| Cleaning Tips for the Kitchen | |
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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. |
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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. |
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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!** |
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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. |
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To remove mineral deposits in a tea pot or burnt spots on a coffee pot, put some ice cubes, cut-up lemon, and salt with a tad water and swish around and let sit overnight. |
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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. |
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To remove skid marks on linoleum rub the spot with toothpaste before washing the floor. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Removing kitchen and 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. |
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Odor producing mold and bacteria in garbage cans: sprinkle 1/2 cup Borax in the bottom of the garbage can. |
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Cleaning coffee maker: Pour straight vinegar into it as if you are making the coffee, no filter is need. Turn coffee maker on as if you were making a pot of coffee. Repeat this with a new batch of vinegar until it runs clear of calcium deposits. |
Cleaning Tips for the Bathroom | |
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Bars of soap too small to use effectively can be pressed into the sides of new bars softened by recent use. |
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Shower curtains can be renovated by being washed, on gentle cycle, with a pint of white vinegar. |
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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. |
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To clean tubs and showers use a product that contains phosphoric
acid, their is no scrubbing involved. Buildup on shower doors: Wipe with lemon oil. Removes buildup and keeps doors protected longer from future buildup. |
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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. |
Cleaning Tips for the Laundry Room | |
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To remove perspiration stains in clothing, soak in warm vinegar and water. |
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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. |
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Removing 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. |
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Urine Stains:For washable fabrics that can be bleached |