5 Everyday Cleaning Tips With Surface Care in Mind

It's tempting to use whatever is already in the cupboard when a stain appears. But before you reach for vinegar, lemon juice or nail polish remover, find out what the surface can tolerate. A cleaning trick that worked elsewhere may damage this item. The five tips below start with that check. Follow the care instructions and the product label, and don't combine cleaning chemicals. Keeping one method simple is more useful than adding several products and hoping for the best.

1. Check the surface before using vinegar

If a countertop is marble or another calcareous stone, vinegar can leave damage rather than remove it. The Natural Stone Institute warns that acidic products, including vinegar and lemon, can dull or etch these stones. Check the care instructions for the material before using an acidic cleaner. A fabric stain needs its own treatment directions too, with a discreet test where recommended. Don't mix vinegar with bleach or other cleaning products. What worked on a different item isn't enough to establish that it's suitable here.

2. Follow the microwave's cleaning directions

For a microwave with a steam-clean function, use that setting as its manual directs. Whirlpool describes models that use a bowl of water for the cycle; another microwave may have different instructions. Once it is safe to handle the container and wipe the interior, remove the loosened food with a damp cloth. Avoid scrubbing that could damage the interior coating. An improvised half-vinegar mixture or a fixed heating time won't account for every appliance. Check the instructions for the model you have.

3. Use baking soda for a suitable odor job

Baking soda is one option for refrigerator odors; Arm & Hammer recommends that use. Remove spoiled food and clean spills first, then follow the product's directions for deodorizing. Keep that supply separate from ingredients you intend to cook with.

For a cushion or pair of shoes, make a fresh decision based on its care instructions. Don't sprinkle powder onto every item that smells. You still need to address the source of the odor and know whether the material can tolerate the treatment and be cleaned afterward.

4. Don't make nail polish remover your household cleaner

Read the nail polish remover's label before using it for anything. Many contain acetone, a flammable substance, and the FDA advises good ventilation for nail products. Some products can catch fire near a flame or heat source. Those precautions don't disappear because you're treating a household mark. For a floor, countertop, shoe or piece of china, check the item's own care directions and use an appropriate cleaner. Don't assume that being able to dissolve nail polish makes a product a suitable way to remove every other stain.

5. Separate lemon scent from disinfection

Lemon juice has a distinctive smell, but that doesn't make it a universal disinfectant or stain remover. Like vinegar, its acidity can damage certain stone surfaces. Use cleaning products that are suitable for the material, and follow the item's care instructions. If disinfection is needed, the CDC recommends an appropriate EPA-registered disinfectant or correctly prepared bleach solution, used according to directions. Clean first, follow the required contact time and don't mix products. The smell left behind isn't a reliable way to judge whether a surface has been disinfected.