..:: Home Specialties - Frequently Asked Questions ::..

Frequently Asked Questions

General | Tips & Hints |

Do your chemistries contain harsh components or are they toxic?
No, our cleaners are non-toxic and innocuous in nature. The entire line was developed to be advanced cleaners while being friendlier for the environment and safer for human use.

Are your cleaners tested on animals?
NO! We have never tested our products on animals and will never test our products on animals.

Are your products safe for use around animals?
Our products are developed to be non-toxic and innocuous in nature. Therefore under common use there is no danger to animals. Simple precautions like avoiding direct contact with the chemistries and allowing surfaces to dry before use is always recommended.

Laminate Floor Cleaner | Buy Now | Tips and Hints |

Is there really a difference between the Laminate Floor cleaner and the Hardwood Floor Cleaner?
Yes, there are differences between these two chemistries and it is much better to use the specific chemistry on the correct surface. The difference between the inherent characteristics of Laminate and Hardwood floor surfaces is rather considerable. As a result, different chemistries must be developed to optimally clean either surface.

Can I damage my laminate floors by using Home Specialties Hardwood Floor cleaner on them by mistake?
No, you cannot damage your laminate floors by accidentally using the hardwood floor cleaner. The only issue you might notice is the overall performance of the product might not be to your expected standards.

Will your cleaner cause de-lamination?
No, when used properly our cleaner will not cause any issues involving de-lamination. The chemistry is specifically designed to safely and effectively clean your laminate floors. As with any laminate, make sure never to allow water to collect or pool together for an extended period of time on the surface. Water alone will cause de-lamination if it is allowed to pool together on the surface for an extended period of time.

Will this laminate floor cleaner create any build-up on the surface over time?
No, there is nothing in this chemistry that will cause any build-up on your floors surface in the short or long term. Our labs have created a component that is applied during cleaning that grants a pleasant shine. This component will not build-up over time, in fact, the component is removed and freshly re-applied during each cleaning.

Can this cleaner be used on laminated furniture?
Yes, this cleaner will work great on any and all laminated furniture pieces in your home. You will find it to be a great alternative to common furniture cleaners that cause annoying issues when used on laminated furniture pieces.

Hardwood Floor Cleaner | Buy Now | Tips and Hints |

Is there really a difference between the Hardwood Floor cleaner and the Laminate Floor Cleaner?
Yes, there are differences between these two chemistries and it is much better to use the specific chemistry on the correct surface. The difference between the inherent characteristics of Laminate and Hardwood floor surfaces is rather considerable. As a result, different chemistries must be developed to optimally clean either surface.

Can I damage my hardwood floors by using Home Specialties Laminate Floor cleaner on them by mistake?
No, you cannot damage your hardwood floors by accidentally using the laminate floor cleaner. The only issue you might notice is the overall performance of the product might not be to your expected standards.

Can your hardwood floor cleaner be used on pre-finished hardwood floors?
Yes, our hardwood floor cleaner is great for use on pre-finished hardwood floors.

Stainless Steel Cleaner | Buy Now | Tips and Hints |

Is all stainless steel the same?
No! This is one of the great misconceptions consumers have when purchasing and cleaning stainless steel appliances. There are several different grades of stainless steel and each grade represents an overall quality level of the steel. Therefore, each grade has different characteristics that effect its overall appearance and cleaning ability. This explains why many cleaners work great on one stainless steel appliance and perform poorly on another stainless appliance in the very same kitchen. The grades of stainless are different and their compatibility to a certain cleaner will differ.

What does “food contact surface safe” mean and why is it important?
Our One-Step Stainless Steel Cleaner is 100% food contact surface safe. This is defined as appropriate for indirect exposure to food contact surfaces; i.e. utensils, pot, pans, cutting boards, etc.

This is important because a cleaner used in a kitchen will inevitably come into contact with surfaces that handle food. As a result, it is important that the cleaners used in your kitchen are as innocuous as possible in nature to protect yourself and your family against possible illness. Many of the better, more effective stainless steel cleaners available today contain very dangerous components. These toxic, often regulated chemistries should not even be allowed in your home let alone your kitchen.

After using your cleaner I am experiencing too much of a residue. What is causing this and how do I properly remove it?
There is one important rule to our cleaner; a little goes a very long way! You do not need to liberally apply our cleaner to enjoy its advantages. The residue you are experiencing is simply just the over use of the cleaner. To remove, take a clean, dry towel to the surface or strip the residue with a simple glass cleaner. Once you have used the glass cleaner to remove the residue you can re-apply the stainless steel cleaner in a much more conservative amount.

