how to clean flat paint

The absolute no-no in painting is spilling paint on the carpet. If it ever happens, scrub it out with this household item.

Painted Carpet Family Handyman

Spilled paint on your carpet? Don't panic, do this:

I used to think dropping a loaded paintbrush on the carpet meant replacing the carpet, until a former foreman told me this little tip. Pour some denatured alcohol onto a rag and scrub away the paint. Use a rag that is as close in color to the carpet, as the alcohol can transfer some of the rag's color to the carpet. – Tom Gerdowsky

Need some denatured alcohol? Buy it from Amazon here

Next, check out these before and after cleaning photos you must see:

Things Got Hairy

Amazon customers love an industrial strength floor cleaner, and the Oreck Commercial ORB550MC Commercial Orbiter Floor Machine is a universal favorite, with hundreds of five star reviews, including this one: "I used it on my sons throw rug in his room. We have a German Shepard and her hair gets into everything. I went over it with the orange grout scrubber, then a quick follow up with my vacuum (didn't use any cleaners). In the past...45 minutes to an hour. With the orbiter....total time was less than 5 minutes." Here are 10 tips for cleaning your whole house in a day. Buy it now on Amazon.

The Problem with Potty-Trained Cats

We weren't going to question how a toilet got this dirty in the first place, but the Clorox ToiletWand Disposable Toilet Cleaning System customers who provided this stunning transformation volunteered the info: "So, we have a toilet that belongs to the cats. We don't use it, we don't look at it, we like to pretend it does not exist. Even with semi-regular flushing, cat waste is pretty nasty stuff and built up quickly in the bowl. One of these wands cleaned it up in a single session!" If you love to pamper your cat, check out these high-end cat furniture pieces you have to see to believe. Buy it now on Amazon.

Yes, Stainless Steel Stains

Amazon users love to use this plant-based formula to clean and polish their stainless steel. One happy customer gave us her grimiest trash compactor before Therapy Premium Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish and after. She wrote: "I included a before and after. I think the photos tell it all." Here are the secrets of people who always have a clean house. Buy it now on Amazon.

Blood, Sweat and Tears (of Joy)

OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover has thousands of fans on Amazon, but one in particular demonstrated the power of oxygen bleach by putting it to the true test by attempting to clean out old, dried blood. "I'll let my pictures speak to how amazing this works. I had a stained mattress that I'd been covering with a mattress pad for years. As I was preparing for a move, I decided to give Oxiclean a try and see if it could remove the stains that had been there for well over SEVEN YEARS. I honestly don't even know what caused the stains, but Oxiclean removed them... I honestly can't believe the results. I wish I'd done this sooner!" You may decide to buy a new mattress after you read these 7 things that can happen if you sleep on an old mattress. Buy it now on Amazon.

Under Pressure

When a fence drastically changes color and looks like an entirely new fence, you know you've got a great pressure washer. The Sun Joe SPX3000 Pressure Joe Electric Pressure Washer is one of those, according to this customer who swears by it: "We live in Florida and recently purchased a 15-year-old house that I don't think has ever been pressure washed. I would say this is a must have for anyone who lives in an area where there's a lot of moisture and mold/mildew, (or whatever that dark stuff is that gets into our concrete). I pretty much expected it to clean the concrete and the siding, but what really blew our minds was the unpainted wooden fence. I never even realized it was dirty, I just thought that was how wood looked when it was outside for 15 years." Here's everything you need to know to take a wood fence from shabby to like-new. Buy it now on Amazon.

Scrubbing on Steroids

When you mean business, a brush on the end of a power drill is the cleaning tool for you. And for Amazon customers, the Drillbrush Bathroom Surfaces Tub, Shower, Tile and Grout All Purpose Power Scrubber Cleaning Kit is nothing short of a miracle: "I let my tub get extra dirty on purpose because I knew this brush set was coming. In five minutes my tub was sparkling clean. This item is no joke. The flat brushes are awesome for big surfaces and the cone brush hits the hard to reach corners. I liked them so much I bought a set for my Mom." Check out these secret tips from cleaning professionals. Buy it now on Amazon.

Tough on Tiles

Your bathroom is about to get the scrubbing of its life. Customers can't get enough of the Homitt Electric Spin Scrubber, and one is taking it to the next level after her tile floor became immaculately clean. "Obsessed with this! I have textured floors in the kitchen that are really hard to clean and easily accumulate dirt and stick to the floor. After cleaning with this scrubber, it's made such a difference!" These 39 cleaning tips will make your home shine. Buy it now on Amazon.

