| How to Clean Leather Furniture Posted: 30 Jan 2019 04:00 PM PST Leather furniture may look intimidating to clean, but it's surprisingly easy to care for! With some regular upkeep, like vacuuming and wiping it down with a microfiber cloth once a month, you can keep your furniture looking in tiptop shape. Treating stains on your leather furniture is fairly straightforward, too—ink, grease, and drink stains can all be cleaned up with a little care and attention. EditMaintaining Your Leather Furniture - Vacuum the entire piece of furniture once per month. Use the attachments on your vacuum to sweep the cracks and crevices of the furniture. Remove any cushions and vacuum away all visible dirt. Use the soft brush attachment to clean the surface of the furniture, too.[1]
- Always use the vacuum attachments rather than picking up the entire vacuum and putting it on the furniture. The weight of the vacuum and its sharp edges could easily scratch the leather.
- Wipe the furniture down with a microfiber cloth from the top to bottom. Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to give the entire piece of furniture a thorough wipe down. Start at the top of the furniture and work your way down so that any dislodged dust or dirt will fall to areas that haven't been wiped clean yet.[2]
- While you're wiping the furniture down, take note of any areas that are stained or particularly dirty so you can treat them later.
- Mix together equal parts vinegar and water to create a cleaning solution. In a small bowl, combine of water with of white vinegar. To prevent spilling the mixture, place the bowl on the ground near the furniture that you're cleaning.[3]
- Test out new cleaning products on an inconspicuous area first just in case it doesn't react well with the leather.[4]
- Use the water and vinegar to wipe away any dirty areas you noticed. Dip a clean microfiber cloth into the solution and squeeze it out so that it's damp, but not dripping. Use a gentle, circular motion to clean away dirt and grime. It's not necessary to clean the entire piece of furniture, though it won't hurt the leather to wipe the whole thing down.[5]
- Be very gentle if you're cleaning unprotected leather, as it is much easier to scratch and damage.[6]
- Dry off the water and vinegar with a clean microfiber towel. After you wipe down the piece of furniture, take a clean, dry microfiber towel and wipe away any excess moisture that remains. Avoid letting wet spots air dry.[7]
- If the microfiber cloth gets too wet while you're drying off the furniture, use a fresh, dry towel.
- Apply a conditioner to your furniture every 6 to 12 months. Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully before you apply the conditioner. Generally, you'll apply the conditioner to a clean washcloth and rub it into the leather using gentle, circular motions. Make sure to check how long the conditioner needs to be left alone before you use the furniture again.[8]
- Test the conditioner out on an inconspicuous area of the furniture before applying it to the entire piece.
EditTreating Stains - Blot away spills as quickly as possible after they occur. As soon as a spill happens, grab some clean paper towels to wipe away the bulk of it. Once that is done, take a clean, dry washcloth and blot the stained area by pressing down on it repeatedly.[9]
- Blotting the spill should help draw up any liquid or matter that has already started to set into the leather.
- Wipe away grease with a dry cloth and baking soda. If your leather is stained with butter, body lotion, oil, or any other kind of grease or fat, use a dry washcloth to wipe off as much of it as you can. Once the grease has mostly been removed, sprinkle enough baking soda over the stain so it's completely covered. Leave the baking soda on the stain for 2 to 3 hours, then wipe it away with a clean cloth.[10]
- Don't use water to wipe away grease stains. Water could actually cause the grease to set into the leather, rather than clearing it away.
- The baking soda helps draw the grease out of the leather, making it easier to wipe away.
- Use rubbing alcohol to address ink stains on your leather furniture. Dip a cotton ball into rubbing alcohol and gently squeeze it out so it's not dripping wet. Then dab the cotton ball against the ink stain to remove it from the leather. Dab in an up-and-down motion, rather than rubbing the area. Stop once the stain has been lifted.[11]
- Depending on how big the stain is, you may need to use more than 1 cotton ball. The stain should transfer from the leather to the cotton ball, so when you notice the cotton looks stained, trade it out for a fresh one.
