Monday, August 15, 2011

Hardwood floors are such a good idea. Carpets can hold dust and mites. This is even more important if someone in the house has respiratory issues. But they are not without a downside. Hardwood floors can look dirty if not cleaned properly. The natural oil on our skin leaves visible figure prints that can be seen across the room (and maybe by your neighbors).

But do not fear. You have options for keeping everything clean. All of the major home cleaning supply makers have developed products to help  stainless steel clean. But you have some great DIY options.

Here are some Do's and Don'ts
Don’t wax a wood floor with a urethane finish
Do use cleaners that won’t leave a film or residue
Don’t use ammonia cleaners or oil soaps on a wood floor — they’ll dull the finish and affect your ability to recoat later.
Do use a professional hardwood floor cleaner to remove occasional scuffs and heel marks (just spray some cleaner on a cloth and rub the stained area lightly)
Don’t wet mop or use excessive water to clean your floor (wood naturally expands when it’s wet and can cause your floor to crack or splinter).
Do clean sticky spots with a damp towel or sponge
Do minimize water exposure and clean spills immediately
Until Next Time,
Mike,

Chicago Kitchen Remodeling

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances

Everyone wants stainless steel appliances these days. Watch any episode of House Hunters and you will see the potential buyer praise any use of the sleek modern design or complain about the of lack of the same.

But truth be told, they do not belong in ever signal kitchen and are a pain in clean. I think people think that "stainless" means "fingerprint-less." Stainless steal is steal that will not rust. Which is good, but that does mean its not going to collect ugly looking fingerprint. The readers of Alice.Com has some great advice for products that keep your modern looking fridge looking like the ones you see on TV.

Options seemed to be between classic Pledge, which cleans in its marketing that it can be used safely on Stainless Steel and Method Stainless Steel Cleaner.

Our vote is for Method with a microfiber cloth. Yes, it is another thing you have to buy, but classic pledge can leave a residue. I am fine using a multipurpose cleaner on wood, glass and tile, Since stainless steel shows figureprints so well, I feel like the extra cost is worth it.

Here is a handy video:


Until Next Time
Mike
Chicago Kitchen Remodeling