GLAZED CERAMIC TTLE WALLS often can be cleaned with a damp cloth or sponge. If filmed with soap, grease or soil, use trisodium phosphate, borax, or some other water softener. A teaspoonful or so in a pail of hot water may do, but add more if it seems necessary. For heavily soiled areas, sprinkle a little of your softener on a damp cloth and rub the tiles clean. Rinse the surface and wipe it dry with a soft cloth. Mild scouring powders may also be used to clean glazed tile but must be rinsed off carefully afterwards. Harsh abrasives and acid solutions should be avoided.



PLASTIC TILES may need only to be wiped with a damp cloth, or you can use warm water with soap or a detergent. Rinse and wipe dry. No scouring powders or any other abrasive should ever be used on plastics. These tiles are usually made of polystyrene or vinyl plastics, sold under many trade names. Polystyrene plastics (Bakelite polystyrene, Catalin Luxtred, Plexon M, Styron) are not damaged by water, oil, alcohol, vinegar, or the usual household acids. Cleaning fluids, gasoline, nail polish and polish remover, and oil from lemon and orange peels damage them. Vinyl plastics (Vinylite, Saran, Geon, Marvinol, Ultron, and Monsanto vinyl butryol) are very tough. Ordinary household chemicals will not harm them and they resist damage from acids, alcohol, food, ink, and dirt; but be careful not to spatter them with moth preparations. Too much heat softens most plastics so be careful in placing electric heaters.

PAINTED WOODWORK AND PAINTED FURNITURE can be cleaned by the methods described for walls, or you can use a cleaning wax. If you wax them when they are clean and dry, they will resist stains and dust.

COMMERCIAL PAINT CLEANERS are often excellent for surfaces finished with flat paint. These may be powders, liquids, or pastes. The liquid cleaners are soap solutions, some with softeners added, or non-soap solutions containing washing soda, sodium silicate, or trisodium phosphate the painter's TSP. The pastes are similar to the liquid cleaners but contain more soap. Other cleaners are wax emulsions, plus soap and an abrasive. Powders for paint cleaning consist of the dry ingredients used in the pastes and liquids. Use prepared paint cleaners exactly as directed on the container. If too much is used, some of these cleaners will remove the paint along with the grime. Trisodium phosphate, which you should be able to find in a paint or hardware store, is tops for cleaning flat paints. Use a teaspoon (or more) to a gallon of water. Trademarked cleaners such as Wyandotte Cleaner, Soilax, and Oakite are more or less in this same category. Do not use scouring powders on a fine painted surface unless it is absolutely necessary (scuff marks, etc.), and then select the mildest you can find. Whiting is good or you can use a little silver polish.

CALCIMINED WALLS and walls finished with similar water paints cannot be washed. They must be refinished.

While cleaning the ceramic tiles, use the softener to clean the ceramic tiles walls which has heavy grease. For Plastic tiles you can use the soap or detergents. Use the wax to clean the painted woodwork and painted furniture. If using others commercial paint cleaners, read the direction and suggestion portion so it won't remove the paint.