Erase Your Dirty Secrets

If you haven't heard about the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, it's about time you learned about this product that truly lives up to its name — especially on Amazon. Just ask this user, who was able to clean dried wax off the wall: "These erasers are exactly what they claim to be.... MAGIC! My apt has white walls throughout, and these erasers get out all kinds of blemishes. A few months ago, don't ask me what I was doing but somehow my hand jerked while I was literally just standing next to my dresser which had a lit candle, and I sent the candle flying. I got red wax all over my white wall! For about 2 minutes I went into sheer panic mode, but then I calmed down and used my head. I waited for the wax to harden a little, then used my nail to scrape it off (I don't recommend this, the feeling and the sound is excruciating! in hindsight, I should have just used a credit card or something similar lol). Once I scraped it all off, it left a pink stain where the wax had been, so I grabbed my magic eraser, added a little water and watched my wall transform back to it's pristine self." Have you ever gotten wax on your carpet? Here's how to get it out. Buy it now on Amazon.

The Nontoxic Power of Steam

If you're in the market for a steam cleaner, consider the Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner, which seems to be changing lives, one Amazon customer at a time: "Very powerful and useful unit! ... I am HAPPY with the unit, quality and price. I've tested it on grouts, tiles, oven, kitchen stove, SUV rims and windows, parquet floor, wooden floor, plastic windows, on glass door in sauna, on cedar walls in sauna (it is shining now!). My wife loves to clean floors and tiles now – thanks to this little but great unit. I am finding Dupray Neat steam cleaner Very Very useful." Here's how to clean your bathroom faster and better. Buy it now on Amazon.

Rugs Reborn

For one Amazon customer, the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 did more than clean her carpets — it helped reacquaint her with her decor: "I thought my carpets were brown... THEY ARE PINK!! Sweet baby jesus get you one of these!" Buy it now on Amazon.

A Real Gem of a Product

You can't exactly throw your baubles in the washing machine — and you may not want sit there and scrub them with a toothbrush. Enter the Magnasonic Professional Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner with Digital Timer, which transformed one customer's diamond ring: "I purchased this based on the reviews, and I'm so happy with it. I have free cleaning at my jewelers, but it's so rare that I'm able to make it there. I realized that my ring needed a better cleaning than I could do with my solution at home when people stopped commenting on how pretty it was. I've added a before and after. I ran it twice on the 480 seconds setting and it looks brand new." Check out this incredible jewelry cabinet made by one of our readers. Buy it now on Amazon.

An Icky Situation

Crud is no match for a beloved product called Krud Kutter KK32 Original Concentrated Cleaner/Degreaser—even if it's residual glue on a beautiful hardwood floor. One customer said: "We have vinyl strips flooring made to look like wood. We had no idea how to take care of it an had managed to wax some sort of impenetrable layer onto the floor so that mopping was ineffective. Nothing cut thru this later and I had tried it all. Steamers. Boiling water. Bleach. Scrubbing bubbles. Abrasive powders. Everything. We put this on full strength. Let it sit for 20min and the sludge just wiped off. We used a scraper to just easily slide the gunk off. Then used laminator plus cleaner and refinisher to finish the kitchen floor. My lord krud kutter is the best stuff in the world and no fumes and no chemical burns." If you love the look of vinyl plank flooring, here's how to install it yourself in one day! Buy it on Amazon now.

Road Warrior

Got a problem keeping car upholstery clean? (Parents, we're looking at you.) Consider making CarGuys Super Cleaner your next investment. One Amazon reviewer says: "The pictures below are picture of a 2007 Nissan Titan truck I was detailing for a customer. The seats were disgusting and stained. I CAN ASSURE YOU ALL I USED WAS CAR GUYS SUPER CLEANER to clean the seats I simply sprayed super clean all over the seat until it was damp, I scrubbed with a detail brush, then vacuumed all of it up and dryer it with a microfiber. The results speak for themselves. This really is a SUPER CLEANER that is capable of cleaning mostly every interior surface and does an amazing job at it!" Check out these 46 car detailing tips that will save you money. Buy it now on Amazon.

