Brushes should be washed immediately following a project. Dried paint can be tough to remove and may even damage your brushes. Learn how to clean yourpaintbrushesto keep them in tip-top shape for your next DIY project. The Spruce / Meg MacDonald This will work for latex, acrylic, and even oil paint. Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Check the paint can label for the manufacturers recommended commercial cleaner. The Spruce / Meg MacDonald...

Addnatural cleaning agentslike vinegar, lemon juice, or salt for more scrubbing power. Baking soda is a non-toxic, inexpensive household ingredient with mild abrasive properties. Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for cleaning pans with baking soda to get them looking great. The Spruce Tip Baking soda is alkaline. It reacts with mild acids like vinegar, lemon, and hydrogen peroxide to become a foaming cleaner. The foaming chemical reaction gives baking soda more power to remove stains and burned-on food....

Patent leather is water-resistant, but not waterproof, so never submerge items in water. Read on to learn how to clean patent leather to help keep your shiny goods last longer. Wipe away dust and dirt first with a dry microfiber cloth. The Spruce / Ana Cadena Use a brush attachment on your vacuum to clean patent leather furniture. Mix a couple of squirts of mild dish detergent in a bowl filled with water....

Instead, there are several nontoxic homemade cleaning products that cantackle pet stains. The following tips will help you toneutralize the odorand remove the stain. All of these carpet-cleaning processes can be repeated as many times as necessary to get the job done. The Spruce / Xiaojie Liu The vinegar will act to neutralize the stain and eliminate much of the odor. Make enough solution so you’ll be able to thoroughly soak the pet-stained section of carpet....

Pewter is a beloved metal for its durability, affordability, versatility, and warm, patina finish. Pewter is not difficult to clean and soapy water is often best. When pewter needs more elbow grease, use basic cleaning materials like vinegar and flour. The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska Automatic dishwasher detergent is too abrasive for pewter, soskip the dishwasherand clean pieces by hand. The high temperatures in a dishwasher can also be harmful....

Periodically cleaning the leaves of your houseplants enhances both the plant and your indoor environment. Read on to learn how to clean plant leaves correctly. The best way to determine if a plant needs cleaning is to rub your fingers on the leaves. The Spruce / Xiaojie Liu Support the leaves or leaf stems gently with your hand as you spray. Watering the soil beforehand will help prevent the soil from falling out when the pot is inverted....

It has many commercial uses, and it’s frequently used inpicture framesand shower doors in the home. Select Your Cleaner Next, it’s time to properly clean your plexiglass. Tip Don’t use ammonia-based cleaners or other all-purpose glass cleaners on plexiglass. The Spruce / Danielle Daly Work slowly, and don’t wet the whole surface at once. This will slowly and gently buff away the plexiglass scratch. Wet a clean cloth with warm water and gently wipe down the plexiglass surface to finish....

Unwashed clothing, shoes, and other contaminated items can cause reactions for one year or longer. Here’s what you gotta know about cleaning poison ivy off your clothes and shoes. Or pick up the soiled items with a clean, heavy cloth to avoid contact with your skin. The Spruce / Bailey Mariner Urushiol can transfer from items and penetrate rubber, so thin latex gloves won’t provide reliable protection. Using your gloves, drop the affected clothes into the washer....

Achemical imbalanceis often the cause of pool tile staining. Here’s how to clean pool tile at the waterline to get rid of staining and make it shine. Work in a circular motion in an area about three or four feet wide. The Spruce / Almar Creative If you have glass tiles, a soft-bristled brush is a better choice to prevent scratching the glass. A rechargeable electric scrub brush with interchangeable heads is a handy tool for cleaning....

The Spruce / Kevin Norris Quartz is one of the most popular stone materials for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Not only arequartz countertopsgorgeous, they are non-porous and fairly resistant to heat and scratches. Want more cleaning and organizing tips? The Spruce / Kevin Norris Most experts recommend a solution of watered downrubbing alcoholas an effective and safe stain remover for quartz countertops. Gently scrub the surface with a nonabrasive sponge until the stain begins to fade....

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic When tools get rusty, it might seem easier to simply throw them away. But there are several easy and effective ways to bringrusty toolsback to their shiniest state. Keep reading to learn how to clean rusty tools. The Spruce / Sanja Kostic After using your tools, wipe them down with a cloth first, removing any debris. Let the tools dry completely before storing them. If rust does appear, clean them as soon as possible to stop further corrosion in its tracks....

But, there’s a simple solution right in your pantry: vinegar. Want more cleaning and organizing tips? An acid solution can cause pitting in the stone. The Spruce / Tessa Cooper Warning Do not mix bleach with a vinegar cleaning solution. Rinse the shower area well after each cleaning process before using a different cleaner. Allowing soap scum to build-up on shower tiles will require scrubbing. The Spruce / Michelle Becker...

Because of their nonstick properties, these popular baking and cooking utensils are easy to maintain. Although silicone can go into thedishwasher, you will likely need tohand-wash the items. Here’s how to clean silicone cookware in a few simple steps. Start by washing the pieces properly before you move on to the next step. If your water does not get very hot, add some boiling water heated in a microwave or kettle....