Comments on: How to clean stuff

By: links for 2009-06-29 at So It’s Come To This:

links for 2009-06-29 at So It’s Come To This: — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:05:40 +0000

[...] How to clean stuff | Unclutterer (tags: howto clean home) [...]

By: Oh My Dog! » Blog Archive » A clean dog

Oh My Dog! » Blog Archive » A clean dog — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:11:13 +0000

[...] Unclutterer (one of my most favorite blogs!!), I discovered the site How to Clean Stuff, which has quite an [...]

By: Kean

Kean — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:08:32 +0000

Also note that the previously linked MSDS is for the automobile wiper fluid product, not the windshield treatment most people use. That MSDS is here:

http://www2.itap.purdue.edu/MSDS/docs/7756.pdf

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:46:54 +0000

@Stephen and @Melinda – The MSDS is a Material Safety Data Sheet. It is not a scaremonger website. The federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration requires companies to provide an MSDS for all products containing hazardous materials.

Please look at SECTION VI – Health Hazard Data, which indicates that the product is expected to result in only single, short-term exposure. It does not go away after you apply it, since it is working to repel water, so one is still exposed to it.

This product is meant to be used on the outside car windshields, not in a shower where you will undoubtedly have close contact with it after application.

@Zora, thank you for providing some alternatives, which I neglected to do.

By: Leonie

Leonie — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:19:33 +0000

Wait…what’s the best way to get the scum off first before you apply the Rain-X? I assume you have to get it clean before you coat it with Rain-X?

Let us know how it went Erin. I have a glass door and would like to try this.

By: Keter

Keter — Tue, 19 May 2009 03:23:16 +0000

I use RejeX, which is a car finish sealant, on my fiberglass surround and glass door, and it works very well. It restored a 20+ year old surround to like new condition. RejeX is low odor straight out of the bottle and odorless and inert when dry. Don’t put it on the floor – it can be very slippery!

By: Zora

Zora — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:47:03 +0000

Shower curtain instead of door. I use a water-resistant nylon curtain; I have two and swap them occasionally so I can wash the one I’ve been using.

As for the shower walls, no soap build-up if you squeegee after each shower. I have an Ettore squeegee I’ve been using for years. You can buy replacement rubber blades for it.

Clean, no chemicals, no real cost.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:14:47 +0000

I cannot stand misinformation, particularly that which implores me to be afraid of chemicals. Common sense will prevent any injury from chemicals, anything applied to your shower should be done with good ventilation – ie. an open window. Please do not apply car-wax of rain-x to your body! but applying to the shower should be fine and indeed *is* fine. It is a great idea.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:32:48 +0000

@Rachel

Forgive me for my ignorance, but what on that site warns against using it? All I can see on there is it says make sure there’s proper ventilation when initially applying it, but after that it seems like there isn’t much there.

By: Sunny Paris

Sunny Paris — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:58:30 +0000

Websites like these turn me into a unproductive citizen.

“so what did you do today? Are you CLEANING your laptop?”

“It was dirty so I cleaned it. Look, I took all the keys off and everything. Isn’t it pretty?”

“Um, did you write anything? Or get anything useful done?”

“No, but it’s pretty. Pretty and shiny. The website told me it needed to be clean.”

Don’t get me wrong. My house is pretty darn clean (and clutter free) but most standards. But if I actually read this website, (as opposed to using it for a reference) I would just clean all the time and be completely unsatisfied with my life.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:39:25 +0000

I would NEVER put Rain-X on something indoors–especially a shower, where I would be exposed to it on a daily basis.

Here is the MSDS:

http://www.setonresourcecenter.....d00801.htm

Car wax–surely not the best thing, either.

I’d rather spend more time cleaning than be exposed to these chemicals, and I would never use such products indoors if I had children.

By: The Chatty Housewife

The Chatty Housewife — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:00:10 +0000

Do you think you could apply the Rain-X to the plastic shower walls as well! I am going to try this!

By: supersocco

supersocco — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:51:44 +0000

toxic car chemicals in the shower? no thanks.

By: infmom

infmom — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:06:06 +0000

When we moved into an insufficiently-cleaned rental house years ago, I learned that the very best way to get soap scum off glass and ceramic tile is to use a paint scraper with a single-edged razor blade in it. It shaves the scum right off without hurting the surface underneath (but for obvious reasons you would not want to use it on plastic or fiberglass).

By: green LA girl

green LA girl — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:29:51 +0000

Michael’s comment makes me think RainX may not be the best thing for the environment…. Anyone know the ingredients? I’m a bit afraid the stuff might offgas and may not be good for one’s health — esp. when I’m in the shower & all my pores are open….

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:10:52 +0000

@Michael — Good reminder! Our shower stall is glass … but darnit, if something happened to it, that would be a shame. And when I say “shame,” I really mean “AMAZING excuse to finally get rid of this piece in my house.”

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:08:03 +0000

You need to be careful applying RainX to anything non-glass, especially the original formula. It’s only designed for use on glass, so if your shower doors are plastic be careful and make sure to try it in a test spot first. It is possible to ruin plastics with it.

By: Lori Paximadis

Lori Paximadis — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:59:54 +0000

That’s a great resource!

By: brian evans

brian evans — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:32:34 +0000

hey, just a comment on keeping shower doors clean- if you switch from bar soap to a body wash (liquid) there won’t be any soap scum build-up either. -b