Cleaning

For washable clothing, gently lift off excess lipstick, pretreat the mark with a fabric-safe laundry stain remover or liquid detergent suitable for pretreating, then wash according to the care label. Check the stain before drying: dryer heat can make a remaining mark much harder to remove. For dry-clean-only garments, take the item to a professional…

For washable rubber or foam flip flops, start with mild soap, cool water, and a soft cloth or brush. Gently clean the footbeds, straps, and soles, rinse away the soap, and let them air-dry away from heat. Leather, suede, cork, and decorated styles need more careful treatment, so check the material before putting a pair…

To clean empty seashells from the beach, start by gently removing loose sand, then use fresh water to clean sturdy shells. A soft brush can help lift dirt from ridges. Work carefully, let the shells dry completely, and stop before cleaning starts to damage their surface. Skip vinegar: it can dissolve the shell itself. These…

Homemade vinegar cleaner can be useful for compatible window glass, but it doesn’t belong on every surface or in every appliance. A practical cleaning routine pairs it with soap and water or the cleaner recommended for the job. Use this daily, weekly and monthly checklist to decide what needs attention and where vinegar fits. Treat…

No—ordinary household vinegar isn’t a reliable disinfectant. It can be useful for some cleaning jobs, but don’t count on a homemade vinegar spray to disinfect a counter, bathroom or surface touched by someone who’s sick. The American Cleaning Institute advises against using vinegar as a substitute for a disinfectant. That doesn’t mean you need to…

Some essential oils have antibacterial activity in laboratory tests. That doesn’t mean a few drops in a homemade spray will reliably sanitize or disinfect your kitchen. The oil, concentration, formulation, bacteria and exposure time all matter. For everyday cleaning, you don’t need a collection of essential oils. A suitable soap or detergent cleaner is usually…

Baking soda can help loosen stuck-on food, clean stained mugs, and reduce some household odors. Its gentle scrubbing action makes it useful for certain cleaning jobs, but it isn’t suitable for every surface—and it doesn’t replace detergent, disinfectant, or proper appliance care. The most useful approach is to start with a small, washable item or…

To defrost a manual-defrost freezer, protect the food in another freezer or ice-filled coolers, disconnect the power, and let the ice melt. Then clean and dry the interior, restart the appliance, and check that it has reached 0°F (-18°C) before returning food. The job is easier when you plan it before a big grocery shop,…