Product types
What to use
Guides recommend a kind of product, not a brand. Popular products live under each type.
- Distilled white vinegarA mild acid useful for mineral deposits and some soap films on glass and other acid-safe surfaces. Never mix it with bleach or ammonia. It is a method, not a disinfectant claim.
- Microfiber clothA reusable cloth that lifts film and leftover moisture without scratching glass. Use a clean face of the cloth as residue comes off.
- Dish soapA mild alkaline soap that cuts grease and soap film. Dilute it in warm water. It is a cleaner, not a disinfectant claim, and it is not a substitute for a product labeled for grout mineral deposits.
- Baking sodaA mild alkali that makes a paste for grout lines. It lifts film with light abrasion. Do not mix it with vinegar as a cleaning trick — the fizz is the two canceling each other out.
- Nylon brushA stiff nylon or grout brush that follows the joint. It is firm enough for cement grout and safer on glazed tile than a wire brush.
- Tile and grout cleanerA cleaner labeled for ceramic tile and cement grout. Use a pH-neutral formula for routine washing. Use a mineral-deposit formula only for short contact on sound grout — not on marble, limestone, or crumbling joints.
- Citric acidAn odorless organic acid powder that dissolves hard water scale and rust stains without releasing harsh fumes.
- Mineral oilA food-safe, non-drying light oil used to buff stainless steel appliances and prevent fingerprint smudges.
- Cooktop scraperA single-edge safety scraper with a protective handle, held at a shallow angle to lift carbonized food from smooth glass cooktops without scratching.
- Hydrogen peroxideA 3% mild oxidizing agent that lifts organic color compounds and protein stains like blood and wine without damaging most washable fabrics.
- Enzyme cleanerA biological cleaner formulated with enzymes (proteases, lipases, amylases) that consume organic waste, uric acid crystals, and pet odors at the molecular level.
- Liquid laundry detergentStandard liquid surfactant detergent used as a spot pre-treater to penetrate fabric weave and lift oily binders and tannin dyes.
- Oxygen bleachSodium percarbonate powder that dissolves in warm water to release hydrogen peroxide, safely brightening colored fabrics and lifting oxidized wine, tea, and sweat stains.
- Rubbing alcohol70% to 91% isopropyl alcohol used as a fast-evaporating solvent to dissolve adhesive stickiness, ink pigments, and permanent marker marks.
- Stone cleanerA pH-neutral, non-acidic cleaner formulated specifically for marble, granite, travertine, and limestone that lifts soils without chemical etching.