm wondering if this machine would be safe to use on wool carpeting as

Does anyone know of a home carpet shampooer that does a good job?
And another question, while I'm on this subject:      I dropped the pencil
sharpener in my study, and the lead shavings paid a really bad mess.  I have
vacuumed it three times, but now I'm ready to spot treat it.   ...

Hi, I need some advice.  I used to use Dow scrubbing bubbles along with
Scotch Brite's shower & bath scrubber.  The handle extended & locked in
place (although not very well as it would sometimes "unlock" while
cleaning) and the scrubber heads were replaceable when needed (note: no

I am looking for recommendations for a hardwood floor cleaner (homade or
storebought).  I have tried vinegar and water and it still leaves streaks.
This is regular oak 3/4" flooring not prefinished. which semigloss poly
finish.

When I see the ads on TV for the various portable steam cleaners,
there seems to be a lot of wiping up to do.   Are they worth getting
or are regular spray and wipe cleaners just as good?
Looking forward to your advice.   TIA

imo, never use the following as i've seen these products dis-color carpet:
1. "Oxy" anything! (i don't care what "Billy" tells you on t.v.
2. Simple Green
3. Resolve

ok.  you might have been aware that i'm sort of Mop-centric. ;)
i have wasted HOURS trying to find the right thing!
i love my microfiber mop but wringing it has caused my hands to feel like
a 90-year-old woman that spent every HOUR of her 90 years trying to get

Ok so my sister came into town and took my car out with my niece and
nephew and well they both had slurpees (YES CHERRY!!) well I guess my
niece had a fit and threw the slurpee all over my new car. Well my
sister cleaned most of it up but the red stains still remain on the

Due to an illness,  our dog had one single instance of urinating on our
carpet.  Because we saw it when it happened , we were able to clean it
quickly with carpet cleaner.   We knew of course that in spite of our
efforts, it likely got into the padding, which we couldn't clean.

I tried killing some spiders on my siding using some insect spray that
managed to leave my vinyl siding discolored.  I'm not sure if it's oil
residue or if the siding has been seriously discolored.
I tried scrubbing it with a sponge and soap water -- no luck.  Any ideas?

Any ideas on what will remove dried-on liquid Tide from the top of my
washer and dryer?  I have a 15-yr. old son who does his own laundry,
and unfortunately, he is very messy sometimes.... I've tried about
everything I can think of to get the dried detergent off, and nothing

i use a microfiber mop for all the hard surfaces in my house (more tile and
laminate flooring that a person SHOULD have!)
the microfiber pad is the only thing that can get dry enough to not leave
streaks on the floor.  i would love to find a wringer that i can use by the