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Vicki answers your toughest home cleaning questions!



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If you are asking a question and you’re not finding the answer here - email us! We look forward to hearing from you. The Touch of Oranges Team is available to answer your inquiries Monday-Friday; we make every effort to reply in a timely manner.


Could you recommend how to remove years of buildup on my outside windows? We recommend to Bring It On Cleaner for hard water and mineral deposits that have been on glass for years! Apply the paste and let it set for about 15-20 minutes. Come back with a scrubber pad and go in a circular motion, rinse with clean water and buff dry. You may have to repeat this process more then once if water spots have been on the glass for years. Thanks Connie, Yakima Wa.
Could you please tell me what’s the best way to restore a wooden floor that’s very dull and somewhat damaged. I do not want to refinish it yet. I’ve been using your Touch of Oranges for a couple of years and love it. But now it’s time for me to do more to my floors than just clean them periodically. Please advice. Thanks, Zahava
You are already ahead of the game with using the Touch of Oranges Wood Cleaner and Reconditioner. When needed, you can achieve a deeper cleaning by using the Touch Of Oranges Wood Cleaner with “4 0” (0000) steel wool. For old, damaged wood, consider using the Touch Of Beeswax Wood Preserver. From there, follow-up with Restor-A-Shine or Orange Luster Paste Wax or Citrus Shield Colored Paste Wax. For more detailed information, view our “Wood Care at a Glance Chart” (click here).


How can I remove smoke or grease stains from my kitchen cabinets. The cabinets above my stove have a black discoloration that may have been caused by a candle. Kristyn
We recommend our Touch of Oranges for Wood Cleaner and Reconditioner (click here) to solve this type of cleaning problem. It will safely and effectively clean the grease and black discoloration from your cabinets. We recommend that you follow up with our Touch of Beeswax Wood Preserver (click here) to nourish and protect your cabinets.


I washed clothing with gum in the pocket and it smeared all over the dryer. Is there something that will dissolve it and clean the inside of the dryer? Acunnane
We recommend our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner. It can be applied full strength with a clean cloth and it dissolves and cleans gum, crayons, ink, and other sticky messes off the inside of the dryer.


How do I remove pine sap from my carpet and furniture? JW
We recommend our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner for sticky messes like Pine sap. After testing for color safeness, Oranges ‘95 can be carefully applied full strength on a clean cloth and directly applied to pine sap.


Is there anything that will remove lipstick stains from the carpet? My 2 year old had a field day!!! Ardet
Our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner targets cleaning lipstick stains on carpet. It does a great job cleaning up after messes!


I want to achieve maximum shine on my brass. How do I remove the lacquer coating before polishing brass? Robert
Acetone-based paint/lacquer remove will take off the lacquer coating. After the lacquer coating is removed, use a soft cloth to polish the brass with our Copper and Brass Polish (click here).


Do any of your metal polishes contain petroleum distillates? Mark
No. Our metal polishes do NOT contain petroleum distillates. Both our Silver Polish (click here) and our Copper and Brass Polish (click here) are water based and use the power of pine oil to clean and protect.


We had a recent spill of mustard on our light green/nylon carpet. Do you have any tips or suggestions for the removal of mustard? James
We recommend our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner. It does an excellent job on carpet stains, even the tough ones like mustard stain.


I have a roaster with a porcelain insert pan. My daughter made a roast in it, the roast dripped and burned and now we can't get it clean. Please help. Anne
Our Bring-It-ON Water Spot Remover cleans burned on messes really well. It is safe for porcelain surfaces, cook tops, and pots & pans.


I have a toddler who wrote in purple ink on my cream colored linoleum floor. How can I remove it? Michael
Our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner can successfully solve this ink problem, and do a great job of cleaning your entire floor.


Can I safely clean the shower doors of a marble shower and not damage the marble? B.S.
Water Spot Remover (click here) will safely and effectively clean your glass shower doors. Due to the product’s abrasiveness, do not use on real marble, instead use our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner to clean real marble surfaces.


I have tried numerous products that claim to clean porcelain and water stains. I'm re-furbishing a home where there are heavy stains on my porcelain sinks; and water stains on the faucets and glass shower doors. Can you help with this? Rick
We recommend our Water Spot Remover (click here). It targets water stains on porcelain surfaces, faucets and glass shower doors. However, we do not recommend it if your faucets are high gloss brass.


