10 minute read
On your marks Try these tricks for erasing common household stains
On your marks
Roll up your sleeves and arm yourself with our strategies to target those pesky stains around the house
Every house gets its fair share of stains. The good news is most, both inside and out, can be remedied with the right method. From pen on walls and paint spills on the deck to rust on your cooktop, we’ve rounded up some of the most common household cleaning dilemmas and how to tackle them.
High-traffic areas like the living room are notorious for scuffed walls. Keep leftover paint on hand for touch-ups
LIVING AND BEDROOM AREAS
Scuff marks Revitalise timber floors and walls with an eraser pad block. Cut the block to the Mr Clean eraser desired size and lightly dampen it before gently pad block, $3.99, I/N: 0066425 wiping the affected area. The pads also work well to clean crayon and pen off walls. Ink Don’t panic if your toddler has used your soft furnishings as a canvas. “To remove pen and ink marks, blotting with paper towel and isopropyl alcohol should do the trick,” says Jay Rawcliffe of Pristine Professional Cleaning (pristinecleaning.com.au).
Diggers isopropyl alcohol cleaner, $27.50/500ml, I/N: 1560549
Clever cleaning hacks
Bree Leech & Heather Nette King; (opposite) (bottom) Lisa Cohen/Dulux Australia, styling Brigid Arnott. Some photographs feature products from suppliers other than Bunnings. Choose an easy-clean wall paint, such as Dulux Wash&Wear, in kids’ areas Renovators Shayden and Georgia Whipps (moochstyle.com) know the value of forgiving flooring with pooch Frankie in the family!
Pet wee “The only way to reliably remove urine stains and odour from soft furnishings is with an enzymatic cleaner,” says Jay. “First, blot with paper towel to remove excess moisture. Then soak with an enzyme cleaner.” Try a specialist cleaner, like Simple Green pet stain and odour remover.
Drink spills Fast action is the best remedy for coffee, juice or red wine spills. “Use paper towel and a gentle blotting motion to absorb the liquid, followed by a sprinkling of baking soda or talcum powder to soak up the stain,” suggests Rowena Jongejan of Family Clean (familyclean.com. au). “Then apply carbonated water to the stain, blot the area and soak up remaining liquid with a microfibre cloth.” }
Britex urine remover, $14.95/500ml, I/N: 4500005
Simple Green pet stain and odour remover, $9.98/650ml, I/N: 4470549
Morgan microfibre cleaning cloths, $10/pack of 20, I/N: 4460546. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.
For hire: Britex carpet cleaner, $38.60/24hr, I/N: 5450012
For hire: Britex upholstery wand, $5, I/N: 0045321
Glitz ‘Oomph’ goo and stain remover, $8.06, I/N: 4470014
Selleys ‘Sugar Soap’ wall surface cleaner super concentrate, $5.98/1L, I/N: 1230181
Vileda ‘Colours’ microfibre cloths, $12/pack of 8, I/N: 0065913
Mud For mud on carpet, Rowena Jongejan recommends leaving it to dry completely before gently vacuuming the affected area. “Follow by blotting the carpet with a microfibre cloth and a solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid, before removing residue with a dry cloth,” she says.
Nail polish Reduce nail polish damage to carpet with a swift sprinkle of baking soda followed by a little carbonated water. “Leave for 15 minutes, then blot with a cloth to lift up the residue,” says Rowena. “Use a few drops of dish liquid in warm water and gently rub, rather than scrub, the mark with a cloth.”
Insect marks For hard-to-reach insect marks on walls, you’ll need a stepladder, a damp cloth and sugar soap. “Take your time to gently rub the spots clean, ensuring you only remove the mark and not the paint as well,” advises Jay Rawcliffe.
