Who doesn’t love coming home after a long day, kicking off the shoes and lying back on a comfy couch? And if the remote is within reach, even better. These rooms are the social hub of the home—and in many houses they’re combined in one big space. Furniture tends to get a lot of use so there’s more cleaning to do, particularly if you watch TV while eating dinner (it’s only a short distance between the plate and the couch). When working out how to fix a spill, think about the components of the stain and the surface it’s on. Sort that out and you’re on your way to a clean living area.
INCIDENT: ‘I’ve got a gorgeous Italian couch covered in microsuede. During a recent soiree, some marinated feta cheese dropped onto the couch. I dampened it with detergent and water and there are now watermarks on the fabric. Can it be saved?’
SOLUTION: To remove the watermark, make a bran ball (see below). Use the bran ball as though it is an eraser and rub over the upholstery in every direction. To remove the oily part of the stain (from the marinade), place a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingertips and massage into the stain until it feels like jelly. Remove the dishwashing liquid with a damp cloth and dry immediately and thoroughly by pressing with paper towel.
In some homes, the couch is the most-used piece of furniture. Deal with stains as soon as possible because they become harder to remove when they set. If you’re not sure what the stain is, first do a stain diagnosis (use the search feature of your ebook reader to search for ‘stain diagnosis’). Since Spotless, Shannon has refined the technique for cleaning upholstery, and other items that can’t be put in the washing machine, and uses a bran ball. To make a bran ball, put 1 cup of unprocessed wheat bran in a bowl and add white vinegar, 1 drop at a time, until the mixture resembles brown sugar—it should be clumping but not wet. Place the mixture into the toe of a pair of pantyhose and tie tightly. Rub the pantyhose across the surface as though using an eraser. The bran ball is preferable to carpet cleaner when giving the couch a spruce up because it’s gentler on fabrics. After cleaning, spray with Scotchgard (around once a year) to provide the couch with a layer of protection. And if you get lots of grubby marks, consider making or buying removable slipcovers that can be put in the washing machine. Much easier!
Cushion covers generally need special care. If there’s no care label attached, treat them as if they are made of silk. Wash in blood-heat water with a small amount of cheap shampoo and rinse in blood-heat water. Smooth the cover flat and place in the shade to dry. When ironing cushion covers, always use a cool setting and place a clean cloth between the iron and the cover and, if possible, iron inside out. Don’t use starch because they won’t mould to the shape of the cushion insert.
TIP
Keep paper towel or a Slurpex near your couch to mop up any spills as soon as they happen.
Q: ‘I have some lovely linen cushion covers with red silk appliqués and red silk cord around the edge,’ says Megan. ‘One cushion got a black (looked like grease) mark on it and so I hand washed it in cold water. The red silk wasn’t colourfast and left orangey coloured splodges on the cushion. And the black mark still remains. Is there anything I can do?’
Even if you don’t have children, it’s common to get pen marks on your couch. They can be tricky stains to tackle because different pens use different inks and each has a different solvent. As a general rule, biro pen marks are removed with rotten milk solids placed over the ink (see Spotless, page 66). With permanent markers, write over the stain using the same pen and quickly follow with a cotton bud dipped in white spirits. Repeat until removed. With Artline pens and whiteboard markers, wipe only over the mark with a cotton bud dipped in methylated spirits and repeat until removed. With fluorescent pens, write over the stain using the same marker quickly followed by a cotton bud dipped in white spirits. If you’re not sure, do a test first using a cotton bud and the various solvents.
Q: ‘I spilt coffee over the arm of my cotton couch’, reports Louise. ‘The fabric can’t be removed and I don’t know what to do. Can you help?’
| Problem: | Coffee on cotton. |
| What to use: | Glycerine, cotton ball, dishwashing liquid, damp cloth, paper towel. |
| How to apply: | Dab a cotton ball with a little glycerine and wipe over the stain. Leave for 20 minutes. Massage a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid into the stain using your fingers. Wipe off with a damp cloth and dry by pressing with paper towel. Don’t use too much moisture. Repeat if necessary. |
Q: ‘My husband fell asleep while holding a glass of red wine and it spilled all over our pale loose linen sofa which had been Scotchgarded,’ reports Megan. ‘At 3am, he got out my copy of Spotless and, in an attempt to undo the damage, proceeded to rub the red wine into the sofa. The care instructions state the linen can only be dry-cleaned. Help, please!’