My daughter got a hold of my wife's lipstick and smooshed it into the carpet. What's the best way to remove the lipstick? Tim
Use paper towels to remove excess lipstick. Then use our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner. It does a great job of removing lipstick stain and residue from carpet.


I have two-story cathedral ceilings -- PLUS what would otherwise be attic space -- more than 20 feet of reach. I need something I can use to dust away the spider webs. Susan
Clean those spider webs with our 12-foot Telescoping Extension Magnetic Duster Rod (click here); it is perfect for high ceilings and hard to reach places, skylights, ceiling fans, plus hanging plants. Be creative and safe when you use it. Know the Extension Rod with Duster Magnet will reach 20'; consider a 6' ft person + a 2' ft Duster Magnet + a 12' extension rod = 20' of reach!


I have tried every thing to get the hard water mineral buildup off my fiberglass shower. Do you think any of your products will be successful on this problem? Is your mineral hard water remover a paste or liquid? Carmen
Our Water Spot Remover (click here) works excellent on removing hard water mineral buildup safely. It is a paste.


I recently purchased a previously owned home. They did not mention that they had pets, but my cat is using the dining room for her litter box. I would like to treat the area, but I am not sure what I can use on the carpets that will penetrate the wood beneath. Would your product accomplish this without ruining my carpets? Karenlee
Our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner would effectively and safely clean your carpets, and the pet odor. Oranges ’95 is safe to use if you choose to clean both the carpet pad and wood beneath.


We have just moved into a house that is 3-4 years old. The shower is glass enclosed and held in either stainless or aluminum. Our problem is the water stains on the glass and metal. We have tried vinegar and other things but the spots remain. What would you suggest to remove the stains? Gilbert
We recommend our Water Spot Remover plus Silicone Sealant and Shower Shield (click here). Our Water Spot Remover will remove the water spots and build up on the glass and metal. Then use our Silicone Sealant and Shower Shield to protect from prolonged build-up.


What would you recommend for cleaning rubber marks that have been there for a long time on a linoleum floor? The legs of our chairs have rubber heels. My wife has tried baking soda and soapy water but the marks remain. We need a cleaner that won’t take the shine off the linoleum. Djskoc
We recommend our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner. It targets cleaning rubber and scuffmarks. It also safely cleans linoleum floors.


Is Oranges '95 safe for granite counter tops? Bertha
Yes, our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner is safe for granite counter tops. It does a great cleaning job as well.


What do you recommend for cleaning wood floors? I have used an enviro steamer on it, and now it’s damaged looking. What is orange luster paste wax made of? Are your products all natural and bio-degradable? Shirley
We recommend our Touch of Oranges Wood Cleaner and Wood Preserver set (click here). They would benefit the damage from steaming your floor with the enviro streamer. And the Orange Luster Paste Wax used with a buffing machine would restore your wood floor. Feel free to browse the site for more information or email us again.


What do you recommend for removing soap scum from shower tiles and doors? Shirley
We recommend our Water Spot Watchdog. The Water Spot remover will clean the soap scum on your shower tile and doors. The Shower Shield Sealant will protect the surface from frequent build up.


My toilet has a ring around where the water sets and water streaks on the sides of toilet bowl. I have tried bleach and hand scrubbed it with Ajax, but it has not worked. Can you help? Shirley
Our Water Spot Remover plus Silicone Sealant and Shower Shield (click here) will do the cleaning job for your toilet. It will remove the ring and streaks, and the sealant will protect from further staining.


I just purchased a used dining room set. The person who owned it apparently was a smoker. I have cleaned all the furniture and removed the nicotine but it still has an odor. Can you direct me to a product that would clean and deodorize the wood? Pam
We recommend three of our products. Use Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner to thoroughly clean and deodorize the wood surface. Next our Touch of Oranges Wood Cleaner and Conditioner, followed by our Wood Preserver that would seal and protect your set.