This Vacuum is an Animal

Amazon customers are suckers for an industrial wet/dry vacuum — and really, who among us isn't? The Stanley Wet/Dry Vacuum is getting rave reviews, like this one from a happy pet owner: "I have 2 bunnies and there is hay, chewed up cardboard, poop pellets, and fur all over their pen. This vacuum works perfectly to suck up everything. It works better than the $400 Dyson which gets clogged every 2 minutes. This Stanley did get stuck a couple times, but I simply attached the hose to the Blower end and blew the clog out of it." Vacuuming a bunny hutch is unusual. And these are 13 things you should never, ever vacuum. Buy it now on Amazon.

The Sink Savior

They call it Bar Keepers Friend for a reason, and this powdered cleanser and polish is certainly a welcome guest in many customer's homes, including this one: "Made the mistake of using the wrong type of cleaner on a stainless sink, which left dark spots that I could not get out. Read posts on Google that suggested trying this. With some scrubbing, the stains are lightening up using this!!! Thank you BarKeeper's Friend!" Here's how to install a stainless steel backsplash in your kitchen in one day. Buy it now on Amazon.

The Grout Is Gleaming

Sometimes you have to get the grime inside the crevices, and only a small, powerful brush will do. The OXO Good Grips Deep Clean Brush Set is a customer favorite, and one person who went town on their tile floors had this to say about the set: "I HIGHLY recommend these brushes for grout. If you are on the fence of "Ehhh do I NEED a grout brush? I could just scrub the floor...". Stop. Get these brushes. They are stiff and cut down the elbow grease time incredibly. Plus you can use them on anything. I used products with mine, but I used the brushes in the pictures I took." You can also consider this method for DIY grout whitening. Buy it now on Amazon.

Magic Carpet

Who among us can avoid carpet stains? There are so many culprits: pets, foot traffic, food and the notorious crushed crayon, to name a few. For rug-owning Amazon users, the Folexport FSR128 Folex Gallon Spot Remover is a godsend. "Wow! I am completely amazed by how well this stuff works!! My carpet was GROSS!! I sprayed the spots, rubbed it in with my fingertips and then used a clean dry cloth to rub it up and out!! Totally fast and easy!!!" Yes, you can clean your area rugs yourself. Here's how. Buy it now on Amazon.

Grill Without Guilt

Grilling is fun. Cleaning the grill? Not so much. The BBQ Aid Barbecue Grill Brush and Scraper makes life a lot easier for hundreds of backyard chefs. Here's what one had to say: "Based on past reviews, I ordered the brush expecting a small brush head. As you can tell by the photos, the 3" x 3" is plenty big for a large grill. I ordered replacement brushes, but they were a smaller 2" x 2.5" size that are not compatible with this handle. If the replacements were for an older version of this tool, then I understand why so many people mentioned the small size. I have used the grill brush only once at this point and will update my review if there are any issues. The tool has a heavy duty feel and works perfectly." Here's more on how to successfully clean your grill. Buy it now on Amazon.

Pet-Hair Powerhouse

One shedding pup doesn't have anything to feel guilty about, thanks to the Kenmore 200 Series Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner, which its owner gushes about: "Love love love this vacuum! Easy set up. Great features. Easy to use. Before and after pictures show how much it picked up the hair from our yellow lab. We have hardwood floors that it was marvelous on as well! Spend the money and get this vacuum if you have plush carpet and shedding dogs!" Check out these 14 cleaning tips every dog and cat owner should know. Buy it now on Amazon.

Like-New Leather

Leather Honey Leather Conditioner will restore your leather to its near-original condition. Just ask one stunned Amazon reviewer who reported back on a pair of boots that had seen better days: "I found a pair of boots in the basement with an 1/8" or more of mold on them... on my way to the trash I remembered Leather Honey... That gooey leather product saved my boots... I paid around $200 for them, wore them a couple of times and forgot about them in the basement." Here's what you need to know to clean leather furniture with natural products. Buy it now on Amazon.

The De-Gross-er

When it comes to sticky residue, few things can beat the bestselling Goo Gone. But seeing is definitely believing with this pair of fuzzy speakers: "I used this on my JBL LSR4236P Studio Monitors and it worked very well. For some reason JBL decided to put some kind of weird adhesive on the front of these monitors which caught every piece of cat hair and dust that touched it over the years. Used this with some paper towels and a little elbow grease and the adhesive came off quickly." Check out these 10 outdoor speakers for great backyard parties. Buy it now on Amazon.

