Object and material cleaning
Discover expert tips for spotless object and material cleaning. Master techniques to revive, sanitize, and protect diverse surfaces with unique, evidence-backed advice.
41 articles
While beautiful, the interlocked wooden blocks of traditional parquet flooring can be daunting to clean. We want to maintain the integrity of the flooring, but we also want a clean and shiny floor. To do so, we need to respect the nature of the wood by only using the correct products which are suitable...
Glass bottles represent a sustainable choice in our efforts to reduce plastic waste. Unlike single-use plastics, glass bottles can be reused countless times and are 100% recyclable without quality loss. Their durability and non-reactive surface make them ideal for storing beverages and other liquids...
Whether for the TV, music system or even if you have mechanized blinds, the remote control gets a lot of use. Especially if we don't really know what we want to watch, flicking through channels or options in a streaming menu means we are constantly thumbing the buttons. It is common to eat salty and...
Mosquito screens are a netted screen which covers your doors and windows to stop these insects entering. They have a fine mesh which allows air to enter a room, but hopefully no unwelcome winged guests. Unfortunately, being outside the home, they are exposed to the elements and can accumulate a lot...
Feather pillows are known for their plush and cozy feel, but they are an essential part of your nightly comfort and deserves proper care to ensure it stays fresh, clean, and supportive. Whether you prefer to wash it by hand or with the convenience of a washing machine, this comprehensive guide will...
Inflatable pools are the perfect solution for taking a refreshing dip on the hottest days of the year, even if you do not have much space. Inflatable pools require less maintenance than a fixed pool, but it is important to clean them, both the first time you use them (after months of storage) and throughout the...
Silver is a valuable metal from which countless items are made, from beautiful jewelry to cutlery and figurines to frames and a variety of decorative details. Over time, it tarnishes and darkens. The reason for this is pure chemistry: silver reacts with hydrogen sulfide in the air. If you want your silver items...
Ironing clothes is perhaps one of the most tedious and delicate tasks. That's why it's important to have an iron on hand to keep your clothes looking perfect. However, your iron can get dirty from overuse, resulting in a rough and burnt surface. If the underside of your iron is starting to look burnt...
If manners maketh the man, chairs maketh the room. Not only for sitting, the right chair or chairs will help perfectly offset or combine your interior. The opposite is also true. Think of every beautiful room ruined by a soiled or inappropriate couch. For many, the way to resolve this isn't to buy new...
Especially if we drink it black, coffee stains can be some of the most obvious household spillages. If we have a light carpet in the room, the stains are even more visible. Although coffee can stain clothes, upholstery and even wood, coffee stains on the carpet are one of the most common. This is mainly...
The broom is one of our basic weapons in our home cleaning arsenal. With it we can collect dust, sweep up dirt and sweep up large areas easily. It works due to the bristles on the broom head which pushes dirt around. However, much of this dirt gets stuck in the brush. Hair and lint, in particular, can wrap...
Under estimate the importance of your pillow at your peril. Not only do you need a pillow which is the right size for your head and the right material for your sleep needs, you need a pillow to be clean. Too many of us think it is sufficient to simply clean pillow cases, but leave the actual pillow alone....
Different areas of the home use glass in different ways. This means they become dirty in different ways. The living room, kitchen and bedroom will have different levels of humidity, different uses for the glass and different contaminants. In the bathroom, usually the most humid room in the home, the shower...
Too often we neglect the importance of keeping our mop clean. We may think that simply putting it in the cleaning solution we use to wash the floors will keep the mop sufficiently clean. Unfortunately, since this solution will also contain bacteria picked up from the floor, it will be contaminated. While...
Our shoes help to take care of our feet, protecting them from the elements and from the ground. Keeping them in good condition keeps our feet in good condition. Not only should they have good tread and support our arches, but they should be clean. Bad odors in our shoes come from fungus and bacteria which...
We can do a lot to try to keep our white shoes white, but keeping the soles clean is especially difficult. Unless we only walk on surfaces without any dust or dirt, keeping them grime-free is practically impossible. For this reason, we need to find different ways to keep white sneakers clean. If you are careful,...
Memory foam mattresses, crafted from polyurethane foam, have surged in popularity thanks to their exceptional comfort and pressure-relieving properties. They offer a supportive sleep surface that many find indispensable. However, daily use exposes them to significant wear and tear. Whether placed in...
A suede couch is a luxury item. It looks plush and provides a luxurious place to hang out and chill. But suede is a little tricky to maintain and keep clean. If your suede couch has fallen victim of grease, you may think that everything’s finished and it will never look the same again. But that’s not...
Coffee - the lifeblood of many mornings, the fuel for late-night projects, and unfortunately, a notorious stain culprit. Spilled coffee on your favorite shoes? Don't fret! Accidents happen, but that doesn't mean you have to resign your shoes to the back of the closet.
The following oneHOWTO article explains...
There's nothing quite like that feeling of slipping on a brand-new pair of shoes. But that excitement can quickly fade if you discover colored socks (or worse, stained feet!) after your first wear. Shoe dye transfer is not only a fashion faux pas, but it can also damage your clothes in the long run.
This...
