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Solid surface counter tops refinishing or cleaning?

The following question was asked by Kathy:

I have just moved into a house that is 6 years old that has corian counter tops. There is a big stain which we tried to bleach out, however it has appeared to just change the color a bit.

There are a number of different manufacturers of solid surface materials. This stuff is fantastic! Cut it, scratch it, burn it, and you can still get it looking back to it original appearance. It is non-pourous so if bleach did damage the surface, it will not have damaged the material beneath. Start by clearing the damaged area, and give yourself room to work. You will need a vacuum, sand paper (120grit, 250 grit) scotch brite pads (which are typically green scrub pads for scrubbing your dishes). These are avaliable in different coarsenesses, and although purple is ideal, the common green ones will work as well. Start with the 120 grit sandpaper, sanding the area that is damaged to remove the offending marks. Work in a circular motion, being sure not to sand too deep in any one spot (or your counter will be uneven) The 120 grit will leave a matte finish, so depending on your finish this may be enough to remove the scratches and dull spots. You can use a palm sander, but it will create a lot more dust, and if your not careful you can sand away too much material. For a glossier finish use the 250 grit, and then the scotch brite pad. I have had some installers that keep going all the way up to a 600 grit very fine sandpaper. There are products that will restore a glossy shine, but one installer suggested using pledge furniture polish, to return the lustre and match the surrounding counter top. In any case your counter was very expensive, for the reason that it can be made to look brand new very easily. Even if you are not up to the task any Solid Surface Counter installation company would refinish your counter at a minimal expense in a couple of hours.

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Gum Stuck on Shoe

  • Take the shoe with the gum and place it in a plastic grocery bag or large food storage bag.
  • Press the area of the shoe with the gum onto the plastic of the bag. Clear an area in the freezer. Place the bag into the freezer with the shoe still inside.
  • Allow the gum to freeze. This will require at least an hour if not two hours.
  • Once the gum is frozen, remove the shoe and the bag from the freezer. Pull the bag and the shoe apart from each other. The gum should stick to the bag and removal should be straight forward.
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Gum…

This solution for removing gum from your shoe requires that you either have this product already or that you purchase it. Take a can of WD-40 and spray the area of the shoe with the gum. Allow at least one minute to pass. Use a paper towel or rag to wipe away the gum and the oily spray from the shoe. Use a clean rag or paper towel to wipe the shoe a second time to remove any additional residue.

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Mustard Stains

As with any stain, mustard stain removal is more successful if done immediately, dried stains are harder to remove.

Rinse the fabric in cold water and remove as much of the stain as possible.

Create a solution of:

1 teaspoon ammonia
1 pint of warm water

  • Wash the fabric in the solution
  • Rinse in cold water to complete the mustard stain removal process.
  • Repeat as necessary until the mustard stain removal has eliminated the stain.
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Homemade Clothes Stain Removal Solution

Homemade Clothes Stain Removal Solution

To make your own solution at home, you can simply use a combination of the ingredients below:

¼ Cup Liquid Dish Soap
1 Cup Cold Water

You can use the clothes stain removal solution to gently rub the stain.

Always check the label of your garment before using any cleaning chemical or technique. Spot clean in a small unseen area first before working on your stain.

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Marble Cleaning

Do not use anything other than Ivory liquid dish soap on marble.  Harsher cleansers will damage the surface.  Always dry marble to prevent water spots from leaving their signature mark. Marble stains easily so wipe spills immediately. Do not use vinegar or orange based cleaners to clean marble. The acid in them will damage the surface. Peroxide is safe for stain removal.

 

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Water Stain from Ceiling

First and most important step is to fix the source of the stain. A quick tips is to dab or spray the stain with straight bleach, be sure to to drip on any other surfaces to prevent bleach damage. Use safely glasses and gloves etc. I have used this quick method with good success on smaller stains.

Step 1  Repair the Leak
Before you remove the stain, you will have to repair what is causing the stain. In most cases, the cause is a water leak or the collection of water on your roof.

Step 2  Getting Ready
Place a plastic sheet below the stained area. Using a stepladder, clean the stained area with a damp rag. If you find any mold, use bleach and water to remove it.

Step 3 Analyze the Stain
If the stain is small, simply dab some bleach (mixed with water) on the area till stain disappears.

Step 4  Apply a Stain Blocker
If the stain is large, use a pigmented stain blocker (such as Kilz or Bullseye) to cover the stain. To apply the stain blocker, use rollers for smooth surfaces and brushes for corners. Allow the ceiling to dry for at least 24 hours.

Step  Paint
Once the pigmented stain blocker has dried, simply apply matching ceiling paint over the area. Let it dry and repeat this process, if needed.

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Dryer sheets as a cleaning tool ?

Here is an alternate use or two for a dryer sheet…

Placing a sheet at the bottom of the wastebasket, helps eliminate odors found in wastebaskets. Placing an individual sheet at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper will accomplish the same results.

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Stone Counters Tops

Stone countertops are an increasingly popular and common kitchen and bathroom counter material. Cleaning stone counters is easy provided that you use the right materials ito avoid damaging the stone.

Supplies to Use

Several different kinds of stone are commonly used for home countertops including soapstone, granite, marble and slate. While it can be tempting to purchase fancy and expensive stone cleaning solvents, the truth is that you can use items that are found in almost any home kitchen to remove stains and spills. Vinegar, baking soda and mild liquid soap are all popular and work extremely well.

Method 1:  Baking Soda Poultice

  • Make a poultice by mixing water or vinegar with baking soda and spread it over the stain.
  • Let the area dry and then use a soft cloth to remove the poultice.
  • This should pull the stain up and remove it. For deep stains, it may be necessary to repeat this process several times.

Method 2:  Hydrogen Peroxide Pad

  • If you are attempting to remove stains made by wine, ink, tobacco or other organics, soak a paper towel in hydrogen peroxide and lay it over the stained area.
  • Press the paper towel pad firmly over the area and leave it in place for several hours.

Materials to Avoid

Because it is easy to damage stone countertops, do not use cleansers that have a highly acidic base or which are extremely abrasive. Cleaners that have bleach can be damaging to stone countertops, particularly if they have a polished finish.

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