Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Bathroom
Floors -When it comes to cleaning tile floors, you're in for a good laugh. One of the best techniques for doing it, is to use mouthwash. Yes, mouthwash. Mix about 1 cup of the mouthwash in with about 4 quarts of water and start mopping. The mouthwash will not only clean the floor, but it will fight the bacteria that builds up there. If you pick any flavored mouthwash, it may also serve to add a nice fragrance to the room. As long as you dilute the mouthwash, it should not leave a sticky residue. Clogged Drains: Here¶s the Official Drain-Cleaning Toolbox List: A plunger, also known as the plumbers¶ friend. It will cost you $5 to $10. It¶s your first line of attack against nasty clogs. A plumbers¶ snake or cable auger is a flexible steel cable that you can use to dislodge clogs that are down lower in the drain. For tougher clogs, or toilet clogs, a closet auger is the tool that you want. It¶s specially designed to get around the bend in the bottom of your toilet bowl. A drain cleaner for maintenance. A bucket. How to Use a Plunger Okay. Most people have the wrong idea about what a plunger is supposed to do. It¶s not meant to shove the clog further down the drain. It¶s meant to PULL it out, or at the very least dislodge it so that it can go down the drain the right way. Here¶s the right way to use a plunger. 1. Stuff any holes. If it¶s a toilet clog, you can skip this step. In a bathroom sink, cover the drainage holes in the bowl of the sink. In a double kitchen sink, stuff a rag into the unclogged drain. If it¶s a modern tub, the drainage holes may be along the bottom edge of the drain lever. If you don¶t block the holes, you won¶t be able to get any suction going. 2. Place the cup of the plunger over the drain completely. 3. Here¶s the part where most people get the wrong motion going. You¶re not trying to shove something down the drain. What you want to do is create suction that will dislodge the clog. Push down firmly on the plunger until the cup is pressed against the drain. Now, BOUNCE the plunger vigorously without pulling it off the drain. You¶ll hear water sloshing as the suction tugs on it. Bounce for several seconds ± you¶ll feel the suction µgrabbing¶ at the plunger. 4. Now ± yank the plunger straight up hard and fast. Nine times out of ten, you¶ll hear the beautiful slosh and gurgle of water rushing down the drain. 5. If you don¶t, start over with Step 1. Two or three times should do it. If it doesn¶t, proceed to« Cleaning out the Drain The idea behind using an auger is to µhook¶ the clog and pull it out. To do that, follow these steps. 1. In a sink, you¶ll need to get UNDER it. Place the bucket under the elbow pipe and use a wrench to unscrew it and pull it off. This will let the water in the trap drain out. 2. Feed cable from the auger into the pipe until you feel resistance.

3. Pull out about 18 inches of cable, and crank the handle while pushing forward to feed more into the drain. 4. If you hit resistance, turn the handle counter-clockwise to pull the clog back out of the drain. 5. Alternate feeding the cable in and out until the cable moves freely. 6. Pull the cable out, replace the trap and the pipe and run hot water through the drain. 7. You may need to plunge the drain once or twice to clear debris from the busted up clog. Preventing Clogs from Happening A little maintenance each week will save you all the hassle of having to unclog your drains. As you use your sink and tub and washer and toilet, debris and soap scum and other less savory things cling to the sides of the pipes and form a buildup. The buildup narrows your drains, making them drain more slowly, and making it more likely that clogs will happen. To prevent clogs: 1. Use a screen or guard over your drains to prevent things from dropping into them. 2. Use a drain cleaner on a regular basis. The best drain cleaner to use is one that is kind to both the environment and your pipes. Whether you buy a drain cleaning product or make your own drain cleaner recipe, you should use it at least once a month to keep the sludge from building up around the inside of your pipes and blocking the drains. Those two steps will save you from nearly all clogs. And if they do happen ± well, now you know what to do! Showers and Bathtubs: -Shower curtains can be renovated by being washed, on gentle cycle, with a pint of white vinegar. Before hanging shower curtains, soak in salt water solutions to prevent mildew. To remove mildew, wash in hot soapy water, rub with lemon juice and let the shower curtain dry in the sun. For plastic curtains, clean with laundry pre-wash spray. Spray along the top, letting it run down to cover the curtain. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off. -Cleaning Shower Mats: Dip a stiff brush in a kerosene and warm water solution to clean bath and shower mats. -2 Tips for cleaning shower dorr: Tip #1: To give your shower doors a quick shine, wipe them with a sponge dampened with white vinegar. Tip #2: I have tried many different products to clean glass shower doors. The best trick that I have found is to wet down the door first and then use the "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser." You have to wipe pretty hard the first time you do it but then I squeegie the doors after every use and I only have to use the Mr. Clean Eraser about once a month after that. -The metal frames of shower doors can get water spots on them that seem impossible to remove. Lemon oil removes those tough water spots. Apply a little oil to a rag, and rub over the metal. Use a dry cloth to buff the metal to a shine. The oil will help repel water and will make it tougher for new water spots to form. Glass shower doors will sparkle and stay clean if you wipe them down once a week with a sponge dipped into full strength white vinegar. You can also clean out shower door tracks with a toothbrush or cotton swab dipped into a solution of bleach and water. -To clean tubs and showers use a product that contains phosphoric acid, their is no scrubbing involved. -You can get rid of a stubborn bathtub ring with a paste of cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide. Take 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar and add hydrogen peroxide drop by drop until you have a paste. Apply the paste to the ring and let it dry. When you come back to wipe off the paste, the ugly bathtub ring will disappear, too.

