The Homemakers Magazine

Microfiber is a versatile material that can be made to resemble suede or leather making it very attractive to furniture makers. Because it is soft and durable as well as water resistant, it is good for covering couches and chairs so many manufacturers make use of this fabric for that purpose. While many furniture salesmen will tell you it is nearly impossible to stain or dirty microfiber, if you purchase a couch made from this material, you will quickly find that you have been misled.  It can be stained quite easily and if you do not care for it properly, it will also be ruined in short order. Thankfully, microfiber couches are not all that difficult to clean if you know the basics. Most furniture using microfiber has tag on it with a code that lets you know what kind of solution will clean it.  These codes are: S, W, S-W and X.

S stands for solvent meaning you will need a solvent based cleaner for this fabric. W means you can use a water-based cleaner and S-W means that either will work. X means it is not washable at all. If you cannot find the tag or there is no code, make sure to test both types of cleaners in an inconspicuous place before going ahead with using it on the places that show.

If you use the wrong type of cleaner, you will end up spreading the stain, usually into a ring which is not an attractive look for your new couch.

How to clean a microfiber couch:

Saturate a soft cloth or sponge with the cleaner that is indicated by your tag and gently scrub the stained area in a circular motion, blot as needed with a dry cloth and repeat until the stain is removed. You can also use this technique for all-over cleaning. Once the microfiber is dry, you may notice that it is less soft than before. If this occurs, brush it gently with a natural bristle brush to perk up the fibers and restore softness. If you do not have a natural bristle brush, try an old toothbrush, just be gentle.

Microfiber is technically made from Polyester so anything that is safe to use on Polyester should be safe to use on your couch. Ammonia is good for removing blood and certain pen marks; rubbing alcohol may work as well. It is probably best to avoid getting nail polish remover on microfiber because it can damage Polyester.

If you do end up with water marks or rings, then try rubbing alcohol to remove them or look for one of the ready-made microfiber cleaners. Most furniture stores sell them and some department stores also carry this item.

Knowing how to clean a microfiber couch ensures that you will have this piece of furniture around for a long time making it a good furniture investment.

 Hardwood flooring is both economical and beautiful to install. Because it can be refinished, it lasts longer than most commercially produced options.

The most commonly used wood in flooring is oak, but there are many other choices including: maple, cherry, hickory and bamboo and softer woods such as pine. Hardwood flooring is durable, can be refinished as needed and fairly easy to keep clean.

How to Clean Hardwood Floors

Removing dust and dirt often is essential to maintain the floors finish. Walking on dirt particles grinds them into the finish and works the same as sandpaper to remove the shine. Once the protective finish has been compromised, moisture is more likely to get into the wood and cause swelling and other damage. Remove dust and dirt with a broom, dustmop or lightweight vacuum cleaner.

Wood floors are finished with a variety of products including: shellac, varnish or acrylic. These may be either water or solvent based and all provide excellent protection for the wood. Penetrating types of finishes go deeper into the wood and provide a satin or matte finish, but actually provide less protection than those that stay on the surface.  The best method of cleaning both these and surface finish types of flooring is to sweep or dustmop throroughly followed by the use of a damp mop. Occasionally you may use a small amount of water with detergent added or a neutral  pH wood cleaner. Make sure you change the water often and wring out the mop well.

Penetrating surface finished floors may be revitalized occasionaly by buffing and also by applying  wax with fine steel wool.

Properly cared for, hardwood flooring lasts the lifetime of your house. Some of the new bamboo flooring is actually considered eco friendly because bamboo is such a fast growing plant.  It can be stained to fit with any decor. Hopefully these tips will help you know how to clean hardwood floors.

Oils from dried coffee can accumulate in your coffeemaker and ruin the flavor of any brew. To keep your morning pick-me-up from turning into a bring-me-down, here is all you need to learn how to clean a coffeemaker:

1. Wash using detergent and dry the carafe after every use.
2. Wash the brew basket with detergent and dry after every use.
3. If you use a permanent filter, wash and dry it after every use.
4. Wipe the hotplate clean once it has cooled. If there are burnt on stains, a little baking soda on a damp sponge will do the trick
5. Clean the tank and tubes by running equal parts white vinegar and water through a cycle once a month. This keeps minerals from accumulating in hard water areas. Follow this with a couple of cycles of plain water to get all the residue out as well as remove any vinegar smell.  Coffee and vinegar is not a good combination.

Special cleaners can be purchased but vinegar and water works just fine, is inexpensive and reduces the number of chemicals you are exposed to.