Q: ‘My daughter has used crayons all over our light beige cotton couch’, reports Margie. ‘What can I do?’
Q: ‘I’ve got ear drop stains on my fabric chair’, reports Pat. ‘What should I do?’
| Problem: | Eardrops on cotton. |
| What to use: | Bran ball. |
| How to apply: | Wipe a bran ball (use the search feature of your ebook reader to search for ‘bran ball’) over the ear drops. |
These popular coverings are usually treated to repel spills and stains. Whatever you do, don’t use upholstery cleaner on these fabrics or it will leave a watermark and cause warping. Instead, clean with a bran ball (use the search feature of your ebook reader to search for ‘bran ball’).
Q: ‘My budding artist left a mural on the microsuede lounge with a child’s Texta pen’, says Jayne. ‘The colour is mid-green. Can you help me?’
Q: ‘I was eating melted cheese on toast’, reports Larry. ‘And some of the hot melted cheese landed on my microsuede lounge. What can I do?’
| Problem: | Melted cheese on microsuede. |
| What to use: | Ice-cubes, zip-lock bag, plastic knife, dishwashing liquid, damp cloth, paper towel. |
| How to apply: | Put an ice-cube in a zip-lock bag and place over the cheese. When the cheese is hard, remove the ice and scrape off the cheese with a plastic knife. To remove the oily smear, put a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid on your fingers and massage into the stain until it feels like jelly. Wipe over with a damp cloth and dry by pressing with paper towel. |
Q: ‘How do you remove crayon from microsuede fabric?’
| Problem: | Crayon on microsuede. |
| What to use: | Brown bread, tea tree oil, pantyhose. |
| How to apply: | Crayon has wax in it so rub the mark with brown bread. If any crayon remains, wipe with a couple of drops of tea tree oil on pantyhose. |
Q: ‘I’ve got 10 years’ worth of sweat and body oil on a nubuck lounge’, says Mike. ‘Is it time to recover it or can you save my beloved lounge/recliner?’
| Problem: | Sweat/body oil on nubuck. |
| What to use: | Bran ball, dishwashing liquid, damp cloth, paper towel. |
| How to apply: | Rub a bran ball (see page 85) over the affected area until it’s clean. For any oily spots, massage in a little dishwashing liquid using your fingers until it feels like jelly, then wipe with a damp cloth. Dry by pressing with paper towel. |
Q: ‘I spilt nail polish on a microsuede couch’, says Margaret. ‘What can I do?’
Q: ‘A recent visitor was breastfeeding her baby on my jacquard chair and the baby regurgitated milk on it’, says Karen. ‘It has a dark stain that I can’t seem to get out. What do you suggest?’
| Problem: | Baby milk vomit on jacquard. |
| What to use: | Cake of bathroom soap, cold water, damp cloth, bran ball. |
| How to apply: | If the stain has a dark edging, it’s a protein stain. To remove, run a cake of bathroom soap under cold water and using it like a big crayon, scribble over the stain and wipe with a damp cloth. Press with paper towel to absorb moisture. If there’s a watermark, rub a bran ball (see page 85) over the stain until removed. |
Tapestry can be delicate so take care when cleaning it. Rub a bran ball (see page 85) over upholstery. For smaller items, such as cushion covers, put 1 cup of unprocessed wheat bran inside a pillowcase. Place the tapestry in the pillowcase, close the top and shake vigorously—the bran acts as a scourer. Remove the tapestry (over a bin or outside) and shake away the bran.
