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• Surfactant

  It makes water wetter!

• Hard water

  Water chemistry has an important bearing on many cleaning tasks.

• Chelating agent

  A "builder" that gets dissolved minerals out of the way of laundry detergent.

• Biodegradable

  A substance is biodegradable when natural biological decay processes can break it down into simple molecules.

• Humidifier, portable

  It helps if you hang onto the instructions. Here’s what to do if you can’t find them.

• Bathtub ring

  An easy way to keep a yucky problem at bay.

• Stainmaster

  Since 2004, this former Dupont trademark name for carpet fiber has been owned by Invista of Wichita, KS, a division of Koch Industries, Inc.

• Laminate countertop

  Cleanup is a snap, but be careful to prevent surface damage.

• Acoustic popcorn ceiling

  A ceiling finish that presents a cleaning challenge.

• Wet (soak) mopping

  What to do when damp mopping no longer effectively cleans a vinyl, tile or sealed-stone floor.

• Soap

  The old standby is mild enough for personal use, but doesn’t work too well in hard water.

• Damp mopping

  Used where lots of water could damage the floor or the subfloor.

• Automotive exterior

  Vehicle paint is another durable, yet easily scratched surface.

• Pressed wood

  Vacuuming is the best way to dust this porous surface.

• Detergent

  A cleaning agent that, unlike traditional soap, works well in hard water.

• Bathroom

  It's easier and quicker than you think if done regularly.

• 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.

• Concrete floor

  Seal these floors, and you’ll simplify this cleaning hassle once and for all.

• Dust, dusting

  It's everywhere, all the time. Here's how to keep it to a tolerable minimum.

• Wrought iron

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

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