How to Clean Wood Decks

A great project that can really get a backyard looking like new is cleaning a wood deck. Decks survive a full year of sun, rain, snow and wear and tear and can often look dingy and old with just one season. If you are going to paint or stain a wood deck it is crucial to clean the deck first. Many commercial deck cleaning products will strip old wood resulting in splintered and cracked wood which makes painting or staining a much harder job and takes years off of the life of your deck. Using Quick n Brite, a natural and non-abrasive cleaner is a great way to clean and prolong the life of your deck.

There are two prominent ways to clean a large deck. If you have access to a light duty pressure washer or one with an adjustable wand that allows a wide spray pattern for low pressure that is an easy way to clean your deck. If your pressure washer has a chemical or detergent injection chamber, fill that first with full strength Quick n Brite liquid and it will siphon the cleaner into the water stream making pressure washing an even easier job!

If you don't have access to a pressure washer, using a large push broom and bug sprayer is a great way to clean your deck. First, using your garden hose spray the deck clean to remove the majority of debris and dirt. Then, mix 2/3 cup of Quick n Brite liquid to 1 gallon of water (hot if possible) into your bug sprayer. Spray your deck with the heavy solution of Quick n Brite and let sit for 10 minutes. Then dip your large push broom into the Quick n Brite heavy solution and work in small 4 to 5 foot sections to clean the deck. Once the deck is clean, use a garden hose to rinse it. 

Quick n Brite is non-toxic, biodegradable and safe so you don't have to worry about getting cleaner onto plants and grass, or having animals or children around when you are cleaning your deck. No special protective equipment is required when using Quick n Brite Cleaner. 

How to Remove Candle Wax using Quick ' n Brite

At one time or another haven't we all blown out a candle and spilled wax, knocked over a candle or left a candle burning too long only to find a buildup of wax on our kitchen counter, wood table or granite countertop. Quick n Brite is an excellent way to remove candle wax on any surface in your home. As long as water can touch the surface, Quick n Brite will safely clean it; so you don't have to worry about getting a specialty cleaner to remove candle wax. 

First thing you should do to remove spilled candle wax on any surface is gently remove as much candle wax as possible using a fork, knife or credit card (depending on the surface). If your candle wax is spilled on carpet, or fabrics like a tablecloth a fork works great, if it is a surface that will easily scratch a credit card or something without serrated edges is your best bet.

Hard Surfaces:

If the candle wax is on a hard surface like your counters, tables, buffets or bookcases most of the wax should be removed with the step above but there will probably be a light film of remaining wax residue. To remove this leftover wax use your Quick n Brite paste full strength with a damp non-abrasive sponge and apply it to the spot. If the wax build up does not come off immediately, let the Quick n Brite sit for a few minutes before wiping the surface clean with a terry cloth towel.

Fabrics, Clothing and Machine Washable Materials:


If the wax has spilled on your clothing, tablecloth, cloth napkin or something that can go through the washing machine there is one more step you need to take to remove the wax from fabrics. As mentioned above first remove as much wax as possible using a fork or non-serrated knife. Depending on the color of the wax and how much residue is left, there are two ways you can go to remove the remaining candle wax. If there is still a large amount of wax left or the wax is a dark color on a light colored fabric use the iron transfer method. If most of the wax was removed skip to step 2.

1. Iron Transfer Method: First, lightly mist the stain with the Quick n Brite light solution (1 tsp of Quick n Brite to a quart of water). Now place a brown paper bag above and below the stained area. Iron over the top of the stain keeping the iron moving to make sure you don't burn anything. The heat will cause the wax to melt and the paper will absorb the candle wax. Keep ironing over a clean part of the paper bag until the wax has been absorbed. 
2. For any remaining Candle Wax: Wet the material and apply Quick n Brite paste full strength to the remaining candle wax. Briskly rub the material together until the wax stain is removed. Launder the material as you would normally. 

Carpets and Upholstery (Non-Machine Washable Fabrics)


If you need to remove candle wax from a material that cannot be machine washed like carpets or couches use the iron transfer method. First, remove as much wax as possible using a fork, comb or non-serrated knife. Then apply Quick n Brite paste full strength to the area using your fingers or a damp terry cloth towel and let it sit a few minutes. Scratch the spot lightly towards the center with a fork or comb and repeat the process until the candle wax lifts. 


If there is still remaining wax (most of the time if the wax is dark in color) use the Iron Transfer Method. (You do not have to wait for the spot to dry). Lay a brown paper bag over the remaining wax stain and iron over the top. Keep the iron moving so you don't burn anything. The heat will cause the wax to melt and the paper will absorb the candle wax. Keep ironing over a clean part of the paper bag until the wax has been fully absorbed. If necessary, apply more Quick n Brite paste to the stain and buff back out with a damp terry cloth towel.

