Keep your knits cozy with proper care at home. Hand-washingis usually the safest choice for cleaning natural fibers. If there are stains, pretreat before washing. ​The Spruce / Ana Cadena Many sweaters made of synthetic fibers, as well as some cotton knits, can be washed by machine. However, use caution when machine-washing cotton sweaters, as natural fibers are more prone to shrink or stretch. Rinse thoroughly (repeat the process if necessary), and then wash as normal....

prior to beginning, check the manufacturer’s instructions to verify that the shoes are washable. While it is tempting, you should never washleather shoesin the washing machine. Toss them in with aload of laundry, or set them aside to wash with your shoes. The Spruce / Fiona Campbell If your laces are fraying and weak, replace them. Tip Remove the shoelaces every time you think they need cleaning. Set the insoles aside to air-dry while you wash the rest of the shoe....

Uggs and other sheepskin boots require special care when cleaning. The fleece inside your sheepskin boots becomes moist from sweat or water; bacteria can grow and cause odor. Boots made of synthetic materials that mimic the look of sheepskin might be able to bemachine-washed. The Spruce / Letícia Almeida However, genuine sheepskin shoes must always be hand-cleaned with products that protect suede leather. It’s best to brush the shoes outdoors....

Wooden cutting boards need to be kept clean as a measure of food safety. Warning Never wash a woodencutting board in the dishwasher. The high heat and extended exposure to water can cause the wood to split or mold. The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska Even professional chefs clean their wooden cutting boards via hand-washing. While you might put raw meat on a wood cutting board, it will require sanitizing afterward....

Baking soda is an effective ingredient against oil and grease-based stains and odd food and drink mishaps. Baking soda is a salt from a natural mineral form. It is mined as a crystalline white solid and refined into the commonly sold fine white powder. The Spruce / Sanja Kostic When combined with water, the powder acts as a gentle abrasive to loosen surface dirt and stains. Here’s how to clean and deodorize carpets and area rugs using baking soda....

It takes less than an hour to do. Wipe up any spills or splatters made while using the machine on the spot. Here’s how to deep clean a Keurig Mini to restore good taste to your next mug of coffee. The Spruce / Ana Cadena Disassemble Components Remove the drip tray. Hold the sides of the K-cup holder and pull up at an angle. Separate the K-cup holder from its housing by pressing the buttons on both sides of the housing....

Descaling removes the mineral buildup that can negatively affect the taste of espresso. Here’s how to clean and descale a Nespresso machine and tips for keeping it in great shape. How to Descale a Nespresso Machine Descaling removes calcium, magnesium, and other limescale minerals buildup. The Spruce / Sanja Kostic If you have complex or mineral-rich water, you must descale more frequently. A descaling solution ordistilled white vinegarcan easily remove the buildup....

Our hands wouldalwaysbe clean before typing away on the keyboard. Alas, keyboards can be pretty filthy (not to mention covered withgerms). Want more cleaning and organizing tips? The Spruce / Ana Cadena The last thing you need is random commands popping on the screen. Unplug it, too, to be safe and make cleaning easier. Youd be surprised at the amount of debris lingering under and in between your keys. Only blow a few short bursts since the cold air can form condensation....

Every wedding gown needs to be cleaned after use, definitely before prolonged storage. Its especially important to be careful with embellishments like lace, beads, bows, and buttons. If dress preservation is essential, order the add-on of a bustle for your dress. The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska Here’s how tohand-washyour wedding dress at home only if it’snotmarked “Dry Clean Only.” Also, discuss, if you know, how the trim is attached to the gown....

When it comes to stains, a household agent usually does the trick. you might clean slate floors regularly with a dust mop, a broom, and a damp mop. Ideally, you should dust mop your slate floor every day, and damp mop it once a week. The Spruce / Sanja Kostic Apply a sealer every three to five years, or as recommended by the manufacturer. Do not move the mop back and forth because it will simply spread around the dirt and grit....

It’s relatively easy to cleanall types of bamboo floors. Tough stains and dried dirt can be safely removed by cleaning the bamboo floor naturally with vinegar and water. Clean any spills immediately. The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija Microfiber damp mopping should be done weekly as it will refresh bamboo flooring. Barely dampen a soft cloth or sponge with waterthis is the best way to clean bamboo floors naturally. Apply it to the spill area to wipe up the remaining dirt....

Two Types of Baseboard Heaters There are two quite differentstyles of baseboard heatfound in homes. Heat radiates into the room through the convection currents triggered by hot air rising and cold air sinking. When dust clogs the fins of the heater, they no longer can radiate heat efficiency. The Spruce / Fiona Campbell Various cracks where dust can travel should also be tightly sealed. This can often be done simply by turning the thermostat to a very low setting....

Your baseboards collect all the untouched dust behind built-ins, tables, sofas, and moregross. Read on for expert insight on getting your baseboards clean. Want more cleaning and organizing tips? The Spruce / Almar Creative Its effective for lightly soiled baseboards with no specific stains," she says. Thevinegar and baking sodacombination is a natural cleaning solution that helps break down grime, Ciechorska says. Spray the baseboards first. The Spruce / Margot Cavin...