Cleaning copper is very easy and in most cases might not even require a special visit to your local hardware store. Your kitchen or pantry will have the ingredients needed to bring your copper object back to its shining glory. Old remedies, whilst scoffed at by some, can be very effective and these include using things like lemon, vinegar, salt and even ketchup. However, they do need to be used in the right way.

It’s important to know what causes copper discoloration. The main copper tarnish culprits are cupric sulfide, copper sulfate and copper chloride. They do not like acidic chemicals and that’s where gentle household acids like vinegar and lemon come into their own. Alternatively, there are special chemicals one can buy from your local store and even specialist copper cleaners who will do the cleaning for you.

Many copper items found in the home come with a clear lacquer coating. This prevents any unsightly build-up and reduces the need to clean the copper. Objects such as statues, sculptures and other decorative copper accessories usually fall into this category. Items which are used in the process of cooking will need more regular cleaning and even the removal of the lacquer. This can be done by placing the item in a mixture of boiling water and baking soda.

The precise steps in cleaning copper can be found here: How to Clean Copper.

As with most things in life, prevention is the best form of dealing with unfortunate occurrences. When it comes to removing soap scum from a shower cubicle or bath, then this translates to cleaning the areas immediately after use. Catching the soap scum before it hardens means the job of soap scum removal is made a whole lot easier. The best way to do this is to simply wipe the surfaces of the bathtub or shower cubicle clean with a wet cloth after use. Whatever you do, don’t use any waxes or polishes to prevent the build up of soap scum. These will just create a dangerous and slippery environment in the bathroom.

One of the best ways to prevent the build-up of soap scum is to use gel soaps instead of bar soaps. This is because bar soaps contain talc and other minerals which are the main ingredient in soap scum. You should find the occurrence of soap scum greatly reduced by changing the type of soap you use when in the bath or shower. Regardless of this, the previous tip on wiping down the walls and floor of the shower cubicle and bath tub after each use is of prime importance in preventing soap scum appearing.

Looking for furniture? Browse my Bathroom Furniture section.

If you have soap scum already present and you need a way to remove soap scum from the bath or shower area, then these easy and home-made remedies can help. Warm vinegar which has been heated in a microwave can be poured or sprayed onto soap scum affected surfaces. When the surface is then wiped, most of the scum should come away reasonably easily. You can also use ammonia which is added to water. Make sure the ammonia is one third of the mixture. Again, like with the vinegar, spray or pour onto the soap scum affected area and then wipe away. Baking soda is another possibility and can be used in the same way although with this substance, it is best to leave for 30 minutes before removing with a damp sponge.

These home-made soap scum removal techniques should do the trick in many cases. However, if your soap scum is hard to get rid of then you will need to purchase a soap scum removal product from your local store. You can also buy a good variety online and I recommend this selection: Tilex Soap Scum Remover, 32 oz. Trigger Spray Bottle.

First of it, it’s important to note that vapor steam cleaning is different to the traditional forms of steam cleaning. The earlier models used hot water and suction to clean carpets and upholstery whilst the more modern vapor steam cleaner uses purely steam. This type of cleaning is likely to have originated in Italy during the inventions of espresso coffee machines which use a very similar method.

So how does a vapor steam cleaner work? Well, the cleaning machine uses an internal boiler where water is heated to between 150-300 degrees Fahrenheit or 66-149 degrees Celsius. Internal temperatures differ depending on the type and make of the vapor steam cleaner you buy. The steam is then safely allowed out to perform the cleaning process on various surfaces of your choosing.

The benefits of vapor steam cleaning are varied. One of the most popular is the ability to use ordinary tap water to fill the inner boiler. These negates the need for harsh chemicals and cleansers as well. On top of being kind to people with allergies and sensitivities to harsh chemicals, the process is also environmentally friendly. In fact, in regards to families who suffer from allergies, a vapor steam cleaning machine is pretty much required because it kills allergens directly on the surfaces where they are found rather that tossing them into the home’s atmosphere once again.

A vapor steam cleaner also means the use of dry steam. This is an important distinction to make between this and the earlier steam cleaners which often left carpets, upholstery and other surfaces damp and wet after cleaning. Mold and fungus love nothing better than wet and warm environments where they thrive. The vapor steam cleaning method instead has a low moisture content which is on average around 6% water. This kills dust mites, fungi, molds and even viruses immediately. Evaporation takes place soon after and thus the surfaces are left dry.

It’s important to use a regular vacuum cleaner on the carpet or other floor surface after the vapor steam cleaning is completed. The dry steaming will have killed all the bugs and fungus and will have also loosened dirt from the fibres of the carpet. Due to the prior vapor steam cleaning, the regular vacuum session will be many times easier than usual.

There are many surfaces where vapor steam cleaning can be used with great results. Any soft surfaces like those mentioned before such as carpets and upholstery, as well as stuffed toys and car interiors. Hard surfaces will also benefit and these include stone, tile and wooden flooring as well as windows, marble and concrete. Many vapor steam cleaners come with special attachments which can clean places that are hard to reach. This means crevices, grout and the areas beneath furniture can also be reached.

One of the most recommended dry steam cleaners is this Ladybug XLT 2300 Dry Vapor Steam Cleaner. You can read other people’s reviews of this product via the link in the previous sentence.