How to remove shoe polish stains from wood




Shoe Polish can breathe a new life into shoes. Your old loafers can be reinstated to their former glory with just a single stroke of polish. Yet this very polish which gives your shoes a spark, when combined with wood results into a nasty stain which doesn’t come off easily.

You had to rush to work and were hurriedly polishing your shoes. Before you knew your cat knocked the thing over and now instead of your loafer, the polish was all over your floor. Definitely it isn’t something nice to look at. Who would want an annoying sooty blot to ruin the charm of beautifully laminated wood?

Yet you don’t need to panic. Because hereby we will be providing you with some simple and effective tips to bid farewell to these polish stains.


Method One (Using Dish Detergent and Hydrogen per oxide)

            Removing polish stains from wood can be a piece of cake, if only you know what to do. This following method which deploys dish detergent and hydrogen peroxide can get out any stubborn polish stain from your wood, making it as good as new.

Things that you will require:

·      Paper towels
·      Dish Detergent
·      Tooth brush
·      Hydrogen per oxide
·      Stain eraser sponge
·      Dusting Spray
·      Rag

Steps that you need to take:


1.    Take some paper towels and scrape off the excess polish from the wooden surface.

2.   Now take a tooth brush and pour some dish washing detergent on it.

3.   Scrub the stain with this toothbrush, until its starts coming off.

4.   To ensure that the polish stain is entirely cleaned away, pour some hydrogen per oxide on it. Let it sit for some time, approximately fifteen to twenty minutes.

5.   Again blot the stain with paper towels to remove all the excess liquid.

6.   Afterwards, take a stain eraser sponge and scrub the wooden surface with it. Continue scrubbing until you get rid of all polish stain traces.

7.   Lastly, apply some dusting spray and swipe with a clean rag for a finishing touch.

Precaution:  

Rub the stain in a circular motion, instead of back and forth. In this manner, the polish stain on wood would stay confined in a small area and wouldn’t spread any further. If the stains are more stubborn, you can use the following method.


Method two (Using WD30)

            If you are battling polish stains that have set in, or are really stubborn and won’t budge; then this method can be used. It deploys WD30 for the removal of set-in polish stains from wood.

Things that you will require:

·      Rag
·      Detergent Paste
·      Tooth brush
·      Clean Water
·      WD30

Steps that you need to take:

1.    Primarily, blot the stain with a rag.

2.   Then make a detergent paste and apply it on the stain.

3.   Rub this detergent on the stain by means of a tooth brush.

4.   Afterwards, rinse the stain and blot it dry.

5.   If the stain still hasn’t got out, then take some WD30 and spray it on the stain.

6.   Let it set in the stain for some time.

7.   Afterwards, rub the stain lightly with a clean toothbrush or sponge until the stain comes off.

8.   Take a wash cloth and soak it in clean water.

9.   Blot the stain site with this wash cloth, making sure that all traces of WD30 and the stain are removed.

10.   Then, blot it dry.

 Warning:

            WD30 is a dangerous chemical and should be dealt with caution. Before applying it on the stain, apply it on some inconspicuous area of the wood to check if it doesn’t damage the wooden surface. Proceed only if it doesn’t.

How to remove oil stains from tiles




Tiles have become almost a necessity in contemporary bathrooms and kitchens. The reasons for this are very evident. Tiles promise beauty, versatility and durability. They endow your kitchens and bathrooms with a neat and sophisticated appearance. Yet these very tiles become extremely unsightly, if stained with oil and grease. Busy homemakers and professionals alike usually do not feel like mopping and cleaning their floors daily. Consequently your tiles end up with accumulated grease and grout.

If this has happened with you as well, then it is time you restore your otherwise beautiful flooring. It is time you get rid of these nasty stains and this is where we come in to help you.

Following are some reliable methods which will go a long way in helping you to remove oil stains from your tiles and refurbish them to their original state.


Method One (Using soap and cleansers)

This method is effective for those oil stains which are fresh or haven’t set in deeply. Moreover you ought to go through this procedure every once in a while to keep your tile flooring as good as new.

Things that you will require:

·      Rags
·      Grease-cutting soap
·      Sponge
·      Clean water
·      Specialized cleansers

Steps that you need to take:


1.    Wipe the oil stained tile with some old rags, which you don’t mind eventually discarding away. Keep on replacing the rags until all the spilled oil is wiped off. Then safely dispose of the rags.

2.   The next step comprises of washing the tile. However you just can’t go for any soap. Since our purpose here is to remove oil stains from the tile, therefore you ought to opt for a grease-cutting soap. Take a sponge, pour some liquid soap onto it and rub the stained tile with this sponge.

3.   After scrubbing the tile, rinse with clean water; then scrub again. Continue the process periodically until traces of oil stains begin to disappear.

4.   To ensure that all the remnants of the stain are entirely cleaned away, take the help of some specialized cleansers. Apply the cleanser on the stain and rub with a slightly damp sponge. Afterwards rinse with clean water.

