- Reader’s Tip: Got glue residue from a decal on your window? Spray hair spray on it, wipe, viola, it’s gone! (from Doug and Marion Cameron dcam@magma.ca)
- Reader’s Tip: If you spill a small amount of paint on concrete, don’t attempt to wipe it up. Instead, let it fully dry, then just pop it of with a 5-in-1 or putty knife. Also, for major spills immediately throw dirt on it, as much as necessary, and rub it in with your foot. Usually there will be no sign of the paint spill. (from dannycummings1@home.com)
- Before laundering a washable electric blanket, protect the plug by folding a corner of the blanket over it and pinning in place with safety pins.
- Remove hardened wax from candlesticks by placing them in the freezer for an hour or so. Then peel off the frozen wax, wash the candlesticks and dry them.
- To clean hair combs or picks, remove hair, then place them in the flatware tray in the dishwasher. Run through the cycle using a no heat dry option.
- Remove chewing gum from hair by rubbing peanut butter or peanut oil into the gummy area. (Shampoo afterward!)
- Recycle worn clothing and linens into cleaning rags, choosing cotton fabrics and avoiding less-absorbent synthetic fibers.
- Silver polish, applied with a clean cloth, will remove crayon marks on vinyl wall covering. Concentrated dish washing detergent also works well.
- Polish your silver: Place silver in a large container. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of salt. Add a 12" x 12" piece of aluminum foil and fully cover the silver with boiling water. Leave the silver in the solution for up to 30 minutes. Once the foil has picked up the tarnish, remove the silver, then dry and lightly polish it. (note: This tip is NOT for silver jewelry.)
- The best way to keep your windows squeaky clean is to wash them with a strong mixture of dish washing liquid and warm water. Use a soft scrub brush to clean the window then squeegee off the soap water with a rubber window squeegee and soft clean rag. The windows sparkle and a slight residue is left behind to deter dust and grease.
- Rub a clean blackboard eraser over a freshly-washed and dried window ... it makes the window sparkle.
- To keep bathroom mirrors from steaming up, clean and them wipe down with a thin layer of glycerin.
- Spray shaving cream (not gel) onto a mirror or window and rub it in with a clean cloth. Shine with a new cloth until streaks are gone. This will prevent fogging as long as you don’t wipe the glass.
- Dust first, vacuum last. Start dusting from the highest shelves and the tops of cabinets. These tend to be less dusty than lower shelves. You’ll be moving dust down to a lower level, usually the floor. Always vacuum after dusting for this reason.
- Before you vacuum, put a few drops of lemon juice in the dust bag. It will make the house smell fresh.
- To find a tiny item dropped on the floor or carpet, slip the leg from a pair of pantyhose over a vacuum cleaner wand and secure with a rubber band. Vacuum the area.
- A “pollution wise” method for shaking a dust mop is to place a plastic or paper bag over the mop head and secure with a twist tie or rubber band. Shake vigorously then discard the bag.
- Freshen a garbage disposal with a tray of ice cubes and a handful of lemon rinds. Turn on the water and run the disposal. Or use ice cubes made of vinegar and water.
- Before moving furniture to clean your floors, slip heavy socks onto the legs, or place each leg into a “shoe” made from the bottom half of a clean milk carton. You can also crush a milk carton and place under each leg of heavy furniture to make it easier to move.
- Remove black heel marks from a resilient floor by rubbing them with a typewriter eraser.
- An iron is a useful tool for removing contact paper. Place a towel over the paper and iron it. The warmth will loosen the adhesive’s grip, and you’ll be able to pull the paper up easily.
- Remove the sticky goo left from price tags by applying baking soda with a damp cloth to the surface. Rub off.
- Make scorches from an iron disappear by rubbing an ice cube over them.
- If transmission fluid leaks on the garage floor, kitty litter is a great, inexpensive absorbent. Pour a heavy layer on the spill and let it stand for a day. When you’re sure the absorbent action is finished, sweep up the kitty litter, and then make a strong solution of detergent and hot water and scrub the area well. Rinse.
- To shine smooth aluminum, rub it with the outside of a lemon.
- Mayonnaise is good for removing tar. Spread a small amount into the tar and wipe away.
- A quick, easy way to clean a microwave oven is to spray the inside with water, turn on high for five seconds, and wipe down.
- To eliminate unpleasant odors in a microware oven, place in the oven a cup of water mixed with a tablespoon of lemon juice. Heat at full power for one minute.
- To remove super glue from your hands, hold a remover-soaked cotton ball or cloth on the area until the glue disappears. Don’t try to peel off the glue.
- To remove odors from a plastic container, crumple newspaper and put it in the container, secure the lid tightly and leave overnight.
- Fill a musty suitcase with crumpled newspaper, then close it up. Change the paper every two or three days until the odor is gone.
