Baking soda
Bake King Bicarbonate Of Soda, $1.15, from FairPrice

Sodium bicarbonate, or commonly known as baking soda, can also double as a deodoriser as well as to clean gold and silver jewellery and restore its shine.

How it works: Baking soda, activated by boiling water, is acidic. The mixture will dislodge dirt and grime from your jewellery.

How to clean: Lay your jewellery on a baking pan lined with aluminium foil. Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the jewellery and gently pour boiling water over the pieces, making sure that they are fully immersed. Soak the jewellery for about 30 minutes in the mixture.

Then, with a small toothbrush, gently work inside and around the settings in a gentle, circular motion.

Do not use this on jewellery containing pearls or gemstones as it could damage the finish and loosen the glue.

Once the grime is removed, rinse the item thoroughly with warm water and gently pat dry with a soft towel.

To preserve the shine of the jewellery pieces, soak them overnight in a mixture of water, two spoonfuls vinegar and a pinch of salt.

The mixture will remove any grease and residue from the jewellery.

Vaseline
Vaseline Enriched Petroleum Jelly, $2.55, from Watsons

This moisturiser can also be used to keep the shine on patent leather products.

How it works: Vaseline is a mixture of mineral oils, paraffin and microcrystalline waxes that, when blended together, create a smooth, jelly-like mixture. It forms a barrier to prevent natural water loss.

How to clean: Dampen a soft towel with warm water and squeeze a small blob of Vaseline about the size of a 20-cent coin onto it. Gently rub the towel in small circular motion, buffing the product in parts. This ensures that the jelly melts into the leather.

Once this is done, buff the leather gently with a clean, dry towel to maintain the shine of your patent leather goods.

Cif cream cleaner
Cif Scouring Cream Cleaner, $1.65, from major supermarkets

Cif is a powerful cleaning product commonly used to remove stubborn dirt and grease. It can also remove ink stains from leather bags and shoes.

How it works: Cream cleaners are thicker than liquid cleaners and hence reduce the risk of water damage.

How to clean: Using a soft towel with a drop of Cif the size of a 10-cent coin, start from the outside of the stain and rub gently towards the centre.

Switch to a cleaner part of the towel as necessary.

Do not rub hard or you might risk discolouring the item.

Wipe clean with a clean towel and leave it to dry.

Carbonated water
Sprite, $1, from convenience stores

To remove stains from clothes, fizzy drinks are a handy aid.

Keep to only clear carbonated water such as Sprite, 7-Up or soda water to avoid staining your garments, especially white ones.

How it works: The acidic agents in carbonated water work to dislodge dirt, from ink to food stains.

How to use: Place a dry paper towel under the part where the stain is. Sprinkle a few drops of carbonated water onto the stain and gently blot it with another dry piece of paper towel until it disappears.

Remember not to rub the stain as this might damage the fabric or aggravate the stain spread. This method is also not advised for delicate or expensive fabrics.

Machine wash your garment to remove all traces of the stain and the fizzy drink.

Non-acetone nail polish remover
Sally Hansen Strengthening Polish Remover For Weak, Thin Nails, $6.90, from Watsons and Guardian

Nail polish removers come with or without acetone, a volatile organic solvent commonly used in chemistry laboratories. They can remove scuff marks on patent leather goods.

How it works: While acetone is an excellent solvent to remove scuff marks, it is very drying and may damage the leather.

Opt for non-acetone nail-polish removers instead as they are mixed with water and conditioners such as vitamin E.

How to clean: About five drops of the solution on a cotton ball should do the trick. Gently rub the cotton ball on the spot for half a minute. Make sure you do not press hard while rubbing or the colour might run.

After a minute, dry the spot with a dry cotton pad and a little baby oil or Vaseline, rubbing it in gently.

This keeps the material from drying out and retains its shine.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times .