TIPS

Martha Stewart recommends that you check the manufacturer’s care tag before you clean your home upholstery. Vacuum using a crevice tool. Spot-treat stains using a mixture of water and dish soap or make your own DIY cleaning solution  with a cup of vinegar, a cup of warm water and a tablespoon of dish detergent. Blot, don’t scrub.

REMOVE RED WINE

It’s an old wives’ tale that you should throw white wine over red wine spilled on upholstery. Instead, blot as much of the spilled wine as possible and then use your own mix of ½ teaspoon of liquid dish detergent with 2 cups of cool water. Use a sponge to remove the spill and blot dry.

If you spill on your carpet, blot thoroughly. Put a rag on the carpet and stand on it. Pump your foot a bit. Seriously, it works.

For stubborn stains, mix 1/2 tsp dish liquid and 1/2 tsp white vinegar with 2 cups warm water. Sponge carpet with mixture and blot dry. Then, spritz or sponge with cold water to rinse and blot until dry.

Next step: call Wilson’s for a professional clean.

CLEAN LEATHER

Make your own leather cleaner by mixing a cup of olive oil with a cup of vinegar. Buff gently in a circular motion.

MUST-HAVE SUPPLIES

A well-stocked home has white vinegar on hand along with baking soda, dish soap, a multipurpose cleaner and Windex.

Pros also recommend:

• Bar-Keepers Friend to clean stainless steel kitchen sinks.
• Lime-A-Way removes lime and rust with very little effort.
• Murphy’s Oil Soap for wood, linoleum and furniture.
• The Pink Stuff Miracle Cleaning Paste works instantly on tough and dirty surface stains indoors and out.
• Lysol All Purpose Cleaner for every part of your home.

DIY FAILS 

When you’re cleaning your own carpets, avoid these mistakes:

• Scrubbing stains vs. blotting
• Using too much water
• Pre-vacuuming the carpet
• Using the wrong cleaning solution
• Overdoing deodorizer
• Letting stains sit too long
• Skipping Pro Cleanings
• Walking on wet carpet after it’s cleaned.