The best way to clean a woollen lounge is with a bran ball (see page 85). If there’s staining, put a small amount of cheap shampoo on your fingertips and massage into the stain. Wipe with a damp cloth and dry by pressing with paper towel. Don’t use a hair dryer to dry wool because it will cause puckering.
If you think about it, leather is just toughened skin and like any skin it needs to be kept moist. To keep it looking good, use a good quality leather conditioner but don’t apply too much; 1 teaspoon impregnated in a cloth is enough for an entire couch. Deal with any scratches first with shoe cream (not shoe polish) in a matching colour (available from shoe repair shops). After applying the shoe cream, rub the scratches with the back of a warmed stainless steel spoon to set the shoe cream and prevent it getting on your clothes. Now use a good quality leather conditioner and cleaner—it should feel like a moisturiser you’d be happy to put on your own skin. Place a small amount (again, don’t overuse the product) onto a cloth and warm in the microwave in 10-second bursts so the conditioner melts into the cloth. When you’ve finished conditioning the couch, put the cloth into a zip-lock bag and seal it ready to use at the next cleaning session.
Leather reacts differently if it’s been waxed, plasticised or oiled so work this out before tackling any stains. To do this, place a single bead of water on an inconspicuous part of the leather. If the water rolls off, the leather coating is plasticised. If the water soaks into the leather, it’s not sealed. If the water soaks in slowly, it’s waxed.
Q: ‘I’m so cranky’, says Lynne. ‘The kids sat on my dark brown leather lounge in their swimming costumes and the chlorine has faded the leather. Is there anything I can do?’
| Problem: | Bleached brown leather. |
| What to use: | Walnuts, leather conditioner; or shoe cream, warm stainless steel spoon. |
| How to apply: | This only works with brown leather. Break a fresh walnut in half and rub the nut over the faded area. Now apply a good quality leather conditioner to bring back the sheen of the leather. For lighter coloured leather, use shoe cream in a matching colour and wipe over the stain. To set the colour, rub with the back of a warm stainless steel spoon. |
Q: ‘What’s the best way to remove nail polish from a leather lounge?’ asks Claire.
| Problem: | Nail polish on leather. |
| What to use: | Talcum powder, acetone, cotton bud, white vinegar, cloth, vacuum cleaner, leather conditioner. |
| How to apply: | Make a ring of talcum powder around the nail polish mark to protect the leather around the stain. Dip a cotton bud in acetone and wipe over the nail polish, then wipe straight away with a clean cotton bud. Repeat this process until the nail polish is removed. To neutralise the acetone, wipe with white vinegar on a cotton bud and sprinkle on talcum powder. When it dries, brush away with the back of your hand or vacuum. To finish, apply a small amount of quality leather conditioner. |
Q: ‘I’ve got blue biro on a leather sofa’, reports Margaret. ‘I did a test using methylated spirits and found some of the maroon colour came off on my white cloth. What should I do?’
Q: ‘Can you tell me how to remove the dye from blue denim on my white leather couch and cream leather car seats please?’ asks Monica.
| Problem: | Dye on leather. |
| What to use: | Colour Run Remover: Whites, water, cloth, talcum powder, leather conditioner. |
| How to apply: | To remove dye, use Colour Run Remover: Whites, which is available in the laundry aisle at the supermarket. Mix 1 part Colour Run Remover to 20 parts water and wipe over the stain with a cloth. Have a dry cloth in your other hand and wipe hand over hand. Sprinkle with talcum powder and brush away when dry. When finished, apply a little quality leather conditioner. |
TIP
To prevent dye from running in fabric clothes (not leather or suede), wash in a heavy salt solution (1 kg of non-iodised salt per 9 litres of water).
