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• Vinegar

  Not an all-purpose cleaner, though it does have several effective uses around the house.

• Vinyl

  Easy to clean and maintain, but don’t use strong solvents.

• Vinyl flooring

  These are frequently called “no-wax” floors, whether in sheet or tile form.

• Wall, painted

  First, vacuum or dry-sponge walls. Wash if necessary with the following method.

• Wallpaper

  It’s best to follow instructions that came with the wallcovering. Read on if care tips can’t be found.

• Water

  This is the universal solvent for cleaning.

• Water softener

  A powder can help with laundering in hard water. There’s also a more permanent solution.

• Wax, candle

  Successful removal depends on the surface.

• Well-ventilated area

  Another term you’ll see frequently in HC-Pedia. What do we mean?

• Wet-dry vac

  Wet-dry vacuum cleaners are best suited to garages and unfinished basements since they tend to spew fine dust out with the exhaust air if you don’t install an optional filter. They can come in handy for limited jobs in the home, such as clearing out a clogged sink, sucking up pet accidents, etc.

• White vinegar

  Think of it as an inexpensive mineral scale remover. It's not the best solution for most cleaning situations.

• Wicking

  An explanation of how dirt can re-appear on a (supposedly) clean carpet or sofa.

• Wilsonart® laminate

  Countertops for kitchens, baths and other applications manufactured by Wilsonart International Inc., Temple, TX.

• Wilsonart® flooring

  A high-pressure laminate floor manufactured by Wilsonart International Inc., Temple, TX.

• Window cleaner

  Consumer Reports offers an inexpensive, homemade cleaning solution.

• Window screens

  Take screens down to clean them. It’s a lot easier — and sometimes safer — than cleaning them in place.

• Wood paneling

  Cleaning is a snap on permanent finishes. Waxed or unfinished wood needs special care.

• Wooden beams

  Use a vacuum cleaner occasionally to keep ahead of dust, grime and cobwebs.

• Wool garment

  Take it to the dry cleaner unless care instructions say otherwise.

• Wrought iron

  To save its appearance, all of the rust has to go first.

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