You can get rid of leather smell by using bicarbonate of soda, water and soda, or white vinegar. We are going to explain how below.
Often, leather goods give off an unpleasant odour that can be irritating to some people. Particularly if the material is new, it can take a long time for the leather smell...
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When manufacturing blinds, the most widely used material is PVC or plastic. Durability, strength and protection are some of this material's characteristics which have made it perfect for the manufacturing of pipes, windows, packaging and even toys. What's more, it's a material that is easy to clean...
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Ammonia is a fabulous household cleaner, but unlike other cleaning products, it is natural and does not cause skin irritation nor does it damage materials - provided it is used correctly. The smell of ammonia is strong and sometimes overpowering, so many people cannot tolerate it, but if it is not your case,...
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Do you love the coziness of wood furniture but are put off because they are difficult to maintain? If you are a fan of wood furniture and you always want keep it in perfect condition, you must have plenty of lacquered furniture.
Lacquered furniture is more protected against bumps, scratches, liquid stains,...
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The hygiene of your dancewear is very important, and nothing makes more of a difference than perfect pointe shoes. While ballet slippers can be submerged and rubbed with dishwasher soap and a toothbrush, pointe shoes take more work.
Pointe shoes have wooden blocks at the front, so you must be very careful...
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Memory foam mattresses require special care when cleaning. It is true that, thanks to the synthetic material they are made from, they avoid a build-up of mites to a greater extent than spring mattresses, which are made from natural materials. However, they do still need to be cleaned as they also get...
Some people throw things on the street that they no longer use. Such things might be useless for them, but you can actually put them to great use. If you have found a nice mattress on the street, you can bring it home and clean it to use it at your home. There is no harm in getting something nice and...
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Flannel sheets are a great alternative to turning the heating on at night. Thanks to the use of cotton, wool and synthetic fibres, they give the sheets a great feeling of softness and warmth which will turn them into your favourite winter sheets. However, they are winter sheets that require special care...
Your mattress is one of the most important pieces of bedroom furniture. For this reason, it is essential that it is kept clean and in perfect condition to enjoy a truly restful night's sleep. However, in many cases, people accidentally fall ill and throw up on their mattresses. This can leave the mattress...
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To rest properly you don't just need a good mattress, a comfortable cushion or pillow tailored to your needs. Oh no! The conditions in which keep the bed are also essential in ensuring a happy and relaxed sleep. It also helps prevent diseases caused by mites and germs. As this is a rather complicated...
Wherever you look and whatever life hack tutorial you are searching for, baking soda is always on the list of ingredients, as this product, which can also go by the name of Sodium Bicarbonate, this product has been used for many years to serve very different purposes at home.
From cleaning product...
If you've encountered some gum stuck on furniture, under tables or in your upholstery and do not know how to eliminate it, here's the solution. This problem is very common, especially if you have kids. Therefore at OneHowTo.com we explain how to remove gum from furniture. In this article you will find out...
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Converse shoes, also known as Chuck Taylors, are popular and elegant sport trainers that can be used to for a comfortable look every day. Most shoes can be washed in the washing machine, but in these cases you run the risk of the design fading from the shoes and the rubber sole cracking. To preserve your...
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Lamps are an essential part of the home but, to keep them in good condition, they need to be cleaned regularly as they quickly gather a layer of dust and dirt. The lampshades in particular attract a lot of dust and are often neglected as part of the weekly clean. Follow our top tips on how to keep them...
Washing the sheets and mattress pad is easy, but what about the mattress itself? Although it does not need to be cleaned too often, the use that your bed has requires you to clean your mattress at least twice in a year. We have how to remove urine stains from a mattress. But instead of cleaning your...
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Contrary to popular belief, it is not advisable to wash a duvet very frequently. What is recommended is about once approximately every 4 years because the quality of the padding would weaken. Keep in mind what your duvet is made of which will tell you how you have to wash it. Follow the advice of OneHowTo...
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You've noticed that the accumulated dirt on the mosquito net on your window, but you ask yourself: How do I wash a mosquito net? The first answer is that it depends on the type of installation, but whatever kind of net you have at home, you'll be able to clean it in depth and thus ensure that the insect can...
It's happened to everyone; removing your trainers at someone's house only to discover a cloud of potent foot odor emerging from your trainers. With a few simple techniques, you can eliminate that foot odor for good. Do you not know how to get rid of unpleasant smells from your shoes? Do you not wear your...
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Urine stains and smells on mattresses can be quite unpleasant and difficult to remove if not cleaned quickly. If you have small children at home and you have to deal with this situation frequently, do not worry, in this oneHOWTO article we give a series of very easy tips to implement and which can remove...
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Hard water is a type of water that is characterized by a high content of minerals that are responsible for leaving white or brown spots on many household glass surfaces. They're quite difficult to remove, so it's helpful to learn some useful tips to help eliminate them altogether and always keep glass surfaces...
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Oil stains are discolorations caused by non-water-soluble liquids like cooking oils, motor oil, or even makeup. These liquids have a greasy feel and tend to spread easily. Unlike water-based stains, oil stains don't readily dissolve in water. They can also penetrate deep into shoe materials, making...