CLEANING TIPS

You can keep your bathroom shower cubicle sparkling clean longer by washing the whole shower stall, then waxing with car wax (not turtle wax as this is green, be sure to get clear wax). This keeps the dirt and grime from sticking.

Anita Jones

What has amazed me since setting up this site is the number products that can be, and are, used for a multitude of tasks - some obvious and others not so obvious.  I am always intrigued as to how these "quirky" uses are initially found out and the first example explains just that -

Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda)

• Baking soda on a damp sponge removes grease easily from stove, back splash etc.

• Also works great for carpet deodorising, just sprinkle onto carpet before going to bed and vacuum in the morning.

Thanks to Lisa Mighell for these two tips.

• Better than any cleaner for cleaning baths and sinks.

This tip was sent in by Linda Benedict who told me that her four year old grandson was in the bathroom "making snow".  When she investigated he had dumped the whole box of baking soda in the sink.  As she cleaned it up it made the sink sparkle so she tried it on the tub - same result with no scrubbing - tip was born!!!

• Baking Soda can be used for many jobs around the house, scrubbing sinks, bath tub, stove, refrigerator and laundry.   It leaves everything smelling nice and cleans just as good as any cleanser without scratching enamel.

 "Cethomas83" 

• Also for keeping pipes clean under the sink - pour about one quarter cup of baking soda down the drain with about 1 cup of vinegar, this makes a chemical reaction, then pour some hot water down the drain. Hey Presto!

 "babs2"

• Baking soda or Borax is also good for getting rid of unwanted insects, just sprinkle around cabinets and cupboards and other places the insects might run.

 Helen Elouise Baker

• If you burn a saucepan put in some baking soda and believe it or not Avon's Skin So Soft whilst it is still hot and allow to soak.  Apparently comes clean.

Emma Phillips assures me this works! 

• To minimise odours in your fridge, remove top from box of baking soda and place it on one of the shelves.  From time to time stir contents.

 Janet Smith.

Alka-Seltzer can be used to -

• 3 tablets down the kitchen sink followed by a cup of white vinegar. Leave for a few minutes then run hot water - cleans pipes.

• 4 tablets in the toilet will bring your bowl up sparkling clean.  Leave for an hour and then brush.

• 1 tablet in a cup of warm water.  Drop in your jewelry (NOT PEARLS OR OPALS) and leave for a few minutes. Sparkling.

 Denise George

• To freshen up a thermos flask, fill the flask with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets and let soak for an hour (or longer if necessary).

• To remove the stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.

An anonymous contributor forwarded these tips 

An anonymous contributor

Dryer Sheets*

*These are the fabric conditioner sheets used in tumble dryers.

• To remove baked on food from a pan, fill with very hot water and one dryer sheet and leave to soak for an hour or two.  Pour off the water, toss the sheet and wipe out the pan.  All the baked on food comes off easily.  If it does not come clean, leave to soak overnight.

Thank you "bluejayfoxy" and also Doreen and Craig Stocker

• When cleaning dust and animal hair from free standing fans, window unit air conditioner filters or venetian blinds, use a dryer sheet.  It not only removes dust and hair faster, but after prolonged use it creates a protective coating on the wires of the fan for even easier dust removal.

 Debbie George, Doreen and Craig Stocker

• Dust your television and computer screens with a used dryer sheet as this will reduce the static and prevent dust resettling.

• Clean shower doors with a used dryer sheet to dissolve soap scum.

• Collect animal hair by rubbing the area with dryer sheets, they will magically attract all the loose hairs.

 Doreen and Craig Stocker

Cathy Young has contacted me with the following warning regarding the above tip. "According to Anitra Frazier in The New Natural Cat, the chemicals in the fabric softener will adhere to your cat's fur (if you use it on something he lays on, such as a towel) and be licked off later. I stopped using fabric softener except rarely after reading this years ago because of my cats' tendency to lay on my clothes and not knowing what kind of toxic effects this could have for their liver over time."

Dishwasher Powder

• Another method of removing burnt food is to cover the area with dishwasher powder and enough water to make a paste.   Let it soak overnight and wash it clean the next day.

Idahobelle 

Also recommended by an anonymous contributor who says 3 tablespoons in hot water, left to soak for about an hour does the trick.

• To clean copper pans, give them a good scrub with dishwashing soap, then take a half a lemon and pour salt on it, use it to scrub the copper, you will see the shine come through.  Keep adding salt to the lemon as you clean.

 Mary Valencia

• To remove burnt on food from Pyrex dishes, soak them in Steradent Denture cleaner and hot water.

• To clean limescale from kettles or glass vases, soak in hot water and 1/3 brown vinegar.  Rinse kettle well, fill and boil water.  Empty completely, rinse again.

Both the above have been contributed by Janet Bowen, thanks.

• For stained or burnt coffee pot, sprinkle in "Comet" and add crushed ice.  Rotate the pot to make the ice do the scrubbing.  Also good for small necked glasses, bottles etc.

 Lyle.

• If you leave the coffee on too long and it burns.  Just pour the used coffee grounds in the pot, swish until you see the burnt particles are removed and it will just rinse out, no scrubbing needed.

• If any colored liquid is spilled on your carpet, including Koolaid or wine, immediately saturate*** the area in water and pat dry with a towel.  When my children were little they knew this and always ran for a large glass of water and a towel if they had a spill - my carpet was spotless.

• According to Heath Glover and Dyane Horner the best thing to remove "burnt stains" from pots and pans is good old drinking Coke.  Let is stand for about an hour and the stains practically wipe off!

Dyane also sent in the following two useful tips -

• To clean tv screens - use a very damp cloth that has been placed in water/clothes condition mix. 2/3 water to 1/2 cap of condition. then buff with any lint free cloth or paper towel etc. watch a shine appear and be static free. Can be used on other glass surfaces. 

• Limescale in kettle - use white vinegar - cover the element, boil the kettle. watch the scale disappear, may require to be repeated if heavy build up. Boil with fresh water before use. tip out, and is now ready for use.

• To get label glue off hard surfaces; wood, china, glass etc. use metal polish wadding like Duraglit or Brasso.