How to remove stains from velvet upholstery

1. Try to remove as much liquid from the upholstery as possible. If the spill is on a cushion or other removable piece, shake to remove excess.

2. Gently soak up any additional liquid from the surface of the fabric, using a dry absorbent cloth. Be very careful not to add too much pressure, as you might push the moisture further into the velvet.

3. Mix a small amount of warm water and a few drops of dish washing detergent in a bowl. Cover the bowl and shake the mixture to create suds. Using a soft cloth, apply the suds to the stain, taking great care not to over wet the fabric. Continue to dab the stain lightly until stain is lifted. If this process doesn't remove the stain, use a dry cleaning solvent.

4. Follow the directions on the dry cleaning solvent packaging for mixing instructions. Apply a small amount of solution on a cloth and dab into the stain in the same manner as the suds mixture.

5. Allow fabric air dry. If you wish to speed up the drying process, use a hair dryer. Set the hair dryer on low heat and hold about five inches from the fabric. Keep the dryer moving so you do not damage the fabric.

6. Use a steamer if the velvet has lost lustre during the cleaning process. Move the steamer nozzle across velvet at a moderate pace going with the nap.

7. After the velvet is completely dry, brush it in the direction of the nap, using a soft bristled hair brush or velvet brush.

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How to remove coffee stains from a microfibre couch

1. Blot up the coffee with a clean, dry cloth.

2. Wet a cloth with warm water. Wring it out to remove excess moisture.

3. Squirt a few drops of liquid dish soap onto the cloth.

4. Scrub the coffee stain with the soapy cloth. You may have to rinse the cloth and reapply soap during this process.

5. Rinse soap from the area with a clean, damp cloth.

6. Blot the affected area dry with a clean, dry cloth. If you don't dry the couch, the water may leave a mark on the microfibre.

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How to clean baby spit-up from a couch

1. Fill a small bowl with hot water and a good squirt of Palmolive dish soap. Mix it up so that you have soapy hot water.

2. Identify the stains on your couch. Start with the biggest and most obvious baby spit-up stains. Getting those out of the way will dramatically improve the overall appearance of your couch.

3. Dip your old toothbrush in the soapy water and then dab the stain. Continue to do this until your stain is good and wet. Then start scrubbing with your toothbrush.

4. After you've scrubbed the spot and it looks like most of the spit up is gone, take your dish towel and dry the spot - this will also help pick up any loose debris from the area.

5. Repeat on all of your spit-up stains.

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How to clean nylon curtains

1. Wash your nylon curtains in your washing machine with the machine set on the gentle cycle, using a gentle, colour-safe detergent that won't fade the colours of your nylon draperies. Use cool water unless your nylon curtains are badly soiled. If your nylon curtains are in need of a deeper cleaning, use warm water. Avoid hot water, which is hard on the fabric.

2. Dry your nylon curtains on the tumble dry setting of your dryer with low heat. Avoid high heat, which may fade the colours and wrinkle the fabric. Add a fabric softener sheet to minimize wrinkles.

3. Remove the nylon curtains from the dryer while the fabric is slightly damp. Re-hang the curtains and allow them to finish drying.

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How to remove Vaseline stains from a couch

1. Remove the excess petroleum jelly from the couch. Either blot the spot with a white cloth or scrape it off with a butter knife. Take care not to spread the stain further.

2. Sprinkle corn Flour, talc or baby powder over the stained area. Pour just enough so that the stain is covered. Allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. The powder will absorb the grease, making the stain lighter and leaving less to remove.

3. Vacuum the powder or remove it with a small broom or straight edge.

4. Apply a dry-cleaning solvent to a white cloth. Blot the stain with the solvent-soaked cloth -- don't use a circular motion as it may cause the stain to soak deeper into the fabric. Continue to apply the solvent to the stain until the spot disappears. You may have to repeat this process several times until the stain is removed.

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How to remove ink stains from a leather couch

1. Blot excessive ink with a paper towel.

2. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol.

3. Rub the stain with the cotton swab until the stain disappears.

4. Pour a small amount of water over the alcohol residue.

5. Dry the water by blotting it with a paper towel.

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How to remove pet urine stains from a couch cushion

1. Remove the soiled cushion from the couch immediately so the urine can't spread to other sections. Take the cover off of the couch cushion. Many covers unzip for easy removal; others may require you to unravel a seam and resew the cover on again once everything is clean.

2. Blot as much liquid as possible from the cover. Depending on the cover material, you may be able to launder it at home. However, if the cover is a delicate fabric or labelled "dry clean only," bring it to a professional cleaner and let them know what kind of stain it is; do not attempt to clean it yourself.

3. To wash the cover, test a small inconspicuous section of the fabric with the enzymatic cleaner to make sure it doesn't affect the colour or fabric. Soak the cover in full-strength cleaner for 10 to 15 minutes, then hang it to dry indoors, keeping it out of direct sunlight.

4. Place the uncovered cushion on a clean towel or rag, then use another towel to blot away excess liquid. Saturate the part of the cushion that was stained, using a spray bottle of enzymatic cleaner. In order for the cleaner to work, it must penetrate the entire urine-soaked area. You may want to do this step in a bathtub.

