Five Things You Should Never Clean With Plain Water

This includes wood furniture, wood and laminate floors, and wooden instruments. If water gets into wood it can cause it to swell and change color. Use a microfiber cloth or mop with a spray-on cleaning solution designed for the surface; for wood furniture, lemon oil or a similar product helps protect it.

Electricity and water do not mix. Only dry-dust electronics. If something won't come clean with a dry cloth, get your cleaning cloth just slightly damp with a light-duty cleaning product — never spray any liquid directly onto electronics.

Cleaning tarnished silver with water just creates more tarnish. Use silver polish instead; if you don't have any, try ketchup — its mild acidity helps get rid of the tarnish.

Cleaning leather furniture, bags, or clothing with water causes streaks and will eventually make the leather crack over time. Use a cleaner made specifically for leather instead.

Using water to clean brass fixtures and instruments removes the lacquer and leads to further tarnish and permanent damage. Stick to a quality brass polish.