When you want to clean anything, the first thing you do is take a cloth or a paper towel and pour some water on it with soap and begin to clean it off. Most of the time that is the logical thing to do. However, there are many things that you should not clean that way. That is because water is not meant to be used for cleaning when it comes to certain items because the good old h2O will end up ruining it. Let’s go over some items that you do not want to use water to clean because it will end up having the most undesirable effects.
Wooden Furniture
If you see those unsightly rings on the wooden table or dresser, those rings are because of water and that is a sign of water damage. Additionally, water can cause your wooden furniture to become discolored, swell, split, and crack. Therefore, you see that water is out of the question when it comes to cleaning wooden furniture. Instead, you can use a good-quality cloth and use lemon oil or furniture polish to clean your wood if it is dirty. Otherwise, you can use a cloth for dusting the rest of the time. The same applies to wooden flooring.
Leather
You want to clean leather whether it is your wallet, boots, shoes, upholstery, and clothing so they appear their best. However, the last thing you want to do is to clean leather with water, or else it will leave undesirable cracks and streaks and that can end up ruining it. You also want to keep oils away from leather or else it will ruin it as well. You need a formulated cleanser to use on leather to clean it.
Silver And Brass
Have you tried to clean brass or silver with water and only found that they become more tarnished? That is because you cannot use water to clean brass or silver. The only way to clean brass or silver is by using a sealant or lacquer to clean it and the best thing to do is to use a sealant that is formulated specifically to clean brass or silver. The same applies to light fixtures.
Silk
You may see that some types of silk are noted as washable in delicate cycles. However, if you are not careful with washing silk, you will end up with spots and streaks and it will shrink. It is best to avoid water and the way to clean silk is to use a soft delicate brush to remove dust and dirt and use a mild soap. If you are afraid to even do that, you can take your silk clothing to a professional dry cleaner. The same applies to suede, velvet, or velour as you need a specialty cleanser for that – or take clothing with that material to the dry cleaner.
Musical Instruments
As most musical instruments are made with brass, silver, metal, or wood, you already know that water can damage those elements. Therefore, the way to clean musical instruments is by using cleansers that are meant for musical instruments so that their appearance and sounds are not compromised in any way.
Electronics
Your TV, your stereo, computer, keyboard, your smartphone, tablet, and so on should never be cleaned with water or else it will permanently destroy it. And that means you need to find an alternative way to clean them. Therefore, dusting with a smooth cloth can do the trick. When it comes to dirt, especially on the keyboard, you can use a small amount of rubbing alcohol to clean the keys and the same goes for other electronics. However, when it comes to your camera, you will need to take it to a professional cleaner.
Marble, Stucco, Brick
You may think that water would not cause a problem on those surfaces. However, they are very porous and that means they can warp and become destroyed by water. Vacuum these surfaces instead, and use a soft-bristled brush to remove dirt and dust, and then wipe it with a soft cloth.
If you have been cleaning those things with water and find that they are not in top shape, that is why. Therefore, now you know not to use water to clean those items!
