How To Clean Anything

How do you remove stains from plastic containers used to reheat foods (like tomato sauce) in the microwave?

These stains are permanent. Nothing will remove them, as they are now part of the plastic, which has been modified on a molecular level.

This change is caused by the high temperatures experienced in isolated areas on the perimeters of containers used to heat or re-heat food in a microwave oven. The worst part is not the tomato sauce becoming part of the container, but the plastic container becoming part of the food!

There are ongoing studies on the effects of chemicals that mimic estrogen, which are found in most plastic packaging and plastic containers. Researchers are currently trying to draw the link between this, increased in infertility in men, and increased breast cancer in women, caused by these xenoestrogens. Yikes!

Not to fear monger, but it might be best to err on the side of caution by tossing those plastic containers and only use glass or ceramic dishes in the microwave.

Here is a question submitted by Sophia:

I have a baptismal gown which is 30 years old and has yellowed. I’d like to wash it and try to remove the yellowing so it can be used for my grandchilds baptism. Can you help me?

Here is the response from our restoration expert Ed from www.gownmedic.com

The yellowing is caused by oxidation. Washing it won’t help much. Try soaking it overnight in 1/2 cup Tide dissolved in 2 gallons warm water. Rinse 3 times and hang to dry. Repeat procedure if necessary.

If this doesn’t work, you will need a professional.

Windware garments are highly breathable, partially waterproof and windproof.  This type of clothing should be cleaned often in warm water and mild detergent. Afterwards it is essential to dry windware in a hot dryer to keep intact the fabrics inherent wind and water repellency.

Precaution:  Remove immediately from the hot dryer to prevent scorching from the hot drum.

How do you get yellowed ivory piano keys white again??

We have determined that ivory turns yellow in the dark.  Keep the key cover open so that the keys will be exposed to sunlight.  This will not likely improve the present degree of yellowing but it will help to prevent further discoloration.

As far as removing the yellow, it depends how deep it has gone. Sometimes just rubbing them down with 0000/steel wool (very fine) will help. If that does not help it would be best to have a piano technician evaluate the situation. The ivory may have to be taken down quite a bit to remove the yellow. I don’t recommend you attempting this yourself.

We also found information about cleaning piano keys (ivory) using 600 grit emery cloth, then 1500 grit (not always available), after which using “elbow grease” and Brasso. I would question this method, as most of the information we read, cautioned against using ANY aggressive chemicals, especially liquids.

It should be noted that for most ivory jewelry and many pianos, the yellow patina is valued, as it only comes with age. In some cases, cleaning can halve the value of the piece.

How do you remove the yellow stain out of lineoleum caused by dog urine ?

When speaking to one of the pros, he equated it to the linoleum or vinyl tile beneath urinals in men’s washrooms. While this is obviously a more highly “used” location, but it might be typical of pet damage occurring as a result of ongoing accidents, or instances when the urine was not cleaned immediately. He told us that the deposits (calcium, salt, etc) can be removed if they are imbedded in the wax found on finished floors, however if the floor does not have multiple coats of wax, the urine will eat through the factory finish and damage the floor itself, beyond restoration.

If you are not certain what type of floor you have, and have never waxed, you can usually tell by looking at the reflection of light on the floor. If the floor is very glossy near the walls, is in low traffic areas, and very dull in the main traffic lanes of the floor, you likely have a wax type (or finished) floor. If the sheen is similar throughout the floor, and you have never waxed, it is likely a no-wax floor.

If you have a finished floor, as opposed to no finish or no wax, then you can make a trip to a janitorial supplier and pick up some floor stripper. This chemical is very alkaline, and will burn skin almost like acid. Follow all of the manufacturers guidelines, however it would be necessary to strip and re-wax the entire floor. When stripping multiple layers of wax some agitation or scrubbing is needed, and the floor must be rinsed thoroughly before re-waxing.

Most newer residential construction has no-wax type linoleum. This lino has a normal life span of 8 to 15 years, depending on the manufacturer. Keep in mind this floor is inexpensive to re-install with new lino, however be sure to seal any damage to the sub floor using a shellac, or the urine smell (if present) will continue to draw the pet toward that area to ‘mark it’ and it will seep into the room, especially on days with high humidity.

I have burnt some badly burnt on food in a very old cast iron frying pan. It was handed down to me from my Mother, and it has great sentimental value, but I can’t remove the black residue.

Washing
Cast iron pans are fantastic, and they will last forever! A properly seasoned cast iron pan has similar properties to modern non-stick coatings, with the added benefit of being renewable, and also having the ability to withstand metal utensils. The first task would be to clean off all that carbonized material. There are cleaners available that contain sodium meta silicates, which work very effectively, and are found in most commercial food service environments. However, they are very caustic, and dangerous to work with, so a less chemical reliant solution might be preferable. Try putting the cast iron pan in your oven during a self clean cycle. Alternatives would be to place it into a camp fire, or fire place for a few hours, or to get some BBQ briquettes, fill the pan and light them up (outside of course) to burn off the carbon residue. The pan may need to sit for several hours to cool enough to handle, but bear in mind, the hotter the iron is when washing, the cleaner it will get. At this point, wet sand, or an abrasive scrubber work most effectively to loosen the remaining material from the pan. Finally, wash the pan in hot soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and dry immediately.

Seasoning
If you are seasoning a new pan, you have to wash it with HOT soapy water to remove the thin wax, or oil film that protects the pan from rusting. Some experts even suggest that after rinsing, and drying with a towel, the pan be dried over a flame or in a heated oven for a couple minutes to remove ALL of the moisture.

Turn on your oven to 300 degrees and add some Crisco to the pan. Do NOT use liquid vegetable oil. After about 15 minutes, remove the pan, and be sure the sides also have a coating of oil. Pour out the excess, and return the pan to the oven to “bake” for two hours.

Avoid acidic foods like tomatoes or beans, as they will damage a weak or newly seasoned finish. If not properly seasoned, cast iron pans will drip dark liquid into food. If this is the case with your pan, you will need to re-season it.

Care
It is best to clean cast iron pans while they are still hot, by washing with hot water and a nylon pot scrubber. Abrasive scrubbers and soap will remove the seasoning. Always dry the pan thoroughly, and store without the lid in place, or with a paper towel inside to absorb any moisture.

“How can I clean soap residue from the inside of my dishwasher ? ”

The most likely cause of this problem is hard water scale and/or over-using dishwasher detergent.

Try these techniques :

First, try not filling the soap reservoir all the way.  You’d be surprised at how clean dishes can get using less soap.  This will help to avoid deposits.

Second, to get rid of the current deposits try using a damp sponge sprinkled with a little dishwashing powder.  Remember, never clean the inside of any dishwasher with anything but dishwasher soap or else you will create excess suds.

Finally, to get rid of hard water deposits, place a bowl of vinegar in the top rack and put it through a normal wash cycle. This should get rid of any mineral deposits. Repeat if necessary.