From canvas shoes, to countertops, to tile grouting and porcelain pots, the list goes on when it comes to the number of different white things we own.
Well, one fact that’s undeniable is that white surfaces are super hard to maintain and no matter how hard you try, at some point, you might happen to find a stain somewhere.
So, for such occurrences you need some gentle and simple cleaning techniques that you must use to quickly get rid of the stain.
In this article, I will give you some simple hacks on how to whiten 14 types of white surfaces! Check it out below.
How to Whiten 14 Types of Surfaces
1. Leather and Suede
For white leather and suede surfaces like upholstery etc., you can use a leather cleaner, saddle soap or lemon juice. Apply a small amount of saddle soap to a cleaning cloth, and then gently rub the cloth across the surface of your leather product.
Mix 1/2 cup olive oil with 1/4 cup of vinegar in a spray bottle. Spritz on the stain, let sit for five minutes and wipe. For tough stains on suede shoes, dip a microfiber cloth in lemon juice and gently rub the stain.
2. Ivory
For ivory surfaces like piano keys, you can wipe each piano key with warm water mixed with a mild detergent, dipped first and then using a damp towel (do not use too much of water as it will spoil the keys). You can also use whitening toothpaste and a fine, soft-bristled toothbrush, gently clean the keys one by one and immediately wipe them after brushing using a damp cloth
3. Hard Rubber and Hard Plastic
If you have any spatulas or white cutting boards, you can mix 2 cups of water with 2 tbsp bleach or use hydrogen peroxide. Soak your affected utensils in it for 24 hours.
4. Laminates
For laminates like fermica countertops, you can clean them with a damp towel and some mild soap. You can spot-treat any stains with a paste made of baking soda and vinegar.
5. Painted Surfaces
For painted surfaces like walls, you can use a pine oil cleanser or a mild bleaching cleanser to wipe down your walls and treat stains. You will need to mix the cleanser in a bucket of water. Magic erasers are a common solution for white walls to remove tough stains, but make sure you don’t use them too often.
6. Corian
For corian countertops etc., you can simply use some dishwashing soap on an abrasive cleaning scrubber and scrub with some warm water.
7. Stone
If you have marble flooring or marble countertops, then you can mix some liquid dishwashing soap, along with some vinegar-water (mix some vinegar in water) and use it to gently brush the area to clean.
8. Earthenware
If you have unpainted earthenware, then you can use some commercial hydrogen peroxide or mild chlorine bleach (mixed with water) and soap for a few hours, before rinsing off.
9. Canvas
To whiten canvas shoes, you can throw them into a bag and wash them in the machine with laundry detergent. Just make sure to pause the machine when the last cycle begins and add in ½ cup of lemon juice into the water for extra brightening. Mix 1 tbsp baking soda and 2 tbsp dish soap to make a mixture. Dip a clean toothbrush into the mixture and use it to scrub the dirt on your shoes. Wipe it with a damp cloth and dry it in a sunny place.
10. Ceramics
In case you have any ceramic ware like tea pots, coffee mugs etc., you can simply use a denture tablet or a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice or vinegar, mixed with hot water in the cup. Let it sit for 30 minutes, scrub with a brush if need be and rinse off. Repeat if the stain doesn’t go.
11. Porcelain
For porcelain sinks, bathtubs etc., you can use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar (as a paste) or some dishwashing soap and clean the sink and bathtub with a brush and warm water. Let the soap or baking soda-vinegar paste sit for a white after scrubbing, before rinsing it off.
12. Concrete
For concreted surfaces like garage floors or sidewalks, you can use powdered laundry detergent to whiten the surfaces. Wet the concreted surface with warm water and sprinkle the laundry detergent over the stains, scrub with a brush and rinse off.
13. Delicate Fabrics
For delicate fabrics like linens, lace etc., you can Soak the white clothes in a bucket filled with warm water, along with 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1 tbsp of dish soap or castile soap. Let it soak for an hour in the top load washing machine or bucket and wash it as usual.
14. Grouting
Title grouting often gets dirty and discolored and sometimes even covered with mildew. Make a semi-thick paste of 2 parts baking soda and 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 1 part dish soap to make a paste and using a brush, use it to scrub your grouting and a bigger brush to clean your tiles. Let it rest for an hour or overnight and rinse off with warm water.