Dear Home Ec 101, In 2006, we bought several pieces of microsuede furniture in a chocolate brown. Over time, the arms and headrests have become oily and dirty. The code on the label is “WS”. Can we remove the grime from our couch and recliner? How hard is it to clean microsuede without damaging the…
Fighting Back Against That Lived-In Look
Hi Home-Ec 101, I admit, I am a terrible housekeeper, but I am trying to improve, and I long for a house I can be proud of. We have lived in our 1957 Cape Cod home for 8 years. It probably came with a certain amount of wear and tear, but our 3 kids, 2…
Living Room Or Family Room: A Home-Ec 101 Guide
The living room, or family room, often becomes a catch all place. At my house it’s where we love to crash, watch a movie, have a snack, play with toys/games, and more. I’ll confess that we let the dog on the couch in there too. A lot of use of the room means a lot…
How to Dust and Clean Books
Dear Home Ec 101, I love your blog (and book), but have a question I don’t think has been addressed. We live in a small duplex with 5 animals (three dogs and two cats). While I’m learning to keep stuff clean -mostly 😉 – there is one recurring issue that I’ve been having. We have…
How to Clean Throw Pillows
Dear Home Ec 101, Can you tell me how to clean throw pillows? A friend made me a pillow cover for a throw pillow on my couch, but she sewed it shut over the pillow, so there is no way to remove the pillow to wash it. Are there any options as far as cleaning the…
How to Clean Stained Marble
Dear Home-Ec 101, We just bought a house, and the fireplace is surrounded by marble. It may be faux marble since most things in the house are builder-grade materials. Anyway, the marble surround is stained. There are blotches of yellow above and Kool-aid type stains on the hearth. Any suggestions on how to clean the…
Wax and Silicone Build Up on Furniture
Dear Home-Ec 101, My mother has wax build up on an antique secretary. It is a dark wood with a shiny surface. Over many years of waxing the wax has built up and in places the shine has dulled. Can you help? Signed, Smudged in Smyrna Heather says: Are you sure that it’s wax build…
How to Care for a Leather Couch
Dear Home Ec 101, What is the best way to care for a leather couch? I have seen several leather conditioners advertised, but do these leave a waxy finish? I have had my leather couch and love seat for four years, and they have held up well, but a few scratches are starting to show up. …
How to Clean Microsuede Furniture
Dear Home Ec 101, I have tan microsuede dining room chairs and, with four children, you can imagine what they look like. I’ve looked, but there isn’t a cleaning recommendation tag on them. What is the best way to clean them? Signed, Dingy Diner Heather says: Oh I can imagine. I’ve given up on salvaging the…
Couch Cleaning Questions
Dear Home Ec 101, I have tile floors and a couch, this sounds normal enough, but the couch slips and slides all over the tile and drives me crazy. How do I stop the couch from sliding? And the cushions, don’t get me started on the cushions, why won’t they stay on my couch? While…