Chewing gum If gum is stuck to your fabric sofa or carpet, Jay recommends using a spray-on remover such as Oomph. “Follow the directions and test on an inconspicuous spot first,” he says. Grimy soft furnishings Revitalise grubby carpets and sofas using a Britex carpet cleaner, which can be hired through the Hire Shop. For great results, use it with a specialised upholstery wand and targeted products such as Britex carpet cleaner solution, urine remover or Spot N Stain.
Mould Target mould with a solution of four parts white vinegar to one part of water, says Rowena. “Spray the affected area and let it sit for an hour. Using a soft sponge, scrub the surface to remove residue and liquid,” she says. For pervasive problems, wheel in the big guns with a specialised mould cleaner like Concrobium, which also helps prevent mould reforming. Stickers Tackle sticker residue on windows or metal surfaces with a solvent. A good option is a citrus-based product like De-Solv-it multipurpose cleaner, which can be sprayed directly onto the sticky spot. Allow it to sit for a few minutes before wiping the surface with warm, soapy water. Avoid using on food containers.
Concrobium ‘Mould Control’ mould cleaner, $15/946ml, I/N: 4460772 De-Solv-it multi-purpose cleaner, $15.98/750ml, I/N: 4460065
BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS
Cloudy shower screen Soap scum on glass and tiles can often be cleaned with a thorough scrub, but for calcium deposits, you’ll need to use an acidic cleaner, such as vinegar or CLR, to help soften the build-up. “Follow by rinsing the glass and working a scraper blade in one direction to remove the deposits,” says Jay. Finish with a glass treatment like EnduroShield to help repel water and soap, and squeegee after showering.
Better Living ‘Crystal Clear’ shower squeegee in Chrome, $22, I/N: 4823180
The Architects Choice ‘EnduroShield’ premium glass cleaner kit, $90/250ml, I/N: 0126484
Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered. Mouldy grout “Start with a heavy spray of vinegar and leave it for 30 minutes. Then come back to it using a grout brush and a product like Glitz Power Paste and give it a good scrub,” suggests Jay.
Benchtop blemishes Benchtops need to be treated carefully, as some off-theshelf products can affect the finish. For a gentle yet effective clean, Rowena recommends making your own paste using a combination of baking soda, dishwashing liquid and water, and gently applying it to the trouble spot with a non-abrasive sponge.
CLR calcium lime rust remover, $18/1L, I/N: 4460670
Sifa super fine grade 0000 steel wool, $11.23/100g, I/N: 1667930
Glitz ‘Power Paste’ cleaner, $4.50/500g, I/N: 4460488 Wipe up spills straightaway to help avoid permanent stains on your benchtop
Store mirror-cleaning wipes in the vanity to swiftly remove toothpaste splatter
Rust spots Gently rub rust patches from stainless steel cooktops and appliances using super-fine grade 0000 steel wool. “Just be sure to spot test to ensure it won’t scratch,” cautions Jay. }
Fix it
Cabot’s ‘Deck Wash’ cleaning solution, $12.30/1L, I/N: 1520518
Dirty deck For a clean deck ready to re-oil, use a three-step process to remove built-up grime. Start with a thorough sweep and hose down. Then give it a scrub with a stiff-bristle broom and a diluted solution of a specialist deck-cleaning product. Leave for 15 minutes, then rinse with a pressure cleaner. Use the same technique for timber outdoor furniture and pergolas.
Pope 8mm x 15m spiral hose set, $56.94, I/N: 3110562
Cabot’s ‘Deck Hand’ 15L bucket, $25.90, I/N: 1661947
Diggers mineral turpentine, $4.17/1L, I/N: 1560821 Paint Wipe off paint spills on a deck as much as you can while it’s still wet. “Once dry, use a paint scraper on acrylic paint. For oil- based paint marks, try scrubbing with turpentine,” advises Jay. “If marks remain, they’ll need to be sanded off.” To quickly reseal the sanded area, give it a spritz of furniture oil spray.
