Archive Category: 'Cleaning'

• How To Remove Bathtub Decals: Peeling off old bathtub decals reveals a sticky mess or dark dried up glue underneath. Here are a few different methods to remove the decals, get that gunk cleaned up and your bathtub back to a shine. How To Remove Bathtub Decals If the decals don’t pull off easily, fill the tub with very hot water [...]
• Oddball Dishwasher Items: Cleaning Tip: A few oddball things you can wash in the dishwasher: Baseball caps Hair brushes and combs Bathroom soap dishes and toothbrush holders Shoes, sandals Plastic items such as toys, desk accessories and other containers I’m not a big fan of washing these kinds of things with dishes so when I have a free load and several items ready to wash, I [...]
• How To Clean A Freezer: Depending on use, freezers should be thoroughly cleaned a couple times of year. Spring (April) and fall (October) is a good plan since the freezer will be cleaned and organized right before the holidays, and then again during spring cleaning. First: Throw out all old or undated food items that you aren’t sure about. If you have the [...]
• Kickin Bathtub Cleaning Soak: After I published yesterday’s post about cleaning a bathtub using oven cleaner, I realized I had a “miracle cleaning paste” to share for cleaning a bathtub plus better details using a laundry detergent soak. Easy Bathtub Cleaner Fill the bathtub with hot water and add 2 to 3 cups of powdered laundry detergent. Soak overnight. Drain the [...]
• Clean A Bathtub With Oven Cleaner: If you have an old, tired, stained porcelain bathtub that nothing seems to clean it, you can try spraying a layer of oven cleaner on the tub. I have an old bottle of Easy-Off in my chemical crate and the back label reads: EASY-OFF Oven Cleaner with lemon is ideal for cleaning barbecue grills, NON-ALUMINUM and NON-CHROME [...]
• Cleaning Shower Door Tracks: Tips & Tools: If it’s just regular cleaning you need to do, simply pour vinegar in the tracks, soak for a few minutes then rinse out with water. Make sure the track drain holes aren’t clogged with gunk, you want the water and cleaners to flow out easily. Also lay towels on the bathroom floor along the bathtub to [...]
• How To Clean A Toilet – Really Well: Here are a few hints and tips I’ve collected to clean a toilet, meshed in with instructions on how to clean the toilet from top, down and all around. This is NO ONE’S favorite job I’m sure. Yuck. How To Clean A Toilet Toilet Bowl Tips: *Use your favorite cleaner or for toilet stain toughies, try one of [...]
• Tips For Removing Carpet Stains: Here are a few tips I’ve accumulated to remove and clean carpet stains, remember to always test in a small, unnoticeable area on your carpet first to make sure your carpet won’t be discolored or damaged. Carpet Stain Removal Tips Saturate a clean, white cloth with rubbing alcohol and dab the stain. Mix 1/4 cup water with 3/4 [...]
• How To Remove Mildew From Tents: Here’s a good cleaning tip I found for killing mildew in tents… Source: (no longer available online) Step 1: Mix ½- cup of Lysol in 1 gallon of hot water. Wash your tent with the solution (use a sponge) and let it air dry. Step 2: Mix 1-cup salt and 1-cup concentrated lemon juice in 1 gallon [...]
• How To Wash Crystal & Delicate Glass: Crystal glasses, ornaments and pieces should not be washed in the dishwasher. They are at risk of damage from the high heat and harsh dishwasher detergent. How To Wash Crystal & Delicate Glass Fully line the bottom of a sink with a dish towel or two, then fill with warm water and Ivory dishwashing liquid (or your [...]
• How To Clean A Ceiling Fan: Regular Weekly Maintenance: Use dusting mitts (pattern found at bottom), fresh cleaning cloths or cover your hands in clean socks turned inside out, lightly spray with cleaner and run your hands along the blade edges as well as top and bottom of each blade. By doing this weekly you won’t have to worry about grime [...]
• How To Clean The Inside of Bottles: If you collect old perfume bottles, miniature bottles, or ones with necks too narrow to use a bottle brush, you can easily clean the inside by doing the following: Fill bottle 3/4 full with warm water, a bit of dish detergent and about a teaspoon of uncooked rice (if it’s a medium to large size bottle, [...]
• Quick Tip: Cleaning Shower Heads: If your shower head has a few holes clogged from hard water deposits, all you need to do is give it a good soak in a vinegar & water solution. Details: Soak the show head in a pail of 50/50 vinegar and hot water for several hours. The vinegar will eat through the hard gunk and you’ll [...]
• Cleaning Crusty Tap Fixtures: Taps can accumulate hard water stains around the base and crusty crud along the back if they’re not thoroughly washed regularly. If your taps have a bad buildup of crud, here’s what you do… Materials Needed Paper Towels White household vinegar Directions: Soak paper towels thoroughly with vinegar, then pack firmly around the base of the tap fixture. If [...]
• DIY – How To Remove White Heat Stains On Wood Table: We have an old wood table that has been used and abused for years. I brought it out over the holidays for card playing and commented how badly marked and stained it was–while quickly covering with a tablecloth. A relative gave me a tip: for the white scorch marks, just take an iron and apply [...]
• How To Clean Bedwetting Stains From Mattresses: Those of us that don’t have toddlers or young children in the home may think tips for cleaning bedwetting stains won’t apply to us, but over the holidays I was pulling out this tip sheet when visiting family with children caught me by surprise . The first tip is to plan ahead. If you know [...]
• Brush Ideas for Detail Dusting: These ideas for dusting tools are not only great for getting into small areas and crevices in the home, they’re also handy for doing your own car detail cleaning. Ideas for Dust Brushes: Pastry Brush Paint Brushes (both large and smaller artist brushes) Makeup Brushes Toothbrush (soft and clean) Shaving Brush (the old fashioned kind) Mascara Wand (cleaned) Aquarium Brushes Tip: Spray brushes lightly [...]
• Cat & Dog Hair Cleanup Tips: When the lint roller just can’t get the job done while trying to remove pet hair from upholstery and carpets, here are a few tips to try (most will work well for detailing your vehicle as well): Pet Hair Cleanup Tips Wrap clear packing tape (or wide masking tape, duct tape) loosely around and across your hand [...]
• Tip: Sweaty Feet and Stinky Shoes: If you have a problem with sweaty feet and have ruined more than one pair of shoes with the smell, you can try this tip: Clean inside the shoes as best you can with soap and water (if they’re machine washable–throw them in there). Once thoroughly dry, double bag the shoes and stick in freezer overnight. [...]
• How to Clean Cat Urine: Trying to clean stains and the smell from cats urinating on carpets is tricky business. But removing carpets, padding and floor boards is not an easy or practical thing to do for many. Here are a few tips to try removing the urine smells and cleaning the carpet. Warning: Any treatment to carpets could discolor or [...]
• How to Remove Permanent Marker: Cleaning marker off walls isn’t so hard with this tip: Try rubbing toothpaste into marker then scrub off with damp cloth (just plain toothpaste–not the gel). I’ve tried this on wood paneling, painted walls and even a porcelain doll face. Worked like a charm! How To Remove Permanent Marker From Wood Table Another tip from the same [...]
• How To Clean Buildup Inside A Vase: Here are a few tips for cleaning buildup, stains and grime inside of vases: Fill with vinegar and soak overnight Try orange slices (or other citrus fruits like lemon, grapefruit) and soak overnight Make a paste of cream of tartar and water, apply liberally and sit for awhile. Scrub clean. Soak with warm water and a denture cleaner tablet [...]