-Removing mildew from shower or bath: 3 parts bleach and 1 part water -- put in spray bottle. Spray on mildew areas and it will virtually disappear. Toilet: For automatic bowl cleaner just drop one denture cleanser tablet in the bowl, and let it bubble away the stains. If you have a buildup, you will need to swish a toilet brush around to loosen the grime-but if you do this regularly, you won't even have to scrub. It is much cheaper than buying those blue toilet bowl cleaners that go into the tank. Extra Bathroom Tips: If you have more than one bath to clean, keep separate cleaning supplies in each bathroom, that way you can clean the bath at a moments notice. Bathroom Potions: -Cleaning with Rubbing Alcohol: Rubbing alcohol will clean the caulking around bathtubs. It also shines chrome and glass. Liquid chlorine bleach (1/4 cup to one gallon) will also clean caulk. Home brewed toilet cleaner: 1/4 cup baking soda 1/4 cup liquid detergent 1/4 cup warm water Mix together the baking soda, liquid detergent, and water in a bowl. Use a toilet brush to apply the cleaner inside the bowl. You can let the solution soak inside the bowl for as long as you like, or you can immediately swish it around with the toilet brush before flushing. If the bowl is especially soiled or has a ring, let the cleaner soak overnight. In the morning, use a toilet brush to help remove the dirt or ring. -Home brewed window and mirror cleaner: 2 cups water 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol 1 tablespoon ammonia blue food coloring (optional) Mix the water, alcohol, ammonia, and food coloring (if desired) together. Pour the mixture into an empty spray bottle. This cleaner works great on windows and glass top tables too. Homemade all purpose bath cleaner: 1/2 cup vinegar 1 cup clear ammonia 1/4 cup baking soda 1 gallon warm water Mix together in a bucket and then pour some of it into a spray bottle. Homemade heavy duty cleaner: 1 cup baking soda 1 gallon very warm water 1 cup vinegar

1 cup clear household ammonia 1 tablespoon liquid detergent Dissolve the baking soda into the very warm water in a bucket; add the vinegar, clear ammonia, and liquid detergent. Shake or stir to mix the ingredients. Wear rubber gloves and clean in a well ventilated area. Rinse with clean water. Good luck and happy cleaning!

Kitchen
-A word of caution - Be cautious using orange-based cleaners to clean a kitchen. Some contain petroleum distillates. Petroleum distillates break down the rubber in the rubber gaskets around refrigerators and dishwashers. Cleaning Countertops: - Do not use anything other than Ivory liquid dish soap on marble. Harsher cleansers will damage the surface. Always dry marble to prevent water spots from leaving their signature mark. Marble stains easily so wipe spills immediately. Do not use vinegar or orange based cleaners to clean marble. The acid in them will damage the surface. Peroxide is safe for stain removal. - Use only mild cleansers like Ivory for Corion. Harsh detergents will damage the surface. Remove tough stains with Cameo or baking soda or a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. Corion can be sanded lightly using number 800 sandpaper. This sandpaper is gray and called wet or dry sandpaper. Rub very gently keeping the paper wet. Stove and Oven: -To remove burned on food from the surface of a stainless steel stove, boil some water (wear gloves) and pour directly onto the spill. Let it set a few minutes. That helps loosen the food making removal easier. In microwaves, wipe them down with boiling water then scrub with Cameo. Cover your food to prevent the splatters. -To clean up spills in your oven, sprinkle the spills immediately with salt. When the oven has cooled, brush away the burnt-on food with a damp sponge Stainless Steel: -Use Cameo to clean stainless steel cookware as well. Remove burned on food by first boiling water in the pan. Never cook on high heat with stainless cookware. Use medium heat only. And never let the pans boil dry. Appliances: -Vertical surfaces clean easier with a foaming tub and tile cleaner like Dow Foaming Bubbles. It adheres to the surface giving the cleaner time to break down the grease or dirt. Leave scrubbing for those who don't know better. You won't find me using elbow grease under the hood of the stove, refrigerator walls, ice chest - you have the idea. -Sprinkle a little baking soda on a damp towel to clean without scratching. Refrigerators: - Odors are caused by hidden food particles. Make sure to clean under the rubber gasket, but first, use the foaming bath cleaner on the walls, wiping them down with a baking soda, vinegar and water combination. Use about a quarter cup of vinegar and one or two tablespoons of baking soda for each quart of water, though you don't have to be too precise. The combination fizzles, but it should zap the smell. The smell lingers? Check for Freon leaks. -Cleaning your fridge coils: IMPORTANT: Before cleaning the condensor coils, unplug the refrigerator to avoid a shock hazard. The condensor coils dissipate heat. If dust and debris accumulate around the coils, your