Q: ‘My daughter splashed some paint on our leather barstools’, reports Erin. ‘I didn’t notice for a couple of days and have tried to remove the stains with soap and water and then methylated spirits. But all I have done is make an ugly mark from the methylated spirits and the paint spots are still there. Can you help?’
| Problem: | Paint on leather. |
| What to use: | Tea tree oil, white vinegar, pantyhose, white spirits, cotton ball, walnut or shoe cream, warm stainless steel spoon, leather conditioner. |
| How to apply: | The leather on barstools is high in wax so wipe with equal parts tea tree oil and white vinegar on pantyhose. Follow with a cotton ball dipped in white spirits. If the barstool is brown and colour comes away, break a walnut in half and rub the inside over the mark. For barstools in other colours, use shoe cream in a matching colour and apply with the back of a warmed spoon. When clean, rub on a small amount of quality leather conditioner. |
Q: ‘Our lounge room ceiling recently collapsed. Now fine plaster powder and insulating rockwool material have become ingrained in the black leather of the lounge chairs. I have vacuumed and cleaned three times with leather cream but the chairs still retain the powder and look a dirty grey in parts. Any ideas?’
A:The leather cream has actually made the powder stick to the leather. To remove the dust, put an old sheet on the ground and turn your lounge upside down over it. Then shake the couch until all the plaster is removed. To remove the leather cream, use a good quality saddle soap. Each saddle soap uses a different technique, so follow the manufacturer’s directions. Resurface the leather by rubbing with a matching tinted leather cream using the back of a warm stainless steel spoon.
Q: ‘What’s the best way to get rid of cigarette smoke smell in a vinyl-covered chair?’ asks Samuel.
Throws—or ‘threws’, as Trude and Prue call them—are a great way to change the look of a couch and keep you warm in winter. Mohair is a popular choice but it sheds and leaves hairs over your couch. The best way to minimise shedding is to wash the throw in a little cheap shampoo and blood-heat water. Then rinse in a little cheap hair conditioner and blood-heat water. The water temperature must be the same. Dry in the shade. When dry, place in a plastic bag and put into the freezer for half an hour. Cold fibres don’t frizz or shed as easily.
Clean with a salt solution (1 cup of non-iodised salt per 9 litre bucket of water) on a cloth and remove any residual water by wiping with a towel. Don’t use soap or detergents because they can swell the cane and dry it out, making it vulnerable to splitting.
To clean aluminium, use cold black tea on a cloth. To remove rust from painted wrought iron, use steel wool and turpentine.
When cleaning timber, it is important to remember that you are cleaning the surface not the core. Timber can be sealed in polyurethane, varnish, shellac or beeswax. To identify the surface and use the appropriate solution, see page 360 for instructions. To remove scratches in polyurethane, use Brasso on a cloth and rub along the grain using speed, not pressure. It will look worse before it looks better.
Q: ‘I have an unsealed timber coffee table’, says Sandy. ‘And there are many water stains on it from glasses and cups. How can I remove the staining?’
| Problem: | Watermarks on timber. |
| What to use: | Pantyhose, cold strong black tea, beeswax or carnauba wax. |
| How to apply: | To replace the tannins in the bleached area and clean away fat and grime, scrub with a pair of pantyhose dipped in cold black tea. Polish with a fine coating of beeswax or carnauba wax. |
| Prevention: | Protect timber surfaces with coasters. |
Q: ‘My son ate greasy takeaway fish and chips at the coffee table’, explains Julie. ‘And it’s left a white cloudy stain on the timber. Can you suggest a solution?’
| Problem: | Cloudy stain on timber. |
| What to use: | Brasso, cloth; or beeswax, lemon peel. |
| How to apply: | The heat has created tiny bubbles on the surface of the coffee table. To repair the timber, first work out what the table is sealed with (see page 360). If it’s sealed with polyurethane, rub a small amount of Brasso on a cloth in the direction of the grain. It will look worse before it looks better. Just keep rubbing but don’t add any more Brasso. If the surface is sealed in varnish, shellac or wax, apply warmed beeswax with the yellow side of a piece of lemon peel, rubbing in the direction of the grain. Work quickly. |
Ornaments are lovely to look at but a challenge to clean with dust easily finding its way into every nook and cranny. For an easy clean, add a tiny amount of sweet almond oil to a paintbrush and wipe over the dusty area. The dust will stick to the oil. If it’s stubborn dust, aim a hair dryer over the dust and use sweet almond oil on a brush. (See pages 81–82 of Spotless for more information.)
