Cleaning How To & DIY

Get your home sparkling clean by discovering our step-by-step cleaning tips & ideas.

Image of a freshly cleaned glass stove top

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How To Clean a Glass Stovetop

Our guide explains how to clean your glass stovetop correctly to restore its spotless surface without creating scratches.
A pot and kettle on a clean kitchen stovetop

The Comprehensive Guide to Cleaning Stove Burners

It’s easy to neglect cleaning your stove regularly, but you can remove cooked-on stains and grease with ease with a few simple steps.
A bathtub that has been deep cleaned, it is white and spotless.

Everything You Need to Know to Deep Clean a Bathtub

If your bathtub isn’t as clean as it could be, follow our deep cleaning tips to enjoy a sparkling clean tub.
A room with laminate floors.

How To Clean and Care for Laminate Floors in Your Home

Once installed, laminate must be properly cared for. Here are our tips for cleaning and maintaining your laminate floors.
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How to Get Rid of Pet Odors in Your Home

No one will know a pet is in the house when you take these steps to remove odors from furniture, flooring, and the air.
A person using a rag to clean mold from a door.

How to Kill Mold on Wood and When to Call a Professional

Our guide details how to safely get rid of mold in your house and can help you determine when the problem is too severe for you to tackle by yourself.
S22 E24: Mark McCullough cleans a bluestone patio
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How to Clean a Bluestone Patio

After a homeowner’s bluestone patio became discolored, he called the team at Ask This Old House for help. Mason Mark McCullough has the perfect solution—literally.
Clean fabric blinds on a window.

How To Clean Fabric Blinds

From regular dusting to deep cleaning, we're sharing practical tips to keep your fabric blinds looking fresh.
Pouf and rattan chair on wooden patio with settee in the garden during summer.

How To Remove Pollen Stains From Outdoor Furniture

This guide will explain how to remove pollen from outdoor surfaces to keep chairs, tables, and outdoor cushions clean throughout the pollen-heavy months.
Sponge being used to clean water tap

How To Get Rid of Pink Mold in the Shower

Pink mold is a stubborn bacteria can be hard to clean, and even harder to keep it from coming back. This guide will explain everything you need to know about how to get rid of pink mold as well as prevent pink mold in the shower in the first place.
A window being pressure washed.

A Guide to Pressure Washing Windows to Make Them Shine

Pressure washing your windows may not sound like a difficult task, but it's a more delicate project than you think. Follow our guide.
S21 E22, Mauro Henrique teaches Kevin O'Connor about paint cleanup
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Mauro’s Pro Tips for Paint Project Clean Up

Paint expert Mauro Henrique shows host Kevin O’Connor which paints are easiest to clean as well as how to clean up after a paint job.
S21 E21, Mark McCullough shows Kevin O'Connor how to clean hardscape
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How To Clean Hardscape

Mason Mark McCullough shows how to remove organic stains from hardscapes such as bluestone and limestone blocks and pavers.
Freshly cleaned throw pillows.

How To Clean Throw Pillows

Throw pillows get a lot of use—and you may not be cleaning them as often as you should. Here’s how to clean them so they look as good as new.
Laundry hanging outside on a line to dry.

What is Laundry Stripping and How Does It Work?

We teach you the basics of laundry stripping, and how to do it safely and effectively to deep-clean towels, sheets, and clothing.
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How to Eliminate Dryer Odors

You know it’s not time yet to replace your dryer, but there’s a stench coming from it that makes you want to buy another one. No need to spring for a brand-new appliance. We’ll show you how to remove the smell from a dryer for next to nothing.
cracked paint on a concrete wall

How To Remove Paint from Concrete

Are you dealing with a stubborn paint stain on your concrete patio or driveway? Learn how to remove paint from concrete in this guide.
Cans of gasoline in a garage that are expired and need to be disposed of properly

How to Dispose of Old Gasoline

Did you know that the fuel for your vehicle or power equipment can expire? Here’s how to tell if it’s no longer ok to use and find out how to safely transport and get rid of it.
A man using a microfiber cloth to clean a flat screen tv.

The Right Way To Clean a Flat-Screen TV Without Damaging it

If you see more smudges than show, your TV probably needs a good wipe-down. We explain a better way to clean your screen without damaging it.
A person using a vacuum to remove smoke odor from upholstery.

How To Get Smoke Smell Out of Your House and Off of Furniture

Whether it’s from a fire in the home or a wildfire nearby, put that scary memory behind you with this guide on how to get rid of smoke odors.
A dirty bathroom exhaust fan that needs cleaning.

Best Methods for Cleaning a Bathroom Exhaust Fan

Bathroom exhaust fans are essential to a healthy home, as they extract humidity, odors, cleaning-agent fumes, and airborne contaminants from the confines of your bathroom. So, how do you keep your exhaust fan clean? Follow our step-by-step guide on cleaning a bathroom exhaust fan to keep yours operating at its best.
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How to Shampoo Your Carpet

Whether you want to do it yourself or hire a professional cleaning service, giving your carpet a deep clean with shampoo helps keep it in the best possible condition.
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How to Clean a Washing Machine

Banish errant soils, product residue, odors, and bacteria from the washer to ensure that laundry comes out as fresh and clean as possible.
A clean shower head.

How To Clean a Shower Head

Here's how to clean your shower head to keep it performing optimally and bacteria-free.
A washing and drying machine with potted plants on top of it.

A Guide to Making DIY Natural Cleaning Product for Your Home

Save money and the environment with easy DIY cleaning products you can make with household ingredients. Check out these easy recipes and tips.
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10 Overlooked Places to Clean Around Your Home

Add these often missed spaces and appliances to your normal cleaning routine to ensure your home is squeaky clean.
S20 E4, Mauro Henrique cleans dried up paintbrushes
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How To Clean Dried Paintbrushes

If paint has dried on your paintbrush, you don't need to run to the hardware store to buy a new one. Learn how to clean it here.
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How to Steam Clean an Oven

Using steam power is a popular household cleaning method, and it works well for your oven, too. This guide shows you how to do it.
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How to Add Dust Collection to a Mobile Workbench

In part four of this series, House One Editor and DIY Expert Jenn Largesse shows how to build a dust collector to her Ultimate Mobile Workbench.
Lifestyle image of a stainless-steel cooking range in a sparkling modern kitchen. Cover image for the This Old House Reviews Team's guide on how to remove scratches from stainless steel surfaces.

How to Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel

Learn how to remove scratches from stainless steel surfaces and discover effective products to make the restoration process quick and easy.
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How to Clean Concrete

From driveways to patios, and all the areas in between, here are the best ways to clean concrete floors.
Stubborn sticker residue stuck on metal.

How to Remove Sticker Residue

Got some nasty, fuzzy residue stubbornly sticking around from an old label, price tag, or sticker? Removing it can be a hassle, especially if you don’t want to damage the surface it’s adhered to. For the quickest and most effective ways to remove sticker residue, check out these tips.
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How to Clean Shower Doors

Soap scum, hard water stains, and pesky streaks can all take away from the neat appearance of a glass shower door. We’ll walk you through how to clean shower doors and prevent stains and grime from building up.