refrigerator may not be able to cool properly, it may run continuously or it may stop completely as a result of an overheated compressor. Rear-Mounted Coils You should clean rear-mounted coils once a year. Unplug the refrigerator before cleaning. Refrigerators are heavy, never tip one forward or backward. Never attempt to move a refrigerator without help. Vacuum or brush the coils. If coils have a filmy build-up, use warm soapy water to clean them. Take care not to spill or drip water onto the components of the refrigerator. Floor Level Coils You should clean floor level coils at least twice a year. Unplug the refrigerator before cleaning. Vacuum or brush the coils. Remove the grill from the front of the refrigerator and use a vacuum with a wand attachment to remove any dust and debris. The grill should snap off and on. Pull firmly toward and possibly upward to remove the grill. If it does not come off with a modest effort, check for screws or retaining clips that may hold it in place. Dishwashers: - Remove the spindles and drawers, clean under them and under the gaskets to get rid of odors. Fill one dispenser with Tang instant drink mix and the other with automatic dish soap and run the dishwasher empty through just the wash cycle. This combination cleans and deodorizes the inside. I'm not sure how the Tang works, it just does. -For more effective dishwashing, add a few tablespoons of vinegar along with the dishwashing detergent when washing dishes. The vinegar cuts the grease and leaves dishes sparkling. Microwaves: - To clean that baked-on mess in your microwave, place a mug half filled with water inside and cook on high for two minutes. The water steams the inside, loosening the hardened splatters. Spray with your Ivory soap cleaner and wipe dry. -You can clean your microwave and eliminate odors with vinegar. Pour 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1 cup water in a small glass or ceramic bowl, and then microwave on high for 5 minutes. The steam from the vinegar water will remove any odors and will soften baked-on splatters. Open the oven door and allow some of the steam to escape before you start to wipe down the walls. After the vinegar water cools down, dip a sponge or cloth into the water and use it to wipe off the inside surfaces of the microwave and around the door seals. Disposals: - To freshen, pour baking soda on your scrub brush and scour the inside. Windows and Mirrors: -Excellent window and mirror cleaner : In a 32 oz. spray bottle add 1/3-cup vinegar and ¼ cup rubbing alcohol. If you absolutely must have another cleaner add 1-tablespoon automatic dishwashing detergent Misc: -To disinfect smelly sponges, wash sponge thoroughly, then microwave it while it is wet, for a short period. When you see steam from the sponge, the bacteria in the sponge will be dead. Remove carefully, it will be hot! Wash the sponge thoroughly before use. **Make sure the sponge has no

metal components! Pots and Pans: - To remove mineral deposits in a tea pot or burnt spots on a pot, put some ice cubes, cut-up lemon, and salt with a tad water and swish around and let sit overnight. -Six Tips for cleaning a burnt stainless steel pan: Tip #1: The new "Power Dissolver" by Dawn works quite well. Tip #2: Try Barkeeper's Friend. It works very well on stainless steel. Sprinkle the powder on a wet scrubbing pad, let it sit for a bit and then scrub off. The cleanser also works well on porcelain sinks and tile countertops. Tip #3: Try using a dryer sheet with some water in the pan. That has been very successful for me. Tip #4: Spray the dry pan with the new Dawn Power cleaner. Put the pan in a plastic bag and seal with twist tie. Let sit overnight. Most of the burned on part will rinse off, then use SOS or scrubby to finish the job. Tip #5: Try mixing cream of tartar, baking soda and vinegar and then adding just enough water to cover the mess and boiling it? This is what I did--I still had to use the brillo pad a little bit. Tip #6: The girls on "How Clean is Your House" use cola, simmered in the pan for about 5 minutes. You may have to do it again, but it sure did the job! -Oven cleaner works well to get your cookie sheets clean Sinks and Drains: -Pour 1/4 to a 1/2 cup of vinegar or bleach down shower or sink drains when cleaning. This will allow you to prevent hair and food build up and help you keep your shower drain and sinks flowing freely -To whiten an old stained sink, poor a half cup of salt in it and then scrub it with a lemon. Let it stand for a few minutes and rinse. 4 Tips for cleaning your stainless steel kitchen sink: 1. Tired of Heat Stains? Try Club Soda! Club soda has long been in the cleaning kits of handy men and women for ages. However, expand the uses of your club soda and use this useful liquid to remove heat stains. Typically, heat stains are something associated with stainless steel cookware, but your stainless steel sink can also feel the effect of heat. Also, those stubborn steaks in your sink that seem to have taken up residency can be quickly and easily removed with club soda. Pour the liquid directly onto the spot and, using a soft cloth; rub the stain in a circular motion. 2. Nix Hard Water with Vinegar White vinegar is the old fashioned cleaner of anything dirty. The acidic qualities of vinegar make this substance perfect for keeping every inch of your home clean. If your home has been found to have hard water, eliminate those deposits by using vinegar. For sinks, pour vinegar into the sink and allow the liquid to sit overnight. For faucets, soak a clean rag in white vinegar and allow the rag to sit overnight. This works especially well on those utility sinks that often look dirty and unattractive, making them seldom used. Furthermore, using vinegar to clean your sink will leave the stainless steel bright and shining, so you will find yourself using vinegar regularly to spruce up the look of your kitchen or bathroom. 3. Baking Soda as a Soft Cleanser Those harsh cleansers typically used to scrub your sink clean can leave the stainless steel scratched and lifeless. Instead of using a harsh cleanser, consider turning to baking soda. This delightful substance is probably already in your home and fantastically inexpensive. Best of all, it

