DIYers Battling Difficult Cleaning Tasks
20 posts in the last 30 days, all from r/CleaningTips.
“This is my vinyl wrapped cupboard and fridge in my apartment and I CANNOT work out how to clean it. As said above I’ve tried very little but I also don’t wanna destroy it so I’m reaching out to hopefully get better advice than just throwing every cleaning chemical at it and hope…”
“Of course it got on the white part. Anyone had success with fixing a little problem like this?”
“My wife and I inherited her grandmas 1960’s record player and radio in a wood cabinet. It’s a great piece of furniture that we are going to use in our living room, but there is one issue… it smells. Her grandma hadn’t smoked in the house for over 20 years, but the cabinet still…”
Users are facing challenges with cleaning various surfaces, including cabinets, postcards, walls, and windows. They're seeking advice on effective methods to remove grease, stains, glue residue, and water spots.
SOURCES (60)
“This is my vinyl wrapped cupboard and fridge in my apartment and I CANNOT work out how to clean it. As said above I’ve tried very little but I also don’t wanna destroy it so I’m reaching out to hopefully get better advice than just…”
“Of course it got on the white part. Anyone had success with fixing a little problem like this? submitted by /u/Tohdohsibir [link] [comments]”
“My wife and I inherited her grandmas 1960’s record player and radio in a wood cabinet. It’s a great piece of furniture that we are going to use in our living room, but there is one issue… it smells. Her grandma hadn’t smoked in the house for over 20 years, but the cabinet still smells stale… dusty… old… you get the point. Without refinishing the cabinet, is there anything I can do to help the smell? Any cleaning tips would be appreciated. submitted by /u/Lykan23 [link] [comment”
“I recently bought this shoe storage cabinet and I’ve cleaning it once or twice already but this time so much of this yellow stuff kept coming out… not sure what it is??? I cleaned with a paper towel and Clorox all purpose cleaner. But last time I used it it was fine. I also recently (about a week ago) sprayed some Febreze around it. Could that be it? submitted by /u/thaiilee [link] [comments]”
“Moved into a new place and we’ve never had counters like this before, first night here and my fiancés leather wallet got left in a puddle of water leaving this stain, it’s now been there a few days. How can I get this out and any future stains on this surface? Thanks in advance😅 submitted by /u/-_-rawr-XD-_- [link] [comments]”
“Just drilled into the wall to put up a curtain rail and the dust has lightly stained the carpet. I have hoovered it, but don't want to get it wet in case it sets. Any tips? submitted by /u/Old-Gate1323 [link] [comments]”
“Some stains from spills on my fabric office chair. Advice on how to remove? submitted by /u/booogiejam [link] [comments]”
“Tried soap and water and vinegar so far no improvement submitted by /u/tink282 [link] [comments]”
“pretty sure it’s coffee stains that I didn’t wipe down soon enough. is there any fixing it? PLEASE help! i’ve already tried a baking soda paste. submitted by /u/Tough_Big_3953 [link] [comments]”
“I bought an ottoman from the marketplace with a small stain on it, and I want to make it look brand new since it’ll be a gift for a friend! It’s a memory foam cover for the ottoman. Do y’all have any tips? I don’t know what the stain is exactly, but I’ve tried using some cleaning wipes on it. It was unsuccessful though :( submitted by /u/BrionneTheBest [link] [comments]”
“I have a smell problem, and I'm not sure how to deal with it. I live in a roughly 400sqft studio with my two cats (not ideal, were working on it).Upon coming home my apartment has a strange, musty odor, that doesn't seem to have a direct cause. I sweep daily, and vacuum at least twice a week, usually with a pet odor carpet refresher. I scoop the litter box every other day, and try and dump the whole thing every other week (sometimes weekly) depending on their potty schedule. I take the t”
“We put up adhesive tack board. Can't get the glue off. Sos submitted by /u/PhatJesusJr [link] [comments]”
“Tissue paper left 2 stains on the quartz countertop after it got wet. Any tips to remove the stains? submitted by /u/Michael_schnott [link] [comments]”
“So, my cat litter is in my hallway as I have a small flat and nowhere else to put it. It gets regularly cleaned out and i have wood pellets, but a few people have come in and commented on the smell. I was wondering if theres anything I can do to prevent this? Im a bit nose blind to it now which is a nightmare! Bonus if you recommend UK products 😊 submitted by /u/ChimpanzeeHooves [link] [comments]”
“Just got the keys to my new apt in Brooklyn and doing a deep clean before moving in. I swear by my Oxiclean mildew and mold spray as it’s worked wonders every other time but it won’t lift any of these old stains. Need these stains out asap or I won’t ever feel clean in here. submitted by /u/HeadYou8994 [link] [comments]”
“Helllooo! so basically we are moving into this apartment. there is like this short carpet in the bedrooms and one is fine but it looks like the other has this stain right inside the door. It’s just like this darker spot and i’m pretty sure even after they had it professionally cleaned it kind of smells. the other parts of the apartment / rooms don’t so i’m figuring it’s the spot on the floor. Apparently they didn’t have animals but i’m not too sure😭 anyways i was gonna hire someone to do carpet”
