How we write our guides
Cleaning advice is only useful if it works and is safe on your surfaces. Here is how every guide is put together.
Sources we rely on
Guides draw on manufacturers’ care and use instructions (for appliances, flooring, fabrics and finishes), government guidance on cleaning and disinfecting such as the CDC and the EPA, and university extension services. Every guide lists at least two sources at the foot of the page.
Recipes for homemade cleaners use widely published ratios. Always spot-test on a hidden area first, and follow your manufacturer’s instructions where they differ from ours.
How each guide is structured
- A short answer first. The method in a few sentences, so you can get started straight away.
- Safety notes next. Anything that could damage a surface or be unsafe, like mixing cleaners or using vinegar on natural stone.
- Then the detail: what you need, step-by-step instructions, common mistakes and how often to do it.
Safety
When sources differ, we recommend the gentler, lower-risk method. We never suggest mixing bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other cleaners, and we say clearly when a natural cleaner cleans but does not disinfect.
Images
Some images are photographs from free stock libraries. Others are illustrations created to show a step, a tool or what a typical problem looks like. These illustrations show typical examples, not results from our own home, and we never present them as test results.
Product mentions
We do not claim to have tested a product unless we have. Sponsored content and affiliate links are always disclosed on the page.
Keeping pages current
Each page shows the date it was last updated. Pages are re-checked when guidance changes or a reader reports a problem.
Corrections
If you think something on Soap & Sunday is wrong, please contact us with the page and, ideally, the source you are relying on. Confirmed errors are fixed promptly.
Last updated .