removes stubborn stains without scratching the surface of your sink. Make a paste of water and baking soda, and then rub the mixture into the stain using a soft cloth. You should be sure not to use a scouring pad or steel wool, which can scratch the surface of your sink, allowing bacteria to be trapped in the gouges and make your sink look prematurely aged. 4. Olive Oil for Stubborn Streaks Olive oil has long been touted as a fantastic edible for all sorts of things. Keeping you healthy while keeping your food tasty, this oily substance now has a new use²a cleanser! One of the negative aspects of using stainless steel as a material for a kitchen sink is the appearance of streaks. These streaks can be caused by a number of things, from hard water to heat, but they are always difficult to remove. If you leave your sink looking streaked and ugly, make an effort to banish the streaks and restore your sink to its former shiny glory. Instead of using harsh chemicals that smell terribly, cost a fortune, and do not completely remove the streaks, consider using common olive oil. This miracle substance is perfect for getting out even the most stubborn streaks, allowing you to spend your time doing something else than scrubbing out your sink! Simply use a soft cloth, rub the olive oil directly into the stain, and watch the streaks disappear. Kitchen surfaces: Mix in spray bottle, 1 part ammonia to 3 parts water. Or try diluted bleach solution in a spray bottle. It will remove stains AND disinfect. Kitchen Floors: - To remove skid marks on linoleum rub the spot with toothpaste before washing the floor. -The Do's and Don't for cleaning your kitchen tiles. Tiles can be some of the prettiest additions to your home. They can also be some of the hardest to keep clean. Below are 8 tips to help you keep your tiles looking like they were just installed. 1. Regularly maintaining and cleaning tiles. Kitchen tiles should be cleaned daily to prevent food and dirt from building up in the grout. Shower tiles should be cleaned on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Regular cleaning will prevent gunk build-up and can actually save you some time. 2. Use vinegar diluted with water on tile grout at least weekly on tile floors. Allow the vinegar solution to sit on the floor for 10 minutes. This eats up some of the grime. Then wipe with water and dry off to prevent mildew. 3. Use a toothbrush to reach small crevices, especially around fixtures such as sink and shower fixture. Wet first and scrub after a few minutes. Rinse and dry. If needed, you can also put a little soap or baking soda on the end of the toothbrush to get out the dirt in small areas. 4. Avoid harsh chemicals. Rather than being good for your tile, they actually eat up the grout and destroy the tile over time. 5. Keep mats or rugs in heavily traffic areas like in front of the sink and in the doorway. These mats will help keep dirt and grime from getting ground into the tile and grout. Clean the mats regularly. 6. Use bleach to clean and brighten tiles and grout (only for white grout & tiles otherwise see tip #8). Avoid direct contact with skin. Allow bleach to sit on tile for 10 minutes, wipe with water and then dry. 7. Use a grout sealer to make the tiles easier to clean and to prevent grime from getting stuck in the grout. 8. Use a few drops of lemon juice to help remove grout stains. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Wipe dry. Lemon juice also acts as a mild disinfectant and leaves your house smelling fresh and inviting. Grease in Kitchen: 8 Tips for removing grease in Kitchen: Tip #1: Try using K2R spot remover. I am a property manager and have used it on wallpaper and it

removed 90% of the grease marks. They are barely noticeable now. Tip #2: Dollar General sells a cleaner called Mean Green I have used it to get grease off of everything. Paint, clothes (as there is a mechanic in the House) woodwork, floors, etc. I haven't had it remove paint yet. This is the best cleaner I have ever found. And it is cheap $2.50 for a good sized bottle! Tip #3: When I was removing the wallpaper border in my kitchen, I used a solution of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water. A friend recommended I use warm water for better results and I was amazed to find it removed the grease as well as the paper! Tip #4: The tip I am commenting about is the "Vinegar and Water" solution for cleaning off grease splatter on walls. This tip worked wonderfully! I can hardly tell the grease marks are still there; the look is now MUCH cleaner! Thanks alot!...Crystal Tip #5:: Vinegar + Water. Two thumbs up for this suggestion. It cleaned muck of the stains from my wall with only minimal effort. Important: After cleaning with vinegar + water, rub with *dry* towel...Aravind Tip #6: I've used a strong vinegar water solution but recently I discovered Dawn Power Dissolver, for dishes. It cleans everything! Just spray on, let it set for a minute and it comes right off. I use it to clean my range hood where that dust and grease mixture is impossible to remove, works like a charm. I use it to clean my stove top too...Angela Tip #7: "Greased Lightening" is excellent for removing grease from the stove or what may have splattered onto cabinets or countertops. Greased Lightening can be purchased from nearly every grocery store, or at least from Walmart or target, or similar stores...Sarah Tip #8: Although I'm mostly using vinegar to clean with these days I still resort to Dow Scrubbing Bubbles for tough, old grease. It works great whether for ring around the tub, grease on kitchen walls, or elsewhere. To keep your plastic containers from getting stained from tomato based foods, rub the inside with vegetable oil before placing the food in the container. Removing Hard Water Stains: -Acids also have an ability to remove hard water deposits and are typically found in toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers, metal cleaners and kitchen/bathroom cleaners that remove mineral deposits. However, there are some natural acids all around your home that can be easily used to get rid of hard water stains and limescale. They have been used for centuries for a variety of different purposes, but are also great for removing stubborn stains. These natural solutions are white vinegar and lemon juice...see below for some really simple ways of using them to remove stains from common kitchen items. -Natural Formula to Use: Equal parts white vinegar and water, plus squeeze of lemon juice -Methods to Use: Glasses and Bowls: 1. Make up enough solution to cover the cookware 2. Allow to soak for 15 minutes to one hour 3. Rinse thoroughly Cookware: 1. Make up enough solution to cover the cookware 2. Allow to soak for 30 minutes to one hour 3. Rinse thoroughly Teapots and Kettles:

1. Make up enough solution to cover the base of the teapot or elements of the kettle 2. Allow to soak for 20 minutes to one hour 3. Rinse thoroughly -Additional Tips: If the hard water stains and limescale are still present after soaking, try heating up the solution on a hob to aid the removal. To remove hard-water and lime build-up in a teapot or kettle, pour in two cups of vinegar and bring to a boil. Let simmer for about 10 minutes, then rinse well. Food odors: -Soak pure vanilla on a cotton ball and place in a saucer. Put the saucer in the car or refrigerator to remove odors. Keep cotton ball out of reach of children as it contains some alcohol. -Odor producing mold and bacteria in garbage cans: sprinkle 1/2 cup Borax in the bottom of the garbage can. Kitchen Potions: -Vinegar:No house should be without it. Simple, dirt cheap white vinegar for me is the very best cleaner out there. Its secret is its acidity, which is just strong enough to cut through dirt and fatty spills without damaging surfaces. Vinegar is truly a cleaning wizard because it has got so many uses: cleaning windows, removing spots and smells, cutting grease and grime , and freshening the air. Always use white vinegar because apple cider vinegar usually has a brown color that can actually stain whatever you are trying to clean. -Baking soda: not just for baking anymore. That little box of baking soda is quite strong--and it does it just for pennies. Baking soda is a nonpolluting gentle abrasive and grime cutter that you can use to clean counters, pots, pans, and fixtures. It also deodorizes carpets, refrigerators, shoes, and other smelly stuff around the house. Baking soda is great for eliminating odors. It doesn't just cover up odors, it actually neutralizes them. Use a small box in the refrigerator for about 3 months, but don't just throw the old box away after you are done. Dump it down your kitchen sink drain to keep it smelling nice too. -Ammonia: Household ammonia is actually only about 10 percent ammonia; the rest is water. But don't think of it as watered down and weak; it's plenty strong enough for mouse household jobs. You can buy household ammonia that is clear or slightly cloudy. When the ammonia is cloudy, it contains detergent to boost its cleaning power. Ammonia's powerful smell is sometimes tamed with lemon or pine scent, as indicated on the label. Household ammonia is good for many jobs in the kitchen, including cleaning windows, cutting grease, removing was from floors, and bringing the sparkle back to your oven. -Stretching your dish detergent: You can cut your costs of dish detergent--without cutting their cleaning power--by diluting them. Save an empty bottle of dish detergent, and when you buy a new one, pour one half of the detergent into the old bottle. Fill both with water. Rotate several times to mix. (Don't shake because shaking creates lots of soap bubbles, which will leave little room for water and detergent to mix. Then, if you open the bottle quickly after shaking, the bubbles will spill out just like a soda bottle that has been dropped or shaken.) You'll end up with twice as much detergent by diluting he original product. It may not be as bubbly, but it's not the bubbles that do the cleaning. Those

bubbles are mainly there to give you the illusion that the detergent is doing its job. To boost the power of your detergent when you're washing greasy dishes and pans by hand, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup white vinegar to the dishwater. -Basic Floor Cleaner: 1 cup white vinegar 1 gallon water Mix the ingredients together and use them to mop the floor. You don't have to rinse off this solution because the vinegar won't leave a film on the floor. If this doesn't do the trick, try the heavy duty floor cleaner. Heavy Duty Floor Cleaner 3/4 cup household ammonia 1 gallon water You don't have to rinse this solution off either. This formula works best on heavily soiled floors. -For a wonderful all purpose fill a spray bottle half full with water add a squirt or two of Ivory Liquid dish soap then finish filling with water. It's inexpensive and does a great job cleaning kitchen surfaces without leaving a residue behind.

Laundry
Laundry laundry! Does any one out there feel like laundry multiplies over night. I must do 4 loads of laundry a day and right now my child goes threw at least 3 outfit changes a day. I have compiled a few tips on how to get pesky stains out and save you hours in the laundry room. As a mom I know you have much better things to spend your time on than scraping gum off of a shirt or scrubbing ink from a pair of pants. No one likes pesky stains that ruin nice clothing. Money is tight these days so stretch your $$ by taking these few steps. Your clothes will last a lot longer and look brand new. Here are some tricks I found. StepCase has an amazing list of 150 how-to's when it come to cleaning. This website is phenomenal! Crayon stains can mean the end of a favorite piece of clothing. There is a removal method, but it may not work for some fabrics. Spray WD-40 on to the crayon stain (try a little on a hidden area first to check if it stains the fabric or not) then set aside for ten minutes. Rinse thoroughly then rub the stain with a sponge soaked in hot water and dish soap. Keep going until the crayon is all removed, then spray with stain remover and wash in the hottest wash that fabric can take. Gum is one substance that strikes fear into the hearts of Mothers everywhere. Best tip ever is to fold the clothing with the gum sticking out, place in a plastic bag and pop into the freezer for a few hours the gum should come off in chunks. For dime size amounts try rubbing with an ice cube and than gently scrape with a knife. (This also works for candle wax) Glue can put you in a sticky laundry situation but with this tip you will be unstuck for good. Cover the glue stain with Vaseline, working it on the glue spot until you are able to peel pieces of it away. Once you have removed all the glue squeeze dish washing soap over the Vaseline and rub it in until the Vaseline is gone from the fabric then rinse and wash as normal. Ink stains can be hard to get out spray hair spray on the affected are and scrub gently with a tooth brush rinse and repeat until stain fades than add a touch of stain remover to the affected area and wash as normal. -For removing ink stains: Ball point pen stains can be removed by using hair spray - let the hair spray dry and wash the item. Table salt will absorb ink when it is spilled - pour salt on the wet ink and continue to add salt until there is no more "wet ink". Then vacuum or wash. Other types of ink can be removed using rubbing alcohol. Gray Dingies: One cause of the gray dingies is overloading the washing machine. When you do this, the clothes cannot move freely, resulting in poor washing and unremovable soil. To estimate the right-sized load, place dry, unfolded clothes in the washer loosely until it is about three-quarters full. Another cause is using non-phosphate detergents, particularly the granular type. If you`re using a non-phosphate detergent, use the hottest water possible and dissolve the detergent in the water before adding the clothes. If you have hard water, you might want to add about a third to a half cup of packaged water softener along with the detergent.

