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Happy May. Have April showers given way to May flowers where you live? For allergy sufferers, this wonderful season can be a real mixed blessing. In fact, we have an ongoing debate at my house: Window open to let in the fresh air? or Windows closed to keep out the pollen? Either way, more frequent vacuuming and dusting is definitely in order!
This month's Clean Team Newsletter is dedicated to YOU, our dear readers. Every week, I am honored to receive letters and emails from readers around the country. Many are asking us about specific ways to improve their cleaning routines -- from which technique to use, to which product to use. This month, we'll answer all those questions and more in an attempt to help all of you become faster, less fettered home cleaners.
Also, be sure to check out our section on Using Clean Team Products. This month, we are spotlighting our two top stain-fighting contenders: Stain Assassin and Stain Gobbler.
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Reader Mailbag
How to Tips from The Clean Team Gang
 From wood blinds to wood floors to everything in between, our readers send us lots of great questions about improving and simplifying their cleaning routines. This month we are answering some of the questions in our newsletter as well as in person, because we're betting that it's not just one or two of you wondering about these things.
Cleaning Faux Wood Blinds
Can you give advice on how to clean those 2" faux wood blinds that have been neglected too long for the weekly dusting?
~ JC
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to catch up when they've been neglected. You can try vacuuming them with a brush attachment. If the dust hasn't been on too long or hasn't turned to adobe from being wet and dry a few times from being so close to the windows, it may be possible to remove it with the vacuum. If not, there is no other solution than to spray and hand-wipe each wood slat.
Red Juice works well, but it's still time-consuming. If the slats still don't look good after cleaning with Red Juice, try wiping them one last time with a damp cloth. Whichever method you use, once you get them clean, don't allow them to get behind again. I suggest dusting with a feather duster during your regular weekly cleaning, or a good vacuuming every month (more or less, depending on your observation of how fast the dust accumulates).
Treating Urine Stains
Do you have any special tips for cleaning things with a special needs child in the house? I'm living in an apartment with my two special needs children, both with urinary problems, and I need non-toxic but good, efficient ways to clean walls, carpeting and tile. (Especially in the bathroom, but boys will be boys...)
~ J. Ramsey
My only real tip is just to stay on top of it. Red Juice is as good as anything else for spritzing urine before you wipe it up with a couple paper towels. The best way is to use 1 or 2 paper towels to wipe up the Red Juice and urine and another paper towel to dry the area.
If there are grout lines, you need to pay special attention to getting the urine from there, otherwise an odor will develop. Usually just a good amount of Red Juice and carefully blotting of the grouted area will remove all the urine. If an odor does develop from grout lines or around the toilet, use a toothbrush, along with the Red Juice and blotting material (you can also use cleaning cloths and just toss them in the laundry).
The carpeting needs extra blotting to remove all traces of urine. Spray a couple of times and blot well and then put more paper towels or cleaning cloths on the carpet and put a couple of books on it overnight to remove the last of the urine.
You might consider removing the carpeting if possible as that will be the most time-consuming of the cleaning and the most likely to be a source of odor. If you do have odor in the carpet, you can use Stain Gobbler (or other enzyme treatment) to get rid of the odor. Red Juice is also great for cleaning walls.
Refinishing Wood Floors
I bought a house a few years ago with mostly wood floors. I thought when the kids left I would refinish them. Well, the time is here. The finish has worn off in heavy traffic areas. Is there anything that can be done other than stripping, sanding, etc? Or do I just need to bite the bullet?
~ Deborah from Nashville
I wish I had better news, but once the finish wears off (down to bare wood) there is no good alternative to sanding and refinishing.
Cleaning Corian Countertops
I have a professional housekeeping business. One of my clients, who has been with me for more than three years, has Corian Brand counters in their kitchen. Any advice about how to avoid water rings and various scratches and stains would be very appreciated. I have tried countless products on their countertops to keep them looking good, and nothing has really worked very well.
~ Kristina Davidson/Home Matters (Because it does)!