5. Allow the cushion to dry completely; rotating it regularly so air reaches all sides. Depending on what the cushion is made of, this could take up to two or three weeks; foam cushions should dry more quickly, but a cushion made of cotton batting will take a long time. Do not use a fan or heater to speed the drying of your cushion, because an enzymatic cleaner won't thoroughly work unless it's allowed to dry at its natural rate.

6. Put the cleaned cover back on the cushion and put your couch back together.

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How to remove crayon from a fabric couch

1. Scrape away as much crayon as possible. Use a butter knife to gently scrape up the crayon. Scraping is only necessary if the crayon has melted onto the couch fabric or is ground into the fabric in large chunks. If the crayon is just in the form of marks, you will not be able to scrape any off.

2. Moisten a paper towel with ammonia or dry cleaning solvent. Either product will work well, so use whatever you have on hand.

3. Dab the moistened paper towel over the crayon stain. Avoid rubbing over the stain the crayon will spread further. Dab the couch fabric several times with the paper towel. Blot the couch fabric with a dry paper towel.

4. Continue this process, switching from blotting with the moistened paper towel to blotting with the dry paper towel, until no more colour from the crayon is transferred from the couch to the paper towel.

5. Fill a small bowl with 1 cup lukewarm water. Add 1 tsp. of bleach-free dish soap to the water.

6. Dip a sponge into the bowl, and wring it out lightly. Dab the couch fabric with the sponge and soapy water. This will remove any traces of the cleaning solution, as well as any crayon residue.

7. Rinse the couch fabric with a rag and plain water. Blot the couch fabric with a dry rag to remove excess moisture. Allow the couch fabric to air dry the rest of the way, then inspect for any traces of the crayon.

8. Apply a lubricating spray such as WD-40 to the couch fabric if the crayon mark remains. Apply a small amount of the spray, and allow it to sit on the stain for about five minutes.

9. Scrub the crayon stain with a stiff scrub brush to loosen the crayon from the fabric. Clean the cushion with the sponge and soapy water, rinse with a rag and plain water and blot excess water from the fabric with a dry rag. Allow the couch fabric to air dry.

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How to remove tomato stains from your couch

1. Pick any tomato pieces off the couch and scrape as much of the stain off as you can with the back of a butter knife or other dull object.

2. Combine 2 cups of water and a tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent. You can also use a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar.

3. Apply the solution to your stain and blot it with a clean cloth.

4. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.

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How to clean sheer curtains

1. Fill your washing machine with lukewarm water. (Even if you only have a few curtains, use a full washer as it will help to keep the curtains from twisting and wrinkling). As the washer is filling, add a water conditioner.

2. Once the washing machine is full, press the curtains down into the water. Never fill the washer more than half full with curtains.

3. Put the washing machine on pre-soak and let the curtains soak for five minutes. After five minutes, put the washer on a gentle rinse cycle.

4. After rinsing, with the curtains still in the washer, fill the washer to full once again with lukewarm water.

5. Mix detergent into water. If you use powdered detergent, mix it in a bowl to dissolve the clumps before adding it to the washer with the curtains.

6. Put on a gentle wash cycle for three to five minutes. Continually check on the curtains during the wash cycle to be sure curtains are not twisting around the agitator.

7. When the wash cycle has completed, put the curtains on a gentle rinse cycle with cool water. Once the washing machine has filled, add fabric softener, stirring it through the water.

8. When curtains have had their final spin, place them in the dryer on "air dry." Add three to four small hand towels to help absorb the moisture. Hang up as soon as they are dry, to ensure they will not wrinkle.

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How to clean marks off walls

Things you will need

Baking soda

Water

Small bowl

Instructions for painted walls

1. Mix 1/4 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl to make a paste
2. Wring out a clean, wet cloth or sponge
3. Dab the cloth or sponge into some baking soda mixture and rub it on the mark.  Do this in a circular motion
4. Rinse the wall with another well-wrung rag or sponge

Dave's Tip

Try using an eraser for scuff marks made by shoes or other objects

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How to clean a Fireplace Window Glass

Read your owner's manual to make sure your cleaning procedures don't invalidate the warranty. This is rarely a problem with recent fireplaces, but older models have a number of restrictions.

Things you will need

Razor blade or painting scraper

Ammonia - based cleaner

Disposable towels or rags

Instructions

1.     Remove the sooty buildup with a razor blade or paint scraper. You can skip this step if there is only minimal black debris on the windows.

2.     Spray the windows with an ammonia-based cleaner. You can make your own with a mixture of equal parts ammonia and water.

3.      Using clean towels, start wiping the windows in a circular motion. You won't be able to remove all of the buildup with a single wash. Spray and wipe at least three times.

4.      Use wet newspaper with a little bit of ash sprinkled on it if there are spots that won't come off with just the ammonia cleaner. The newspaper and ash will scrape off stubborn particles that ammonia alone will not remove.

5.     Allow the window to dry completely once all the visible soot has been removed. Spray and wipe down the windows one more time with ammonia and water. This will prevent most of the fogging from ash and sooty remains that aren't visible.

Tips and Warnings

Add 1/4 cup vinegar to your cleaning solution if fogging continues after cleaning. Occasionally burn an extremely hot fire to burn off excess soot from the windows. Most soot is material that hasn't completely burned, and so the heat will break down much of what you can see. Extra hot fires also help remove soot buildup from your chimney.

Make sure you do not clean the glass while it is still hot. Cold liquid on hot glass can cause it to shatter


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