apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Any tips on how to get ball point pen out of a leather sofa?

Raquel--
Sounds like the little ones are getting more active!! ;)

I know that to get ball point ink out of fabric, spray it with hairspray (the cheaper the better, since it is the alcohol content that does the actual trick). But not sure how that would work on leather...

I really want to know how to clean the space between tiles? Unfortunately the space is too narrow for Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Racquel, here are some links -
www.answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=291958
www.cleaning.lifetips.com/subcat/74217/furniture-cleaning-stain-removal/leather-cleaning-stain-removal/

Any suggestions on cleaning products for an old tub? I'm new to the place, used softscrub and it went toxic (stained the tub temporarily and gave off awful fumes). What to do? Help!

To follow-up on the pen on leather -- I have that "Queen Of Clean" book (Yeah, I know -- shhh, don't tell -- but it's actually a great resource.) She says NOT to use hair spray on pen, mainly because the composition of hair spray is different now, so that technique doesn't always work. She has a whole number of suggestions for pen marks, but the only one I can remember off the top of my head is to use milk - dab milk on the stain. I tried it on a blouse and it worked.

Littoo, if your grout is white, get a Clorox Bleach Pen and an old toothbrush (Target also sells a grout brush with very firm bristles and a long angled handle for about $3.00). Wear old clothes while you scrub and rinse. If your tile is in the shower area, you can keep the stains from coming back by using either a squeegee to remove water after each shower, or a shower spray like Method or Tilex Daily Shower Spray.... or just a spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol. If you use the shower spray, you don't need to squeegee. The shower spray/alcohol will force the water to bead up/roll off, then evaporate.

Also - I use rubbing alcohol to clean my bathroom floor, which is old, mostly shiny ceramic tile. I spill a big puddle of it on the floor, then wipe it off with paper towels. It cleans beautifully and afterward I *know* it's clean. Be very careful of open flames (like a gas wall heater) if you opt to do this yourself; alcohol is extremely flammable and the flame would be difficult to see before it's too late. (I'm recalling alcohol burners from HS chemistry class here.)

J, try using Bon Ami. It's not chemically based and is more gentle than Ajax or other cleaners. It's basically finely ground talc with soap added, so it should be okay.

For j... try Kaboom bathroom cleaner. It comes in a purple spray bottle and has worked wonders on both old (dull) porcelain tubs and a fiberglass shower enclosure. (Ex-boyfriend apparently hadn't cleaned his coughDISGUSTINGcough shower since he'd moved in four years before - it sparkled with surprisingly very little effort when I tried Kaboom.)

I'll warn you that Kaboom doesn't smell especially good, but it works. And, once you get the surface clean, you can use something that smells better for maintenance cleaning. I only use Kaboom when I need to bring out the Big Guns for cleaning. For what it's worth, the fumes from Kaboom are not as noxious as those from Tilex grout cleaner with Bleach, etc.

Murphy's Wood Oil Soap.

Nuff Said!

Ellen--
Interesting about the change in hairspray-on-ink thinking. I think it had to do with alcohol content, so I am guessing some of the hard-core old-school sprays like Aqua Net might still work. But sounds like using the Paul Sebastian won't cut the mustard. So to speak.

Kaboom works very well on porcelain. If your tub is really looking sad, you might consider re-finishing it. It's come up a few times in the archives, if you're interested in that...

What about hard water residue? It drives me crazy!

Baking soda works amazingly well on most things. It's especially good for greasy pans, stove tops, and other surfaces in the kitchen. Just use it like you would use any scouring powder.

Thank you, Fiona and Anne. I'll try both Kaboom and Bon Ami. I'm in a rental so won't be refinishing, and lovely as my landlords are, I don't they'd be up for footing that bill. Thanks again.

JR Rice -- again, I recommend Kaboom. Once you've removed the residue, use a daily shower spray or rubbing alcohol.

Incidentally, as I recall, the company that makes Kaboom is the same company that makes OxyClean. I can get Kaboom at Target and at most grocery stores... but I'm in Dallas, so my retail options for household products are pretty unlimited with all the big-box stores and grocery stores that fill an acre of land. Sadly, no neighborhood bodega here.

I think Seventh Generation products are a great non-toxic alternative for anyone who is environmentally conscientious or concerned about their pets (or children) coming in contact with bleach and other cleaners.

