Cleaning and Stain Removal for Dummies

Whether you’re a devout neatnik or a free spirit who likes to draw designs in dust, Cleaning & Stain Removal For Dummies is for you. It helps you make quick work of dirty work with all kinds of practical tips and techniques, plus trade secrets used by the pros. You’ll learn how to use the proper equipment and tackle specific cleaning challenges, including

• Floors, walls, and ceilings
• The kitchen and bathrooms
• Furniture and furnishings
• Appliances and equipment
• Windows
• Bicycles and cars
• Clothes and laundry
• Decks, driveways, and patios

There are whole sections on removing stains and tackling 101 common problems that you’ll use as a reference when faced with life’s inevitable spills and mishaps. Author Gill Chilton, a columnist who writes home tips for Family Circle, doesn’t just give tips to make cleaning easier, but provides tips to make life easier, including:

• A room-by-room guide to what needs to be done, and how often
• Daily and weekly lists so you can stay on top of things
• Quick fixes before unexpected guests arrive
• How to get the most results in the least time

A perfect gift for young people going off to school or setting up a house for the first time, for adults suddenly forced to take responsibility for a modicum of cleanliness, or for experienced housekeepers who want to learn short-cuts and money-savers, this is the book that helps people get off to a clean start!

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Your Hands Dirty: Cleaning Basics 7

Chapter 1: Recognising the Value of Cleaning Well 9

Chapter 2: Equipping Yourself 17

Chapter 3: Talking Timing and Techniques 37

Part II: Cleaning Your Home Top to Bottom 47

Chapter 4: Cleaning Ceilings, Walls, Radiators, and Window Treatments 49

Chapter 5: Standing Up to Floors 61

Chapter 6: Scouring Everything and the Kitchen Sink 75

Chapter 7: Bringing Brilliance to the Bathroom 93

Chapter 8: Polishing Furniture and Furnishings 107

Part III: Keeping Up Appearances Outside 123

Chapter 9: Washing Up Outside 125

Chapter 10: Making Windows Sparkle 131

Chapter 11: Sweeping Up the Garden Path: Decks, Driveways, and Patios 141

Chapter 12: Devoting Time to Your Vehicles 157

Part IV: Cleaning Special Items and in Special Situations 167

Chapter 13: Tuning In to Electrical Equipment 169

Chapter 14: Shining Sports and Hobby Equipment 177

Chapter 15: Treasuring Personal Valuables 187

Chapter 16: Facing Family Cleaning Challenges 201

Chapter 17: Cleaning for Special Occasions 223

Part V: Removing Stains 231

Chapter 18: Caring for Your Clothes 233

Chapter 19: Understanding Basic Stain Types 255

Chapter 20: Treating Everyday Stains 265

Chapter 21: Tackling Scratches, Scuffs, and Rips 277

Part VI: The Part of Tens 283

Chapter 22: Fast Fixes for Unexpected Guests 285

Chapter 23: Ten Tips for Facing a Landlord Inspection 291

Chapter 24: Being Clean in Other People’s Homes 295

Chapter 25: Extraordinary Uses for Ten Ordinary Items 301

Appendix: Stain Removal Guide 307

Index 317

??an easy-to-follow, room-by-room guide?practical shortcuts?? (Hartlepool Mail, 24th August 04) Gill Chilton is a consumer journalist with 20 years experience in writing on practical subjects. She writes for, among others, Family Circle, Woman, and Good Housekeeping magazines, and answers questions on a regular consumer advice page forFamily Circle. Cleaning is forever a hot topic: Readers may love or loathe it, but, as they tell Gill, they can’t ignore it.
Gill is also the author of Home Basics: The Complete Guide to Running Today’s Home published by Reader’s Digest and she has appeared on radio and TV demonstating practical household tips.

The everyday science of cleaning up your act.

This book will help lessen the grind of daily cleaning and accidental spills. Inside you'll find an easy-to-follow section on stain removal and a room-by-room guide to buffing up everything from curtains to carpets to cars. With practical shortcuts designed to reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning, this friendly guide offers fresh ways to keep your home and your possessions looking immaculate.

Discover how to:

• Clean and care for your clothes.
• Cut down on specialist cleaning bills
• Maintain your home inside and out
• Put together a stain removal kit