Archive Category: 'Cleaning Tips'

• 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 [...]
• Frugral Fabric Softener Recipes & Dryer Sheet Tips: Here are several quick tips that you can try as frugal fabric softeners, each point is a separate tip. Next you’ll find a Homemade Fabric Softener Recipe and instructions for Reusable Homemade Dryer Sheets. Quick Tips: Frugal Fabric Softeners Using 1/4 cup vinegar in your laundry’s rinse cycle keeps clothes soft. You can set aside a vinegar [...]
• 10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes: Here is a nice stack of different homemade laundry detergent recipes I’ve collected over the years. Do they work? Yes, I’ve had good luck with them. t the time I was using homemade detergent, we had a relative who was in trade school living with us. Every day he was mechanic grease from head to toe–the [...]
• 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 [...]
• Did You Know: Wash Your Dryer’s Lint Trap: Cleaning out the lint and fuzz from the lint trap between loads is something we all know needs doing. But did you know you should regularly wash the lint trap in warm, soapy water as well? Here’s why: …keeping the lint filter clean is one simple way to increase the efficiency and lifespan (and decrease the [...]
• 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 [...]
• Homemade Herbal Cleaner Recipes: Thyme Cleaner – Disinfectant 2 1/2 cups water 1 handful thyme (fresh or dried) Vinegar Liquid castille soap (squirt) Boil water, add thyme. Simmer for several hours over medium-low heat, covered. Cool, then strain. Pour the water into a spray bottle, top with white vinegar and squirt of soap. Use as needed. Herb Disinfectant Cleaner This spray cleaner disinfects surfaces, kills mold, [...]
• How To Clean A Blender: Two different methods you can try to clean a blender: Method #1 Right after using, add warm water and a good splash of vinegar to blender. Turn on and let the blender work the liquid for about a minute. Pour out, rinse well and the blender container should be nice and clean. Method #2 Fill the blender half way [...]
• Rid Your Pet of Skunk Spray Smell: Caution: This recipe cannot be sealed or stored in a container or spray bottle as it can explode. Mix in an open, plastic pail and use immediately. Wear latex gloves when applying. Krebaum’s Formula to De-Skunk Pets Items Needed: 1 quart of fresh (not old or out-dated) 3% hydrogen peroxide (from a pharmacy) – store bought is only [...]
• 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. [...]
• Household Degreaser & Cleaner Recipe: Kickin household degreaser, make sure to wear rubber gloves and not inhale this stuff, the ammonia is pretty strong. Homemade Degreaser Recipe Lemon scented ammonia Hot water Dawn dishwashing liquid Fill an empty liquid dish detergent bottle half full with the ammonia, then top with hot water. Add a few squirts of dawn. Put cap back on and shake to [...]
• DIY: Pretreated Dusters or Dusting Rags: Frugal Tip: Instead of buying pretreated dusting cloths, here’s how you can make your own. Purpose: Pretreated dusting cloths are antistatic and hold onto dust better rather than just pushing it around. Small Batch Recipe 1 cup hot water 2 TBS lemon oil Large Batch Recipe 1 pint hot water 1/4 cup lemon oil Directions: Mix the water and lemon oil. Take clean squares [...]
• 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 [...]
• Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipes: *Update: There are several comments from readers reporting both success and problems (namely that the homemade detergents below cause issues including a cloudy residue left on dishes). I don’t know why there’s a discrepancy, but it may have something to do with water temperature (not hot enough) or water quality (too hard, etc.). My dishwasher [...]
• Lavender Vinegar Recipes: Lavender is a wonderfully fragrant herb that can be used in cooking. When combined with vinegar, it can also be used for cleaning. Looks pretty and smells nice! See tips below for preparation and uses of lavender vinegar. Lavender Vinegar Recipe Handful of Lavender flowers 1 Pint White Vinegar Combine lavender and vinegar, seal and let sit for 6 weeks [...]
• 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 [...]
• Homemade Wall Cleaner Recipe: Materials Needed: 2 ounces borax I tsp ammonia 2 quarts water Simply mix and dissolve the ammonia and borax with the water in a cleaning bucket. Wall Cleaning Tips Scrub dirty walls from the bottom up. This helps prevent hard to remove water streaks that happen as the water runs down the dirty walls when you clean from the top [...]
• Sorting & Organizing Laundry Tip: This simple trick was life changing in our household! Materials Needed: 1 Laundry Basket for each member in your family 1 Laundry Basket for towels & misc. Directions: As you fold your clean and finished laundry, sort each item into the assigned basket for each family member. Each person is responsible for picking up their basket and putting away their clothing [...]
• Homemade Metal Polish: Recipes: Materials Needed: 1 TBSP Flour 1 TBSP Salt 1 TBSP White Vinegar Instructions: In a small bowl, combine salt and flour. Stir until well blended. Make a thick paste by adding vinegar to the salt and flour. Using a damp sponge or cloth, smear on the paste. Rub gently. Allow polish to dry for approximately one hour. Rinse metal piece [...]
• Homemade Multi-Purpose Cleaners: Recipes: Careful when using ammonia and make sure to wear rubber gloves. Multi-Purpose Cleaner 1/4 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) 1 cup household ammonia 1/4 cup white vinegar 1 gallon warm water Mix ingredients and store in tightly-capped container. Can be used for cleaning counter tops, appliances, tile flooring, etc. Household Diluted Ammonia 1/2 cup household ammonia 1 gallon warm water Simply mix together in a [...]
• Clean Stove Burner Drip Pans: How To: For the nastiest of nasty drip pans. Materials Needed: Large stock pot or kettle Cascade dishwasher detergent (powdered) Instructions: Place the drip bans in the large pot, fill with hot water and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add 1/3 cup of the Cascade detergent, more if kettle is huge and pans are extra grimey. Boil for at least [...]
• Multipurpose Herb Vinegar: Recipe: Materials Needed: 1 cup finely chopped mixed fresh herbs (try basil, chives, mint, parsely) 2 cups white wine vinegar Heat resistant jar with lid Spray bottle Directions: Place chopped herbs in jar. Heat the vinegar in a glass pot (or non-reactive pot) and then pour over the herbs. Seal jar with lid and steep for three weeks. While steeping, shake the jar every other [...]