Just Add Water

It's easy to see why people are going crazy over Life Miracle Nano Towels. They require no cleaning products — just water — to get grimy surfaces clean. Amazon users have the pictures to prove it. One wrote: "Normally I would be embarrassed to post the before pic but I am so amazed at these towels I don't care. Tried them on my pedestal sink that had soap scum and toothpaste build up and I had to scrub a few times but the sink came out clean!" If you're considering installing a pedestal sink, here's everything you need to know to do the job yourself. Buy it now on Amazon.

There Will (Not) Be Blood

When we found a product on Amazon that had removed seven-year-old blood stains, we were impressed. Then we came upon Puracy Natural Laundry Stain Remover, which removed blood that was two decades old from one customer's mattress: "A tenant left some blood stains on this mattress and a heating pad about 20 years ago. They were totally dry when we found them. Not knowing what to do, we put the mattress aside for 20 years until we found this product... Never imagined it could remove 20 years old blood stains. Will recommend to anyone." Worried about bedbugs? Here's a DIY guide for how to get rid of them. Buy it now on Amazon.

Getting the Shower Clean

Reviewers are wild about the U.S. Pumice 1001 Scouring Stick, and all you really need to see is this astonishing oven-door transformation to know the cleaning ability is real. The happy customer said: "I originally bought these for the ring around a guest toilet that doesn't get much use. The ring came off after about a minute of rubbing! But I am most impressed at how it cleaned my oven door. I'm embarrassed at how gross my 4 year old oven door looks so I decided to try it out. Wow!!!!! I had the entire inside of the door cleaned in about 5 minutes. I had tried every cleaner, baking soda/vinegar, sponge...I even made a homemade cleaner with essential oils that did nothing." These are the 31 things you never clean but should. Buy it now on Amazon.

A Coup for Cooks

Cooktops are literally made to get dirty, and Weiman Glass Cooktop Cleaner & Polish was literally made to make short work of the mess. Says one delighted customer: "This stuff is the bee's knees! Worked great on this old stove in the house we just bought. Check out the pictures. It's like a headlight polish. Has a little grit in it." Check out these 11 tips for a clean kitchen. Buy it now on Amazon.

Cure for Cookware

One Amazon user bought Rust Remover for Metal before giving up on copper cookware with 20 years of caked-on grease. The results are extraordinary to say the least: "Bought this to clean the bottom of my Revere cooking pans that I literally had not cleaned in over 20 years. With a little bit of work, they now look brand new. Very delighted with this purchase and highly recommend!" You actually don't need to clean these 10 things as often as you probably do. Buy it now on Amazon.

Happy Feet

So your fabric has pilled, and no amount of lint removal will do the trick? Trust in the Beautural Portable Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover, say Amazon reviewers: "I need to wear expensive, compression knee socks. They work fine but the fabric "fuzzes up" and collects lint while being washed with other clothing. After several washes, they really start to look bad. I've tried using different detergents and washing lighter loads but that didn't work. So, I ordered this fabric shaver and I couldn't be more pleased. See the attached 'before and after' photograph. The socks look like new. I'm thrilled." Here's a use for socks that you may not have thought of! Buy it now on Amazon.

Dishing It Out

If you thought Amazon users were above posting pictures of their dirty dishes to demonstrate how much they love their dishwashers, think again. One consumer said this about the hOmeLabs Compact Countertop Dishwasher: "This thing works fantastic! For my first run I put it to the test with a casserole dish and some other things that had baked food on it. Baked on spaghetti sauce was gone without a trace." If you haven't cleaned this appliance in a month, you'd better do so now. Buy it now on Amazon.

Cleaning Technology

Let's face it: phones get gross. And we're pressing them into our own faces on the daily. Tablets and laptops meet the same grimy fate. That's why the iCloth Small-Screen and Lens Cleaner is so beloved, and one iPad-owning fan has the before-and-after photos to prove it. They presented these photos without comment — because, frankly, they speak for themselves. Here are 10 ways to take advantage of new technology in your not-so-new home. Buy it now on Amazon.

Auto Repair

Automotive parts are no match for Quick Glo Chrome Cleaner. Just ask this satisfied customer: "The results speak for themselves! This product is nothing short of amazing on old rusty looking chrome parts. To reviewers who say they are disappointed, you're doing something wrong. Either you're using a dirty cloth and it's scratching your chrome or your chrome was already scratched. This stuff destroys rust and leaves a scratch free polish that has to be seen to be believed. Yes, the pieces you're seeing in the pictures below are the exact same parts, before and after." Add resale value to your car by keeping the engine clean. Here's how. Buy it now on Amazon. Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.