Tips on cleaning, using inexpensive household products.

CLEANING TIPS

(for other cleaning tips see our Kitchen and Living Room pages.

This page gives some suggestions on how to use everyday household products when cleaning; making the job easier and cheaper.

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.

Thank you 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.

Recommended by "Cethomas83" - thank you.

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!

Courtesy of "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.

A tip from Helen Elouise Baker - thank you

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! Thanks

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.

Thanks you 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 jewellery (NOT PEARLS OR OPALS) and leave for a few minutes. Sparkling.

Thanks to 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 - thanks.

Glass Cleaner

1/3 cup of cheap white vinegar, 1/3 cup of non-sudsy ammonia (preferably the yellow colour) and 1/3 cup rubbing alcohol. Mix in a spray bottle and top of with water. If you buy large containers of each ingredient this cuts costs even more.

Thanks to "Jen" for this one.

Follow this up by drying with old newspapers and put a very light application of furniture polish on them. This works well for keeping steam off mirrors after taking a bath or shower. It also makes cleaning easier next time.

Robbie contributed this tip - thank you.

To save money buy a gallon of window cleaner for your vehicle then pour into a spray bottle. It cleans as well as top brand cleaners and lasts a lot longer.

Use air freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job as well as leaving a lovely smell.

An anonymous contributor.

Silverware

Find a container large enough to immerse the item to be cleaned. Put a piece of aluminium foil into the container and add hot water and salt. Dip the silverware into the solution and after a few seconds it will become white and shining.

Sent in by Cristobal Reyes Perez - thanks.

As this is obviously caused by a chemical reaction I don't know if it would damage the silver in any way.

I have now been sent an explanation by Joseph Collins as to why the above works which is as follows:-

Cleaning silver with aluminium foil - the reason this works is Aluminium is very active metal and silver is quite inert so aluminium reacts with the (tarnished silver) and frees up the silver metal and removes the rest in a chemical reaction. Silver is fairly inert but will react with any sulphur compounds in the air which is why Silver slowly tarnishes.

Clean silver with the juice of a lemon and polish up with a soft clean cloth.

Use cotton buds to get into difficult crevices.

After cleaning your good silver to prevent it tarnishing, store it in an airtight plastic container.

Libby Tynan sent us this one, thanks.

Toothpaste is good for removing tarnish on Sliver. Coat the silver with toothpaste and then with it under warm water, work it into a foam using gentle pressure. Rinse well.

L. Allan

Easy way to clean sterling silver is to use Crest toothpaste a toothbrush and water. seconds of brushing and shine, shine, shine!

ktfitz

WARNING - toothpaste is mildly abrasive so don't rub hard. Be very wary when cleaning antiques as this can not only damage the item but may also affect it's value.

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.

Thanks to Debbie George and also 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.

More gems from Doreen and Craig Stocker

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.

Thanks to Idahobelle for this one.

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.

Thank you Mary Valencia for this one.

General

If you have any empty trigger spray bottles handy, rinse out, and put a good squirt of Domestos (household bleach) in with a small squirt of Fairy liquid (hand dishwashing liquid), and you have the best all round cleaner.
Shifts soap scum from showers and cleans the whole bathroom, kitchen, and believe it or not green algae from conservatory roofs. I have used this formula to clean pvc window frames and its a winner, try it.

Mike Broadley

When cleaning any stainless steal appliances in the kitchen, wipe down as normal with a damp cloth. Then use a piece of kitchen towel with a little baby oil and wipe down the surface. You can also use baby wipes, but this way is more expensive. These methods brings a lovely shine to the appliance. Baby wipes are also good for cleaning leather settee's and radiator's.

Jo Kulczycki - Cleaners For U Limited
Do you also hate the fact that the RVS splash back above the stove is never stripeless clean? (streaky)
Clean first with a normal grease removing product. Then sprinkle some olive oil onto a paper towel, gently rub it on the RVS and the result is remarkable!

Akkie Roll (Netherlands)
Put a sterilising tablet (the kind you would use for baby bottles) into a vase that has once held flowers it comes up lovely and clean and ready for the next lot of flowers to go into the vase.

Contribution from Ann from Ayr

After boiling the kettle, instead of just pouring the excess down the sink, use the boiling water and pour it down that sink overflow to keep it clean and sterilised. Not only will this reduce unpleasant smells but should you in a busy period leave the tap running the over flow will allow the excess water to escape safely and not flood the kitchen.

David Dempsey

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.

Thanks to "Lyle" for this one.

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 clean up shards of broken glass safely, put on some rubber gloves and use some masking tape to pick up the glass pieces. Or, alternatively, use a piece of fresh bread, the shards of glass stick into the bread easily and safely.

Please ensure the bread is discarded safely, away from people and pets.

Thanks to Tiffany Clauson for pointing this out.

To get those encrusted bits of food off your work surface, move the lid of a milk carton over the surface pressing hard, it will scrape them off easily and quickly without harming the surface.

Thanks to Pam in Bath for this one.

Cleaning Cambridge: Beebys Cleaning and Landscaping Group. Beebys cleaners have been cleaning office, retail and industrial premises in and around East Anglia and the Midlands for over 30 years.