Oriental and Asian lacquered furniture can be difficult to clean. Never use heavy polishes because they can react with the lacquer and cause a bloom. If the surface is sticky, clean with pantyhose and a little skim milk and polish with a soft dry cloth. Use a little carnauba wax and beeswax on a cloth and polish over the whole surface. You can remove a build-up of wax with warmed pantyhose (put in the microwave for 10 seconds—no longer or they will melt). Polish in circles using speed, not pressure. Put potted plants near the furniture to provide humidity. If the plants start to die, the air is too dry and they need additional watering. You’ll save the plant and be able to monitor the room’s humidity.
TIP
Use skim milk to polish lacquered timber.
To work out when it’s time to call the chimney sweep, scrape a fingernail on the inside of a cold chimney. If soot flakes off, rather than smears off, it’s time for a clean. Other clues are excess smoke from the fire (see pages 84–85 of Spotless for details on how to deal with this) and soot falling down the chimney into the fireplace. Bronze, copper, brass, white metal, tin and iron are best cleaned with bicarb and white vinegar. Prevent further tarnishing by wiping with a little sweet almond oil on a cloth. This will also make future cleaning easier.
Q: ‘We’ve got a copper chimney above our slow combustion heater’, reports Matthew. ‘The copper has gone black at the bottom. How do we fix it?’
| Problem: | Blackened copper. |
| What to use: | Bicarb, cloth, white vinegar, pantyhose, bamboo skewer, copper coating, sweet almond oil. |
| How to apply: | Put bicarb on a cloth and wipe over the blackened areas. Now spray with white vinegar. While it’s fizzing, scrub with a rolled up pair of pantyhose. Sometimes copper is coated in a clear varnish which can become pitted and look like small black spots. To determine if the copper has been coated, scratch an inconspicuous part using a bamboo skewer. If the copper is coated, prevent tarnish by respraying the surface with a copper coating. Or slow the corrosion by rubbing with a dab of sweet almond oil on a cloth. |
Q: ‘How do I clean a bronze fire screen?’ asks Robyn.
| Problem: | Dirty bronze fire screen. |
| What to use: | Sweet almond oil, pantyhose. |
| How to apply: | Rub on sweet almond oil with a pair of rolled up pantyhose. It will give a great sheen without destroying the patina. |
Clean mantlepieces according to what they’re made of.
Marble—if stained, mix plaster of Paris and water to form a paste the consistency of peanut butter. Apply to the stain, allow to dry, then brush away. Seal with marble flooring wax. If you can’t get marble flooring wax, use milk.
Granite—if stained, mix plaster of Paris and water to the consistency of runny cream. Apply the mixture and leave to dry. Rub off with pantyhose.
Sandstone, brick—if stained, mix equal parts cigarette ash, bicarb and white vinegar. Apply to the stain and scrub well with a brush. Rinse with a damp cloth. Don’t use on limestone or marble because this mixture is too acidic.
Timber—can be easily damaged with smoke. If finished in plaster or paint, clean with a paste of bicarb and water. Polish on with a cloth, allow to dry and polish off with a cloth.
Don’t forget to clean your heater during the weekly clean because dust can affect its operation. Of course, don’t clean when it’s on or still warm. If finished in enamel, wipe with pantyhose dipped in equal parts white vinegar and water. If made of chrome, sprinkle with bicarb, wipe with white vinegar on a cloth and wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Q: ‘I’ve got melted polyester on the glass of my gas heater’, says Natalia. ‘Can it be removed?’
Q: ‘Our wood-burning fire has a glass door’, reports Gerry. ‘And over the years, it’s been badly stained brown-black which makes it difficult to see the flames and condition of the fire. Can you help?’
| Problem: | Burnt/stained glass. |
| What to use: | Cigarette ash, bicarb, white vinegar, pantyhose, water. |
| How to apply: | Mix equal parts cigarette ash, bicarb and white vinegar. Apply to the glass with a pair of pantyhose and leave for about an hour. When dry, polish off with damp pantyhose. |
Q: ‘My column oil heater blew up and oil spilt everywhere’, says Paul. ‘I soaked the oil up with towels but the problem is getting the smell out of my towels. Can you help?’