“Hello everyone Got this nice old chair from a thrift store for $5. Unfortunately, it came with a nasty stain on an otherwise nice fabric. Not sure how to proceed. I saw some fancy steam/water vacuums that people use on such furniture but I don’t have one and would rather not splurge on one. Any tips on how to handle this would be much appreciated submitted by /u/Garret_Ua [link] [comments]”
“It may be small but boy is it bothering me!!!! I’ve tried warm water and dish soap, and warm water and baking soda and nothing has worked 😩 am I doomed? submitted by /u/littleinternetdweeb [link] [comments]”
“I've tried a steam cleaner, spraying it with detergent mixed with water, vacuuming it, and just trying to scrub it out with a microfiber towel. It just gets worse and worse every time I touch it :( submitted by /u/lazys_world [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone! I mistakenly had a wooden planter (with a plastic liner inside) that got wet and stained the windowsill! I have attempted regular degreasing cleaning spray as well as baking soda/vinegar solutions. If nothing else, I presume I can repaint it with gloss white? Any helpful tips to try are appreciated! Thank you! submitted by /u/Original-Truck-4076 [link] [comments]”
“I thrifted this pretty plastic flower curtain with a beautiful iridescent, stained like colour but a little bit after hanging it I realized it has a smells that look like cat pee...I really don't want to throw it away but I don't want to ruin it. I though about a soapy water bath ? I know that if it is truly cat pee the smell is going to be hard to wipe out but I'm afraid of ruining it. Any tips ? submitted by /u/Good_Wrongdoer_6943 [link] [comments]”
“What cleaning agent and process can I use to clean these steps in my garage? submitted by /u/Tight_Competition_78 [link] [comments]”
“It seems our cat stepped in some pollen from our sunflowers on the table and tracked it inside. My boyfriend will FREAK if he sees this so could I get some help on how to clean this ASAP? Some help on removing the random marks would mean a lot as well Thank you! submitted by /u/Stagnant_Water24 [link] [comments]”
“I don’t know what this stain is from, I moved into my room after my brother left, anyone know what it is/how to get it off? Context: we have window ac’s that we use every summer and we fill the crack in between the windows with foam when we use said ac’s. submitted by /u/Real_Ad_392 [link] [comments]”
Any tips? Favorite product? submitted by /u/so-anyways- [link] [comments]
“Hello, there are ink pen marks on the wall, how can I clean it without making it worse? (Inside walls) - see pictures of the wall and the culprit pen ;) submitted by /u/semyhea [link] [comments]”
“I’m redoing this terrarium that had the same stuff for 8+ years. I’ve used a soft sponge with dish soap and Windex with vinegar and it still looks like this. Any advice? submitted by /u/Reasonable_Bath_222 [link] [comments]”
“Picked it up from the trash below my block, how to clean? The wood looks porous and there are nails Super dusty and grimy submitted by /u/1yz11 [link] [comments]”
“It’s more noticeable than the picture, the picture it doesn’t do it justice lol I’ve tried dawn dish soap, isopropyl alcohol (and found out I shouldn’t), laundry stain remover, warm water and cloth.. it’s not even getting lighter. My guess is that’s lip gloss based on the colour but I’m not too sure. This has been my wallet for over 7 years now since my mom gave it to me for my bday, so it’s kinda upsetting to have it stained. I’d appreciate any help! submitted by /u/bunny2302 [link]”
“Sorry my apartment is a MESS but I need any tips to organize this monstrosity, gba for scale, it doesn’t have drawers and it’s too damn big for the cubby things Walmart has, and the cat keeps knocking clothes down and it’s awful, any ideas? (Each cubby is 15x14 inches) submitted by /u/Express_Pop_460 [link] [comments]”
“Help! If anyone know how to get cat pee out of couches, like reallyyy get it out, I would love some tips !! I've been trying to clean it out of the couches for days now, and it won't go away😔 what I've tried: -Enzyme cleaner, let it sit, water vacuum out -Hired a company to clean -Water and vinegar, let it sit, water vacuum out -Hired another company (they made it smell stronger somehow) -Sprinkle baking soda on, vacuum up, still smells Honestly I am just about ready to give up and”
“For cat urine on wood, enzyme cleaner is the first step, but if it soaked into the boards or subfloor, cleaning alone may not fix it. Sanding and sealing with an odor-blocking primer can work, otherwise the damaged boards may need replacement”
“I have a previous version for this BROR from Ikea. I feel the pictures make it look not as bad, but there's some food stains and possibly mold. Is there anything that can be done? submitted by /u/ipod7 [link] [comments]”
“I’m looking for a pretty specific window-cleaning tool and hoping someone might have a suggestion. As you can see from my photo, the windows in my condo open outward from the bottom. I’d like to clean the outside of the windows, but the problem is that I can’t physically reach most of the exterior glass from the opening. Most of what I’ve found online falls into one of two categories: window cleaners with extension poles or magnetic window cleaners. I almost need a combination of the two. Ideall”
