Clean

Find out everything you need to know with our Clean & Remove Hints & Tips

We have all had those dreaded times when you have been painting and the paint has splashed onto something it shouldn’t have, you have burnt the bottom of your iron or you have left the kids for a minute doing crafts and you have come back and there is glue on your dining room table or they have drawn a masterpiece (in their eyes!) on your sofa. Well, don’t worry we have included some of the cleaning nightmares you may have had in our Clean & Remove Hints & Tips including some traditional ways for cleaning as well as the best Eco Solution Product to remove anything you need to.

How to remove crayon from your painted walls

Have you ever left your children for just a minute and come back and they have drawn a crayon masterpiece on your walls, bath, table or patio slabs? If you have then you will understand the dread of how you will remove it. If you paint over crayon on a painted wall when the paint dries you will still see it underneath and if you try to wash it with soap on a fabric material the soap won’t lift the waxy crayon away from the cloth.

So this is one we haven’t tried ourselves and it may well be an old wives tale but, rub some mayonnaise on the crayon marks and let it soak in for several minutes and then wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth. We aren’t sure though if this will leave a grease mark though so we wouldn’t advise that you use this method on fabric.

Our tried and tested solution is to use Eco Solutions Grime Go. Simply spray the water-based solution on the area, leave for 5 minutes and wipe clean. If the crayon is deeply engrained then you may need to do it a couple of times for the crayon to lift and be wiped away.

How to Remove Wax

We have probably all done it, you light a lovely smelling candle and the hot wax drips onto your floor, dining room table, kitchen worktop or garden table.

Hot wax isn’t hot enough to damage your furniture or worktop, however, the colour of the candle can leave stains on surfaces so you need to remove it as quickly as you can. The tricky part is removing it without scratching the surface it’s on, so we would advise you not to scrape it off when the wax is hard.

Some people say you should soften the dried wax with a hairdryer on a low to medium heat, always keeping the hairdryer 3 to 4 inches away from the surface so you don’t make any further marks. when the wax is soft blot it with a soft cloth. Next, mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of water and dip a soft cloth into the mixture and gently wipe away any of the wax left. This should clean the wax away and you can then clean your surface with your normal cleaner. The downside to this solution is the vinegar will leave a strong smell which will linger around for a long time and it doesn’t always lift the wax from the deeper grains of the surface.

Eco Solutions GrimeGo! is the perfect and easy cleaning solution for this job, you simply soften the wax with a hairdryer, again not on a hot setting, blot as much of it as you can away and then spray the softened wax with Grime Go. Leave it to work its wonders for a few minutes and then wipe clean with a soft damp cloth. It really is that easy.

How to Remove Paint Splashes and Spills from almost everything

Removing Paint Splashes on Walls – Try gently scraping away the drips or splashes with a plastic smooth-edged knife, then use vegetable oil to soften the paint and wipe away with a clean damp cloth. If this doesn’t work then you can try nail varnish remover or denatured alcohol, also known as methylated spirit. Try it on another area that isn’t in view first to make sure it doesn’t damage the area but we aware that if the wall is painted it is likely to take the paint off with both solutions. Wipe the area with a small amount of nail varnish remover or methylated spirit on a damp cloth and then wipes clean with a clean damp cloth with warm soapy water on.

The easy way, simply spray Eco Solutions PVCu Cleaner onto the wall and wipe away gently after a few minutes with a soft damp cloth.

Removing Paint Splashes on Glass –  Paint Splashes on Glass on glass can be tricky to remove without scratching the glass. Warm soapy water on a soft cloth and razor blade can remove dried-on paint on glass but it is a very difficult job to ensure you leave no scratches. Wet the glass with the warm soapy water hold the razor blade at a 45-degree angle, carefully scraping away the paint. Keep the glass damp with the soapy water whilst you are doing it as this helps to prevent the glass from scratching.

Our quick and easy solution, spray Eco Solutions PVCu Cleaner onto the paint, leave for a few minutes and wipe away with a soft damp cloth, it really is that easy and there is no risk of you scratching or damaging the glass.