Having a massive plasma TV screen with multiple speakers means you can almost have the cinema experience at home—with much cheaper popcorn. To clean plasma TVs, consult the manufacturer’s manual. Never use detergent or caustic cleaners because they could damage the screen. Most marks can be removed with a soft damp cloth.
During a Stain Clinic, Tom recommended Plexus plastic cleaner to clean LCD screens but said you must apply it with a cloth over the entire screen. We’ve since learned that Plexus is used to clean aircraft windshields and plastic in cars.
Most stereos are made with aluminium-coated plastic or chrome-plated plastic. Expensive ones are made of metal. Use a non-abrasive cleaner, such as pantyhose, and be careful cleaning around electrics. You don’t want to get any moisture or chemicals in them. Remove fingermarks with damp pantyhose. Clean inside a CD player regularly with a puffer brush (available from department and electronic stores) or the dust will clog the mechanism. Vacuum the cloth front of your speakers using the brush attachment. You’ll know there’s too much dust when there’s a buzz in your speakers.
Q: ‘I’ve got black rubber foot marks on a wooden cabinet from my stereo speakers’, says Mick. ‘How do you remove them?’
| Problem: | Rubber marks on timber. |
| What to use: | Damp salt, cloth. |
| How to apply: | Rub the marks with a small quantity of damp salt on a cloth. |
| Prevention: | To stop rubber from perishing, rub with talcum powder. |
Q: ‘What’s the best way to remove sticky tape residue from vinyl records?’ asks Michelle. ‘We’ve got some old Golden Book records we’d like to play to the kids.’
| Problem: | Sticky tape residue on vinyl records. |
| What to use: | Tea tree oil, warm water, pantyhose. |
| How to apply: | Add ½ teaspoon of tea tree oil to 2 cups of warm water. Roll up a pair of pantyhose, dip into the solution and rub over the record in the direction of the grooves until the residue is removed. Allow to air dry. |
Q: ‘I own a piano that’s french polished’, says Tim. ‘But it’s got white candle wax on it. How can I get it off?’
| Problem: | Wax on timber. |
| What to use: | Ice-cubes, zip-lock bag, talcum powder, damp silk. |
| How to apply: | Put ice-cubes in a zip-lock bag and place over the wax. When the wax is cold, remove the ice and sprinkle talcum powder over the wax. Rub with a piece of damp silk in the direction of the grain. This cuts through the wax without damaging the surface. |
Q: ‘How can I clean my high tensile guitar strings to make them last longer?’ asks Wayne.
| Problem: | Cleaning guitar strings. |
| What to use: | Sweet almond oil, lint-free cloth. |
| How to apply: | Place a little sweet almond oil on a lint-free cloth (such as an old T-shirt) and wipe over the strings. Sweet almond oil prevents corrosion and helps keep metal in good condition. |
Q: ‘How do you repair discoloured billiard balls?’ asks Lesley.
| Problem: | Discoloured billiard balls. |
| What to use: | Glycerine, talcum powder, cloth (plastic); sweet almond oil, cloth (ivory); or toothpaste, water, cloth. |
| How to apply: | If they’re made of plastic, mix equal parts glycerine and talcum powder to form a paste and polish with a cloth. If made of ivory, clean with sweet almond oil on a cloth. If plastic or ivory are very dirty, use equal parts toothpaste and water on a cloth before applying the methods described above. |
Q: ‘I’ve got a red wine stain in my decanter’, says Judith. ‘And it just won’t budge. What do you suggest?’
Shannon loves hosting big family gatherings around her dining table, which has special significance because it was her mother-in-law’s. Jennifer’s dining table is a converted shed door made by her father and it’s been the location of many happy dinner parties.
