This post is a follow up on a story published Wednesday, March 25 in our Home & Garden section about cleaning called “Do not disturb- maid service not needed.”

Cleaning is by no means a favorite activity of mine. However, it’s nice to come home to a clean, dust-free pad.
I spoke with local business owners around Elk Grove about items I thought would take specialized cleaning. I learned some surprising info. Like, mopboards should not get too damp because they’re made of compressed cardboard, and bricks inside a home need to be cleaned by a pro.
Here are some other tid-bits not included in the article.

Frames

If you read the article you know that frame- not prints, painting or picture- but the frames themselves are precarious to clean because they usually surround art that you wouldn’t want to ruin.
Even with glass covering the picture, it can get a little tricky.
I personally would not take a glass-covered print to a professional cleaner. But I have some family heirloom paintings, done by my grandmother that I would have cleaned by a professional.
First, you should know that a professional cleaning starts at $50 and goes up from their, depending on the difficulty of the frame. (I’m guessing if it’s very detailed and intricate.)
Choice Framing in Elk Grove, the source I used in the article, offers a pick-up service for larger pieces that may be difficult to transport.
If you want to transport a painting yourself, make sure it has a backing to prevent puncturing and always lay the painting flat.
If you read the article, Sam Falk gave me a great suggestion for a gentle homemade cleaning solution for glass-framed prints. www.egcitizen.com

Artificial plants

This is one item I always find very tricky to clean. Especially topiaries- they collect dust so quickly.
Frank Civitano offered a lot of tips for cleaning faux plants.
Civitano does issue one warning when cleaning artificial plants.
“Be careful using detergents,” he said. “They will leave streaks and can ruin the foliage.” Use a simple solution of Dawn detergent diluted with 10 parts water for a fresh smell and quick rinse, he said.
“Save your money and avoid the silk cleaners.”
I wonder how you clean fake moss? Any ideas?




Bricks inside

I called a masonry place in EG, they said the only way to clean the brick was with a spray they sold. They also said they didn’t do the cleaning. I was surprised that a masonry place didn’t know anything and everything about bricks.
Anyways, I called Joe Ovel, owner of Joe Ovel Masonry in Elk Grove. He said to clean bricks outside they would use an acid bath, and then rinse it off with water, but that wouldn’t work inside a home.
Bricks walls, fireplaces and other decorative brick items outside can be easily hosed off after an acid bath, cleaning bricks on the inside of a house is a bit different.
The acid creates fumes and most people would not want their carpet ruined with the water rinse from a high-pressure hose, he said.
If they just leave the acid without rinsing, the bricks turn green.
Bricks with discoloration from smoke can be refaced with a culture stone or thin brick.
For basic maintenance, dust the tops of bricks like you would any other item that needs regular dusting, he said.
I asked him if someone could use a toothbrush to clean bricks and he vetoed that idea.


Drapes/ Curtains

From my own personal experience, I completely agree that drapes should get a professional cleaning. Even cotton ones lose their shape and get a bit tattered at the ends when they’re washed too often. Between dry-cleanings, I shake the drapes out to get the dust off. I also think opening the windows helps freshen them.

Other cleaning tips:

I have a tiled bathroom floor, with pain-in-the-neck grout. To really get it clean, I abandon my Swifter, put on a ratty T-shirt and sweats, and get to work with rags and a toothbrush. Nothing works better than good ol’ elbow grease.


Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. These work great! Clean dingy walls, kitchen backsplashes, doors, etc. I don’t think I’ve ever used them on a dark wall though- only white walls. Read the directions!


Don’t forget to clean these!

Hairbrushes- I soak mine in warm water and baby shampoo. My mom used bleach and water. I think the former helps them last longer.

Make-up brush- I’ve heard you’re supposed to wash these once a week to prevent bacteria from building-up. I use baby shampoo or just tepid water.

Duvet covers and bed skirts- These collect dust. If you have the sniffles at night- wash these and see if it makes a difference.