Removing Paint Splashes on Bathroom or Kitchen Worktops – This one is tricky and difficult to do without scratching or marking the surface you are cleaning. Apply a thin coat of olive oil over the paint splashes and then try to wipe it away with a soft damp soapy cloth. You may need a bit of elbow grease to do it and work in circular motions to try and lift the paint. If the splashes or drips don’t remove using this method then wrap a soft cloth around a plastic smooth-edged knife and scrape it off, again be really careful as it’s very easy to scratch the surface without realising you are doing it. If this doesn’t work you can try nail varnish remover or methylated spirit and wipe it away with a soft damp soapy cloth. Be aware that nail varnish and methylated spirit can leave marks or take away the colour on surfaces so always do a patch test first on an area that isn’t in site.

A quick and easy way to remove paint splashes on bathroom or kitchen worktops with no fear of damaging them is using Eco Solutions PVCu Cleaner. Wipe as much of the paint away with a soft wet cloth and then spray the PVCu Cleaner onto the area. Leave it to work its magic as per the instructions and then wipe it clean with a wet cloth, repeating if you need to.

Removing Paint Splashes or Spills from Carpet – You should always try and remove as much paint from the carpet before it dries. blot up the paint using a dry cloth or paper towels to remove as much of it as you can. This is tricky to do with spreading the paint further so use small blotting motions to try and prevent this as much as you can, trying not to rub the paint further into the carpet. Next blot some white vinegar or nail varnish remover into the paint and try and lift it as you are doing it, changing your cloth regularly. As we have said before it is always best to do a patch test first when using white vinegar or nail varnish so you can see if the solutions leave any lasting marks.

The easy way to remove paint from carpet is to use Eco Solutions GrimeGo! or PVCu Cleaner with no risk of your carpet being forever marked or damaged.

Removing Paint Splashes or Spills from Vinyl Floors – Wipe away as much of the excess paint as you can using paper towels or a clean dry cloth, try not to smear it around and increase the area the paint is on when you’re doing this. Next, wipe up the paint left with a soft cloth which has warm soapy water on it. Let it dry and try again. When you have done this a couple of times you may need to use a harsher approach and use a plastic smooth-edged knife wrapped in a soft damp cloth soaked with soapy water and try to scrape the paint away, be very careful as you can quite easily scratch the vinyl using this technique. If there is still paint left after this then you can try rubbing the area with alcohol or mineral spirit, dependent on the type of paint but always do a patch test in an indiscreet area first. Some people also say to try using a super fine steel wool sponge, however, again it is very easy to scratch, and damage your vinyl using this technique.

The easiest and quickest way to remove paint from vinyl floors is to use Eco Solutions PVCu Cleaner. Remove as much of the wet paint from the vinyl as you can with a soft wet cloth, trying not to rub the paint into the flooring and then spray a liberal amount of PVCu Cleaner onto the area, leave as per the instructions and then wipe it clean with a clean damp cloth, repeating if you need to.

Removing Paint Splashes from Wood – It depends on the type of paint you want to remove from wood as to which product you would use. Latex paints are water-based and acrylic paints are chemical-based. Acrylic paint generally lasts longer than latex paint, however, latex paint is more frequently used for painting houses and acrylic more so for art. For latex paint splashes, apply some denatured alcohol, also known as also called ‘methylated spirit’ to a clean rag and gently rub the cloth over the paint in the same direction as the grain of the wood. For oil-based paint splashes follow the same process with a mineral spirit, also known as white spirit. When you have done this you then wipe it clean with a soft cloth soaked in soapy water. Always try this first on an area that can’t be seen as the methylated or white spirit can remove the outer layer of the finish of the wood and you’ll end up with a mark where the paint has been splashed or spilt. If the wood does become discoloured from the removal you can always touch up with a wood finish repair pen, however, you won’t ever see a uniform and clean finish to the wood again unless you strip and repaint it completely.

Eco Solutions PVCu Cleaner really is the quick and easy way to remove unintentional paint splashes from wood surfaces. Simply spray the product on the wood, wait for a few minutes and wipe the splashes of paint away with a soft damp cloth. Repeat a couple of times if you need to.