“Hi everyone! I’m hoping some of you experienced housekeepers might have some advice for me! I tried posting in the housekeepers page but my post kept getting deleted for some reason. I clean a large condo building that was built about 5 years ago, and I’m running into the same cabinet issue in nearly a dozen units. The cabinets seem to show fingerprints, hand oils, and grease so easily, and even after cleaning them... you can still see fingerprints and grease!!! I’ve tried Dawn and Dawn Powerwas”
“My husband and I were gifted this cabinet thingy and it has what I believe are a combination of cat pee/cat throw up stains that have been sitting there for who knows how long. There isn’t much of an odor, thankfully, but I can notice it. I am wondering what the best process is to clean this, or if it is even salvageable at this point. Also what I can do about the rust on the metal clasp things. The top ones look perfect, but the bottom ones.. not so much. I was thinking maybe CLR or maybe even”
“As far as I know, the last owners haven’t done anything for these cabinets/drawers for the 30 years they lived here. I was thinking of using dawn dish soap and warm water to get the muck and grease off. But afterwards I don’t know what to use to help cover the dings and scratches? The second photo shows the finish, I’m not sure if it’s shellac or lacquer or something, but it seems high gloss. Any suggestions to help revitalize them? I also want something that would be safe for children, my 2 yea”
“Hi! I bought this second hand desk chair and it has some stains on the fabric covering the seat foam. I'm not sure if they are there because of sweat. Any advice on how to ged rid of them? submitted by /u/Fit_Yogurtcloset1176 [link] [comments]”
“I moved into a new (to me) house a few weeks ago that has some velcro stickers on the window frames (apparently something to do with stopping a cat from jumping out of open windows). I’m having great difficulty removing the adhesive residue left by the sticky velcro strips. I have tried: - Meths - Surgical spirit - 3 in 1 oil - WD-40 - Adhesive remove from hardware store - Scraping and elbow grease Can you think of any other ideas for removing the adhesive? I suspect that it has been there for s”
“I’m moving apartments and made the mistake of using Funtak for all my art and prints. How can I safely remove it in bulk without sacrificing paint? Thank you! :,) submitted by /u/catsming [link] [comments]”
“Apparently putting warm pancakes on paper plates caused these stains on our kitchen table. It looks like it’s a waxy residue that could scrape off, but it doesn’t. Any suggestions? submitted by /u/happypiggo [link] [comments]”
“TLDR: while on vacation, cat urinated and defecated multiple times in unfinished closet with backer board flooring. ALL tips (that do not suggesting removing and reinstalling backer board) welcomed. When I bought this house one closet came unfinished. We were chosen by a pregnant cat and kept a couple of the kittens (😻😻😻.) One of the kittens had used this closet as a bathroom a few times (imho) because of owner error (not enough litter boxes. Not cleaning boxes enough, etc.) We recently went”
“Hi!! First time having an apartment and I find the cabinets have almost a stale old smell? It's seeping onto my dishes so I've taken to leaving them on the counter, which I don't want to be the longterm solution! Any tips on how to get rid of this smell and hopefully smell a bit nicer? Thank you!!! This is probably a simple answer and I apologise!! This is the one area I feel stumped on submitted by /u/OwnCaterpillar641 [link] [comments]”
So, give me all your tips please! submitted by /u/p0112 [link] [comments]
“When I try to clean it gets gummy and takes awhile to get all off. It's not smooth you can feel the wood grain if that makes a difference. I'm just wondering if there is a more effective way to cut through the gunk and I'm scared to damage it. I bought Old English and it mentions cleaning but I'm not sure if it means deep clean. I wanted to get them all cleaned up and treated with it to bring some life back into them. If you need an idea of age they are wood on wood drawers and s”
“I spray with an all purpose cleaner, or sometimes a degreaser if it's really bad, then wipe with a damp sponge, then dry with a towel, and it always seems to leave streaks like this. Any advice for how to avoid streaks? submitted by /u/Beginning-Bed9364 [link] [comments]”
“These drawers were in the same room as my pet rats, and the fronts yellowed (two of them did the same thing). I’m not really sure why? Especially since nothing else in the room had the same reaction. Any tips? I haven’t tried anything yet submitted by /u/AggravatingBox2421 [link] [comments]”
“Hey all! I moved into a home built in the 1960's , and while it has been beautifully maintained structurally, the kitchen cabinets have probably not been cleaned in decades. They are stained honey oak cabinets. As I was beating food up on the stove the other day, the steam made the cabinets very gummy. I thought the stain was coming off but realized it's a thick layer of gray gummy dirt. I did a patch test with some dawn soap but even that didn't seem to cut through it well. Is there”