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The best method for keeping your grout clean depends on the level of staining or discoloration. For light cleaning, use warm water and a stiff brush (specifically made for cleaning grout). 

Tougher jobs call for a one-to-one solution of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the area down, wait 5 to 10 minutes, then scrub with your brush. For even more cleaning power, add water to baking soda until it creates a paste and apply it before the vinegar. If the mess is too much, you can call a local tile and grout cleaner.

The best cleaner to remove soot depends on the surface material and the type of fire, but consider dish soaps or degreasers, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, and hydrogen. Low-oxygen fires often leave behind greasy soot, which is best removed with dish soaps or degreasers. Baking soda can be useful for absorbing soot deposits from carpets, followed by rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean the set-in stains.

While both jobs go hand-in-hand when decluttering your home, professional organizers and cleaners do different jobs. A professional organizer will look at the project and set up the space to maximize it with storage and functional efficiency. A cleaner might do some organizing in the home, but their main task is to make sure it remains clean and free of garbage. If you want to put everything in its place, hire an organizer. If you want sparkling floors and dust-free surfaces, hire a cleaner.

The best way to help a family member or friend declutter their home is to hire a professional organizer or cleaner to do it for them. However, you can also help them make a plan to tackle the clutter. Sit down with them and sort through the items, making piles of what to keep, toss, and donate. Focus on one area at a time to avoid overwhelming them. If they have trouble letting go of some items, ask them when they last used each item, what its purpose is, and whether it has sentimental value. The answers to these questions can help you advise them on handling clutter.