Handy-Dandy cleaning tips
By matlgal
@matlgal (1686)
United States
February 17, 2008 1:49pm CST
I love to find new tips to use around the house or when traveling. This is a copy and paste from "Solutions.com" it's a great website! GO SEE.
I would love to get some of your tried and true tips. Please share one if you have it.
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Have a shower curtain that sticks and squeaks? Wipe furniture polish on the rod and the curtain will glide easily.
If you have hardened soap scum on your glass shower door, try scrubing it with some baby oil on a washcloth.
Create your own bath soothers for a fraction of the cost. Toss several handfuls of Epsom salts in the tub to revive tired muscles, or add 2-3 teaspoons of baking soda to the water to help soften skin.
Try used dryer sheets to dust furniture and electronics; they'll cut static and help repel dust. You won't need to spray polish and can keep the sheets handy in a drawer in your living room and family room.
Denture tablets are good for more than just cleaning teeth! Before going to bed, drop a couple into the toilet bowl, then brush and flush the next morning!
Clean a rubber or vinyl bath mat in the washer with several bath towels. The towels scrub the mat, and everything comes out clean.
Stop your mattress from slipping and sliding by inserting some non-skid rug padding between the mattress and the box spring.
For fresh-smelling closets, add some cedar chips to an old nylon stocking and hang. The cedar will also repel moths.
To keep your bathroom mirror from fogging up during cold weather, spread a little shaving cream on the mirror and wipe it off with tissue.
To fight soap scum and mineral deposits on your shower door, spray the door with laundry pre-wash, let sit a minute and then wipe clean.
Fluff and freshen your down comforter by putting it in the dryer with a clean pair of sneakers and a few dryer sheets.
Keep clothes in your closet from slipping off their wire hangers by wrapping a rubber band around each end of the hanger.
Remember to flip your mattress once a month. For best results, flip from side to side one month and then top to bottom the next.
To refresh your bathroom, dab your favorite perfume on a cold light bulb. When the light is on, the heat from the bulb will release the perfume's fragrance.
When running your bath, toss in a (tightly closed) bottle of your favorite skin lotion. When you're ready to moisturize after your bath, you'll have warm lotion to apply...no more chills!
Give your bathroom a pleasant fragrance by placing a fabric softener sheet in the wastepaper basket.
Use a sponge mop to clean your shower walls. It will save time and save your back from all that bending and stretching.
To make a small bedroom appear larger, try painting it in light colors, using mirrors and choosing furniture you can see under.
Keep a plastic tub in your child's closet for outgrown clothes. When it's full, mark the clothing size on it, donate to charity and replace with another!
For soap scum and mineral deposits on your shower door, spray with laundry pre-wash spray, wait and then wipe clean.
Label each shelf in your linen closet to show its contents, such as sheets or pillowcases. This will make sure linens are put in their right places, and make them easier to find later.
To prevent mirrors from fogging up when you're using the shower, rub shaving cream onto the glass every couple of weeks. It will also help prevent water spots!
To help prevent tarnishing, place a piece of white chalk in with your silver or inside your jewelry box to absorb moisture.
To keep all your cleaning supplies together and tidy, try a portable shower caddy. It's easy to clean and fits nicely on a shelf in your utility room!
For tough-to-clean wood blinds, dip Miracle Cloth™ in cornmeal and rub. The abrasion and absorption together help remove soil and grease.
If you have hardened soap scum on your glass shower door, try scrubing it with some baby oil on a washcloth.
For an inexpensive and environmentally safe fabric softener, add two tablespoons of white vinegar to the final rinse.
Save worn-out toothbrushes and use for cleaning jewelry, plant leaves, grout and other hard to reach places. They also are great for fast and easy cleaning of hair combs and brushes.
For dried spills in your microwave, place a wet sponge inside on high for two minutes, let sit five minutes without opening and then wipe up!
Easily clean latex paint and grease from your skin by simply rubbing with some white shaving cream.
Ever had paper stick to your wood furniture? Apply some olive oil, let it sit for 30 minutes and then wipe free.
To break down tough stains on a coffee pot, fill the pot with warm water, add one dentire tablet, let sit for a few minutes and then rinse clean.
An earth-safe way to clean clogged drains: pour 1/2 cup baking soda down, followed by 1/2 cup white vinegar. Cover, let work for a few minutes, and then pour in boiling water.
When cleaning the glass shelves in your fridge, first scrub with white vinegar and water and then use a squeegee to dry!