Corian has a bad habit of acquiring a film if it isn't wipe completely dry after any spill. Sounds like your client doesn't do that, or else there wouldn't be water rings. Use Tile Juice or Scum Bum to remove the film and water spots. Stains may also be removed by the Scum Bum, but if not, it's ok to use bleach on the Corian. (If it's a dark color, I would pretest.) The scratches can be removed with a mild abrasive, but if they are too deep, your client needs to call in a pro. Let me know how this works.
Drip Clean Chandeliers
I have a crystal chandelier that needs cleaning. A friend of mine told me there is a glass cleaner that one can spray on the crystals and not have to wipe off. Really?! What do you recommend and how do you suggest I clean the crystals?
~ Margaret O., Illinois
Your friend it right, there are specialized chandelier cleaners that are spray on, drip off. We offer one, aptly named the Chandelier Cleaner, for $9.95. Or you can use clear ammonia, if you don't mind the odor.
Just use the Chandelier Cleaner or put the ammonia in a spray bottle and start spraying away. That's the easy part. Protecting what's below from all the drips and taking care to not get too much solution into any of the light sockets is more difficult. Power off, of course. If the chandelier is very dirty, you may have to do this twice, or just keep spraying until the drips are clean. I usually also dry the largest and most prominent crystals, but I wait until they are almost dry before I start.
Deep Cleaning Couches
[In the March Spring Cleaning newsletter, you suggest that we] "Deep clean couches and other upholstered furniture". Now just how is this done? I don't have a clue. Vacuum and what?
~ jlart-n-Texas
Most of us pretty much ignore the couches when we do our regular weekly cleaning. So deep cleaning merely means to vacuum the surfaces thoroughly, including and especially lines where 2 pieces of fabric or leather is sewn together where bits of grit often reside.
Deep cleaning also means removing the cushions and vacuuming under them. Deep cleaning can also involve moving the couch so that you can vacuum under it and behind it.
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Do you have questions about your cleaning routines? I'd love to hear from you at jeff@thecleanteam.com. We will feature additional reader questions in a future edition of the Clean Team Newsletter.
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Using Clean Team Products
Stain Gobbler vs. Stain Assassin
 With two great products to battle tough stains, the Clean Team has doubled your stain-fighting power. Unfortunately, it seems we've also inadvertently caused some confusion as to which product you should use when. After reading this 411 on the Stain Gobbler vs. the Stain Assassin, we hope that your confusion will be as short-lived as the stains you need to zap. Stain Gobbler is an enzyme that works on protein-based or organic stains. Examples of organic stains include grass, blood, food, pet, kitchen grease, odors (from an organic source), pipe/drain clogs, bacterial growth, and organic waste.  Stain Assassin is a solvent-based cleaner that works on a wide variety of organic and non-organic stains such as lipstick, makeup, crayon, fruit, grass, grease, grime, iodine, latex paint, mildew, oil, shoe polish, and washable ink. Both cleaners can be used on carpet, upholstery or fabrics. However, Stain Gobbler should not be used on organic fabrics, such as silk or wool. If you are still confused, following are some examples of stains that are best treated with our solvent-based cleaner, Stain Assassin (as opposed to the organic cleaner, Stain Gobbler): Carpets Stains
- Crayon
- Lipstick
- Wood furniture dye
- Ball-point ink
- Mascara
- Hair dye
- Kerosene
Upholstery and Laundry Stains
- Motor oil
- Ink stains
- Make-up
- Lipstick
- Shoe polish
- Ball-point ink
- Crayon
- Latex paint
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May Special Offer 
Discount Duster!
This 18" duster has the same high quality black ostrich-down feathers as our more expensive duster. There are fewer feathers, but this is still a good duster for a fraction of the price. While stocks last.
Only $9.95 or 199 PERCS.
Item Number 4302S
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Thanks for reading us this month! Come visit us on the web at www.thecleanteam.com.
Sincerely,
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Jeff Campbell
The Clean Team Catalog |
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