Q.: A large amount of nail polish spilled and dried on a piece of my wooden furniture. How do I remove it without ruining the finish?A.: Cleaning and caring for hardwood surfaces can be tricky. These delicate surfaces are beautiful when properly cared for. But an unfortunate spill, scratch, or dent is a sad sight on any floor or piece of furniture.Nail polish is a formidable foe for any surface in the home. Wood surfaces are difficult for tough spills because wood is naturally porous. No matter how you treat the spill, there will probably be a spot left. Two factors that determine how much of a spot will remain are how porous the wood is and what type of laminate or finish the wood had been treated with before the spill. Because of the likelihood of a leftover spot, most experts recommend leaving this sort of cleaning to a professional. Yet there are a few safe options for cleaning a dried nail-polish spill on hardwood that you can try at home.Laura Dellutri, the Healthy Housekeeper and the author of three books on cleaning, recommends three approaches to cleaning this type of spill.1.

Take a plastic putty knife and gently scrape the spill from the surface. The nail polish should slip easily from the wood. If the spill is stubborn, Dellutri says to apply a cloth dampened with hot water to the spill for a few seconds to loosen it, then proceed with the plastic putty knife. Be sure to use only a plastic knife.2. Apply denatured alcohol to a cloth, and gently rub the spill until it comes off. Denatured alcohol is used to remove paint from woodwork treated with polyurethane. Although denatured alcohol is gentler than mineral spirits, which remove all paints and stains, be careful not to rub too hard or too long, as denatured alcohol will take up paint from the surface.3. Use 0000-grade fine stainless-steel wool to gently sand away the dried nail polish. Steel wool with a 0000 grade is a very fine wool that will be tough enough to work the spill away from the wood, but soft enough not to damage the wood. If you do take off some of the wood finish, Dellutri recommends touching up the treated area with a wood touch-up product, such as a Minwax Wood Finish stain marker.

Ask a QuestionGot a practical dilemma? , including contact information, gives us the right to modify, use, distribute, reproduce, publish and display the submission indefinitely in all media, means, and forms without any payment to you. You hereby represent that you haven't copied the content from a book, magazine, newspaper, or other commercial source. , and your use of the website are subject to Real Simple's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.(For questions about your subscription, please visit the Customer Service Help Desk.)How To Care For Your Kitchen & Bathroom Cabinets (Cabinet Care) Keep the the new-cabinet luster in a kitchen for years with proper care and maintenance of kitchen cabinets. Clean and maintain the exterior and interior of the cabinets regularly to keep their natural beauty shining through. With the right attention, kitchen cabinets will look attractive and function well for generations. Warm water and a mild soap is the preferred solution for cleaning kitchen cabinets of all types and with all finishes.

However, to much moisture can be the enemy of wood and wood finishes. For best results, apply the water/soap solution using a soft cloth or sponge, rinse the cabinet with clear water using a second clean cloth, then dry it quickly with dry, soft cloth. furnace and duct cleaning business for saleAvoid hanging wet dishcloths or towels over cabinets or cabinet doors, since long exposure to water will damage the finish and may leave stains.best handheld vacuum for cleaning stairs Avoid using any products that contain ammonia, and avoid any abrasive cleaners such as powdered cleaners. best solution for cleaning mini blindsInstead, use natural products that won't scratch the cabinet finish or leave sticky residues.

As mentioned previously, mild, grease-cutting hand washing dish soap makes an ideal cabinet cleaner. Mix 2 tablespoons of dish soap into 2 cups of warm water, then apply the mixture to the cabinets using a clean, soft cloth or sponge. Vinegar is another natural cleaner that is safe to use on cabinets. After using a vinegar/water solution to clean, rinse with clear water to remove any vinegar residue. For difficult-to-clean water spots or dried-on food, try a paste made of baking soda and water. Use a sponge or soft toothbrush to rub the mixture in, then rinse with clear water. Again, dry cabinets quickly with a soft, dry cloth. Some water spots respond to white (not gel) toothpaste or to mayonnaise. For problem areas with built-up grease or food, try an emulsification-type cleaner such as an oil soap. If using a commercial cleaning product, buy one made specifically for wood cabinets. To clean cabinets, the best choice is soft cloths that are lint-free. Some great types to use include soft cottons such as cheesecloth, chamois or old t-shirts.

Other soft cloths that work well but may leave lint residue include old flannel shirts (with all buttons removed) or old dishtowels. Older cloths that have been washed frequently are softer and better for cabinets. To keep cabinets looking their best, follow good practices for their basic care. Immediately clean up any spills, splatters or water spots with a soft cloth. The sooner these spots are cleared off, the less chance they have of staining or discoloring the cabinetry. Grease and food particles also get harder to remove over time, and removing dried-on residue may require tough scrubbing and harsher cleaners that can damage the cabinet finish. Avoid using a dishcloth or a dish sponge on cabinets. These items may carry residue from greasy food or harsh cleaning chemicals on them, which may damage cabinet surfaces. One part of the cabinetry that is sometimes overlooked is the tops of cabinets. Although they do not need cleaning as often as the front surfaces, the tops do collect dust.

In a kitchen, any dust mixes with grease and oil in the air to create a sticky, difficult to remove build-up. After a time, this mixture can turn into a hardened glue-like substance. Cleaning the tops of the cabinets as well as the visible surfaces will keep this build-up from becoming established. For a buffed shine on wood cabinets, use a furniture polish after cleaning. Polishes are usually applied using a soft cloth, then buffed to a shiny finish. Polishes contain mild detergents and emulsifiers to clean and shine wood cabinets and leave a protective coat of mineral oil. To create a homemade polish, use 1/2 cup of olive oil mixed with 1 TB of lemon juice. Mix well and apply to wood cabinets with a cloth. Commercial furniture waxes, sprays and polishes have limited use on kitchen cabinets. Spray polishes often contain silicone, which does form a shine, but also creates a barrier over the wood. This barrier makes touch ups or refinishing impossible. Waxes form a buildup over time, attracting dust, dirt, smoke and pollutants from the air.