- Eliminate tiny scratches on glass by polishing with toothpaste.
- Rough edges and small chips on the rims of crystal goblets can be smoothed by rubbing the edges gently with an emery board.
- If china gets dull, rub petroleum jelly over the surface and leave for an hour. Polish with a clean cloth.
- Rub mayonnaise on white water marks on wood paneling or cabinets. Wipe off 12 hours later.
- Try talcum powder to remove grease spots on non-washable wallpaper. Dust it on with a powder puff or brush, leave for about an hour, then brush off. You may need to do this again to remove the spot.
- Wear cotton gloves to clean mini-blinds. Rub your fingers along the slats to wipe them clean.
- Clean blinds with vinegar water. The vinegar cleans, leaves blinds smelling fresh and helps eliminate static, which attracts dust.
- Wear cotton gloves to clean crystal chandeliers. Dip your hands in an ammonia and water solution, squeeze out excess and wipe the prisms.
- To wash a highly waxed floor and retain its shine, use a solution of one cup fabric softener in a half-pail of water.
- Use hair spray to lift ball point ink spots on carpets or upholstery.
- Save a remnant of each wall-to-wall carpet you install. When the carpet looks darker than the remnant, it’s time for a deep cleaning.
- Lemon oil will remove water spots on metal frames around shower doors.
- Remove stubborn stains from ivory or plastic piano keys with a damp cloth dipped in baking soda, being careful not to let the soda fall between the keys. Wipe the keys off with another cloth and buff them dry.
- Strip cracked and peeling lacquer from coated brass objects with a solution of baking soda and boiling water (1 cup soda to 2 gallons water). Let the article stand in the water until it cools, then peel off the lacquer.
- To keep a phone clean and germfree, rub it frequently with an alcohol-soaked paper towel or an antiseptic wipe.
- Rub lemon extract on your luggage to remove black scuff marks.
- Leftover tea makes a good cleaning agent for varnished furniture.
- Paper stuck to polished table can be lifted after saturating the paper with cooking oil.
- If a screen shows signs of rust, rub both sides with a stiff brush soaked in turpentine.
- Some automotive oil spots can be lifted with baking soda or cornmeal. Sprinkle on and sweep off. Repeat as necessary.
- The best scrub brush is one with nylon bristles. It cleans and sanitizes well and has plenty of scrub power. Choose the style called “utility” or “tank brush.” They have handles that will protect your hands and knuckles from scrapes, crud, and chemicals.
- After you scrub the floor and have accumulated lots of dirty, soapy water on it, don’t mop it up; that takes too long and you’ll have to change the water many times: instead, use a squeegee to push it into a puddle, and pick it up quickly with a dust pan. This will get rid of the mess fast. Then just lightly damp mop and you’ll be ready to apply wax or finish.
- Use a cloth moistened with vinegar to rub away hard-water spots and soap scum from chrome fixtures and ceramic tile. Dry and polish with a soft cloth.
- Clean shower curtains without taking them down by wiping them with a sponge dampened with white vinegar.
- To remove soap scum when washing plastics (such as shower curtains or plastic tablecloths) add a little water softener to the final rinse.
- A great substitute for metal cleaner to scour copper and brass is one-half cup vinegar mixed with one tablespoon salt.
- When washing walls with a sponge use an athlete’s terry cloth wristband to keep the water from running down your arms.
- Place a sheet of fabric softener inside the bottom of a wastebasket for a pleasantly-scented room.
- Periodically throw a few handfuls of salt on the fire to help keep the soot from depositing in the chimney.
- Use foamy bathroom cleaner on the fireplace bricks to get rid of stains.
- To remove the discoloration of a yellowed bathtub, rub the tub with a solution of salt and turpentine.
- Stained tub or sink surfaces come clean with a cream of tartar/hydrogen peroxide paste. Spread the paste over the stains and scrub lightly with a brush. Let the paste dry and then wipe or rinse it off.
- Use fabric softener sheets to clean bathtub rings and to shine faucets and other chrome fixtures.
- For stains in your sink—especially rust or coffee—try making a paste of salt and lemon juice or a full strength solution of hydrogen peroxide. Leave it on the stain for several minutes then flush well with water.
- To shine a stainless steel sink, rub a little mineral oil over it and buff with a dry cloth.
- To get black off an aluminum shower frame use automobile rubbing compound.
- Cornstarch can remove blood stains. Rinse the stain in cold water, then rub in moistened cornstarch. Place the item in the sun.
- To remove decals from a tub, use a pre-wash spray and let it sit a while, then gently try to pull up the edges. Applying heat with a hair dryer will help to loosen the glue. The remaining stains can be removed by scrubbing with automatic dishwashing compound and hot water.
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