Urine Stains: For washable fabrics that can be bleached« pre-soak them in cold water for at least thirty minutes. Launder these fabrics in hot water using detergent and chlorine bleach according to the directions on the bleach container. For washable, non-bleachable items, sponge the stained area with a solution of equal parts of household ammonia and water then launder the item in warm water and detergent. Rinse it well. For non-washable items, sponge just the stained area with clear water to which a few drops of ammonia have been added. Then, sponge with clear water only. Removing smelly mildew stains from clothes: Begin by brushing of mold outdoors so you don't scatter mildew spores in the house. On washable fabrics, pretreat by rubbing detergent into the dampened stain. Then, launder the items in hot water, detergent and chlorine bleach, if it is safe for the fabric. If the stain remains, sponge it with hydrogen peroxide, rinse and launder. If the item isn't bleach-safe, soak it in an oxygen bleach that is safe for colors, then wash it. Take non-washable fabrics to the dry cleaner and tell them what the stain is. Microwaves can be used to emergency disinfect clothes, such as a child's cap that another kid has put on, as long as they have absolutely NO metal in the zippers, buttons, rivets etc. ALWAYS place a cup of cold water next to the article to absorb the heat and microwave on high until the water is steaming To remove perspiration stains in clothing, soak in warm vinegar and water. Dirty neck rings around shirt or blouse collars can be removed by putting shampoo on them. Rub the shampoo in like you were washing your hair. Shampoo is specifically made to remove body oils. A cheap bottle of shampoo kept by the washing machine is handy for all kinds of stains in clothing. Don't forget this trick when you are traveling. Vomit stains are nasty and the smell is enough to make you gag. First use a spoon to scrape away as much of the vomit as possible. Turn the sink on high and rinse any remaining chunks away. Next pour a cup or more if needed of white vinegar on the fabric. Soak the affected piece in warm water with your normal detergent dissolved in it for at least half an hour. Then spray with stain remover and wash. Baby food and formula stains oxiclean works the best make a paste using oxiclean and add to the area let sit for 10 minutes or 20 depending on the color of the stain than wash. (Also works great on formula stains.) Missing socks are my pet peeve. How do you loose them from foot to basket? Some suggestions are to have your husband and kids roll them before putting them in the dirty basket and you could also have a basket just for socks and wash them separately in one load. Shrunken sweaters no more, fill the sink with tepid water and add a quarter size amount of hair conditioner.(any brand) Soak the sweater for 10 minutes. Gently squeeze then lay flat on a towel. The conditioner will relax the fibers and allow you to stretch and reshape the sweater. Good things to have in laundry room: Fully biodegradable washing detergent (check out u tube on how to make your own). Baking soda

Oxiclean Bleach Magic Pen Scrub bush Large bucket for soaping Some Good Laundry Tips: -Check all pockets before doing laundry. . -Use a spry bottle with a couple tablespoons of liquid fabric softener. Spry wrinkles shake out and hang dry. Works great!! -Take the time to shake the wrinkles out of jeans or anything else that holds wrinkles when you are moving it from the washer to the dryer. It saves on ironing (a big shout out to that one). -Pre-treat all stains -Add a scoop of OxiClean along with the detergent to keep clothes looking new and bright. -Do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets on children's clothes. This removes the flame retardant coating placed by the manufacturers. -For newborns wash anything that comes in contact with baby¶s skin just as you would the infant¶s clothes including your own clothes. -Add bedding, towels or your clothes to the kids clothes if you don¶t have enough to run a full load. -Use the extra rinse option if your machine has one this is good for kids with sensitive skin or allergies. Happy Laundry day!!

Misc. Cleaning Tips
1) For icy door steps in freezing temperatures get warm water and put Dawn dishwashing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won¶t refreeze. 2) Sealed envelope: Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. 3) Hairspray will kill pesky flies and bees. 4) Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with a little elbow grease (effort). 5) Use empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. 6) Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like blue store receipts) rubbing alcohol on paper towel. 7) Blood stains on clothes? Just pour a little peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off the blood. Don¶t wait too long. Works every time. 8) Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way ou can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get out side windows really clean. Don¶t wash windows on a sunny day. They will probably streak. 9) Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create that scent when the light is turned on. Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers to keep them smelling fresh. 10) Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning. 11) To easily remove burnt on food from you skillet, add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on the stovetop. 12) Spray you Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won¶t be any stains. 13) Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks. 14) When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn¶s natural sweetness. 15) Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away. (I haven¶t tried this one.) 16) To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area for relief. 17) Look what you can do with Alka Seltzer: -Clean a toilet by dropping in two tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China. -Clan a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase, fill with water and drop in two tablets. -Polish jewelry. Drop two tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. -Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping 3 tablets down the drain followed by a cup a White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes and then run the hot water. 20 Tips for cleaning w Mr. Clean Magic Erasers: Tip #1: I have many uses for my Magic Eraser, but my favorite is removing build-up from the bottom of my iron, which has a non-stick finish. The first time I tried it I wasn't very hopeful that it would work, but to my amazement, my iron came out looking like new! I have one of those old white formica counter tops in my kitchen, and I noticed that the facings looked pretty grungy, so I took my magic eraser to them and they came out looking white and brite! Magic Eraser is also great for removing hairspray build-up from the brass doorknob in my bathroom. How did we ever

