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Q: Can you use steam mops to clean sealed engineered hardwood floors?
A: As a general rule, the hardwood flooring industry does not recommend using steam mops on wood floors of any type. The manufacturers have recommended cleaning practices and solutions, and using other products and machines will void your warranty. Contact the manufacturer of your flooring to get their cleaning recommendations.
For many of us, deep cleaning is an annual ritual done in the spring. Or, it could be done before guests arrive. It involves going beyond the basics to the tasks that only need to be done a few times a year. Our Guide covers the tasks that should be on your deep cleaning checklist.
You use your cell phone every day. It goes from your pocket or purse to your face. You hand it to your kid to play a game, take it into the bathroom with you and leave it by your bed at night. And everywhere your phone goes, germs follow. In fact, a recent study found that phones have, on average, 10X more bacteria than most toilet seats. Ewww!
Wash your hands before using your phone to minimize grime and germs. In…
Q: We had a real tree for Christmas but now I am finding tree sap everywhere! What is the best way to clean mittens, coats and my carpet?
A: Rubbing alcohol can remove sap from washable clothing, knit gloves, and rugs, because it acts as a solvent.
For clothes, even a down coat, saturate the area with alcohol, let sit for a minute, then launder in warm water with regular detergent. Heat sets stains, so be sure all the sap is gone before using the dryer. Repeat the…
Q. Several family members just took up biking. We love the health benefits, but not the bicycle grease on our clothes. What’s the best way to remove it?
A. The easiest way is to pretreat the stain with a prewash stain remover and then launder, using the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric. Check to make sure the stain is gone before putting the clothing in the dryer. If the stain remains, apply a concentrated heavy-duty cleaner (one that’…
Parents: 20 Seconds Could Save You or Your Kids Weeks in Bed this Cold & Flu Season
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We’re already deep into cold and flu season – but it’s never too late to start protecting yourself. Easy step? Keep your hands clean. Consider this: 65% of U.S. parents of children ages 5 and under don’t always wash their hands for at least 20 seconds,…
Q. I have a really dirty carpet that I'm looking to get clean. What carpet cleaning can I try before calling in a professional?
The easiest way to have a clean carpet is to keep it from getting dirty, by taking off shoes and limiting bringing food in carpeted areas. Once there is a stain, deal with it quickly, using a carpet cleaner, and always make sure to dab at the stain to lift it out instead of…
Q: I know that hard water can leave mineral deposits that cause spotting on glassware. Does very hard water also inhibit a detergent's ability to dissolve completely? Is the fine powder-like film residue on dishware actually the remains of undissolved detergent?
A: That white deposit is not undissolved detergent. It is a film residue caused by the hard-water minerals that remain after the water has evaporated – the same culprit that causes spotting! To…
100 Years of Clean
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For the last century, the American Cleaning Institute has been serving the growth and innovation of the cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. We look forward to our next 100 years.
Celebrating a Century
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It's been a remarkable century of innovation in…