How to Steam Clean your Carpets with Quick 'n Brite

Cleaning your carpets is one great way to make your house look and feel spotlessly clean, especially with the holidays nearing and additional guests in your home! Deep cleaning your carpets with a steam cleaning machine is a great way to remove germs in your house, remove odors and clean set in carpet stains and dirt. However, many people feel steam cleaning their carpets it is too big of an expense to hire a professional and too big of a hassle to do it ourselves. Even renting a steam cleaning machine at your local grocery store can get quite expensive with the multiple cleaning products sold to do one simple job. Instead of purchasing a steam cleaning product, a high traffic cleaner, a pet stain remover, a defoamer and more; you can take the hassle and the expense out of steam cleaning your carpets with Quick 'n Brite by cleaning up to 400 square feet of carpet for less than $2.00 using only Quick 'n Brite! 

First, if you need to pre-treat any carpet stains like pet stains or set-in carpet stains you do not need to purchase a specialty cleaner. Just use Quick 'n Brite paste or liquid full strength and apply cleaner onto stains with a wet terry cloth towel. For high traffic areas or larger areas of carpet that need pre-treated, use the Quick 'n Brite heavy solution. (Mix 2/3 cup of Quick 'n Brite to 1 gallon of water.)

Once you have pre-treated any necessary areas, mix 1 cup of Quick 'n Brite liquid to 5 gallons of HOT water in self contained units or 2/3 cup Quick 'n Brite to 1 gallon of HOT water for units that attach to a faucet. You do not need to add defoamer or spot remover! Then, follow the machine specifications to steam clean your carpets. Using Quick 'n Brite you can save hundreds of dollars cleaning your carpets!

We recommend our Liquid Combo Kit: When you buy (2) 64 oz containers of Quick 'n Brite, you get a 12 oz paste and 18" sponge for FREE! Go to the Quick 'n Brite Online Store! 

Quick n Brite Fall Specials

Quick 'n Brite   |   November 2011   |   phone: 1-800-223-9187   |   www.quicknbrite.com   Take Advantage of our Special Fall Deal! Super Shot Refill Kit  $47.95  $32.25 Save: 33% off As the beautiful colors of fall come bursting into our homes we are reminded that the holidays are just around the corner! For many people that is a time to celebrate with friends and family and be thankful. It is also a time that many people open their doors and invite friends and family into their homes. For us here at Quick n Brite, that means a little extra cleaning around our homes to prepare them to welcome guests!  Our goal as a family and company is to make it easy and stress-free for you to get your home ready! That's why, this week, we are offering you a special savings on one of our most popular packages, our Super Shot Refill Kit. Super Shot is an eco-friendly formula created by Quick n Brite to make mixing solutions a breeze. With the easy Squeeze, Measure, Pour system you can perfectly measure “shots” of cleaning concentrate for Light or Heavy solutions.  Simply Squeeze the bottle and fill the chamber, Measure the solution in the chamber, and Pour the concentrate into mixing bottles and add a quart of hot water! Super Shot can be used in any place Quick n Brite is used! Directions are right on the bottle to get the perfect measurement every time! Your Super Shot Refill kit also comes with a 64 oz refill bottle to refill your Super Shot container 2 more times, a $24.95 value, a 12 oz paste for tough to clean areas and a non-abrasive sponge and spray bottle for easy mixing! Purchase the Super Shot Refill Kit Today and Save! Hurry, this deal is only valid for 1 week!     5 Easy Places to Use Super Shot Washing your Windows: Leave the toxic-smelling chemical cleaner at the store to wash your windows this fall and save big replacing your window cleaner with Super Shot. One container of Window Cleaning Solution costs less than 10 cents and has no harsh smell!   To make a window cleaning solution: Add 1/4 "shot" (1/4 oz) of Super Shot to 32 oz of water then spray your windows and wipe them clean with a dry terry cloth towel, squeegee, paper towel or newspaper. This solution costs you less than 10 cents! If solution appears streaky, solution is too strong, dump out half the bottle and add more water!      In the Washing Machine: For extra stain fighting boost try Super Shot in your washing machine to whiten whites and brighten brights! Great to freshen up the linens before guests arrive! As a Laundry Booster: Add 1 "shot" (1 oz) of Quick n Brite Liquid to your laundry machine for an extra stain fighting boost. To use Quick 'n Brite as a Laundry Detergent: Add 2 "shots" (2 oz) of Quick 'n Brite Liquid to your washing machine in place of your regular Laundry Detergent. For Mop Buckets on Hardwood, Linolium, Natural Stone and other Flooring: Instead of using expensive specialty cleaners for all the different surfaces of your home, just use one inexpensive cleaner! In a mop bucket: Mix 5 "shots" (2/3 cup) of Super Shot to 1 gallon of water for mopping your floors. For smaller areas, mix 1 "shot" to 32 oz of water. Use this same solution to clean your hardwood cabinets as well! Steam Cleaning the Carpets: Instead of paying professionals hundreds of dollars to steam clean your carpets, do it yourself for less than $2.00 for 400 square feet of carpet! For carpets and upholstery mix 8 "shots" (1 cup) Quick n Brite liquid to 5 gallons of water in self contained units, or 5 "shots" (2/3 cup) to 1 gallon for units that attach to the faucet. Do not add a defoamer or spot remover. For bad stains, apply Quick n Brite paste full strength or spray heavysolution on stains and let sit for a few minutes allowing Quick n Brite to go deep down into the stain. Then begin your steam cleaning or shampoo process following machine instructions. WHEN CLEANING CARPETS, FOLLOW MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. SPOT CHECK FOR COLOR-FAST FIRST.  Cleaning your toilet bowls: Although this isn't the most glamorous job in the house, no one wants to have guests come into a dirty bathroom! With Super Shot, cleaning your toilet bowls is a breeze! And there are no harsh chemicals or fumes to irritate your skin and senses. Pour 1 "shot" (1 oz) of Super Shot into your toilet bowls and using a toilet bowl brush or sponge rub the product over the entire toilet bowl, if ring is not immediately removed, let the Super Shot sit for 15 minutes. For bad stains, apply Quick n Brite paste full strength and let it sit for 15 minutes before flushing the toilet. Super Shot removes 99.9% of germs upon cleaning. See more Cleaning Tips and Videos