5.   Continue this cleaning process, until you end up with tiles which are as good as new, free of all oil stains.For more methods read below.


Method two (washing soda)

 If you are facing set in oil stains and grout which wouldn’t come off easily, then this method that deploys a stronger cleaning solution is the one for you. It will effectively remove the grease and grime from scratch and restore your tiles to their former beautiful state.

Things that you will require:

·      Washing soda
·      Warm water
·      Spatula
·      Mop bucket
·      Hand held brush
·      Protective gloves
·      Eye wear

Steps that you need to take:

1.    For making this strong solution, primarily what you need is washing soda. You might come across washing soda with its chemical name as well i.e. sodium carbonate.

2.   This chemical tends to be highly toxic, and while handling it you need to put on your protective gloves and eye wear. Moreover, turning on ventilation fans and opening doors and windows is also a good option.

3.   For making this solution, take almost one gallon of warm water in a mop bucket. Measure one half cup of washing soda and pour it in the bucket. Mix the solution by using a spatula.

4.   If you are spot cleaning then goes for a handheld brush. While if you intend to clean a wider surface then a deck brush would do. Place any of the two brushes in the bucket so that it absorbs some of the cleaning solution.

5.   Then rub the oil stained tiles with the brush in a circular motion.

6.   Continue rubbing for some time so that washing soda satisfactorily gets out the oil stains.

7.   Then take clean water in a bucket and mop the tiles with clean water.

 Warning:  

Before applying washing soda solution on your tiles, take a washcloth, soak it in the solution and then rub an inconspicuous part of the flooring with this cloth. Wait for five minutes so that the solution can dry up. If the surface shows no damage, then continue; otherwise opt for the former method.

How to remove oil stains from silk clothes



 Silk is one of those magnificent fabrics, which bestow a luxurious and timeless quality to your appearance. Silk clothes happen to be immensely elegant and everlasting. Imagine wearing your favorite silk gown to a cocktail party and accidentally bumping into the waiter. Consequently the greasy pastries which he was carrying got spilled all over your silk dress. Oil stains are some of the worst stains to ruin your silk clothes, however if treated promptly, these stains can be easily removed. On the other hand, if left untreated for almost 24 hours, these oil stains not only become difficult but sometimes even impossible to remove. Following are some tips which will enable you to effectively get rid of these oil stains from silk clothes.


Method One (Using Liquid dish washing soap)

This method is pretty simple, yet effective to get rid of oil stains from your silk clothes. However, since the fabric you are dealing with is very delicate, so you have to keep your touch light and be very careful throughout the procedure.


Things that you will require:

·      Liquid dish wash soap
·      Dropper/clean sponge
·      Soft brush
·      Lukewarm water
·      Baby shampoo/ detergent for hand washables
·      Towel/padded hanger

Steps that you need to take:


1.   Primarily, you have to make a cleaning solution. This cleaning solution ought to be very gentle as the fabric which we are handling is very delicate. To make this solution, mix one part liquid dish soap with ten parts water.

2.   Before you start treating the stain, check the fabric for its color fastness. Apply some solution on the inner seam of the fabric and check whether it negatively affects the fabric or not.

3.    If it does not, then take some of the solution in an eye dropper or clean sponge. Apply it on the stain. Tap the solution gently on the stain with fingers or a clean soft brush.

4.   Let the solution sit in for some time.

5.   The soap should be agitated very lightly if needed, otherwise it should be avoided.

6.   Once the cleaning solution has set in the stain, launder the fabric.

7.   It is recommended that you wash it in lukewarm water, using baby shampoo or a detergent recommended for hand washables.

8.   If the stain has still not been cleaned, then repeat the above processes.

9.   If it has been successfully removed, then air dry it by spreading a towel underneath it and laying it flat on it, or by hanging it on a padded hanger.



Precaution:

            Do not make use of dish washing detergents for this method, as they are highly alkaline and may damage the silk.

Method two (Using Citrus Oil)

Citrus is a natural cleanser and a natural solvent which would not hurt silk fibers. Moreover it can effectively remove oil, grease and even wax stains from silk clothes. Therefore this method deploys citrus oil to get rid of oil stains.

Things that you will require:

·      Citrus Oil
·      Paper towels
·      Iron

Steps that you need to take:

1.    Apply some citrus oil on the stain. You could look for products such as CitraSolve.

2.    Allow it to sit in the stain for some time, approximately ten to fifteen minutes.

3.   Then, place some paper towels on the oil stain and run a slightly hot iron on it.

4.   Majority of the oil stain will be absorbed in the paper towels.

5.   Keep replacing the towels as required.

6.   Afterwards wash and dry the fabric as explained in the former method

 Tip:  

Always check for cleaning instructions on the garment’s tag. If the stain oil doesn’t get removed by any of these methods, take the help of some professional dry cleaner.