If a wasp or bee flies into the house, spray it with hairspray. Pest sprays infuriate insects, but hairspray will immobilize their wings.
If you use baking soda to clean, try putting it in a shaker. A pasta sauce jar whit holes in the lid, or a parmesan cheese container work well.
Use a skirt hanger to clamp together all your paper grocery bags and then hang them out of the way in a pantry or utility room.
To clean and deodorize your refrigerator, wash the interior and exterior with a mixture of three tablespoons of baking soda in a quart of warm water.
Run out of lemon juice? You can substitute 1/2-teaspoon vinegar for 1-teaspoon lemon or lime juice in a recipe.
Clean your can opener by scrubbing the blade with a toothbrush and some anti-bacterial dish soap.
Scrub the bathroom and finish with softer hands! Just apply hand cream before putting on rubber gloves to clean the bathroom. The warm water will help the cream soak into your skin.
To rid carpet of dents from furniture, leave an ice cube on the spot until the ice melts, and then vacuum when dry! Move furniture regularly to avoid permanent indentation.
To clean your luggage of scuffmarks, rub with a bit of lemon extract.
Dusty bulbs can cut light by half! When the bulb is cool, gently clean it with a slightly damp sponge.
To rid sinks of limescale buildup and deposits, scrub the problem area with half a lemon.
Put up a clothesline or buy a folding wooden rack so your family can enjoy the clean, fresh smell of air-drying. You'll save money on running your dryer, too.
Here's an easy way to clean your microwave: In a heatproof glass, add 1 teaspoon baking soda to water, and heat for 2 minutes on HIGH. All that steam from the water will loosen food particles, making them easy to wipe off.
An easy way to remove wax from glass candleholders is to pop the container in the microwave on LOW power, just until the wax melts off. Or try freezing them for an hour; the wax pops right off!
To rid your cutting board of strong smells, such as fish, garlic or onion, cut a lime or lemon in half and rub the cut side over the board. Or, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply generously, then rinse.
Clean a rubber or vinyl bath mat in the washer with several bath towels. The towels scrub the mat, and everything comes out clean.
To clean fireplace doors, dip a damp cloth into the ashes and then scrub the inside of the doors in a circular motion. Finish by wiping with a clean damp cloth.
To remove odors from your car trunk, fill an empty coffee can with kitty litter and leave it in the trunk overnight.
Rubber band your cleaning rag directly to your cleanser and never misplace it again!
Remove lipstick stains from machine washable clothing with petroleum jelly or vegetable shortening. Rub a little in, and then launder as normal.
To remove tar from your car, mix baking soda with water to make a paste, then rub on tar.
Denture tablets are good for more than just cleaning teeth! Before going to bed, drop a couple into the toilet bowl, then brush and flush the next morning!
Use a lint brush once a month to clean your dryer's lint trap. Your dryer will run more efficiently, saving you money and reducing fire risk
White toothpaste is a real all-around cleaning aid. It removes stains on painted walls and woodwork, fixes white rings on wood furniture and even shines your silver!
To fight soap scum and mineral deposits on your shower door, spray the door with laundry pre-wash, let sit a minute and then wipe clean.
Denture tablets are good for more than just cleaning teeth! Before going to bed, drop a couple into the toilet bowl, then brush and flush the next morning!
For soap scum and mineral deposits on your shower door, spray with laundry pre-wash spray, wait and then wipe clean.
Let young children "help" with dusting (with old socks on their hands), or give them a big towel and a freshly mopped floor.
Use a sponge mop to clean your shower walls. It will save time and save your back from all that bending and stretching.
To save time ironing, mist wrinkled clothes right out of the dryer with a mixture of one part vinegar, three parts water. Then hang to dry—no more wrinkles!
To remove an oil spot on your driveway, try pouring a can of fizzy soda on it, let sit and then hose down.
Next time you buy your dog a flea collar, cut off any excess and put it in your vacuum cleaner bag. This will take care of any fleas you vacuum up.
Make a bottle of liquid spot remover last longer: dip a clean, old toothbrush into the liquid and work it on clothing stains just before washing. (When you pour, you usually use more than you need.)
Add some cleaning muscle to your laundry soap
2 people like this
1 response
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
22 Feb 08
Wow, this is quite a list of tips and hints. I have printed this one out and also fwd it to my email friends. Thanks for posting!
1 person likes this
@matlgal (1686)
• United States
24 Feb 08
Yes Mam it was- maybe too long. But I was trying to shorten it and couldn't find one that I felt wasn't worthy of mentioning.
Glad you found it informative.