live without this great product? Tip #2: I used to clean my bathtub/shower with cleaning solutions that would make me sick from smelling the fumes. I used the Magic Eraser on my bathtub/shower with ONLY water. This is a great product. I encourage everyone to try using it, it does take some elbow grease, but the results are outstanding. Excellent product Tip #3: When we got ready to sell our five year old house, I took a Magic Eraser and spot cleaned the walls in the entire house (which were all white). Everyone who looked at the house were amazed when we told them we had never painted. They couldn't believe the walls could look so NEW after five years! Tip #4: A few months ago I discovered the "Magic Eraser". I use it for so many things. It really cleans well and makes what you clean so clean and well done. It is well worth your time to use it. It can take off crayon marks, ink. I have used it in place of dusting. Makes your things looks sharp. I even used it on my monitor. It really cleaned that up well. I used it on my file cabinet. It is metal and did a great job cleaning it up. I used it once to wash my windows, esp. the crayons that were colored on it. I cleaned picture frames, and shelves, you name it try it and find out what works for you. You don't even have to use a cleaner. Use it on your appliances too. See what you think. Tip #5: I have used the Magic Erasers to remove black scuff marks off my WHITE cowboy boots! Worked great!!! Tip #6: Cigarette burns in formica type desktop! They took some time some rubbing, that's it. No cleaners, no grinding sanding, scuffing, scraping. Tip #7: I have 3-year-old twins who seem to find pens, crayons, markers, etc., and color on the walls and doors. This eraser takes it all off easily. It even removed black permanent marker from my bathroom counter top. I also use it to clean the doors (they are white) baseboards, and anything else I can. Tip #8: With a 6 1/2 yo and a 22 mo, I'm constantly using my Magic Erasers (I buy them in bulk at Sam's Club)...I've used them on the walls for crayons (works much better than the Crayon Off from Crayola), I also use it on my white board calendar (it does a much better job than the "eraser" that came with the board and doesn't damage the surface of the board) and the most amazing thing I've used it on is the antique mahogany bed and dresser in my daughter's room. She had gotten craft paint and marker on both and the Magic eraser took both off of both pieces and didn't damage the antique finish at all. Tip #9: Magic Eraser is the best thing that I have come across. I had an old wedding cake knife that I needed to use for my step-daughter's wedding this past weekend, and I had tried to get the tarnish off with Tarn-X and that got most of it off, but there was one stubborn area on the knife that just wouldn't come clean, so I decided to try the Magic Eraser. Much to my surprise it not only took the tarnish off, but it also shined it. It is by far the best all around cleaning tool that I have come across. Tip #10: We live in a VERY old house and the tub is an original cast iron one. The finish is mostly gone off of it and it is a pill to clean. I have discovered if I take Magic Eraser and run around the water line when my bath is over, I can postpone the multi-hours of cleaning that it takes to get it clean. This alone has been almost a lifesaver for me - and definitely a back saver. Tip #11: I've used the Magic Erasers just about everywhere you can imagine. I was most impressed when I used it on our boat. Inside and out, it worked great and took stuff off that I just knew would never come off. The boat is snow white, so it's pretty hard to keep clean, but they work wonders. Also, they work wonderful on leather seats too. We used them on my husband's pickup (which he uses for work out in the field) and it looked brand new. It takes coffee stains out of white countertops, grease and grime off of the stove, cleans up shoes, takes bugs and tar off of cars, the

list goes on and on. Something that I've found that helps them last longer for me: I cut them in half. Since I only use one end of them when I clean, I started cutting them in half before I use them. They seem to last longer for me. I can clean something really grimy with half of one instead of dirtying up the whole thing. Tip #12: We have hard water in our area, and the Magic Eraser has been the only cleaner that can get the residue off of our glass shower door. We squeegee it everytime we use the shower, but the residue still collects. The eraser takes the residue right off. Tip #13: I am a custodian for a large church and use Magic Erasers for everything. At home, I have found that they are great for cleaning wood, especially around door handles and frames, and the top wooden step of my stairs. Tip #14: Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are my new favorite cleaning tool. I found that I can use these sponges to clean off my stainless steel finish appliances in the kitchen. After wiping them off with the sponge, I use a soft towel to dry them for a nice, shiny look. This also works for stainless sinks. This has saved me a lot of money because I no longer have to buy expensive bottles of stainless steel polish. Tip #15: I also use magic erasers for almost all cleaning jobs. They are fantastic at cleaning outdoor furniture, whether plastic, glass or metal. I use them each season to remove the grime and dirt that leaves the furniture dingy. It really removes the grime that is set in the molded plastic products with very little effort. In fact, this is the only product I have found to remove these outdoor stains. After using the magic eraser, the furniture looks like new again. My daughter jokes about my using the magic eraser, but now that she is on her own, she also uses them to clean everything! Tip #16: I love the magic eraser for nearly everything (think Windex from Big Fat Greek wedding). The blessing? The car with paint scrapes. Someone's white car banged into my dark van; it removed it all gently off of what did not actually scrape off the paint from my van. Tip #17: I clean all my kitchen countertops. Amazing how clean they look after I am done. Great product. Tip #18: I have a wall sconce that holds a candle in it and the candle tipped over causing there to be a large soot spot on the wall. I tried everything and thought I was going to have to paint. As a last resort I tried the eraser and 5 minutes later you couldn't tell there had ever been a spot there. Tip #19: I bought baby blue microfiber tennis shoes. I have found that all I have to do to clean them is use my magic eraser and they always look brand new. Tip #20: We have wood laminate floors and there always seems to be spots of something on them that just won't come off, even when I use the acetone as it suggests. The acetone is so stinky but all the manufacturers of this wood laminate flooring say that's what you should use. Anyway, last night we were trying to remove some monster glue from the laminate and I scrubbed and scrubbed with the acetone and it just wouldn't come up. My husband said why don't you try the Magic Eraser, and sure enough, in 3 rubs, it was GONE! These sponges truly are MAGIC!! Top 10 Tips for 2010 10. Use cola and foil to polish chrome Chrome looks great when it's new, and rather sad when it's accumulated dirt and discoloration. Chemical-filled and wallet-lightening cleaners aren't necessary, though. Apply a little cola²Coke, Pepsi, or whatever generic you've got handy²and rub down your shiny surface with aluminum foil, and you'll retain the eye-catching shine to your antique bar, Harley, or whatever else has a glint to it.

