Cleaning & polishing
Home remedies for burnt pans, limescale, rust and tarnished silver. Proven ratios and methods.
How to Clean a Washing Machine? Drum, Drawer, Filter and Gasket Step by Step
To clean a washing machine, run an empty cycle at 90°C (194°F) with 50 g of citric acid or two cups of vinegar, then wash the dispenser drawer, the door gasket and the pump filter. Do this routine once a month, and wipe the drawer and gasket every few washes. That takes care of limescale, mold and bad smells.
How to Clean Silver? Home Methods That Work
The fastest way to clean silver is the electrochemical method: line a bowl with aluminum foil, add a tablespoon of baking soda for every cup of boiling water and submerge the items for 2-5 minutes. Light tarnish comes off with a baking soda paste, a vinegar soak or a wash in dish soap. Avoid toothpaste, because its abrasive particles scratch silver's soft surface.
How to Descale a Kettle: Citric Acid, Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Store-Bought Products
The most effective and safest way to descale a kettle is citric acid: add 1-2 tablespoons per 0.5 liter (about 2 cups) of water, boil, and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. Vinegar works similarly but leaves a smell, baking soda is weaker, and cola is more of a curiosity. After any method, boil clean water and pour it out at least once so no sour aftertaste remains.
How to Remove Rust from Metal? Home and Mechanical Methods
The easiest way to remove rust from metal is to soak the item in vinegar for 8-24 hours, then scrub off the dissolved deposit with a brush. Light rust comes off with a baking soda paste or a citric acid solution, while a thick, flaking layer calls for a wire brush, sandpaper and steel wool. After cleaning, dry the metal right away and protect it with oil or an anti-rust primer.
How to Clean an Oven? Effective Home Methods
The most effective way to clean an oven is a baking soda paste: spread a thick layer over the grime and leave it overnight, then spray with vinegar in the morning and wipe away the dissolved dirt. For routine freshening, use the steam method with a dish of water and vinegar heated to 120-150°C (250-300°F). Never scrub pyrolytic ovens or catalytic enamel, and never apply cleaning products to them.
How to Clean a Burnt Iron? Proven Home Methods
Clean a cold soleplate with a baking soda paste or vinegar, and remove burnt residue by ironing over fine salt sprinkled on a sheet of paper. Lift melted plastic off with a wooden spatula while the iron is warm, never with metal. Finish by clearing the steam vents and descaling the water tank with a water and vinegar solution.
How to Descale a Steam Iron: Self-Clean and Home Methods
Start with the self-clean function if your iron has one: fill the tank with water, heat the iron to maximum, unplug it, and press the self-clean button over the sink to flush out the scale. The home method is a weak citric acid solution that you steam out over a towel, then rinse through with clean water. White flakes flying out of the steam holes are the sign it's time.
How to Clean a Dishwasher: Filter, Spray Arms, and an Empty Cycle Step by Step
To clean a dishwasher, remove the filter and rinse it under running water, then clear the spray arm nozzles with a toothpick. Next, wipe the door seals and run an empty cycle at the highest temperature with citric acid or vinegar. Check the filter weekly and do a full clean once a month.
How to Descale a Kettle? Home Remedies That Work
The simplest way is to add 2-3 tablespoons of citric acid per liter of water, boil it in the kettle and leave it for 20-30 minutes until the scale dissolves. Instead of citric acid you can use vinegar mixed half and half with water. Afterwards rinse the kettle and boil a fresh batch of clean water in it twice.
How to Clean a Burnt Pot? Effective Home Methods
The easiest way to clean a burnt pot is to boil water with 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda in it for 10-15 minutes, until the residue softens. Loosen stubborn burnt-on food with baking soda and vinegar, or with salt left in overnight. On nonstick coatings, use only a soft sponge - no wire scourers or abrasive powder.
How to Descale a DeLonghi Coffee Machine: Magnifica and Other Models
Descale a DeLonghi machine with EcoDecalk or another coffee machine descaler: pour the solution into the tank and run the descaling program, then rinse twice with clean water. Citric acid works too, but the manufacturer advises against it because of the seals. Do it as soon as the descaling light comes on.
How to Descale a Washing Machine: Citric Acid, Vinegar and Baking Soda
Descale a washing machine with citric acid: pour 100-150 g into the empty drum and run an empty cycle at 90°C (194°F). Alternatively, pour a cup of white vinegar straight into the drum, but do not leave it sitting there and do not do it too often, because vinegar weakens the rubber seals. Never mix citric acid with vinegar in one cycle.
How to Get Rid of Dog Hair on Clothes, Couches and Carpets
The trick with dog hair is matching the tool to the surface. Clean clothes with a lint roller, or run them through the tumble dryer for 10 minutes before washing. Lift hair off the couch and upholstery with a damp rubber glove, and off carpets with a rubber squeegee. Vacuum floors and larger areas with a turbo brush. The biggest win, though, comes from prevention: regular brushing means the hair never lands on your furniture in the first place.