Mom’s Advice – Cleaning Solutions

How to clean a porcelain sink and how to remove ink from leather.

Porcelain Sink

Q: My husband took a steel wool pad to my porcelain sink. He says that’s how you clean it. Please advise.

Thank you,
Mary S

Mary, tell your hubby that porcelain needs very little muscle power and that by using steel wool on the sink it can cause it to have fine scratches which can weaken the porcelain. Try this old time cleaning remedy. Make a cleaning paste using a little white vinegar and baking soda. Pass your cloth around the sink with the paste, then wipe off. Don’t forget to rinse the sink out with warm water, then dry with a soft cloth. A great ready made product is Old Dutch, its one of my favorites. If your sink has rust, you could try the product ZUD diluted with a little water ( you can find it at Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, Walmart, Randall’s Supermarkets and Home Depot). This stuff is not harsh on the sink. Just let it sit for about 10 minutes on the stained area…rinse well with water.

P.S. Don’t forget to hide the steel wool from hubby…put it under lock and key! 🙂

~ Mom

Ink on Leather Couch

Q: I really really need your advice. I purchased a leather like Recliner last year. It is a cream soft color. My problem is that my two year old got a hold of a pen (blue ink) and she scribbled on the entire right arm rest. I went to Walmart, Walgreens, and Target for a solution and had no luck. I even went to an Auto store hoping that they would have some kind of a solution for ink on leather seats.

It is a great piece of furniture and I would hate to put a slipcover over it because it defeats the purpose for the recliner but it just to obvious. I am so desperate. Please Please help me.

Desperately, Lisa A 🙂

Hi Lisa, it seems like the lighter the color of fabric, the more it seems to attract kids. What I find works extremely well for removing stains on leather and leatherette is good old Murphys oil soap, this soap can clean! Pour a small amount of the cleaner onto a cloth (use full strength), then wipe the area with it, gently work it into the stained areas with a soft brush, rinse off using a damp soft cloth, then dry. It shouldn’t take much to get the stain out. You could also try this cleaning remedy. Mix 1 teaspoon of washing soda (like Arm & Hammer) to 1 quart of water, wipe the stained area with a cloth in circular motions using a slight pressure, rinse off and dry. As a last resort you could always paint right over the stains with matching leather paint, you can get that at fabric stores. Its a good idea anyway to keep some on hand for touch ups to keep it looking great.

P.S. To keep the kids from writing on the furniture, I suggest you hang up a large bristle board or several sheets of paper taped together to a wall in one area of the house, make sure its at the kids level so they can reach it. Tell them this is just for them and its the only place where its okay for them to draw. After a little while they tend to focus strictly on their art wall and nothing else. You get to keep you furniture clean and have some beautiful artwork at the same time.

~ Mom

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