- Dab away juice and soda stains with a clean cloth and distilled water. Dampen a clean cloth in distilled water, and blot any areas on your leather furniture that have been stained by water-based liquids. After the stain has been blotted, leave the spot to air-dry.[12]
- The water and cloth will clean away any stickiness left from the liquid.
- Mix together lemon juice and cream of tartar to clean beige leather. Mix together of lemon juice and of cream of tartar in a small bowl. Spread the mixture over the stained area. Let it sit for 10 minutes, and then wipe it clean with a damp washcloth.[13]
- Don't use this method on darker pieces, as the lemon juice could lighten the leather.
- Don't saturate leather furniture with water. Always use a cloth to wet the furniture, rather than pouring water directly onto it.[14]
- Avoid ammonia, furniture polishes, saddle soap, and detergents when cleaning protected and unprotected leathers, as they can actually stain the leather themselves.[15]
- If there is a really stubborn stain you can't get out on your own, it may be time to call a professional.
- Keep your leather furniture out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources if you can. The sun and heat can dry out the leather and make it crack or even change the color of the leather.[16]
- Read the manufacturer's instructions prior to cleaning the leather to see if there are any special directions.
EditThings You'll Need EditMaintaining Your Leather Furniture - Vacuum with attachments
- Microfiber cloths
- Water
- White vinegar
- Small bowl
- Leather conditioner
EditTreating Stains - Paper towels
- Washcloth
- Baking soda
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton balls
- Distilled water
- Lemon juice
- Cream of tartar
- Small bowl
- Spoon
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Make Pizza Bagels Posted: 30 Jan 2019 08:00 AM PST Pizza bagels are a great alternative to regular pizza, especially if you have a sudden craving but don't have the time to run to the store. They are easy to make since half of the work is already done for you: the crust. Once you know how to make a basic pizza bagel, you can experiment with all sorts of unique flavors and combinations. EditIngredients - 1 bagel, sliced in half
- 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of pizza sauce
- 8 slices pepperoni or salami
- 2 tablespoons (15 g) Mozzarella cheese, grated
Serves 1 to 2 EditMaking a Basic Pizza Bagel - Preheat your oven to . This may take a while, so prepare your pizza bagel while you wait for it to heat up.[1]
- If you want to use a microwave, skip this step and move onto the next.
- Place a sliced bagel face-up on a baking sheet. A plain bagel is a great choice, but you can also use a savory bagel, such as wheat, everything, or asiago. Make sure that the cut side of each bagel half is facing up.[2]
- Make clean-up easier by covering the baking sheet with aluminum foil first.[3]
- If you are making this in the microwave, use a microwave-safe plate instead.
- Don't use a sweet bagel, like cinnamon raisin. These flavors won't mix well with the pizza sauce and cheese.
- Spread 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of pizza sauce over each bagel half. The exact amount of sauce does not really matter; you can use more or less to your liking. Plan on using about 1 tablespoon (15 mL) per bagel half, however.[4]
- If you don't have pizza sauce, try pasta sauce or herbed tomato sauce.
- Add 1 tablespoon (7.5 g) of shredded mozzarella cheese to each bagel. You can use more or less cheese if you want, but make sure that you spread it evenly across the top of each bagel half.[5]
- You can use other types of cheese too, such as Cheddar, Parmesan, or a blend.
- Top the bagels off with pepperoni slices, if desired. You should be able to fit 4 mini pepperoni slices or 2 regular pepperoni slices on each bagel half.[6] If you really want this to look like a mini pizza, then stick with the mini pepperoni slices; they should be in diameter.
- No pepperoni? Try salami instead![7]
- You don't have to add the pepperoni or salami if you don't want to.
- Bake the bagels until the cheese has melted and turned bubbly. This will take about 10 minutes in an oven.[8] If you are using the microwave, then 1 minute to 1 minute and 30 seconds should be plenty.[9]
- If you are making only 1 pizza bagel slice in the microwave, cut the cooking time down to 35 to 45 seconds; you don't need to adjust the baking time for the oven, however.