I need a deep cleaning, almost commercial stainless steel cleaner for items like my sink and range. What should I use?
For severe stainless steel cleaning requirements our Tough Job Cooktop Cleaner Plus is fantastic to safely and deeply clean these stainless steel surfaces. Follow the use of the Cooktop Plus with our One Step Stainless Steel cleaner to create that showroom shine.

Cooktop Easy Spray | Buy Now | Tips and Hints |

What’s the difference between this and the cream?
The Easy Spray Cooktop cleaner is meant to ease the hassle of using the cream or paste type products on a daily basis. A cooktop does not always require the need of a deep cleaning paste type product. As a result, this product was developed to clean 95% of the issues that arise with daily cooktop use. Just spray and wipe to remove common annoyances like films, grease, oils, water stains, and light burns. What you will be left with is a mirror like shine delivered in a quarter of the time when compared to using a paste or cream.

After using this product a haze was left on the surface?
Our easy spray’s greatest asset is the incredible shine left behind after use. Although very rare the cause of this problem is simple. Many paste or cream based products are not water-soluble. This makes removing the paste product after use very difficult with simple water rinsing. Even when it appears to be removed there is a layer of the product that remains. This layer is what reacts with our spray and creates the haze that you are seeing. The trick is to remove the residue remaining from the paste products so this reaction can’t occur. A heavy duty all purpose cleaner or consistent use of our Easy Spray will eventually remove this residue and rectify this problem.

I love the ability of the Easy Spray to remove that annoying film; can it be used on other appliances?
Yes, this product can be used on any other glass or ceramic-based appliances to remove that annoying film such as oven doors and microwaves.

Tough Job Cooktop Plus | Buy Now | Tips and Hints |

What is the difference between this product and the easy spray?
The words in the name “Tough Job” and “Plus” say it all. This product is fantastic when a deep cleaning is required on a cooktop for problems such as heavy burns. This product is also great very many other cleaning needs found throughout the house.

Why is it important that your product is water-soluble?
Being water-soluble allows for incredibly easy clean up when finished. The product essentially breaks down and allows for easy removal when water is introduced. The more water that is added the easier it becomes to remove. In the end you will be left with a surface completely free of any residue. Many current paste or cream type cleaners are not water-soluble which cause extremely difficult removal of the product from the surface. It’s nearly impossible to remove the cleaner and residue remains, often in an invisible film.

What type of cleaning pad should I use with the Cooktop Plus?
The product is meant to do all the work and therefore an abrasive cleaning pad should not be necessary. A simple cleaning cloth or everyday sponge should be fine for your cleaning needs.

Tile and Grout | Buy Now | Tips and Hints |

Is your product safe to use on stone?
Yes, this cleaner was developed to be safe for use on the vast majority of natural stone. Because the product is neutral in pH and does not contain bleach, it can gently and safely clean your stone tiles.

Every piece of stone has very different inherent characteristics; this even includes stones within the same family. In other words, one marble piece has completely different inherent characteristics then another piece of marble. As a result, they may have complete different reactions to the same cleaner. It is impossible to create a magic bullet cleaner that is compatible with the infinite number of different stone found around the world, but our cleaner is safe for the vast majority.

Simply test the product in an inconspicuous area prior to use to test compatibility. “Spotting” would highlight incompatibility, which are simply small hazy or dull spots created as the cleaner contacted the surface.

Is your product safe on colored grout?
We believe it to be safe for use on colored grout, but as with any other product we advise to always test compatibility in an inconspicuous area before use.

Should I use this in the tub and shower?
Yes, this product has an incredible ability to clean soap scum and hard water issues common in showers and tubs.

Should I use this product on polished stone?
Yes, assuming it is compatible to your specific stone. But if the polish stone is not in a shower and tub application you may want to use our Granite and Marble instead. This will allow for easier cleaning, as rinsing is not required with the granite and marble cleaner.

Granite and Marble Cleaner | Buy Now | Tips and Hints |

Why are ammonia-based cleaners dangerous on natural stones like granite?
Most stones and especially granite are porous in nature. Therefore any cleaner used will enter into the stone and remain even after the surface is dry to the touch. Ammonia is corrosive to stone, so when ammonia based cleaners enter the stone they will eat away at the stone over time. The integrity of the stone is compromised and will eventually need replacing.

Is your product safe for daily use?
Absolutely! As with all of our products, this product was specifically engineered to be the safest, most effective cleaner on the market.

Can I use the product on other natural stone?
Yes, this product is fantastic for any natural stone found in your home. This includes travertine, slate, limestone, etc.

Can this product be used on floors?
Yes, simply mist the cleaner over the surface and use a dry mop or cloth to remove.

All-Around | Buy Now |

Does this all-around cleaner contain harsh components like acid or bleach?
No, as with all of our chemistries we have developed them to be better cleaners but friendlier chemistries. This all around cleaner does not contain acid or bleach and is biodegradable.

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