Yes, I have to say that Kaboom really works (it's my guilty toxic cleanser pleasure - smells less bad than Scrubbing Bubbles, my old guilty toxic cleanser pleasure). I just wasn't sure if it might be too strong--but try it out!

I only use one product and it cleans everything -- Dr. Bronner's SAL SUDS. Great product, great guy. ALL ONE!

Anne - thanks for the Kaboom seconding. Those commercials are fascinating. I was already thisclose to getting it, so I'm glad it's as good as reported. I'm also very close to getting the Wood Refinisher system they are touting, any thoughts?

I'm not as good as I'd like to be about buyinng green products, but arthome Ecological Heavy Duty Countertop Cleaner and arthome glass cleaner work wonders.

My happiest day cleaning last year was the day I Murphys Oil Soaped my wood floors.

Good times.

Anyone have a recommendation for washing painted walls prior to repainting? One section near a radiator & window is quite soiled from some sooty stuff and I can't see painting over it without washing it first. My Mom always depended on the old powdered Spic 'n' Span but I don't see it in the stores anymore. The liquid kind doesn't seem to be for painted surfaces.

Okay, I've read all the blogs and no one has mentioned the quint-housecleaning tool. Yes, tool. Clorox Tile cleaner. It resembles 'Dow'Foam tile cleaner in a can, but it is even better (if possible). The smell that permeates the entire living space, after spraying the sink or the toilet, will have you coming back for more! It works like a dream...so much so that I use it every where. The bathroom tile, sink, tub, toilet, the kitchen stove, refrigerator, counters, walls (basboards)and even the floors. Yes people I have it bad. But, if loving my Clorox tile cleaner (in a can) is wrong then I don't wanna be right!

Glass Plus, and Marcal (nearly) lintless paper towels. And wear black when you are cleaning mirrors... you'll see what you're missing much faster.

HALF RUBBING ALCOHOL & HALF WATER INSTEAD OF WINDEX, WITH AN ADDED BONUS OF THAT "HOSPITAL" SMELL. I DO LIKE KNOWING I'M SANITIZING WHILE CLEANING.
KATHYB

JRRice, I can't contribute anything on the wood refinisher product. I just know I love my Kaboom... and I've never even tried the OxyClean stuff.

Oh, but my mom is awfully excited about those new Pledge wipes, though. That's my only wood-related recommendation and it's second-hand, at that. Sorry!

Patrick (too), I love your hint on wearing black for cleaning mirrors! Usually when I clean I wear white in case of bleach splatters (it's my Bride of Lysol look), but I may just have to throw on something black when it comes time for doing mirrors. Fabulously logical.

I forgot one amazing product (and can't remember the exact name, maybe someone else can?) - they are (I think) Mr. Clean "sponges," which will lift virtually EVERY stain possible. They can be rinsed out and re-used over and over and over.

I used these things in an old, Soviet-era apartment in Russia (where the kitchen probably still had stains from Stalin's borscht on the wall), and they worked like a charm.

(oh, I just noticed - someone else noted them as well - Mr. Clean magic sponges...)

I have leaned rather heavily on Windex for various cleaning besides windows and mirrors - floors, surfaces. It works pretty well and it's multipurpose. It also seems relatively benign environmentally. But I'm investigating the various products everyone's mentioned. Also, ditto on the Murphy's wood oil soap--floors, woodwork. Yeah, good times. I should try it on a table that could use some work (large pine coffee table bought for $5 at yard sale. Always thought I'd clean it, then paint, but finally just started using it.)

jimkk -- I have a cleaner that you're supposed to use before you paint. I really haven't bothered to use it yet, but I believe I bought it at janovic plaza. Wanna borrow?

Use tsp to wash your walls before painting.

Yesterday I cleaned...it was more of a spur of the moment sort of deal...

black shirt+bleach = modern art

i use vinegar for most things (esp glass and kitchen floors), but i also use a spray bottle with one part tea tree oil and four parts water. tea trea oil is pretty powerful stuff and i really like the way it smells, AND it's non-toxic and biodegradable. if anyone is interested in natural cleaning ideas/solutions, i use www.betterbasics.com all the time.

Did oyu every try putting a few good drops of tea tree oil in
a box of baby bottom wipes? Fresh as a tea tree!

For cleaning walls before painting them, try MEX.
It's available in most hardware stores.

