Cleaning Solution
Mix ¼ teaspoon of a mild white or clear dishwashing liquid (Dawn is often recommended)—no bleach—in 1 cup of lukewarm water.
Cotton Swabs
These are great for testing the safety of a stain remover on fabric. Use a swab to dab the product on a small or hard-to-reach area of upholstery or an inside seam of an article of clothing.
Enzymatic Laundry Pretreat
“These make a huge difference. They really break down organic stains,” says Jessica Ek, associate vice president, strategic communications, at the American Cleaning Institute. See below for CR’s top pick.
Plain White Paper Towels or Cloths
Paper towels or cloths are perfect for blotting up spills. If you use a cloth, choose cotton or microfiber and make sure it’s clean. Using white cloths or paper towels means there’s no worry that a dye will transfer from fabric or paper and make an already bad situation worse.
Plastic Wrap
When you apply a baking soda paste to a spot on a hard surface, such as a natural stone countertop, covering the area with plastic wrap will help keep it moist as the paste soaks up the stain.
Regular Mayonnaise
Regular mayo contains no less than 65 percent vegetable oil by weight (vs. reduced-fat products) and the experts at Molly Maid cleaning service recommend using it if you have a water ring on wood furniture. Put a layer over the ring, let it sit overnight, and wipe it clean in the morning.
Toothbrush
This tool can come in handy when you need to clean dirt or food spills from ceramic tile grout. Use it to apply a little white vinegar to the grout. Let it fizz and wipe up after a minute or so.
Upholstery Cleaner
Because you can’t throw your sofa or dining-chair seats in the washer, a targeted stain-lifter such as Resolve Upholstery & Multi-Fabric Spot & Stain Remover may save the day if you have an oil, food grease, or salad dressing spill. Be sure to check the fabric care label before you apply it to make sure you can use liquids.
3% Hydrogen Peroxide
Dabbing a little on spills of coffee, tea, wine, or fruit juice, or tomato-based or yellow spice–based foods, will often lift them off older vinyl flooring, which may be more vulnerable to staining. A stubborn muddy carpet stain may also come clean if your cleaning solution hasn’t completely erased it; moisten the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide, wait an hour, and then blot.
