Remember to always try any of the below on a test piece first. Also wear surgical gloves and eye protection and a breathing mask
YOU CANNOT BE TOO CAREFUL!

ALUMINIUM
Dissolve 2 tablespoons of Cream of Tartar (Potassium Bitartrate) in 1 litre of water, place the component in the mix and boil for about 10 minutes. Remember no bearings or moving parts as there may be steel present and they will rust. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Using a cut lemon rub the component all over and buff with a soft cloth.

Combine equal parts of table salt and flour and enough white vinegar to make a paste. Rub into the surface and then rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.

BRASS/COPPER
Combine equal parts of table salt and flour and enough white vinegar to make a paste. Rub into the surface and then rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.

Coat the surface with a thin layer of ketchup and leave for 5 to 30 minutes then rinse off and dry with a soft cloth.

Using a cut lemon rub the component all over and buff with a soft cloth. 

Mix equal parts of salt and white vinegar or bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar wait for the fizzing to stop before using. Work the paste into the surface with a clean soft cloth until the tarnish is gone. Rinse with cold water and polish with soft cloth until dry.

CARPETS/UPHOLSTERY
Grease stains can often be removed by carefully lifting the grease off with kitchen paper immediately and applying bicarbonate of soda liberally to the area. Leave for about an hour and then vacuum off.

Spray on WD-40 (not too much) and leave for one or two minutes, then use a carpet cleaner or gently clean with warm, soapy water. Continue until the stain is completely gone.

Baby wipes can be used to blot up spills and will take away the stain.

CHROME
Using a crumpled handful of aluminium foil shiny side out and elbow grease. If you rub really hard it will even remove rust spots.

Apply a few drop of baby lotion on a clean soft cloth and rub well in the buff off with a clean dry soft cloth.

Sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda on the surface of the object and rub in with a damp cloth. Allow to dry then wipe down with warm water and then dry with a clean soft cloth.

Use used fabric softener sheets to polish cleaned chrome.

Spray the object with hair spray and rub off thoroughly with a clean soft cloth.

Using a cut lemon rub the component all over and buff with a soft cloth. 

Pour some surgical spirit onto a clean soft cloth and rub the area thoroughly, no need to rinse.

Smear some toothpaste on a soft clean damp cloth and rub the area well then buff off with a soft clean cloth.

Using an old aerosol plastic bottle which has been rinsed with clean water pour in some undiluted white vinegar and spray the area to be cleaned and then buff off with a clean soft cloth.

GLASS
Use bleach (carefully with gloves and do not get it on paintwork etc.) neat on a cloth and clean. Rinse off carefully and dry with a soft clean cloth.

Place glass lenses in a bucket of cold water and put in some denture tablets, when the fizzing has stopped the glass should be clean. If not repeat. Then dry off with a soft clean cloth.

Make a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts warm water and wipe or spray onto the glass. Rub off the dirt and then dry off with a clean soft cloth.

LEATHER
Apply a few drops of baby oil onto a clean soft cloth rub over the surface – remember to wipe off any remaining oil when you have finished.

Using the inside of a banana skin rub over the surface and buff off with a clean dry cloth.

Apply Petroleum Jelly onto a clean dry cloth and rub in well, then wipe off the excess with a clean dry cloth.

Apply shampoo onto a clean dry cloth and rub in well, it will clean and help bring back the colour.

Mix equal parts of white vinegar and boiled linseed oil and put in a recycled spray bottle.  Shake well and spray on. Using a clean dry cloth spread evenly over the surface. Leave for a couple of minutes and then rub off with a clean dry cloth.

Spray WD-40 onto the surface and then buff off with a clean dry cloth. It will clean, penetrate, lubricate and protect.

POLISHED WOOD
Spray WD-40 onto the surface and then buff off with a clean dry cloth.

Revitalise wood by mixing 450ml of warm water, 4 tablespoons of white vinegar and 2 tablespoon of olive oil shake well and apply with a clean dry cloth. Leave for a minute or two then polish off with a clean dry cloth.

PVC
Spray WD-40 onto the surface and then buff off with a clean dry cloth.

To remove minor scratches use a small amount of toothpaste on a clean damp cloth and rub on the surface in a circular motion and buff off with a clean dry cloth.

Disguise scratches on dashboards and lens by rubbing in a little baby oil on a clean dry cloth.

STAINLESS STEEL      
Using a crumpled handful of aluminium foil shiny side out and elbow grease. If you rub really hard it will even remove rust spots.

Apply a few drop of baby oil on a clean soft cloth and rub well in the buff off with a clean dry soft cloth.

Make a paste with 200g of Borax and 50ml of lemon juice and rub in well, rinse off with warm water and dry thoroughly with a soft clean dry cloth.

Sprinkle flour on the surface and rub in lightly with a soft dry cloth then rinse and dry off with a soft clean dry cloth.

Apply hair conditioner to the surface, rub off thoroughly with a soft clean dry cloth.

Spray neat white vinegar onto the surface and buff off with a soft clean dry cloth.

Did you try a test piece first?

 BARRY BURKE