Cleaning: Use the Right Product for the Job

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

16 Jan 2006 06:48 PM

When you clean your home, it helps to use the proper product for each job. It might be tempting to spray surface cleaner on your wood coffee table, just this once. Don't give in to temptation. Such cleaners are not good for wood furniture.

To help make sure you have the right products handy, put together a cleaning caddy or fill a cleaning bucket with products. This way you can easily carry everything you need with you from room to room. It will save you time because you won't be running around every time you need something, and it will help you avoid the temptation to use whatever product you happen to have at hand.

Glass and surface cleaners are made especially for those surfaces. Most contain alcohol to help them dry quickly, and alcohol is not good for wood, vinyl, and other materials. Use these products only on their intended surfaces.

Furniture polish is not meant for hardwood floors. While they probably won't harm the floor, they can make it very slippery. Floors are also much dirtier than furniture surfaces, and polishes that contain wax will only trap that dirt.

For sensitive items like computers, stereos, and televisions, choose sprays or wipes made specifically for electronics. If you choose a spray, do not spray it directly onto your equipment. Spray it onto a soft cloth then clean each component. Electronics cleaners are made to evaporate quickly to prevent damage from moisture. They may contain alcohol, ether, and other chemicals to make them dry quickly, and are therefore not intended for other surfaces. Also, do not use these or any cleaning products near heat or flame.

You can also check labels carefully to insure that the cleaning products you choose are safe for the items you plan to clean with them.

Learn more about Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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