EditTrying Variations - Make a Guido pizza with sliced onion, sausage, and bell peppers. Cut an everything bagel in half, then coat it with pizza sauce. Add some grated Parmesan cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese. Top it off with sliced red onion, Italian sausage, and sliced red bell peppers. Bake it until the cheese melts, then garnish it with fresh basil.[10]
- Chop the Italian sausage into small pieces—aim for something about the size of a blueberry.
- Make sure that the Italian sausage is cooked or fried beforehand.
- Cut the basil into thin slices to distribute the flavor evenly.
- Create a Southwestern pizza with barbecue sauce, chicken, and onion. Spread some barbecue sauce over a sliced bagel, then sprinkle a 4-cheese blend over it. Chop a grilled chicken breast into cubes, then mix it with more barbeque sauce. Add this to the pizza, along with some onion slices. Bake the pizza, then garnish it with chopped parsley.[11]
- You probably won't use all of the grilled chicken for the pizza, which is fine.
- Make the grilled chicken cubes small—about .
- Try a Greek-style pizza with onion, artichoke, olives, and tomato. Slice open a sesame bagel, then coat it with hummus. Add some sliced onions, marinated artichoke, kalamata olives, and roasted tomato. Add a sprinkle of feta cheese, then garnish it with oregano. Bake the pizza, then garnish it with some chopped parsley.[12]
- If you don't like hummus, you can use pizza sauce instead.
- Cut the marinated artichoke into smaller pieces and slice the olives in half lengthwise.
- Go gourmet with olive oil, basil, caramelized onions, and mushroom. Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil over a sliced pumpernickel bagel. Add a few fresh basil leaves, then a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella. Top it off with caramelized onion and sliced mushroom. Bake the pizza, then garnish it with chopped basil.[13]
- Use enough basil leaves to cover the bagel. How many you use depends on the size of the basil leaf. Expect to use 1 to 3 leaves.
- Slice the onion beforehand, then sauté it in a frying pan until it turns a golden brown color. Don't sauté the mushrooms; use them fresh.
- Try a supreme pizza with pepperoni, ham, bacon, and bell pepper. Spread pizza sauce over a sliced bagel. Add 5 slices of pepperoni, then top it off with diced, cooked ham, bacon bits, and chopped green bell pepper. Finish it with a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese, then bake the pizza.[14]
- If your bagel has a large hole in the middle, cover it up with a slice of pepperoni.
- You can find bacon bits in the salad garnish section of a grocery store.
- If you can't find bacon bits, fry a strip of bacon until it is crunchy, crumble it into bits, and use those instead.
- Use mini bagels to make mini pizza bites. Use the same process and ingredients, but with mini bagels instead. The main difference is that you'll have to use smaller amounts and cut the ingredients into smaller pieces. For best results, bake the pizzas at for about 6 minutes.[15]
- Rather than slicing your toppings, chop them into tiny pieces instead. This will make them more proportionate and help distribute the flavor.[16]
- Get inspiration from other pizza recipes for your pizza bagel. Look up a pizza recipe online or in a cook book. Top your bagel off with the recommended sauce and toppings. Don't worry about the amounts; just use whatever feels right and looks tasty. Bake the pizza at for about 8 minutes, or until the cheese melts.
- You can make just about any type of pizza on a bagel, including Hawaiian, margarita, and vegetarian.
- Lightly toast the bagels before you add the sauce. This will help keep them from absorbing too much moisture and turning soggy.[17]
- If the bottom of your bagel browns too fast, place a wire rack on the baking sheet first, then bake the bagels on that rack.[18]
- Arrange the toppings to make a smiley face or cut them into fun shapes, like hearts or stars. This is great for kids![19]
- Prepare a larger batch of pizza bagels, then freeze them for a few hours without baking them. Put them into individual zippered bag, then store them in the freezer.[20]
- To reheat frozen pizza bagels, microwave them on high for 1 to 2 minutes, or bake them at for 15 to 20 minutes.[21]
EditThings You'll Need - Oven or microwave
- Baking sheet or plate
- Spoon
- Knife
EditRelated wikiHows
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Detect Bad Air Quality Posted: 30 Jan 2019 12:00 AM PST Poor air quality can force you to stay inside, give you allergy attacks, and even hurt your health, but it can be hard to tell just when the quality goes from OK to unhealthy. By checking frequently and knowing how to keep yourself safe at dangerous levels, you can wait out the bad air safely and get back outside in good health. EditAssessing Air Quality Indoors - Use an air quality monitor to test for test for indoor pollutants. Indoor air quality is judged by the amount of particle matter, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds, such as chemical pollutants), temperature, and humidity (which can lead to mold) in the air. Look online and in home hardware stores for air quality monitors that check all of these pollutants.[1]
- Monitors typically cost between $150-250, and 1 device should work well for a medium-sized home.