Removing Paint Splashes and Spills from Concrete Floor – Wait for the paint to dry and use a stiff-bristled brush and a paint scraper to loosen and scrape the paint. Next, carefully and liberally apply a paint stripper and leave as per the strippers instruction, some can take up 8 hours to work, If there is still paint left then repeat again until its gone. When you are happy with the result you can jet wash the area to remove any leftover paint stripper and removed paint.

The easy and guaranteed way to remove paint from concrete is to use Eco Solutions Home Strip & PVCu Cleaner and simply jet wash any paint or product residue away after.

Removing Paint Splashes and Spills from Bricks or Brickwork – It is quite tricky to remove splashed or spilt paint from bricks as the paint soaks into the porous brick. Paint remover is the best option and you need to liberally and carefully paint the remover onto the brick with enough that it soaks in. Leave as per the instructions, wash away and brush with a stiff-bristled brush and you will see if you need to repeat the process again.

The quick and easy way to remove paint from brickwork is to use Eco Solutions Graffiti Go, simply spray on the product, leave as per the instructions and wash away with warm water.

Removing Paint Splashes and Spills from Plastic – If you can, the easiest way to remove paint from plastic is to wipe it away with a damp cloth when the paint is still wet. Some paint quickly seeps into any dents or cracks and if the paint has dried then it won’t wipe away. Chemical paint removers will melt the plastic so don’t be tempted to try this. If the paint has dried you will have to use a plastic smooth-edged knife wrapped in a soft damp cloth and scrape the paint away, sometimes this works really well and especially if the plastic has a flat surface however you are risking scratching and damaging the plastic using this method. You can try wiping it with nail varnish remover, denatured alcohol or methylated spirit and then wipe it clean with warm soapy water but be very careful as this can wipe away the protective surface of the plastic and it will look dull compared to the rest of it, or it can discolour the plastic. Always try it on an area you can’t see first.

For no risk of damaging the colour of your plastic or removing its top protective layer use the quick and easy solution of Eco Solutions PVCu Cleaner.

How to Remove Grease from almost anything

Removing Grease from Clothes – If you spot grease from cooking or grease or oil from working on something mechanical on your clothes then you should always try and remove it as quickly as you can so the grease stain doesn’t work itself in for any longer than it needs to. Work some green, yes it has to be green, washing up liquid into the grease stain and gently work it into the fabric with your fingertips and you should start to see the stain dissolve quite quickly. Leave it for 10-15 minutes to work into the clothing item and then put it into the washing machine on the cycle the label tells you to. When the washing programme has finished the grease should have disappeared for good, if not you may have to choose another option.

The sure-fire way to remove grease from an item of clothing is to use Eco Solutions Grime Go. Simply spray the water-based solution onto the fabric and leave as per the instructions and then pop it into the washing machine and that’s it, the grease stain will be gone.

Removing Motor Oil Grease from Clothes – Now this one may be a bit way out there and but you can always give it a go. Spray the motor oil on the fabric with WD-40 and gently scrub it into the stain with an old toothbrush and then pop it into the washing machine on its normal programme. The stain should/may have disappeared.

If you want the motor oil to be gone from the fabric in one go then it really is easy, spray the stain with Eco Solutions Grime Go and put it in the washing machine on the normal temperature you always do and when you take it out the stain will be gone.

Removing Grease from Metal – Household grease comes from fried foods and it can also come from door hinges, garage doors and so on. Removing grease from metal isn’t as easy at it sounds as when wiped the grease just moves and spreads around. Wipe as much of the grease off as you can with a soft dry cloth or kitchen towels.

Put some rubbing alcohol, also known as denatured alcohol or methylated spirits on a clean soft cloth. Rub the solution over the grease until it has gone. If the grease doesn’t disappear then you may have to do this several times with more solution. Next, rub neat washing up liquid all over the metal and wash it clean with warm water. An alternative to rubbing or denatured alcohol, or methylated spirits is to use vinegar but beware of all of these substances as they really do smell and the smell lingers about for a while after.

The quickest and easiest way to remove grease from metal is using Eco Solutions Grime Go. Spray the metal, saucepan or frying pan with Grime go, wait a few minutes and then wipe it away with a clean dry cloth. That’s it the grease will be gone and it will look all fresh again without a spot of grease in sight. If you are using this technique on kitchen items then always wash them thoroughly after.