We have a white board that we use dry markers on. The wall around the board has been smudged with fingerprints. How do I get them off? The paint on the wall is enamel or glossy latex. Harriet
We recommend our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner. It focuses on cleaning markers (dry erase and colored), ink, crayons, etc. on walls and many other surfaces.


What is the best way to clean hardwood floors? Some of the products I tried left my floor looking streaked and worse than before I "cleaned" them. How would I use your product to clean my hardwoodfloors? Should I spray the cleaner on the dust mop or spray the floor? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Lucy
Our Touch of Oranges for Wood Cleaner, Duster and Reconditioner (click here) will clean and condition your wood floors. It contains no wax or silicone and will not leave your floor streaked. Simply spray the wood cleaner directly on the dust mop and go over the whole floor.


I have a wood floor. Can I put wax on a polyurethane seal? What would help my floor look good until I refinish it? The floor is red oak. Carlene
We recommend using our Orange Luster Paste Wax (click here), with a buffing machine. It would seal, protect and give your floor a great shine.


My daughter has beige carpet in her bedroom. Her makeup, lipstick, etc. has gotten on her carpet. Please help. Natalie
Our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner does a great job cleaning carpets, even the kind of stains created by make up.


We have a rain-soft water conditioning system. The clear glasses we use have white streaky film on them. Can you help me get rid of this film? Stephanie
The film may be a mineral build up that the water system cannot remove. We recommend cleaning your glasses with our Water Spot Remover (click here). It really targets these types of problems.


My son left a packet of metallic crayons in his pocket and I washed and then dried them. Nothing happened in the washer but they melted in the dryer and I can't get it out of the dryer. HELP!! Melanie
Our Oranges '95 Dryer Drum Ink Remover does a great job on removing inks stains on the inside of the dryer drum. It might do the same for crayons.


My 2 year old threw up on my couch, do you have any helpful tips that will clean and remove the odor? Angelique
Our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner would do a great job of both cleaning and deodorizing your couch.


I have porous, stone-look, ceramic tile throughout my house and haven't found a mop that I like. By like I mean one that's fairly easy to use, will not push dirt that I'm trying to pick up into the grout lines, and basically CLEANS without falling apart. Do you have any advice for me? Jeffrey
We recommend our PVA wet mop (click here) for porous ceramic tile/grout.


Can Orange luster paste wax be used on Fromica counter tops? Leslie
Yes, clean your counter top thoroughly, apply the Orange Luster Paste Wax (click here)following directions. The result will be a protected counter top and a nice shine.


How do you remove foggy grime from mirrors? Johnathan
We recommend using our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner for those grimy mirrors.


Is there an inexpensive cleaner out there which will remove chewing gum? Marie
Some people have reported success using ice to remove chewing gum. However, if you want a solution guaranteed to work, use our Oranges '95 all purpose cleaner to dissolve the gum.


Why can't I use water based products on my wood? Laura
Water on wood can cause a number of problems, moisture damage around dishwashers, water & steam damage on bathroom cabinets, the grain of the wood can swell. Wood needs to be oiled, avoid use of water based cleaners, oilsoaps, or detergents.


What is the effect of silicone waxes on wood? Cynthia
Expert antique dealers warn against waxes that contain silicone, according to these experts, silicone waxes compromise the woods ability to respond to changes in temperature and humidity, and increase the risk of cracking. Silicones impregnate the wood fiber and can prevent the wood from accepting a new finish. Some aerosol products contain silicone wax.


I have a set of fine walnut furniture which has aged considerably in the past three years, the wood which I use lemon oil on appears dried out, what are lemon oil products basically made from? Sandra
Lemon oil polishes are somewhat like the famous pork and beans, that is mostly beans & little pork. Typically these products are very light mineral oil in a petroleum base with 0.4% to 2% synthetic lemon oil. The lemon oil is there only as a perfume, and has little beneficial effect on the furniture.


I mop my hardwood floors with water, recently I've noticed some of the cracks are turning black, and the floor has warped in a few places. Why then do floor companies recommend water? Bob
We have found that floor companies don't know what to recommend you clean with. Hardwood Floors by Dan Ramsey states that " No matter what finish your wood floor has, or what claims the manufacturer makes for the finish, never wash or wet-mop wood floors, water can seep between the boards and leave dark stains, sometimes it also can warp the boards."


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