- The monitor will inform you when it detects a risky level of pollutants and what you should do about it. It can come paired with an app that provides even more information, and can send you alerts about changes in the air quality even when you aren't in your home.
- Look for signs of mold. Check your home for a musty, unpleasant odor that persists even when you clean, and look for visible signs like black spots, water spots, or damp areas. You might also start experiencing health symptoms, such as watering eyes, congestion, or listlessness.[2]
- You can verify with a professional mold inspection, then get rid of the mold with a removal service.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors throughout the building. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, but can be deadly if it's inhaled. Installing carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home or workplace can alert you if dangerous levels of the chemical are ever present.[3]
- Place the detectors close to areas that you frequent, such as a bedroom or a busy office, so you're more likely to hear them.
- Change the batteries every 6 months or so.
- Carbon monoxide can be released by household appliances like stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, grills, and hot water heaters. Place detectors in the same room as these appliances, or as close as possible.
- Do an at-home test to check for radon. To check for radon, a radioactive gas that can be found in soil, well water, and in homes, you can purchase an at-home test from a home improvement store. You'll likely need to leave the sensor material in your home, then collect it after a certain amount of time. Then, you'll mail the material to a lab for analysis. Check twice a year to make sure your building stays safe.[4]
- Radon is the top cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and about 1 in 15 homes in the US have elevated levels of it.[5]
- You can also hire a professional to test.
EditChecking Outdoor Air Conditions - Check verified Air Quality Index reports online. You can easily check your area's Air Quality Index (AQI) by logging onto a verified website. From there, you'll enter in a city or postal code, or allow the site to look at your GPS information to tell you the AQI in your area. Scores are color-coded and typically separated by pollutant. They're available throughout the US and globally as well. Use websites such as:[6]
- Look out for AQI scores of 100 or higher, which mean the air is unhealthy. The Air Quality Index (AQI) provides daily reports on air quality all over the world. It consists of a numerical value paired with a verbal level and a color. You can read the AQI with the following key:
- Good air quality: AQI within 0-50; green color. Air quality at this level is satisfactory and doesn't pose any health risks.
- Moderate: AQI within 51-100; yellow color. The air quality is acceptable, but could be a moderate health risk for people sensitive to ozone or particle pollution.
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: AQI within 101-150; orange color. Most of the population shouldn't be affected, but people with heart or lung disease, children, and older adults are at risk.
- Unhealthy: AQI within 151-200; red color. Everyone might start to experience adverse health effects, with sensitive groups experiencing them more strongly.
- Very unhealthy: AQI between 201-300; purple color. This is a health alert, which means that everyone might start to experience strong health effects.
- Hazardous: AQI above 300; maroon color. This is considered an emergency condition, where the whole population is even more likely to be affected.
- Learn how the Air Quality Index is measured to read it more easily. The AQI tests for 4 different pollutants. Most AQI scores are given in terms of pollutant—1 score per pollutant—so knowing what they are and how they can affect you is helpful in learning how to keep yourself safe.[7]
- Ground level ozone: Ozone pollution often occurs during the summer, when hot weather heats up pollutants from cars and power plants. Health effects can include coughing and throat soreness, difficulty breathing, aggravation of asthma, and inflamed lung cells.
- Particle pollution or matter: When inhaled, fine and coarse particles can aggravate your lungs. This is particularly dangerous during fires and for people with heart and lung diseases, as their diseases can be aggravated to life-threatening levels.
- Carbon monoxide: An odorless, colorless gas, carbon monoxide is let out in car exhaust. In high levels, it can reduce the amount of oxygen in your body. This type of pollution is most dangerous for people with cardiovascular diseases or difficulties.