The most common dining table problems raised at Stain Clinics involve heat and water. Both can be tricky to fix so always put some form of protection, such as mats, over a table if there are hot dishes, full glasses or vases. Before tackling any stain, you’ll need to know the product used to seal the dining table. To find out, see page 360.
Q: ‘How do I clean heat/water marks from an antique french polished table?’ asks Lynn.
Q: ‘On remarriage, I gained a 14-seater french polished timber veneer dining table’, reports Pamela. ‘I was able to convince my husband we should enjoy the table and have had numerous dinner parties. Sadly, condensation from a jug ran under a large coaster and has left a slightly puckered semi-raised surface. Can it be fixed?’
| Problem: | Water mark on french polish. |
| What to use: | Professional. |
| How to apply: | Because the surface has puckered it will need to be repaired by a professional. Some restorers make things look brand new which devalues the piece. Instead, choose a ‘sympathetic’ restorer to repair the table in keeping with its age and condition. |
TIP
To clean french polish, make your own polishing cloth. Mix 1 tablespoon of beeswax, 2 drops of lavender oil and 2 drops of lemon oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Place a 100 per cent white cotton cloth over the top and put the bowl inside the microwave. Heat in 10-second bursts until the beeswax melts. Store the cloth in a zip-lock bag. To remove sticky fingerprints, polish the table with a pair of rolled up pantyhose. If the fingerprints are particularly greasy, sprinkle the table with a little cornflour before polishing with pantyhose.
Q: ‘I have accidentally spilt craft glue on our wooden dining table. I tried to remove the glue with a damp cloth and hot water which seems to have left a bleach mark. What can I do?’
A:Moisture is bad news for timber because it makes it swell. Reduce bleaching by rubbing with a damp tea bag. Depending on the extent of the damage, the table may have to be sanded and resurfaced. In future, remove glue with damp pantyhose heated in the microwave for 10 seconds (no longer or the pantyhose will melt). Rub over the glue in the direction of the grain using speed, not pressure. Dry thoroughly with a cotton cloth.
Q: ‘I have a marble-covered dining table’, says Maria. ‘And the marble is beginning to show fingerprints and other marks, such as glass rims. Any ideas?’
Q: ‘When our son was a baby, he used to shove his peas under the table protector (unbeknown to us)’, says Tyson. ‘So now we have all these green stains over our polished wooden dining table. What can we do?’
| Problem: | Peas on timber. |
| What to use: | Glycerine, talcum powder, cloth; or beeswax; sunlight or ultraviolet light. |
| How to apply: | Firstly, work out what the table is sealed with (see page 360). If the table has a polyurethane finish, polish with a paste of equal parts glycerine and talcum powder on a cloth. If the table has a shellac finish, use beeswax on a cloth. To remove any residual green, expose the stains to sunlight or an ultraviolet light. |
Q: ‘The green dye from my bamboo table mat has leached onto my varnished veneer dining table’, says Charmaine. ‘What can I do?’
| Problem: | Green dye on timber. |
| What to use: | Brasso, cloth, soft cloth; or Colour Run Remover: Coloursafe, cotton ball, silicone-free furniture polish. |
| How to apply: | Firstly, work out what the table has been sealed with (see page 360). If it’s a polyurethane finish, use a little Brasso on a cloth, rub in the direction of the grain and polish with a soft cloth. It will look worse before it looks better. This removes a little of the finish and the dye. If finished in shellac, use a small amount of Colour Run Remover: Coloursafe. Apply with a cotton ball and rub in the direction of the grain until the colour is removed then wipe with a damp cloth. Use a silicone-free furniture polish. |
Q: ‘I’ve got a damask tablecloth with mildew on it’, complains Lee. ‘What can I do?’