How can I clean the stone around my fireplace? By DIY Expert Danny Lipford

Thanks to our friend Danny Lipford, DIY Home Improvement expert for recommending Quick n Brite to clean fireplace stone, bricks and masonry. Check out his article below!

How to Clean Stone Around a Fireplace
By: Danny Lipford
In categories: Ask Danny, Concrete & Masonry, Repairs & Installation

How can I clean the stone around my fireplace? -Valerie

Hi Valerie,

I would stay away from harsh chemical cleaners, since they can leave a flammable residue behind, which is not a good idea around a fireplace! I also wouldn’t use a wire brush when cleaning, since it can damage the stones.

A homemade cleaning recipe for stone that works well is to mix 1/2 to 1 cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP) with one gallon of hot water. Dip a scrub brush in the mixture, then use it to clean the stones. It’s messy, but it usually does the trick.

An easier solution is to use an enzyme cleaner. One that comes highly recommended by our friends at Better Homes and Gardens is called Quick ’n Brite. This is a multi-purpose cleaner that’s environmentally friendly; and, quite frankly, it really works!

Quick ’n Brite enzyme cleaner is available as either a liquid or paste. For cleaning stone around a fireplace, I would definitely use the paste cleaner.

Good luck with your project,

Danny

Product Review: Quick'n Brite Household Cleaner

I found a review online today by a skeptical customer, read on about how she is converted to a Quick 'n Brite user for life! Thanks Holly!

I received my first shipment of Quick'n Brite over seven years ago. My husband had seen an infomercial for it on late-night television and ordered it. I had never heard of Quick'n Brite before, and I was leery of any product that claimed it could clean virtually anything, especially one that advertised on television. Most As Seen on TV products seem too good to be true, and I figured that was the case with Quick'n Brite. I decided to give it a try anyway. I am glad I did!

If you are looking for a safe, all natural household cleaner, than Quick'n Brite is the answer. This As Seen on Television household cleaning product really delivers. Quick'n Brite can be used to clean virtually any household item, from clothes to carpets to dishes. It is an environmentally safe household cleaner that is biodegradable and safe to use around pets and children. This factor especially appealed to me, as I owned two cats at the time. I do not like to use harsh chemicals around animals or children.

My shipment of Quick'n Brite consisted of a spray bottle, a 64 ounce liquid of concentrated cleaner, two sponges and several tubs of Quick'n Brite paste. The 64 ounce concentrated cleaner can be mixed with water to create a regular strength cleaner, and initially I measured out the appropriate amount of cleaning solution to water. The spray bottle came in very handy to use on flat surfaces. I did not use much of the paste according to the directions. The paste is supposed to be good for scrubbing surfaces such as a fireplace, or lifting heavy stains from carpets. I ended up dissolving the paste in water to create a cleaning solution to use in the spray bottle once I had gone through the bottle of concentrated liquid cleaner.