Removing Grease from Kitchen Walls, Induction Hobs, Ceramic Hobs, Backsplashes, and Cupboards – Grease, when you’re cooking, is a nightmare, splattering everywhere and you often don’t notice it when you have finished. Over time it builds up and can leave a residue which makes it really difficult just to wipe off. First try wiping it with warm soapy water, often though this doesn’t work and you will end up just wiping the grease around. If the grease stains are really stubborn and they have built up over time they will often leave a yellow stain and in these cases, you can try wiping it with baking soda or spray it with white vinegar and wipe away.

The easiest and quickest way to remove stubborn grease that has been there for some time is to use Eco Solutions Grime Go. Simply spray the area, leave for a couple of minutes, wipe clean with warm soapy water and then wipe dry with a soft microfibre cloth, it leaves everything grease-free and back to its normal shiny state.

How to Remove Black Mould

Black mould can build up really quickly and before you know it you can have mould patches on your window seals inside or out, walls, bathroom, kitchen, fridge, freezer and so on. A lot of people will use baking soda to remove black mould but it’s quite a process to even mix the baking soda.

  • Add a ¼ teaspoon baking soda to 2 cups of water
  • Pour the solution into a spray type bottle
  • Spray the mouldy area and scrub it with a brush
  • Rinse the area with warm water
  • It is advisable to treat the area again with the baking soda solution to prevent mould from returning

Eco Solutions Grime Go or PVCu Cleaner are simple and quick to use if you need to clean off or remove black mould from window seals, walls, bathroom, kitchen, fridge, freezer and so on. You simply spray it on the area of mould, wait a few minutes and wipe the area clean. You can repeat if there is still any signs of the mould.

CleanHow to Clean Crayon from a Sofa

You come into the room and realise your little one has drawn (in their eyes) a piece of art on your sofa with crayons. Patch test first in an area you can’t see, maybe under the cushions and apply a small amount of white vinegar or nail varnish remover onto the crayon marks, leaving for a few minutes. Then try to gently wipe the crayon away with a clean damp cloth. Crayon is a nightmare to remove because of its wax element so this doesn’t always work.

Well don’t panic, Eco Solutions Grime Go will work and will lift the waxy crayon away from the fabric leaving you no marks. Spray the crayoned area with Grime go and leave for 5 minutes to work its wonders, then gently wipe away the crayon mark with a clean damp cloth and no one will ever know the masterpiece was ever there.

How to Clean an Iron

It’s really annoying when you’ve washed and dried your clothes and then when your ironing them dirt from your iron means they need washing again. Dirt builds up quickly on an iron surface and if you have your iron too hot you can also burn its plate which never wipes off. A buildup of grime and scorch marks will result in your iron sticking to your clothes, causing creases and often leading to you replacing your iron before you need to.

Some people although its sounds strange use white toothpaste to remove dirt and scold marks. When your iron is cold and the water tank is empty rub white toothpaste onto the dirty areas of the plate then wipe the toothpaste off with a clean damp cloth. Next, fill your iron with water and plug it in and place it over an old towel and hold the steam button down to remove any toothpaste that has gone into the steam holes.

If you don’t fancy rubbing toothpaste into your iron then spray Eco Solutions Grime Go onto the plate of your iron when it is unplugged and cold, wait for a few minutes and wipe it clean with a damp cloth and that’s it, your iron plate will be gleaming again. Fill your irons water tank, plug it in and place it over an old towel and then hold down the steam button which will remove any Grime Go that has gone into the steam holes. That’s it, your done, no more dirty marks or unneeded creases from your iron.

How to Clean Blinds

Its a job that we probably all hate but one that needs to be done every few months to stop the dust, dirt and grime building up on your Venetian blinds. So here are a couple of ideas to help you with this dreaded job. Mix one part vinegar and one part water into a bowl and then use a soft cloth to wipe the slats. Beware this job is smelly from the vinegar so always wear gloves when you’re doing it.

The simplest and easiest way to clean your blinds leaving the shiny and new again is using Eco Solutions Grime Go. Spray your blind slats and leave for 5-10 minutes and then wipe them clean with a soft damp cloth.