Q: ‘I had stains from a pot-plant seep through to my white tablecloth cover’, reports Susie. ‘How do I get rid of them?’
| Problem: | Soil and mould on cotton. |
| What to use: | Oil of cloves, 1 litre spray pack, water, non-iodised salt, lemon juice, sunshine. |
| How to apply: | Mix ¼ teaspoon of oil of cloves in a spray pack of water. Lightly spray onto the tablecloth and leave for 24 hours. Place a little mountain of salt over the marks and squeeze on a little lemon juice to moisten the salt. Leave in the sunshine to dry, then wash and dry normally. |
Q: ‘I was given a table with a vinyl top that’s been slightly water damaged’, reports June. ‘The vinyl looks bumpy in some spots. Is there any way to flatten this out?’
You can clean silver with a little bicarb followed by a little white vinegar. Rub it with a cloth while it’s fizzing. Wear a pair of old cotton socks on your hands to prevent the acid from your skin transferring to the silver and causing it to tarnish. To prevent future tarnish, rub with a couple of drops of sweet almond oil on a cloth to seal.
Q: ‘My solid silver teapot set was heavily tarnished and blackened. So I washed it in warm detergent. Then I wrapped it in aluminium foil and added a solution of bicarb and water to the inside of the pot and brought it to the boil for 3 minutes. The result is AWFUL. The silver appears to have undergone a chemical change. Please help!’
A:This technique not only removes tarnish but removes a layer of silver. If you want to restore the silver, you’ll need to have it professionally replated. To clean silver, sprinkle with bicarb, add white vinegar and, while fizzing, rub with a soft cloth. To slow tarnishing, once it’s clean, rub with a couple of drops of sweet almond oil on a cloth.
If you share a computer with someone else, here’s some alarming information. Research by the University of Arizona found the average office desktop harboured 400 times more bacteria than the average office toilet seat! To clean your computer, turn it off, turn the keyboard upside down and gently shake to remove any crumbs.
Never spray anything directly onto a computer or keyboard because moisture is bad for electrics. Instead, spray white vinegar or methylated spirits on a soft cloth and wipe the screen and keyboard. Jennifer thinks white vinegar is the best cleaner. To clean between the keys on your keyboard, use a little white vinegar or methylated spirits on a cotton bud. It’s fine to use your vacuum cleaner to remove dirt outside the computer but never use it inside the computer because it creates static electricity and could ruin it.
To deter bugs, spray surface insecticide (not any of the lure and kill varieties) on a cloth and wipe over the back of the computer.
You know it’s time to clean the mouse when it becomes sticky and hard to manoeuvre. The latest ones are optical and can’t be pulled apart but you can clean the case by wiping with a cloth dampened with white vinegar or methylated spirits. Make sure you clean the track wheel. To clean the underside of the mouse, dip a cotton bud in methylated spirits, wipe the slide points that make contact with the mat and dry upside down. Remove skin cells and sweat from the mouse mat and cord by wiping with methylated spirits on a pair of pantyhose.
Clean the outside of the fax with a damp cloth. Clean rubber rollers with a little methylated spirits on a cotton bud. To remove cotton bud fibres, wipe again with a damp lint-free cloth.
Clean the outside as described for the fax. Clean the glass with a little methylated spirits on a lint-free cloth. Clean the buttons with methylated spirits on a cotton bud.
Q: ‘I wonder if you have tips on how to successfully remove ink stains from an old leather desk top?’ asks Mark. ‘I’d appreciate it!’
Shannon says she can’t bear to part with books because they’re like friends to her. Jennifer is also a keen reader but unless she wants to read a book again, she generally passes them on to family and friends. Don’t forget to vacuum bookshelves and over the books while you’re at it and always store books away from direct sunlight and moisture. To preserve old leather-bound books, rub the leather with a little sweet almond oil.
Q: ‘My document safe has a very musty smell and all the documents stink’, says Jack. ‘What can I do?’
| Problem: | Musty paper. |
| What to use: | White chalk, loose-leaf tea. |
| How to apply: | Put 6 sticks of white chalk inside the safe to absorb the moisture. Leave an opened packet of loose-leaf tea inside the safe to get rid of the smell. Close the door and leave for a week. |