Getting rid of tough stains around the home can get frustrating, but don’t worry! Your friendly Kapitbahays are here to help. From stubborn grout to mattress stains, here are some tips from our community members to help keep your home looking spick and span. 

Cleaning Bathroom and Kitchen Stains

Toilet Bowls

Because we use them so often, our toilets can get grimy fast. If left unchecked, it could amass unsightly lines and stains that don’t come off using any old surface cleaner. 

Enter The Pink Stuff, recommended by Kapitbahay Zoe. While The Pink Stuff brand has a variety of products for all sorts of purposes and needs, Zoe hails The Miracle Cleaning Paste as her toilet-cleaning holy grail. Easy to use and gentle on surfaces (at hindi pa masakit sa ilong), this cleaning paste helped remove stubborn lines and toilet rings.

According to The Pink Stuff website, you can use The Miracle Cleaning Paste for more than just toilets. It’s also suitable for cleaning grime and stains on saucepans, cooker tops, sinks, tiles, and showers. Apply with a soft, damp cloth (for more delicate cleaning) or a damp sponge, and gently rub the affected surfaces before rinsing off with hot water. However, note that the product is a mildly abrasive paste cleaner, so it’s best not to apply too much pressure to avoid scratching sensitive surfaces, especially glass, highly polished steel, and ceramic hobs. Reminder: do not use this paste on hot or warm surfaces, and do not allow the paste to dry.

‍Kung ayaw mo ng pink, ito naman: blue! The Tuff Toilet Bowl Cleaner, recommended by Kapitbahay Mike, is another option perfect for gentle cleaning sans the harsh, chemical smell — especially great if, like Mike, you have kids around the house and don’t want them inhaling any fumes.

Showerheads, Sinks, and Faucets

If you find your sinks and faucets coated in white water stains or rust that won’t budge, Kapitbahay Luis shared a great tip. Using a wet, non-scratch limescale eraser, gently scrub on the affected surfaces. Afterward, rinse the area, dry it with cloth, and pak! Tanggal lahat!

But how do they work? While the exact composition of limescale erasers may vary depending on the brand and product, they are usually made of weak acids that help dissolve limescale deposits (i.e., hard, chalky mineral deposits that form when water with high mineral content evaporates), abrasive particles that physically lift the residue, and surfactants that help loosen the limescale from the surface. 

Because of this, they can easily break down limescale deposits, just like a rubber eraser would remove pencil markings. They are also odorless and don’t absorb grease or dirt, making them easy to keep clean. Because of their material, they are also flexible, durable, and easy to store. 

Bonus tip: You can also use this eraser to remove stains and rust on pots, pans, gas ranges, and more.

If that doesn’t do the trick, maybe Kapitbahay Shei’s recommendation will help. They used Zim Powder Cleanser to remove water stains from their kitchen sink. First, they started with one to two rounds of scrubbing with the cleanser to soften the stains. Then, they rinsed and cleaned the sink with just water. 

Counters

Sometimes, like Kapitbahay Leomarie, our lives get so busy that we forget some chores, like cleaning our counters. But just like every other part of our bathroom, our counters need regular cleaning to ensure our hygiene is in check.

For stained counters, they recommend using Superb Toilet Cleaner. While the product description states “toilet cleaner,” Leomarie still found that it was effective in removing various stains and giving their counter a bagong-bili look. 

Cleaning Tile Stains and Grout

Here comes the heavy hitters — tiles and grout. Undoubtedly one of the most head-scratching issues we encounter in our homes, cleaning water stains, residue, and grout from our tiles is not easy. And while it can get disheartening seeing our once-white tiles turn gray, there are ways we can turn it around.

Mayora Frances previously shared a shining discovery to make her white tiles gleam: Domex Stain & Limescale Cleaner! After trying several different cleaners from the groceries (and even a grout pen), she found that this variant of Domex was the most effective of all. 

First, she wet the floor slightly and then lined the grout with the concentrated Domex solution. Note that at this stage, the liquid is yellow. Then, she scrubbed the affected lines with a toothbrush, making the solution blue. She kept scrubbing until she saw a milky white texture over the grout, then let the solution sit for ten minutes before rinsing her tiles with water and waiting for them to dry.

Kapitbahay Rommel recommended the Biotol All Purpose Spray Cleaner for hard water stains. After spraying all over his tiles and letting the solution do its thing for five minutes, Rommel simply used a brush to rub all of it away — goodbye, one-year-old stain! However, since the stain had been there for quite some time, Rommel did a couple more rounds to ensure everything was good to go.

Another great tip? Use a pumice cleaning stone. Kapitbahay Acilegna saw a significant difference after using the cleaning stone on black stains and residue on her living room tiles. But these stones have even more uses around the home, such as scrubbing out mold and debris, busting through greasy deposits on stove grates, removing burnt food from ovens or barbeque grates, and even removing pet hair from furniture. O diba? Multi-purpose kung multi-purpose!

To use a pumice cleansing stone, you’ll first need to wet it thoroughly. Soak the stone in water for a few minutes, then apply it to the surface in gentle, circular motions. However, ensure not to press too hard to avoid scratches. Remember, though, that this stone may seem like magic, but it is still an abrasive tool. If you’re hesitant to use the pumice stone, test it on a small surface patch to see if any adverse effects occur.

Cleaning Mattress or Couch Stains

Accidental spills happen, no matter how careful we are. Kapitbahay Fiore recommended using Aguaper Hydrogen Peroxide, which helped remove old stains from wine, juice, and other liquids, for mattresses and couch cushions that can't be easily shoved into a washing machine. Fiore mentioned no thinning effect on the fabric or harsh odor, even when applied directly. 

However, this solution may not be suitable for colored mattresses or couches as it may cause discoloration. Hot tip — when in doubt, always do a patch test first!  

If there were no issues after patch testing, blot (don’t rub!) the affected area gently with paper towels or a clean cloth to absorb as much of the stain as possible. Then, mix a solution of equal parts hydrogen peroxide (be sure the label says it’s 3%) and cold, distilled water. You can use your DIY solution with a spray bottle to lightly mist the stained area or with a cloth to dab the stain. Either way, be sure to avoid soaking the mattress or cushion.

After applying the solution, blot the stained area again with another clean cloth or power towels. Wait for the mattress or cushion to dry completely, and repeat as needed until the stain is gone.

Cleaning Wall Stains

Over time, our walls can get stained, too. Whether the stains come from moisture from our bathrooms, kitchen messes, or even stubborn dirt in our living rooms, our walls need that extra TLC.

Kapitbahay Vivian recommended the Magiclean Stain & Mold Remover, which melted her stains within five minutes of spraying. Per directions, spray the solution to the affected wall and leave it one for twenty minutes. Afterward, wash it off with clean water — no extra fuss required. This product also claims to prevent the appearance of mold with regular use.

Cleaning Wood Table Stains

No one loves seeing water rings and scratches on a gorgeous wooden table. Luckily, Kapitbahay Mai discovered the Old English Scratch Cover — swak sa mga #TeamKahoy diyan! 

By helping fix up scratches and stains, this product is perfect for those wanting to give their tables a good ol’ makeover. Plus, you can use it for other wooden surfaces as well. To use, lightly moisten a clean, dry cloth with this solution and wipe gently across the surface. Allow the wood to absorb the liquid, then buff to a shine. 

Did you come across any stain-busting finds lately? We’d love to know!