Nothing like a little soap and water to get dishes, pots and pans, and even our bodies fresh and clean. Though water may be the cleaner of choice for most purposes, there are a several household items water can easily damage. So, before you go fill up your cleaning bucket, check out several items on the “no water” list.
Wood Furniture & Flooring
If you’ve ever yelled the words “Use a coaster!”, you know that water and wood don’t play well together. Water can discolor and damage the finish on your wood furnishings and can cause the wood to swell, crack, and split. Water left to sit on hardwood flooring also can cause swelling and discoloration over time, even if the wood is sealed. Dust your wood furniture regularly with a clean microfiber cloth and shine and protect it with a high-quality furniture polish. Sweep, vacuum, and dust hardwood floors and clean with a specially formulated floor cleaner.
Leather
Water can leave unattractive spots on leather shoes, boots, handbags, and upholstery, and over time, can cause cracking. While some claim that olive oil, coconut, oil, and a variety of other home-made DIY cleaners can be used on leather, your best bet is to use a specially formulated cleanser.
Silk
While some silk is labeled as “washable”, it requires a bit more care than simply throwing it in the washing machine and hitting start. Use a soft bristle brush to gently remove surface dirt, then follow with a mild soap formulated for delicate fabrics. Check for color fastness before washing or bring your silk garments to a dry cleaner if you’re unsure whether you can safely clean them at home to avoid streaks, spots, and shrinkage.
Suede, Velvet, & Velour
From decorative pillows and upholstered furniture to trendy jackets and shoes, these soft fabrics remain popular year after year. Using water to clean them can result in stains, streaks, and shrinkage. Use a soft brush to gently remove surface oil, and – depending on the item and fabric in question – an at-home dry cleaning cloth, foaming upholstery cleaner, or specially formulated suede cleaner.
Musical Instruments
Whatever your instrument might be, keep it sounding sweet by cleaning it only with specially designed cleansers. Water can discolor and damage wood-based instruments like pianos, violins, and guitars, and can remove the protective coating from trumpets, saxophones, and cymbals.
Silver & Brass
Most household silver and brass items are treated with a protective sealant or lacquer that water can remove over time. Use a sliver or brass polish to clean and protect these items.
Light Fixtures, Electronics, & Outlets
When electricity and water come in contact, the result can be dangerous. Never use water to clean light fixtures, electrical equipment, and outlets. Unplug them or turn off the power to such items, then wipe with a soft cloth and use compressed air to blow out the interior as needed.
Stucco, Brick & Marble
Sure, these materials may seem solid as a rock, but they are quite porous. Cleaning them with water can damage and remove any protective sealant and loosen caulking and grout. Vacuum them regularly and use a soft brush to remove dirt and dust or use a specially designed cleaner to remove stains.
Back to cleaning with water. If your home is infected with hard water, washing your body, hair, or anything else can be a self-defeating process. So, if you find yourself washing your clothes or dishes more than once, needing more shampoo to wash your hair, and so on, contact Norhio Plumbing today so we can test your water and, as needed, recommend a high quality water softening system.
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