Cleaning tools that remove grime, stains and dried build-up are always in demand. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that SOS pads are extremely popular for house cleaning. These steel wool pads are made by Clorox and saturated with soap to make them more effective than regular steel wool pads. Dampen the pads with water to activate the soap, and you can clean most household surfaces.
Therefore, SOS pads often come in handy for deep house cleaning or when you have to perform
end of lease cleaning in Canberra.
However,
you must use SOS pads carefully because they can be harsh on some surfaces or fixtures in your home. Knowing what you shouldn’t clean with them is necessary to avoid irreversible damage. Thus, here is your complete guide outlining 9 things you probably shouldn’t clean with SOS pads.
1. Clean Painted Surfaces
Avoid cleaning painted surfaces with steel wool pads, whether walls, baseboards or beams. These cleaning tools are effective scouring pads but will damage the paint and its finish, leaving behind a discoloured mess. If you want to deep clean these surfaces without damage,
baking soda is a natural alternative. It is mildly abrasive powered and can tackle rust, grease, soap scum, and other tough messes naturally.
2. Scrub Polished Wooded Surfaces
Furniture, floorboards, decks and other polished wooden surfaces need gentle cleaning to remove dust and dirt. If they have stubborn stains, don’t try to remove them with SOS pads because the steel will strip the wood of its polish and cause heavy scratches.
Thus, the surface will look dull and tarnished instead of clean and sparkly. Avoiding harsh cleaners while sanitising wooden surfaces will ensure you don’t botch up while performing
bond cleaning.
3. Sanitise Leather Upholstery
It’s a no-brainer that you shouldn’t use harsh tools or harmful cleaning chemicals to scrub or sanitise leather upholstery. Hence, using an SOS pad for removing stains and spots will lead to the material discolouring, wearing and tearing in the worst cases. The pads will mar the naturally appealing appearance of the leather and necessitate reupholstery.
Therefore, cleaning leather furnishing in your rental property at the time of end of lease cleaning in Canberra will make you lose your
rental bond.
4. Clean Plastics in Home
Plastic, like wood, is extremely susceptible to scratches and discolouration, which is why cleaning it with SOS pads is a bad idea. The scrubber will scratch plastic furniture, utensils, switches, appliances and other plastic surfaces/fixtures.
5. Wash Non-stick Pots & Pans
These cooking utensils have a protective coating that prevents the food from sticking to the pots and pans. When you scrub them with SOS pads or other harsh scouring pads, this coating gets scratched and rubbed off, damaging the cookware beyond repair. Thus, only use a soft sponge or brush to wash non-stick pots and pans.
6. Descale or Clean Ceramics & Tiles
While these surfaces are extremely durable, using steel wool pads on them frequently to remove stains and grime will lead to dullness over time. Therefore, whether you need to clean the toilet bowl, bathtub, shower tiles or other ceramic or tilled fixtures, use a suitable scrubber that won’t scratch or cause damage.
If you have serious issues like mineral stains, hard water deposits and rust stains due to
water salinity, get them out using melamine erasers, white vinegar, oxalic acid and other natural yet effective cleaners.
7. Wash Stainless Steel Fixtures & Appliances
Stainless steel is a durable and shiny metal that looks elegant and expensive. Therefore, you must clean fixtures & appliances made or coated with it carefully to preserve the look & feel of the metal. While SOS pads can effectively and efficiently remove spots and messes from stainless steel surfaces, they can leave scratches or blemishes if you are not careful. You can also cause dullness and wear by cleaning stainless steel against the grain.
8. Spot-clean Mirrors & Glass Surfaces
If you plan to remove boil-over stains on the glass top of your stove or remove soap scum from the shower screen with SOS pads, think again! These are delicate surfaces that need gentle cleaning. You can remove most spots and messes from mirrors and glass surfaces with
Castile Soap, water and a microfiber cloth.
Therefore, never use steel wool to scrub off tough stains and spots from mirrors, shower screens, glass shelves, and other delicate surfaces. If you need to sanitise these surfaces during the end of lease cleaning in Canberra, try substitutes like cleaning vinegar, barkeeper’s friend, Stardrops Pink Stuff etc.
9. Scrub Countertops
It is easier to clean granite, marble, quartz and other material countertops with SOS pads, but this cleaning mistake can cost you in the long run. The pads are highly abrasive and wear down the protective coating on countertops, making them susceptible to scratches, stains and other issues.
Wrapping Up
Cleaning household surfaces with an effective and efficient tool helps save time, energy and effort. However, if the cleaning tool is harsh and suitable for specific purposes, you shouldn’t use it carelessly to sanitise any surface or fixture.
Therefore, while performing deep house cleaning or end of lease cleaning, avoid using SOS Pads on the 9 things shared above. It can cause irreversible damage to things and cost you money.