9. Use baking soda and vinegar to fix funky towels Over time, and with many washes, your bath towels will build up detergent and fabric softener residue, leaving them both unable to absorb as much water and smelling kinda funky when they do. Rather than give Target another lump sum, run them through the wash once with hot water and a cup of vinegar, then again with hot water and a half-cup of baking soda, as wikiHow suggests. That strips the residue from them, leaves them smelling fairly fresh again, and makes your postshower experience a dryer one, at that. 8. Use salt to wipe up spilled egg Even if you happen to have paper towels handy, spilled eggs tend to leave everything they touch feeling slimy and not-quite-hygienic. Sprinkle a good dose of table salt on the egg, wait about 10 minutes, and you'll have a semi-solid mass that's easy to pick up, and won't leave your towel or broom a sticky mess. 7. Pour Coke into a dirty toilet Out of Soft Scrub or other toilet-scaling potions? wikiHow recommends pouring a can of Coke into the bowl, letting it sit in the bowl for an hour or more, and then scrubbing the bowl clean. It doesn't save you the manual effort, but your bowl will eerily get clean²and your soda habit may possibly diminish. The cola color should flush away, but if you've got soda water on hand, that might do the trick just as well. 6. DIY Drano for plugged pipes Some landlords explicitly forbid tenants from using Drano, and some folks don't love the idea of pouring it down the same sinks they drink and shower from. Reach instead into your cupboard and pull out some²yeah, you probably guessed it²baking soda and vinegar, and match in the amounts prescribed by the Bonzai Aphrodite blog, along with some very hot water. That should agitate and gently dissolve anything that's not too greasy or stone-solid in your plumbing. If your problem specifically involves some stuff that's, ah, stuck in the toilet, try grabbing some dishwasher detergent. 5. Use Kool-Aid lemonade to clean a dishwasher Cleaning a dishwasher seems weird and unnecessary from a glance²doesn't the thing fill itself with soapy water all the time? Over time, though, iron will stain the surfaces and lime deposits build up on the surfaces of your dishwasher, leaving it a place you don't want to stash the plates you eat from. Real Simple finds a solution in unsweetened, lemonade-flavored Kool-Aid packets. Load a packet into your dishwasher's detergent cup, run it empty through a normal cycle, and the citric acid in everyone's favorite bug juice de-gunks the surfaces it would be a pain to reach. 4. Clean and de-scratch an LCD monitor The basics of cleaning any LCD monitor start with avoiding alcohol²cleaning with it, at least. Turn off the monitor, dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with water, and wipe. If it's one of those fancy highgloss monitors, there's just a footnote of using a micro-fiber cloth and cleaning in small sections. The since-defunct Hackosis once offered tips on fixing a scratched LCD monitor, including using petroleum jelly to temporarily smooth and visually restore scratches and re-lacquering screens with notable scratches. If you've got something small, you're in luck²the pencil eraser method might work.

3. Get rid of underarm stains We know you use deodorant. We know you wash your clothes. Perspiration stains still somehow work their way into your lighter-colored clothes. Men's Flair runs down the best sweat-cleaning methods, such as citrus and baking soda/Borax combos, and we can also recommend an aspirinbased solution. What this guide also teaches, though, is that drying clothes in the sun helps to whiten them more than a dryer. 2. Clean a DSLR lens Unlike with LCD screens, a little alcohol solution is actually a good idea when you're cleaning your DSLR lens²just not too much. Digital Photography School lays out the best tools, including cleaning cloths, blowers, UV/skylight filters, and a few other items. One of the cheaper items you can supplement your camera bag with is found in all kinds of boxes: silica gel packets. Stashing them in your bag keeps moisture away from the lens, which in turn requires less time for cleaning, which frees you up to actually, you know, shoot pictures. 1. Get marker off any surface We know how to get accidental permanent marker off a dry-erase board²write over it with a dryerase marker, then wipe away both layers. If you or a youngster managed to run a Sharpie on something else, Public Realty Blog suggests baking soda toothpaste. Maybe it's a ringing endorsement for its ability to remove plaque and grime from your teeth. Even if not, keeping a spare tube handy seems like a good idea.