To
make your cleaning easier, buy a bucket or supply container and store
all your cleaning products in those. Then you can just take the container
from room to room.
To clean
a steam iron, put a 1:1 ratio of water and vinegar in the iron and
place on steam and stand in an upright position. Allow to steam for
about 5 or 10 mintues. Unplug the iron and let it cool. After it has
cooled, pour out the water.
To
make scratches on wood less apparent, dab with a mixture of instant
coffee and water.
To
clean grime out of a teapot, boil vinegar and water in the pot,
then wipe away build up.
When
using your grill, spray the racks beforehand with vegetable oil
spray. It will be easier to scrape off cooked on food if you do
this first.
To
keep the black cover of your grill shiny black, spray vegetable
oil on it while the lid is warm.
To
polish tile, use a polish made specifically for fiberglass.
Before
you clean your bathroom walls, steam the bathroom to soften the
mildew and other build up on the walls.
Once
a week pour 1 cup of vinegar down your kitchen sink drain to keep
it smelling fresh. Allow it to sit for 15-30 minutes and then follow
with hot water.
Clean
kitchen appliance that have black covers and doors with rubbing
alcohol.
Add
1/2 cup of white vinegar to your laundry's rinse cycle to keep fabric
colors sharp and it also acts as a fabric softener.
You
can clean the inside and outside of you refrigerator with car wax.
To remove
stains on your hands from fruit, rub your hands with white vinegar.
Use
coal to absorb odors in closets, bathrooms, cabinets, etc.
Use
mineral oil to clean fiberglass shower doors.
After
you defrost your freezer, spray the inside with vegetable cooking
oil, so the next time you have to get the chunks of ice out, they
will come right off.
If
you're having problems getting soap scum off shower doors, try rubbing
a new dryer sheet over them.
To
prevent rust rings from forming in your bathroom cabinets, you can
line the shelves with shelf liner or you can apply clear nail polish
to the bottom of bottles and containers.
Use
ketchup to clean copper.
Clean
your toilets with borax and lemon juice.
If
you want your tile shiny in your shower, clean the tiles then polish
with a no wax furniture polish.
Clean
surfaces with 1 gallon of water and 1 capful of fabric softener.
To
clean your kitchen floors, use a mixture of 1/4 cup of liquid laundry
detergent and 1 gallon of water. There is no need to rinse if using
this method.
Put
felt dots under your refrigerator (under the legs) for easy moving.
To
clean your sinks and tubs, use one of the following: shampoo, shower
gel or liquid soap. For tough build up, use baking soda as a soft
abrasive that won't scratch.
To
get rid of mineral deposits that are in your shower heads - put
1/4 cup vinegar in a plastic bag and tie the bag around the shower
head. Let it sit for a couple hours and remove bag.
Clean
tough spots in your tub with white, paste toothpaste.
For
easy clean up for grease stains on your countertops or fabric, sprinkle
with cornstarch to absorb the grease. Wipe the cornstarch off with
a clean rag then rinse with soapy water.
For
a good dishwasher cleaning, run Tang®
through the cycle without any dishes. Tang has citric acid and is
good for cleaning.
To
clean ceiling fans, use furniture polish.
To
clean your computer monitors, take a used dryer sheet and dip it
in rubbing alcohol (this makes it non-static).
For
an all purpose, non-abrasive cleaner, use liquid dish detergent
and water.
Clean
white grout with white toothpaste (paste not gel).
Clean
chrome with tin foil (roll up in a ball and rub on surface), or
with dry flour.
To
remove sap from your car or body, use vegetable oil.
To
clean a stainless steel cooking pot, boil 3 cups of tomato juice
in it (with a lid on to avoid splattering).
Clean
outdoor, plastic furniture with car wax.
Remove
crayon marks off the wall with white, paste, toothpaste or baking
soda and water.
If
you get blood on fabric, while the blood is still fresh, you can
sprinkle salt on it to absorb the blood, then wash in the hottest
water you can with soap and water. You may have to do this step
a couple of times.
To
clean grout, use 1 part bleach to 4 parts water. Make sure the room
is well ventilated.
To
remove stains around the color on shirts, use shampoo. Use the hottest
water you can.
Use
a no wax furniture polish for shoe polish (for patent leather shoes).