- Sulfur dioxide: Also a colorless gas, sulfur dioxide is produced by burning fuels like coal and oil in power plants.
- Track wildfires that can affect air quality. Wildfires let off fumes that create dangerous levels of ozone and particulate matter. Healthy adults usually aren't at major risk from short-term exposure, but you should still avoid breathing in smoke if you can help it. Track nearby wildfires online and keep up to date on your local air quality, since winds can push smoke towards you even from miles away.[8]
- Check pollen and spore levels online. Pollutants aren't the only air problem to be aware of. If you're allergic or even just sensitive to pollen and spores, you can track their levels in your area using allergen-specific websites. Sites will usually provide information on what kind of allergens are in the air and at what levels; anything over a low to medium-low range can affect your allergy symptoms, depending on your sensitivity. Sites to use include:[9]
- Sign up for EnviroFlash to get email alerts about poor air quality. If you want to stay up to date on air quality without having to search for it, subscribe to EnviroFlash. You can sign up for daily updates, forecasts, and alerts for when AQI levels hit a level of concern (known as "action days").[10]
- To subscribe, go to http://www.enviroflash.info/. Enter your email address, name, and zip code, then search for the nearest EnviroFlash city to you.
- Download an air pollution detection app for convenience. For a convenient way to check air quality right on your phone, search your app store for an app that offers AQI and pollen information based on your location. Make sure it can access your current location for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
- Try apps like Air Matters, or Air Quality, both of which are free and work globally.
- Listen to and read weather reports from local media. Your area's AQI is almost always reported during weather updates on TV or in the newspaper, so you can track it daily if you want. It typically gets the most attention when it hits moderate or unhealthy levels, so even a casual news-watcher should be able to get notified when conditions are bad.[11]
EditProtecting Yourself from Poor Air Quality - Use an air purifier for indoor spaces. To remove dust particles and other allergens from your home, place an electronic purifier in your bedroom. This gives you the longest exposure to the purified air.
- Look for air purifiers online or in home improvement stores.
- Avoid heavy or prolonged exertion during periods of high AQI. No matter what pollutant is registering in high levels, the best thing is to avoid heavy outdoor exercise and long periods of time outside. If you do need to go outside, slow down (such as by walking, instead of running) and try to take frequent breaks indoors.[12]
- For ozone and particle matter, avoid outdoor exertion at Moderate levels.
- For carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, avoid outdoor exertion at "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" levels.
- Try to exercise indoors on days when you're at risk. If you can't, cut back on the intensity of your exercise and avoid areas with heavy traffic, such as busy streets.[13]
- Stay inside if you're a child, older adult, or have a lung disease or asthma. The most susceptible people to poor air quality are children, older adults, and people with lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and asthma. If you or your loved ones fall into one or more of these categories, keep track of AQI closely and stay inside when levels register as Moderate.[14]
- Stay alert for adverse health effects to different pollutants. Health effects for each type of pollutant vary slightly, so try to learn them and watch out for them during at-risk periods, especially if you're at-risk or spending a lot of time outside. Symptoms can appear or worsen over a few days after exposure as well. If you develop serious symptoms, such as an inability to breathe or aggravation of a current condition, go to the emergency room. Look for symptoms like:[15]
- Ozone: coughing, throat soreness, chest tightness or pain, aggravation of asthma
- Particle pollution: chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, coughing, aggravation of asthma and chronic bronchitis
- Carbon monoxide: chest pain, lowered mental awareness and vision
- Sulfur dioxide: wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness, especially for people with asthma.
- Wear a face mask if you have to be outside during bad conditions. If you have to spend a long amount of time outside or exerting yourself during dangerous air conditions, buy a face mask to protect yourself. Look online or in home improvement stores for a mask like the N95, which will protect you from most particulates.[16]
- If you're exposed to other pollutants, consider getting a mask with a filtration system.
- Particulate masks are particularly important if your air quality is affected by wildfires.
- Make sure to change your home air filters every 60-90 days, or more frequently if you or anyone else in your home suffers from allergies.
EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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