How to clean home items without damaging them

There are some items in any house that no homeowner would want to see damaged after a period of years, and we're talking about not so easy and cheap to replace belongings. But there are a few handy tips that will keep them shiny and new in the long run if you just invest some time in it. The research part, we handled it for you.

First and foremost, let's talk laptop and television screens, touch screen devices, like smartphones and tablets, and lenses. Dust, spots and fingerprints always show up on these devices. Taking care of this situation couldn't be simpler. Take a microfiber cloth and make a homemade solution of distilled water (as it is chemical-free it will be better than tap water) and vinegar. Put the mix in a spray bottle. The purpose is to moisten the microfiber cloth with it, so you don't soak the cloth and have drops of solution running everywhere.

Paper products in terms of paper towels, toilet paper or napkins, washcloths, patches of t-shirts aren't recommended.

Computer accessories need regular maintenance as well. Keyboards and mouses can be home to bits of food, dust, spills, skin cells, grease, slime and germs, which are bound to turn into a nasty sediment over time. The vacuum cleaner, cotton buds, toothbrushes and alcohol are household items to use in this deep cleaning process.

Before sweeping these electronics, make sure to turn them off and unplug the power adapter for laptops. Another alternative for a thorough impurities removal are storebought cleaners specially made for LCD screens. Use circular motions when rubbing off the excess dirt.

Almost the same tips apply for marble countertops. A water-based cleaner or a pH-neutral cleaner in a spray bottle will do the trick. Here you can spray the countertop directly. High-pH products, bleach, powdered cleansers, acidic substances work as abrasives and are to be avoided. Gentle cleaning supplies are a must if you don't want to damage surfaces of objects.

Acidic concoctions are also a big no-no for wall and flooring mosaic tiles as they will ruin them. Give them a serious cleanup with warm soapy water. After this proper wash, dry the tiles so that no leftover product damages your tiling and to avoid water stains.

Speaking of tiles, don't forget about the grout in-between, which needs a special treatment of its own. This can attract dirt, dampness and cause mould. Grab a specialist grout cleaner and a sponge or toothbrush and get sanitising.

Next, we have hardwood floors. First get rid of surface debris by dry-mopping or vacuuming. Then mop your floors using water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid dissolved in it if your floors are polyurethaned. If you own lacquered or shellacked flooring, use a solvent-based liquid cleaner because water stains and causes warping. Wipe smoothly going with the grain. Lastly, buff the floors with a soft cloth to clear any soap or cleaner residue. Now step back and admire your floors gleam. To protect them against scratches and undesirable marks, use furniture pads when moving furniture around.

Window blinds are a tough nut to crack if you don't know how to properly take care of them.

Tilt venetian blinds upwards and then downward to sweep the slats with horizontal strokes using a cotton cloth or glove, old sock or a sponge dampened with some soapy water or white vinegar to remove debris. This is an exception for venetian wooden blinds, as they can't get wet and just have to be dusted regularly. You can also use a brush-head attachment of a vacuum to do this. Dust or vacuum vertical and roman blinds.

To wrap up this lesson, keep in mind these last useful advice if you don't want to harm your home items while actually trying to do good:

Don't use a straw broom for tiles, go for a dust mop instead.

Don't be tempted to use soaps and detergents to clean rugs and leather.

Leave vinegar aside when it comes to hardwood floors, ceramic, porcelain, glass or natural stone tiles and marble countertops.

After wiping screens use the dry part of the cloth to make sure there is no liquid left over.

Good luck !