My favorite cleaning products for different surfaces are Bon Ami, Murphey's Oil soap and Vinegar.
I use bleach for cleaning the toilet and Cat Box which makes me cringe because it seems like it would be enviromentally toxic. I'll try the tea tree Oil.

Pixie, actually, I read that you aren't supposed to use Windex on mirrors, because it slowly discolors the edges. You are apparently supposed to use half rubbing alcohol and half water. I've always used vinegar and water, but I think I'm going to try the alcohol and water. Windex is not exactly benign, imo, but I guess in the scheme of things, there are certainly worse cleansers.

Oh, I just saw Kathy recommended that, but it was in a magazine I read recently or on a show. Can't remember, but I was surprised that Windex was verboten.

Did someone try those steam cleaners which promise clean clean bathroom without any harsh chemicals

Fiona, thanks for tip on mirrors. I looked up Windex and it's got some bad stuff in it. The whole cleaning extravaganza on this site is causing me to rethink some of my real or potential toxics, which I'm still in the habit of using since my ex thought some of them worked better than the alternatives, which I only used to use, and I haven't rethought them till now.

I washed painted walls using softscrub, and the stains came off, but it left a weird residue. Any ideas for a painted wall cleaner that will not leave this behind? Or am I not rinsing enough?

helllp! i left a left-overs lid on my crappy old kitchen counter and now the ink won't come off the counter top. we've tried bleach and nail polish remover. what else should i try?! i think my next effort will be a mr. clean sponge eraser. we'll see.... help please!!

I did a science project and tested different bleaching pens. I found out that Clorox worked the best for me so if I were you I would use Clorox.

I have got tea stains in the space between the tiles. It looks really ugly. Any suggestions.

need to get lysol disinfectant stains off painted walls. some smarty disinfected light switches by spraying them until soaked. the lysol dripped and dried on the wall. any suggestions ?

These are the cleaners that I have found that work exptremely well.
Magic Eraser on walls and for getting oil and dirt off of stainless steel.

For polishing stainless steel Sheila Shine.

Kaboom is awesome for rust stains, soap scum, and hard water stains. I have the "fresh scent" one that is slightly yellow in color and smells more like mildew than "fresh" but I believe it works better than the original one. I set it down on the toilet and the product on the bottom of the bottle left a stain on my toilet seat...so be careful with it.

Greased lighting orange works really well on grease as well as oil eaters.

Vinegar works well on floors is you dry it properly and never ever use it on marble!!

Lysol basin tub and tile cleaner works like a charm in the shower and smells great (the pink or blue ones).

Endust lemon zest is excellent on countertops it gives them a nice shine and makes wood shine very well.

Countertop magic is also excelent.

If you use microfiber cloths they shine chrome and mirrors very well with very very little lint if any...

Citrasolve

White vinegar, water and baking soda will clean almost anything. I use white vinegar and water in a spray bottle to clean mirrors/windows, works great.

I always have Clorox wipes around, although I'm starting to buy Method wipes instead.

For wood floors, Mop & Glo (with water) in the blue bottle. It gives the wood some polish, and they stay MUCH cleaner.

I've also heard milk for ballpoint ink stains. I did get ballpoint ink out of a cotton quilt once with Shout wipes. Not sure if they'd work on leather.

And, for my dog's accidents, Nature's Miracle.

Meyer's cleaning solution smells awesome....like roses. I use it all the time all over the house. It's highly concentrated also, so it lasts forever.

Okay, I did not read all of the posts, but alcohol cleans the ink, don't use hair spray with alcohol, just use the alcohol.
Once the ink is out you can moisten/treat the couch with leather cleaner/moisturizer.

I have worked with leather a lot. The dye of the leather might leach out a little, but it will be less noticeable than the ink. Hairspray will do the same thing only leave it all sticky.
Aquanet has silicon in it to seal out the water.

Anyone have good ideas for cleaning granite? I hate my black granite counters, especially in the bathroom. I use method 'daily granite' sometimes to clean it besides the home depot granite cleaner, but the white hard water stains are driving me crazy!!

Mean Green cleaner is good. I use it for cleaning everything in the bathroom. Also use it in the kitchen on the counter and around the faucet.

http://www.deerso.com/Mean-Green-Cleaner-P26888C0.aspx

Another place I found to use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is for cleaning the refrigerator.

I use plain water to wipe down mirrors. no streaks, no fumes!