I first tested Quick'n Brite in the bathroom. I tend to use most of the heavy chemical cleaning products in the bathroom, and sometimes the fumes irritate my eyes and lungs. I figured if nothing else, Quick'n Brite would give me a break from the chemical fumes, as Quick'n Brite has virtually no odor. There is a very faint smell to it, such as a sweet, mild plastic smell, but when it's applied to surfaces, even that scent disappears. Quick'n Brite does not make lots of bubbles or foam the way chemical cleaners tend to do, so at first I was concerned that the product was not working, but it made short work of the soap scum and hard water residue in the bathtub and in the sink. It also wiped up cleanly without leaving any streaks or sticky residue behind.

My next test with Quick'n Brite was to try it on a stain on one of my favorite shirts. I used the spray and sprayed a generous amount over a stain that had set into a shirt. I watched the stain literally dissolve into nothing before my very eyes. That was the first moment I began to get my hopes up that Quick'n Brite was the miracle cleaning product I had been looking for.

I quickly tried Quick'n Brite on some carpet stains and had the same results. The stains literally faded away, leaving my light beige carpet spotless. Then I had the bright idea to use Quick'n Brite in the steam cleaner vacuum and it pulled all the dirt out like a magnet, leaving the carpet looking brand new.

Whenever one of the cats had an accident on a carpeted area, I sprayed Quick'n Brite on the area and watched as it lifted the mess out of the carpet fibers. With just a little rubbing with a paper towel, the mess virtually disappeared.

I had the chance to really put Quick'n Brite through its paces one night when a friend accidentally spilled an entire glass of red wine onto our carpet. Mortified at what she had done, my friend offered to pay to have our carpeting replaced. But I told her not to worry as I reached for my spray bottle of Quick'n Brite. About forty-five minutes later, she could not believe her eyes. It was as though she had never spilled a drop of red wine.

Since then, I have used Quick'n Brite in the laundry, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, and virtually in every other room of the house. It has gotten out food stains, make-up stains, cola stains, ink stains, pet accidents, and has been in general a great overall household cleaner. It seems that there is nothing that Quick'n Brite cannot clean. For that reason alone, Quick'n Brite will always be in my cleaning arsenal.

Originally Published by Holly Bourque

I am a technical writer by day, creative writer at heart. I live in Virginia with my husband, Stefan Bourque (also a writer), with our three dogs, Yoda, Perry, and Izzabella. View profile

How to Deodorize and Clean your Holding Tank

Holding Tanks in RVs are not something you generally think about needing to be cleaned, that is until you are driving across the country and notice a distinctive odor filling your RV. Most people buy the expensive blue cleaner they pour by the gallons into the holding tanks, when in fact all they need is Quick n Brite.

To you Quick n Brite in your holding tank, first empty the tank and use generous amounts of water to flush the tanks. then pour one half gallon of Quick n Brite Heavy Solution (2/3 cup to 1 gallon hot water) into the toilet bowl. Swish around with a toilet brush to deodorize the bowl, the release the cleaner into the holding tanks. Add some of the solution to the gray water tank as well.Quick Tip: Make sure and add the solution to your holding tanks prior to driving so it can slosh around while driving and help clean and deodorize!

How to Remove Pet Stains and their odors with Quick n Brite

Quick n Brite works great to remove pet stains and their odors from carpets, fabrics, and upholstery. As with any cleaner, first spot check for colorfastness (just in case!) Then using a damp terry cloth towel apply Quick n Brite paste full strength to the pet stain area. Using short 5 to 6 inch motions wipe the terry cloth back and forth until the stained spot lifts. This is the important part, especially with pet stains and odors: Now take a dry terry cloth towel and go back and forth over the spot again and you will notice more stain (and odor!) is lifted from the carpet again. The pet stain and odor will not return because the stain is lifted into your cloth not pushed down into the carpet!

Quick n Brite is guaranteed to remove ANY set in stain exept dried paint, rust and permanant dye!

How to Clean your Fireplace Brick or Glass

Have trouble with built up creosote, soot, pitch or smoke in or around your fireplace? Quick n Brite makes cleaning your fireplace a quick task, not an all day job.

Use a very wet stiff brush or a wet scrub brush for glass and apply Quick n Brite paste full strength, directly out of the container. Work the Quick n Brite around and spray clean with water, or wipe clean with a damp terry cloth towel!

The nice thing is there are no chemicals in Quick n Brite so you don't have to worry about spraying flammable cleaners into your fireplace!