How to Clean Carpet – Grime Go

If there has been something spilt on the carpet then blot it with some kitchen roll, paper towels or a clean dry cloth to remove as much of the spill as you can without smearing it around and pushing it further into the carpet. Next, try blotting an area that isn’t within sight with white vinegar or nail polish remover and let it dry to see if it leaves any marks. If it looks OK then do the same on the area where there has been something split. It really does depend on what’s on the carpet if this method will work or not.

Eco Solutions Grime Go will remove almost any spillage stains or old stains from carpet. Simply spray onto the area, leave for 5 minutes and then gently rub it with a damp to wet clean soft cloth to remove the stain. Let it dry and that’s it, your carpet will be stain free.

How to Clean Car Seats including Baby or Child Car Seats

Everyone knows that your car seats can get really grimy from everyday use and when you have babies or children in the car it is likely there will be spills that happen in their car seats or on the main seats of your car. Blot away as much of the spill as possible with a dry cloth or kitchen roll and then with warm soapy washing up liquid water wipe away the spill and let it dry. You can do this with old stains as well, however, not all stains will be removed with this method.

Eco Solutions Grime Go will easily remove new spillage stains or old ones and you won’t be left with soaking wet seats that you can’t sit on for hours, sometimes more. Blot away any liquid or spills whatever they are with kitchen roll or a clean dry cloth and then spray the Grime Go onto the stained area, leave for 5 – 10 minutes and wipe away with a soft water damp cloth. More stubborn stains may need a second go. You will be amazed how clean your car seats will look after you have used Grime Go and your seats won’t be damp for long.

You have probably guessed it but there is an Eco Solution, water-based, non-toxic cleaner for almost any cleaning need you have, it is a simple and quick process and you won’t need to buy different products and solutions for every stain or cleaning issue you have.

Eco Solutions Home Use Cleaning Products

Our range of safe water-based products includes; multi-purpose paint strippers, a one-stop all-around graffiti remover, a textured coatings remover (ideal for removing Artex® type coatings) and other specialist products including general cleaners that remove grime, paint, glue and much more.

One product does all and there are no pre or after treatments needed.

They are safe to use yourself and cause no harm to the environment compared to conventional and sometimes hazardous solvents.

Our Product Features

One product does all – No pre or after treatment – Suitable for many substrates – Water-based – Non-hazardous – Non-toxic – No skin burns – Non-caustic – Non-flammable – PH neutral – Solvent-free- “Tough not toxic” – No H (hazard) or P (precautionary) statements on the label.

Grime Go removes all types of grease, oil, dirt, stains, grime, dirt, mould, adhesive residues and paint splashes too. It can be used to prepare surfaces for re-painting or just to clean and brighten the substrate. No fumes, no skin burns, no abrasives and non-toxic.

PVCU Cleaner cleans uPVC windows, doors and guttering (may etch certain types of Perspex and polycarbonate so do a patch test first). Removes heavy grime, dirt, oil, and paint splashes too. Spray on and wipe away any stains and grime. The product is safely being used by an increasing number of consumers and professional users alike. DIY Doctor is currently one of the largest home improvement websites in the UK. They are committed to putting the customer first, providing a platform for novice and experienced Home Improvers so they can get together with experienced tradesmen to share knowledge, skills and experience about anything to do with house and home. You can see their demonstration for PVCu Cleaner here.

Super Strength Degreaser removes grease, oil, grime, glue and even light carbon build-up. It is effective and pleasant to use, water-based, no abrasives with no H (hazard) or P (precautionary) statements on the label.

Graffiti Go removes all paints including car spray paints – Graffiti shadow – Leather dye – Marker pen -Crayons – Fly posters – Chewing gum and can be used on on all types of surfaces including; woods, all metals (including Aluminium), stone (including soft and porous stones), brick, marble, concrete, most plastics (may etch certain types of Perspex and polycarbonate).

Where can I buy the Eco Solutions Products?

Our Eco Solutions Home Use and Trade Use Products can be ordered through Brewers, Buildbase, Jewsons, Travis Perkins, or for aerospace +Cromwell/Med-Lab. You can also find our stockists here.

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