Bring back the shine of your favorite brass items with these editor-tested cleaning methods. Fortunately, there are many simple ways to bring luster back to your brass items. Here are the best ways to clean brass and restore its original luster using household products. Credit:Jason Donnelly Check the metal with a magnet; if it sticks, it’s not real brass. Many items are brass-plated, and most cleaning methods could damage them....

Just a few supplies and bit of elbow grease can keep your patio or garden path looking new. Brick pavers are a strong material perfect forcreating patios,garden paths, driveways and even pool surrounds. But without maintenance, brick starts to look worn and dirty, and can even become loose or uneven. Credit: Kritsada Panichgul Frequent sweeping is one of the best ways to keep brick pavers looking good. Here’s how to clean brick pavers so they keep their crisp lines and natural color....

Few produce items have a longer season than one of our sturdy stand-bys: broccoli. Once you score a head of the vegetable, it’s important to know how to clean broccoli. What Is Broccoli? Credit: alvarez/Getty Images Broccoliis a cruciferous vegetable and a member of the cabbage family. As such, it shares many attributes withcauliflower. Both the stalks and the florets are edible and packed with valuable nutrients. The cruciferous plant also delivers a surprising amount of protein for a vegetable2 grams per 1 cup....

Don’t let stains and daily traffic take their toll. Keep your carpet looking beautiful with these cleaning techniques. Carpets warm a home by adding color, pattern, and texture. Credit: Svetlana Zayats / EyeEm / Getty Images Frequent vacuuming is the first line of defense against dirt and grit that damages carpet fibers. Still, carpets also needregular cleaningto keep them looking their best. Plan to deep-clean your carpet every 12 to 18 months (or more often in high-traffic areas)....

Worse still, high heat from the burners can cause baked-on messes that are challenging to remove. Cleaning and caring for cast-iron stove grates is straightforward, similar to the method used forcleaning cast-iron skillets. The dishwashers long wash cycle exceeds the recommended length of time that cast iron should be wet. Credit:Getty Images / Viacheslav Dvoretskyi Dont soak uncoated cast-iron grates at all. For efficiency,clean the stovetopwhile the grates enjoy their briefsoak in hot, soapy water....

Ceiling fans create cooling breezes and circulate air to make a stuffy room feel pleasantly comfortable. Knowing how to clean ceiling fan blades, globes, and chains is important for several reasons. For one, a dirty ceiling fan runs less efficiently than a clean one. Credit: John Bessler For another, those spinning blades can scatter allergens, dust, and other particles throughout the room. Here’s how to clean ceiling fans without making a mess....

This will keep your tree, ornaments, andnostalgic family decorationsin the best condition possible. Here are some basic guidelines to follow for most ornaments that aren’t made of fabric or glitter. A light dusting will do the trick for most ornaments. Credit:David A. Land But you dont need to worry about the longevity of it, unlike an artificial version. it’s possible for you to also disassemble the different sections if you think cleaning will be easier....

Try these simple approaches to keep your chrome fixtures spotless. Getty Images / gzorgz Chrome is a popular metal finish for kitchen and bathroomfaucets and fixtures. You may even spot this durable finish on car parts and gym equipment. Credit:Getty Images / gzorgz Over time, it can become dull due to an accumulation of soap scum and mineral deposits. Soap and Water Using soap and water is the most straightforward way to clean chrome fixtures....

Learn how to clean clams before cooking so you might enjoy restaurant-worthy clams at home. And the results are worth every single (simple) step. Here’s how to clean clams, including tips so there’s no sand! Credit:Grant Webster The most popular are hard clams, which include little neck clams. Likemusselsandoysters, clams are sold live, with tightly closed shells to guarantee freshness. Avoid any clams that have broken or cracked shells. Credit:Grant Webster...

Durable and easy to maintain, concrete is an increasingly popular choice for indoor floors. Here’s how to clean it. However, even the most low-maintenance floors require routine maintenance to remain clean and in good condition. Credit:Getty Images / Carlina Teteris Before Getting Started Indoor concrete flooring differs fromtroweled concrete used for outdoor spaceslike driveways or patios. While there are several types of indoor concrete flooring, they can all be cleaned using the same methods....

Keep your Chucks looking like they just came out of the box with these easy cleaning tips. Before Getting Started Converse recommends cleaning its canvas, leather, and synthetic sneakers with mild soap. Typically, “mild soap” refers to dish soap, hand soap, or diluted liquid laundry detergent. Credit:Brie Goldman This ensures that your cleaning solution will not affect the color or material." Converse does not recommend machine washing or drying under any circumstances....

Safely restore tarnished copper surfaces with these cleaning tips that utilize natural ingredients. Fortunately, it’s easy to clean copper mugs, pots, and even copper jewelry. Try these simple,natural ways to cleancopper and restore its shine. Credit: Michael Partenio Before Getting Started Some copper items feature alacquer finishthat you should avoid cleaning with these methods. Before cleaning copper, you should find out if the item iscopper-plated. If the item is copper-plated, you could risk scratching the surface....

Keep your couch cushions looking and smelling fresh with these routine and deep cleaning tips. Additionally, every six months, couch cushions should be deep cleaned. When vacuuming, take note of any stains or soiled areas and use a technique calledspot-treatingto remove them. Credit:Grant Webster Work in the direction of the fibers, and use a light touch to avoid abrading the fabric. If the cushions are removable, flip them over and vacuum the sides and bottoms....