Dirty Little Secrets of a Clean House
PAGE 2
Curtains and Drapes
Freshen up curtains and drapes by vacuuming on reduced suction to prevent the fabric from being drawn into the nozzle and potentially pulling down your entire window treatment. If that doesn't fully do the trick, dust the drapes with a soft, long-handled brush to remove hard-to-get dust.
Also, don't be afraid of cleaning expensive velvet drapes. They can be heavy and attract a lot of dust, but here's what to do: Dip a chamois cloth in hot water, wring out thoroughly and then brush along the curtain lightly.
Upholstery
For a quick refresher to your upholstery, set your vacuum on high and be sure you have a good tool attachment with a narrow end to get in the crevices. Vacuum the corners and all sides of cushions, as well as the frame under the cushions.
If you're looking for a deeper clean, rent a machine that cleans upholstery or call the pros to come steam clean it. A little side note: A do-it-yourself job like this yields better results if it's done before the soiled area sets in.
Remember, don't use any cleaners or let a professional steamer start a job without testing the solvent on an inconspicuous spot first, like on the back side of the sofa. I have seen red sofas turn pink because of this mistake!
Now, if you have pets like I do, you can naturally deodorize your upholstery by sprinkling the sofa with baking soda and letting it sit for 15 minutes (or longer for tough odors), then vacuum clean.
For claw marks and scratches on your dark leather sofa, try a little household olive oil—just a tiny dab will go a long way—to rub out the scratch. Again, be sure to test the oil on a hidden area of the sofa, and don't use this on light-colored leathers.
Hardwood Floors
I use olive oil on hardwood floors to hide nasty scratches as well—just be sure to use very little and buff out any slippery area around the scratch.
More from Frank Fontana
11 ways to refresh your home
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Freshen up curtains and drapes by vacuuming on reduced suction to prevent the fabric from being drawn into the nozzle and potentially pulling down your entire window treatment. If that doesn't fully do the trick, dust the drapes with a soft, long-handled brush to remove hard-to-get dust.
Also, don't be afraid of cleaning expensive velvet drapes. They can be heavy and attract a lot of dust, but here's what to do: Dip a chamois cloth in hot water, wring out thoroughly and then brush along the curtain lightly.
Upholstery
For a quick refresher to your upholstery, set your vacuum on high and be sure you have a good tool attachment with a narrow end to get in the crevices. Vacuum the corners and all sides of cushions, as well as the frame under the cushions.
If you're looking for a deeper clean, rent a machine that cleans upholstery or call the pros to come steam clean it. A little side note: A do-it-yourself job like this yields better results if it's done before the soiled area sets in.
Remember, don't use any cleaners or let a professional steamer start a job without testing the solvent on an inconspicuous spot first, like on the back side of the sofa. I have seen red sofas turn pink because of this mistake!
Now, if you have pets like I do, you can naturally deodorize your upholstery by sprinkling the sofa with baking soda and letting it sit for 15 minutes (or longer for tough odors), then vacuum clean.
For claw marks and scratches on your dark leather sofa, try a little household olive oil—just a tiny dab will go a long way—to rub out the scratch. Again, be sure to test the oil on a hidden area of the sofa, and don't use this on light-colored leathers.
Hardwood Floors
I use olive oil on hardwood floors to hide nasty scratches as well—just be sure to use very little and buff out any slippery area around the scratch.
More from Frank Fontana
11 ways to refresh your home
Make your home a money magnet
7 tricks to painting like a pro
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