Table Of ContentHOW TO CLEAN
PRACTICALLY
ANYTHING
FOURTH EDITION/UPDATED
HOW TO CLEAN
PRACTICALLY
ANYTHING
FOURm EDmON/UPDATED
THE EDrmRs OF CONSUMER REPORTS BOOKS
WITH EDWARD KJpPEL
Consumer Reports Books
A Division of Consumers Union
Yonkers, New York
Copyright © 1996 by Consumers Union of United States, Inc., Yonkers, New York 10703.
Published by Consumers Union of United States, Inc., Yonkers, New York 10703.
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
How to clean practically anything/the editors of Consumer Reports Books with Edward
Kippel.-4th ed.lupdated
p. em.
Includes index
ISBN 0-89043-843-9
1. House Cleaning. 2. Cleaning. I. Kippel, Edward. II. Consumer Reports Books.
TX324. H69 1996
648.5-<1c20 95-37498
CIP
Design by Suzette Ruys
First printing, January 1996
This book is printed on recycled paper. *
Manufactured in the United States of America
How to Clean Practically Anything, Fourlh Edition/Updated is a Consumer Reports
Book published by Consumers Union, the nonprofit organization that publishes
Consumer Reports, the monthly magazine of test reports, product Ratings, and buying
guidance. Established in 1936, Consumers Union is chartered under the Not-for-Profit
Corporation Law of the State of New York.
The purposes of Consumers Union, as stated in its charter, are to provide consumers
with information and counsel on consumer goods and services, to give information on all
matters relating to the expenditure of the family income, and to initiate and to cooperate
with individual and group efforts seeking to create and maintain decent living standards.
Consumers Union derives .its income solely from the sale of Consumer Reporls and
other publications. In addition, expenses of occasional public service efforts may be
met, in part, by nonrestrictive, noncommercial contributions, grants, and fees . Con-
sumers Union accepts no advertising or product samples and is not beholden in any
way to any commercial interest. Its Ratings and reports are solely for the use of the
readers of its publications. Neither the Ratings, nor the reports, nor any Consumers
Union publications, including this book, may be used in advertising or for any com-
mercial purpose. Consumers Union will take all steps open to it to prevent such uses
of its material, its name, or the name of Consumer ReporiS.
Contents
FOREWORD . ............ . ........... .ix
ACKNOWIEDGMENTS ....................x i
INIRODUcnON ........................1
DISHES . ............................9
Dishwasher Detergents ....... . ........9
Dishwashers ......................1 0
Hand Dishwashing Liquids ............1 3
FLOORS . ...........................1 7
Carpet and Rug Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
First Aid for Carpet Stains .. .. .........2 1
Floor Care ....................... .2 2
Hard-Surface-Floor First Aid for Stains .... 26
VI CONTENTS
FURNITURE ................ .. ........2 9
Wood Furniture .. ..................2 9
Upholstered Furniture ................3 3
HOUSE CLEANING ................. .. .. .43
All-Purpose Cleaners ................ .43
Bathroom Cleaners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Drain Cleaners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Garbage Bags .. . ................ . .52
Handheld Vacuum Cleaners . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Oven Cleaners .....................6 2
Paper Towels .. . .. . . ............. ..6 4
Scouring Cleansers ... . .. ... .. .. .....6 7
Toilet Bowl Cleaners ....... . .. . ......6 9
Vacuum Cleaners .... . ..·.. .. ........72
Window Cleaners ...................7 7
LAUNDRY . ............. .... . ..... .. .8 1
Bleaches .............. : ......... .82
Boosters ............... .. ....... .85
Clothes Washers . . ... ..... .. ....... .8 6
Detergents ........................9 3
Dry Cleaning .... .... .......... .. ..9 8
Fabric Softeners ...................1 00
Hand-Laundry Detergents .. . ... . .....1 01
CONTENTS VII
METAL MAiN7ENANCE .... .. ............1 05
Metal Polishes ............. . ......1 05
Silver Care ......... ... .. .... .....1 07
MISCELlANEOUS ...... . ...... . ..... . ..1 11
Air Cleaners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Auto Polishes . . .. . . . . .... .. . ... . . . 118
Paint Removal ..... . ........ . .....1 20
Power Blowers . ................ . .. 129
Water Treatment .. ... ............ . .132
PERSONAL CARE ........... . ... . ......1 45
Facial Cleansers ... .. . ... .. . ... . .. :145
Facial Tissues .....................1 46
Hand Soaps . . ....................1 48
Toilet Tissues .. . .. . . ... . . .........1 50
APPENDIX A
Tips for Cleaning a yariety of Household Items ...1 53
APPENDIX B
Stain Removal ......................... .177
APPENDIX C
Disposal of Household Cleaning Materials ...... .2 01
INDEX . . ... .......... . ....... . ......... . 203
Foreword
This book contains valuable information based on Consumers
Union's unbiased tests of detergents, cleaning chemicals, and
cleaning equipment. In past editions, Ratings of tested products
were included. But as you might imagine, these Ratings were soon
out of date. So a more generic book was created, designed to be
used in conjunction with recent Consumer Reports articles high-
lighting the best products' for each need. If you want to find a
recent report on a particular class of product, see the index in the
latest issue of Consumer Reports, visit your local library, or contact
Consumer Reports Facts by FAX at 800-766-9988. (There is ,a
charge for each report obtained from this service.)