Moss If your home’s exterior, fence or pavers have turned an undesirable shade of green, target moss and algae with a mould-killing product, such as 30 Seconds outdoor cleaner. Follow the directions to dilute the concentrate and apply to the affected area with a pressure sprayer. Let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing off. ◆
OUTDOORS
Rust stains To help lift rust stains from pavers and concrete, you’ll need elbow grease and WD-40 multi-use. Spray a generous amount on the area and scrub with WD-40 multi use a hard-bristle brush. lubricant, $5.98/ 325g, I/N: 6100489 Oil Banish oil stains on your garage floor or driveway with a dose of CLR oil and grease remover. Apply the remover to the problem area and let it sit for three minutes. Using warm water and a stiff-bristle broom, scrub the area and then rinse thoroughly with fresh water.
Bird poo If a bird has left a deposit on your car, place a wet cloth or sponge over the area. Let it sit for a while to soften the mark and then treat your car to a wash using a concentrated product, like Mechanix heavy duty truck and car wash, which will also help get rid of bugs, tree sap and tar marks.
Mechanix heavy duty truck & car wash, $8.22/2L, I/N: 4470446 Remember to punch down nails before you begin cleaning a deck
CLR oil and grease remover, $18.50/ 750ml, I/N: 1560041
30 Seconds outdoor cleaner concentrate, $22/5L, I/N: 4461755
Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.
Ground control
Love every inch of your home sweet home, including the floor beneath your feet, with Vileda’s toolkit of easy cleaning solutions
Your home is your haven, but it doesn’t feel like a sanctuary when it’s sticky or gritty underfoot. With Vileda’s mops and refills, you can have a clean home all the time, and with minimal effort. The ‘Easy Wring & Clean Turbo’ spin mop gives you your regular deep clean, miles beyond what you’d expect from a standard cotton mop, while the ‘ProMist Max’ spray mop gives you a pristine in-between clean all week long.
ALWAYS FRESH
Traditional mops turn grey after the first use and only get progressively grubbier over time. By contrast, Vileda’s ‘ProMist Max’ and ‘Easy Wring & Clean Turbo’ mop heads are easily removable and machine washable, so you can freshen your floors with a clean head every time you mop. Keep a spare refill (or two) on hand, so there’s always one ready to go, then pop the others in a laundry bag and wash at up to 60°C. Easy! Keep an eye on the mop heads and change to a new refill every season, or when the old ones look worse for wear. A THOROUGH CLEAN
Whether you’re a reluctant cleaner or an enthusiastic mopper, the ‘Easy Wring & Clean Turbo’ spin mop makes your efforts count. Highly absorbent microfibres efficiently pick up dirt and more than 99 per cent of bacteria*, while the red PowerZone strands work off any stubborn spots.
The mop has its perfect cleaning partner in the matching bucket with rotating wringer, making manual wringing unnecessary. Simply press the foot pedal to wring out the mop head, applying more or less pressure to achieve desired dampness – this allows you to wring it out more thoroughly for delicate surfaces, like timber. Two bonus refills value offer, exclusive to Bunnings, comes complete with this mop and bucket set!
IN-BETWEEN CLEAN
When life happens – accidental spills or just-spotted footprints when guests are about to call – the ‘ProMist Max’ flip spray mop is just perfect for freshening up and tackling everyday smears, fast, in between your weekly clean. Just grab and go, with no need for a bucket or detergent. The built-in sprayer dispenses a fine mist of water, while the microfibre mop head removes dirt and more than 99 per cent of bacteria* with water alone – no chemicals required! The head flips 180 degrees, allowing you to tackle twice as large an area without stopping.
1 ‘Easy Wring & Clean Turbo’ spin mop with 2 bonus refills, I/N: 0101962. 2 ‘Easy Wring & Clean’ spin mop refill, I/N: 4480597. 3 ‘ProMist Max’ flip spray mop, I/N: 0065908. 4 ‘ProMist Max’ microfibre spray mop refill, I/N: 0065909.