To clean
store bought fruit and vegetables (with skins), fill sink with warm
water and put 3-4 drops of Castille soap in the water. Wash and make
sure to rinse thoroughly.
Clean
you tarnished silver with white, paste, toothpaste. It might take
some time, but it works.
To clean
your carpets you can use plain oil shaving cream. Spray on the floor
and allow to sit for a little bit. Vacuum up. Do a spot test in a
corner to see if it will change the color of your carpet.
To clean
silk flowers you can either take them outside and use a hairdryer
to blow the dust off, or you can place the stems in large bag with
uncooked rice and salt. Shake the bag around for a while making sure
the rice and salt cover each flower.
When
cleaning china, fill sink with warm water and 1 cup of white vinegar.
Dip the china into the water mixture and allow to air dry.
To dust
small, small areas and small objects, use a blush brush or a paint
brush of the same size. For even smaller areas, use a small craft
paint brush (about the size of a cotton swab).
If you
are doing laundry and don't want the colors to run, dip each peice
of clothing in full strength vinegar before washing.
When
you have to clean chandelier, use 1 part water, 2 parts rubbing alcohol
and coat chandelier. To avoid a huge mess, lie a tarp or shower curtain
liner underneath it or hang an umbrella upside under it (off the chandelier)
to catch everything that drips.
If your
carpet tends to hang onto pet hair even after you vacuum, spray a
1:3 ratio of fabric softener and water over your carpet (just mist
it, don't get it too wet). Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then vacuum.
The pet hair will come up much easier.
Clean
lampshades with a new fabric softener sheet. It will attract all the
dust and particles off of it.
To clean
the brushes you use on your animals: remove as much hair as possible,
first, then soak in a mixture of water and shampoo, water and baking
soda, or water and liquid Castille soap. Rinse in hot water and hair
conditioner.
To clean
a cotton string mop, soak the mop in bleach and HOT water. After it
has soaked for a while, rinse it with water and 1 cap of fabric softener.
To dry, stand the mop with the head up and the strings hanging down.
If you have warm weather, put it outside to dry completely (to avoid
mildew).
To sterilize
barrettes, brushes, combs, etc. soak them in vinegar and water.
For
carpet spots and stains, try using white vinegar, liquid laundry detergent
and water. Scrub as many times as needed.
If your
freezer is starting to smell, place lemon wedges in it.
Hate
the smell of musty things? Trunks, dressers, boxes, etc.? Put some
fresh coffee grounds in the item and leave it for about a week. If
it's possible to have it closed tightly, that will help it work better.
Another
good way to keep trunks and dressers smelling good is by taking a
fresh orange and sticking whole cloves in it (poking the sharp point
into the skin). The orange/clove smell will last for years.
To clean
wood baseboards, use a no wax furniture polish.
To keep
maintenance on your sink drains, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down
and follow with 1 cup of vinegar. Let it stand for about 15 minutes
and flush with hot water. Do this at least once a month to keep drains
clear.
To clean
the microwave, heat a bowl filled with 1 cup of water and 1/2 cup
of vinegar until boiling. Carefully remove bowl keeping a way from
face so hot water doesn't splatter on you. The hardend food and sauces,
etc. should be loosened and easier to clean. Do a final wipe down
with a vinegar and water mixture to deodorize the micorwave.
Use
white vinegar to clean wooden cutting boards.
To clean
bottles and vases, fill with 1/4 cup vinegar and about 2 tbsp. of
uncooked rice. Shake and swirl the rice around to clean the inside.
Pour out and rinse when done.
If your
hand cleaner is too drying, try using liquid castille soap, diluted
in a pump bottle. Add baby oil or olive oil to dispenser for moisturizing.
To remove
garlic smell from your hands when cooking, rub with cool, used coffee
grounds, or full strength vinegar.
To clean
crystal fill sink with warm water and add 1-2 cups white vinegar.
Dip and air dry.
To clean
a shower curtain liner, place in the washing machine with 2 old towels
and use 1 1/2 cups of bleach and 1/4 cup of laundry detergent. Wash
in warm water. Remove and hang out to dry immediately.
Pick
up broken glass with a piece of soft bread.
Clean
your cheese grater with paste, toothpaste.
Polish
wood furniture with a mixture of 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts olive
oil. Shake well before using.
Sweep
your area rugs with a broom to help pick the nap up and help restore
some sheen to it.
