Cleaning is the practice of removing dirt, stains, grease, germs and odors from the surfaces, fabrics and appliances in your home without damaging them. SeekingHow’s cleaning hub gives you tested, step-by-step methods organized around what you are cleaning and what you are removing. Explore stain removal for clothing and upholstery (caulk, tree sap, mascara, bed bug stains, dog accidents), deep cleaning for kitchen appliances such as toasters, dishwasher filters and humidifiers, rust and residue removal for metal, glass and plastic, and safe disinfecting with products like Lysol and vinegar. Each guide explains which cleaner suits which material, how long to let it work, which chemicals must never be mixed, and how to prevent the mess from coming back. Start with a quick answer, then follow the numbered steps, tool lists and infographics to get the job done right the first time.
To clean the bottom of an iron with vinegar, unplug it and let it cool, then wipe the soleplate with a cloth soaked in warm white vinegar. Use an equal-parts vinegar and salt paste for stubborn residue and vinegar-dipped cotton swabs for the steam vents.
Yes, you can mix vinegar and dish soap for cleaning. The combination is safe and works well on soap scum and grease. Use equal parts warm vinegar and dish soap for heavy scum, or 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon dish soap as a spray. Never add bleach, and skip natural stone.
To clean a cool mist humidifier with vinegar, unplug it, empty the tank, then soak the tank and base in undiluted white vinegar for 20 to 30 minutes. Scrub scale with a soft brush, rinse until the smell is gone and air-dry. Never mix vinegar with bleach.
To clean a Keurig needle, unplug the brewer, push a straightened paper clip into the entrance needle holes under the lid, then remove the pod holder and clear its exit needle the same way. Rinse the pod holder and run a water-only brew.
To clean a waffle maker with non-removable plates, unplug it, let it cool until warm, brush out crumbs and wipe the grids with a damp microfiber cloth. Loosen stuck batter with a few drops of cooking oil or a baking soda paste. Never submerge it or use metal tools.
To clean a Shark vacuum filter, remove the foam and felt pre-motor filters under the dust cup, tap off dust, rinse them with cool water only and air-dry them for at least 24 hours. Do this monthly, and clean the post-motor HEPA filter about once a year.
To clean a Swiffer WetJet pad to reuse it, shake off debris, hand-wash it gently in warm water with a drop of dish soap, press out the water and air-dry it flat. Expect one or two extra uses at most; washable microfiber pads are the better long-term option.
To get pine sap off your hands, rub cooking oil, butter or coconut oil into the sap for 1 to 2 minutes, wipe it away with a paper towel, then wash with dish soap and warm water. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer for leftovers. Never use gasoline, turpentine or paint thinner on skin.
To get candle wax out of a fleece blanket, freeze the wax, crack and brush off the chunks, then melt the leftover film into plain paper towels with an iron on its lowest synthetic setting. Treat dye with rubbing alcohol and wash warm. Never use high heat on polyester fleece.
To get spray foam off clothes, act before the foam cures: scrape off the excess with a plastic knife, then blot the remaining film with acetone or an acetone-based foam cleaner until it lifts, and wash. Cured foam does not dissolve, so it must be trimmed and scraped away. Test acetone first on synthetics.