- Double-duty dusting formula
Here’s a dusting formula that will also moisturise dry wood. In a teacup, mix 1/4 cup (60ml) linseed oil with 1 teaspoon lemon balm tea. Dip your dusting cloth into the mixture (soaking up only a small amount at a time) and rub it vigorously onto the wooden surface to be cleaned. Use a soft clean cloth to wipe away any residue.
- Removing stuck-on candle wax
If a candlelit dinner party has ended with hot wax dripped onto your treasured dining table, here’s how to remove it without scratching the wood. Put a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and rest the bag on the wax until it becomes brittle. Then gently prise the wax off using the edge of a spatula or credit card. Gently rub a soft cloth dampened with a solution of 1 part apple cider vinegar to 10 parts warm water to take care of any residue.
- Three fixes for wood finishes
You don’t need to look any further than the kitchen or bathroom when it’s time to take care of these three common problems:
- Stuck-on paper To remove paper that’s stuck to a wooden surface, pour a few drops of olive oil over the paper, wait about 20 minutes as the oil softens it and then use a clean dry cloth to remove the paper and oil. (Not only is olive oil harmless to wood, but it may do it some good.)
- Burn mark If a wood surface suffers a slight burn from a mislaid cigarette or a lit match, rub a little mayonnaise into the burn, let it sit for a few minutes and wipe it off with a clean, damp cloth. Mayonnaise will also remove crayon marks from wood.
- Tape To remove adhesive tape that has stuck to a wooden floor or piece of furniture, apply a little surgical spirit to the tape, then rub the area with a cloth dipped in a solution of 1 teaspoon washing-up liquid and 2 cups (500ml) warm water.
- Get rid of water rings and spots
If a guest doesn’t use a coaster and their glass leaves a white ring or spots on a wooden table, the unsightly marks will disappear like magic if you dampen a cloth, apply a dab of toothpaste and rub the area gently. For a stubborn spot, add a little bicarbonate of soda to the toothpaste. Dry the area and then polish the surface as usual; if you’re lucky, all traces of the damage will vanish.
- Homemade furniture polish
A simple polish made from two kitchen staples will leave wooden furniture with a lovely shine and pleasant smell. Combine 2-1/3 cups (600ml) vegetable oil with 1-1/2 cups (360ml) lemon juice, mix well and pour the solution into a spray bottle. Spray onto finished wooden surfaces and polish well with a soft cloth. As the polish contains lemon juice, you’ll have to store it in the fridge, where it will keep for up to six months. The oil won’t congeal, so the polish won’t need ‘thawing’.
- Caring for vinyl upholstery
Though vinyl upholstery is durable, it has a weakness — oil from skin and hair can cause it to harden and even crack. To keep vinyl-covered furniture in good shape, clean it regularly, especially when it gets a lot of use. Dampen a cloth in water, dip it in white vinegar and gently wipe the vinyl surfaces to cut through oils. Then add a few drops of mild washing-up liquid to a bucket of water, stir well and wash the vinyl with a soft cloth dipped into the soapy water. Rinse with a damp cloth and dry.
- Foam away dirt
For spot-cleaning the corners of dirty sofa cushions, upholstered chair arms and similar, whip up some foam. First, make sure the fabric can be safely cleaned with water-based agents (check the cleaning instructions label). If it can, vacuum the soiled fabric thoroughly to remove loose dirt. Mix 1 part mild liquid laundry detergent with 4 parts distilled water in a bowl. (Distilled water doesn’t leave watermarks on fabric.) Using a hand mixer, beat the solution until a you build a good head of foam. Carefully apply to the upholstery, working in small sections, using a clean sponge or cloth. Let dry, then wipe it off with a cloth dampened with white vinegar diluted with distilled water (1 part vinegar to 6 parts water).
- Removing stains from vinyl furniture
To remove stubborn marks from vinyl furniture, try rubbing the stain with a cloth dipped in milk. (Whether the milk is skim, low-fat or full-fat doesn’t matter.) Then wash with soapy water as directed above and dry.
- Scorch mark on upholstery
Whether someone has accidentally dropped a cigarette or a match on your best armchair is irrelevant: you now have an expensive repair to deal with. But it may not be the disaster it seems. You may be able to blot out the mark with paper towels. Wet a paper towel with distilled water and dab it onto the mark (but don’t rub). Now blot it with a dry paper towel. If that doesn’t work, put a drop of mild liquid laundry detergent onto a wet paper towel and treat the spot. After a minute or two, blot up the detergent with a wet paper towel and then blot the area one last time with a dry one.
- Touching up leather
Though leather is hard to stain, it can easily sustain watermarks. Just wipe these away with white vinegar — but only after testing on an inconspicuous area of the upholstery. To get rid of scuff marks, rub them with a pencil eraser.
- Take a leather lesson from the stables
If you’re lucky enough to own a sofa or club chair made of heavier saddle leather, forget about using expensive, specialized leather cleaners, and instead use old-fashioned saddle soap. Treat the leather once or twice a year, depending on how dry or humid your home is.
Credit : Reader’s Digest
Picture Credit: Google