Site Admin Saturday: A Call for Questions

I'd also love to hear more about cleaning older hardwood floors. We're getting ready to rip a bunch of carpeting out of my wife's grandfather's house and it's quite dirty underneath.

Hi There, My biggest bugbear is trying to get my wooden slat blinds clean and resistant to all that dirt they seem to collect! Would love to know if there is a special tool you can get for cleaning slat blinds. Also...whats the best cleaning solution for wooden blinds? Do I polish or do I wash? I am really trying hard to avoid staining the wood finish.
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When I purchased a set of stainless steel Al-Clad pots I had no clue how to clean them so I called their 800 number. The rep. advised that I use Barkeeper's Friend and Dobie Cleaning Pad. You need very little. Just sprinkle in pot, add a little water to make a paste and rub with the Dobie Cleaning pad. It takes very little elbow grease, and my pots shine with no residue! However, do not use the dobie on the outside or on the lid of these pots (it'll scratch). Use a regular sponge or dish rag for the outside.

What is the best way to clean stainless steel appliances? I've heard olive oil like the poster above but can you give the actual steps or tell if there is a better way?

I heard you can use olive oil to clean stainless steel applicances, is that true? Can it be used to clean anything else?

What can I use to get the burned milk off my ceramic glass stovetop?

My elderly dog has become 'unpredictable' and he particularly likes to go in the corner where I don't notice it's wet. What can I use to get rid of the stain/smell? Natures Miracle and Kids 'n Pets have not worked so far.

What's an environmentally safe toilet bowl cleaner?
I too want to know about cleaning ovens....I have a self cleaning oven and I thought you can't use oven cleaners on them but I've never run the self clean cycle before.

I also wouldlike an alternative to bleach. My mom and grandma use it like it's going out of style, which really asI typed that, I realise that it actually may be going out of style! I know Shaklee has a simliar product, but even that has a harsh chemical.....
Is antibacterial bathroom cleaner good enough for my bathroom?

What's the least elbow-greasish way/cleaning product to clean an acrylic tub?
Is it OK to put plastic shower liners/shower curtains in the dishwasher, or is that an urban myth?
Is there a permanent way to keep mildew from coming back around my bathroom sink? The smell of bleach makes me sick and woozy.
And you look lovely today too!

I know nothing about cleaning an oven. I know there is a self cleaning mode but do you have to use oven cleaner too?

I am also interested in a list of tasks and how often they need to be accomplished and how to accomplish them.

How about how to clean hardwood floors? We are in the process of refinishing the hardwood that was under our carpet and we have never had hardwood before. (real hardwood about 55 years old).

what can be used to clean the dark brown burnt on junk around my burners - it seems to happen when WATER boils over - food spills are easy to get off - this stuff is TORTURE!

Thank you! These are all great questions and they will be answered over time (some of these will require a bit of research). You are the best!

What can I use to really clean the fiberglass floor of my shower? It is turning grey and black (not mildew), and nothing we have used will completely remove it! We have tried scrubbing with scrubby pads and scrub brushes using vinegar, bleach (not together! -- speaking of not mixing...), BarKeepers Friend, KLR, Lysol, etc. I'm eyeing the sandblaster...

My husband has been working on the car, and put an article of clothing in the laundry that smelled of gasoline...or kerosene, or both. Anyway, I put it all in a load, not really thinking about it, and now I can't get the smell out of the whole load. I've washed it four times with soap, hot water, vinegar...no luck. Smells like gas. What do I use to get that smell out?

I'd love a list of routine household maintenance tasks, when/how often to perform them, and how to perform them.
I'm thinking about things like dusting the coils behind the fridge and water cooler, also what kind of maintenance should I be doing with my clothes dryer other than cleaning out the lint trap? Should I be doing something with the hose at the back? how often?

What's the least expensive cleaner type that works reliably (i.e., if vinegar is cheaper than Windex but requires a lot more effort, I probably would not use it). Also, does anybody wax/polish their furniture anymore? If so, what are the benefits of doing so versus just dusting it?

Definitely would love a list of what you can't mix and WHY-- what will happen if I mix the two. Sometimes it is worth knowing that the problem is that one will neutralize the other, versus they will blow up if combined!

What can be used to clean the lime spots off of my shower knob and head, at the same time as requiring the least amount of elbow grease and be environmentally safe?
Do steam cleaners (like the Shark) really disinfect? How long must the steam stay focused on the surface for it to be effective against germs?

My most puzzling thing to clean right now is a pair of lamps from the 1960's. I love them dearly but I don't think that the shades have ever been cleaned. I have looked for 6 years for replacement shades but have never found any the right size. I can't stand how dirty they are but I am scared to clean them because I think they will just fall apart on me. I wish I was clever enough to know how to recover them or something. What would you do?

From my mother:
How do you clean a framed picture?
What's the least time-consuming way to clean the leaves of an artificial tree?
Is there a product that will keep a television screen from collecting so much dust?
Is it necessary to wash walls before you paint them?
What law of physics is it that allows my husband to wash rugs, socks, towels, and jeans in the same load of laundry and have it come out okay, but if *I* have a stray sock in with my towels, it's fuzzed up forever?!?!?!

No, actually you haven't mentioned that I look lovely today. Good thing, too, because I'd know you were being sarcastic. Meh.

What can be used to cleanse fresh vegetables but not add more chemicals itself?

What containers should not be "remixed" or reused except for the cleaner that was in them (could produce dangerous comb)

What products can be used on Pergo effectively?

What mops work the best?

What works best on ceramic tile to give it a shine?