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HOME CARE & CLEANING TIPS (Note: these are just some tips I’ve seen in various articles—I have not tried all of these myself, so can’t vouch for their effectiveness!)

  • Stock your cleaning caddy with: a scrub brush, wood cleaner, gloves, sponge (to sanitize, microwave wet sponge 1 to 2 minutes), Magic Eraser (for stubborn scuffs and spots), sanitizing wipes, multipurpose cleaner, Bon Ami (scours without scratching), microfiber cloth, glass cleaner, distilled vinegar (good for fighting bacteria and mildew). Source: Better Homes and Garden, October 2017

DIY CLEANERS:

  • Rubbing alcohol disinfectant: Mix one part rubbing alcohol to one part water in a spray bottle. Use to disinfect germy areas. You can also use in on a cotton pad to clean earring posts, thermometers, and other personal items.
  • Wood furniture polish: Mix 2 parts Olive Oil with 1 part Lemon Juice in a jar or container with a lid. Shake well and apply a small amount to wood surfaces with a clean cloth. Let it soak kin, then wipe dry.
  • Stone, marble, ceramic tile, and vinyl floor cleaner: Add 2 ounces of Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap to a bucket of warm water, then mop.
  • Carpet stain cleaner: For carpet stains (red wine, tea, coffee), cover the entire spot with a thick layer of salt. Let the salt soak up the stain, then vacuum up the salt. Source: Country Home, April 2008
  • Clean the leaves of houseplants by wiping them with cold diluted tea.
  • Clean a vase: When residue clings to unreachable spots inside a vase or decanter, fill the container with warm water and drop in one or two denture-cleaning tablets for every eight ounces of warm water. Let the fizzy solution sit for the time directed, then rinse.
  • Dust a ceiling fan: Slide an old pillowcase over the blade of a ceiling fan, then wipe as you pull it back over the blade. The dust and dirt buildup will stay inside the pillowcase as you pull it off.
  • Dust venetian blinds: Close the blinds, then wipe up and down with a dryer sheet. Source: RealSimple
  • Treat water rings on wood: To treat water rings on wood furniture left by wet glasses, create a mixture of equal amounts of vinegar and olive oil. Apply with a soft cloth, moving in the same direction as the wood grain. Buff with a clean, soft cloth.
  • CLEANING WITH WHITE VINEGAR: Source: RealSimple
    • Remove coffee or tea stains from the bottom of a cup—swish 2 Tablespoons of vinegar around in the cup, then wash.
    • Wipe salt stains off boots by dipping a cloth into vinegar and rubbing off the residue.
    • Make sweaters fluffier—add a couple of capfuls of vinegar during the rinse cycle for extra-soft sweaters.
    • Deodorize a garbage disposal—make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal. After grinding, run cold water through the drain.
    • Clean a teakettle or coffeemaker—boil a mixture of water and vinegar in a teakettle, then wipe away the grime. Fill the reservoir of a coffeemaker with a mixture of vinegar and water and run it through a brewing cycle. Follow with several cycles of water to rinse.
    • Clean your dishwasher—empty the dishwasher and run a cup of vinegar through an entire cycle to reduce soap buildup.
  • CLEANING WITH BAKING SODA: Use 4 different ways:
    • An open box—remove the top of the box of baking soda and place where needed to reduce odors.
    • Make a cleaning solution—Dissolve 4 tablespoons in 1 quart warm water. To clean a bathtub, dissolve 1/2  of a 16-ounce box in a full bathtub.
    • Make a cleaning paste—Add just enough water to whatever amount of baking soda you are using to make a paste.
    • Sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth or sponge or directly on an area you want to clean.
    • Remove crayon, pencil, ink, and furniture scuffs from painted surfaces by Sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge—rub clean and rinse. Source: RealSimple
    • Unclog a drain—pour 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour 1/2 to 1 cup white vinegar after it. Let sit for 5 minutes (covered, if possible), then follow with a gallon of boiling water. Source: RealSimple
    • Scrub pans by sprinkling baking soda on crusted casseroles and roasting pans and let sit for 5 minutes. Lightly scrub and rinse. Source: RealSimple
    • Clean up minor oil and grease spills on a garage floor or driveway—sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush to lift the liquid. Source: RealSimple

ENTRYWAY

LIVING ROOM

  • DUST WOODEN FURNITURE with olive oil! Apply a bit of oil to a cloth and wipe. Source: RealSimple

KITCHEN

  • NATURALLY SCENT YOUR HOME: Place orange rinds, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and fresh ginger in a saucepan with water. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer, and your home will have a great aroma.
  • CLEAN YOUR MICROWAVE three ways:
    • 1. By placing a quart-size (4-cup) microwave-safe bowl filled with chopped citrus and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Heat until water boil, then let water cool for at least 15 minutes before opening the door, and wipe out the microwave.
    • 2. Another option: warm a mug of half hot water and half distilled white vinegar in the microwave. The steam will help loosen caked-on stains. Then wipe clean.
    • 3. A third option: Fill a coffee mug with water and a few slices of lemons; put it in the middle of the microwave’s tray. Cook on a high setting for about 3 minutes, then turn off the microwave. Leave mug inside for another 3 minutes (the steam will soften food spills and the hot lemon will eliminate food odors). Open the door and remove the mug. Wipe down the sides with warm, soapy water to remove residue and food. Then rinse and dry with a clean dishcloth. Source: RealSimple
  • CLEAN YOUR REFRIGERATOR: Add 2 Tablespoons baking soda or dish soap to a quart of warm water and wash all inside surfaces. Rinse with clear water and dry with a clean cloth. Then wash the drawers and shelves in the sink with dishwashing liquid and warm water, then wipe dry. Use the same solution to clean the door gasket (the rubber bumper that seals the refrigerator shut). For door handles, add a Tablespoon of dish soap to a quart of water—use this to clean and disinfect the door handles. No need to wipe dry. Source: RealSimple
  • CLEAN BEHIND YOUR REFRIGERATOR every 6 months. Pull it out from the wall and vacuum the coils and back—anyplace that dust gathers. Clean coils help the refrigerator from working harder than it has to, to keep things cool.
  • CLEAN YOUR DISHWASHER: Pour 2 cups of distilled white vinegar in a bowl and then place the bowl in the bottom of your empty dishwasher. Run the dishwasher. This will clean it and you’ll have sparking dishes again. Do this about once a month.
  • CLEAN YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL: To clear your disposal of blockage and buildup, combine ice and salt (or vinegar), and add some citrus peels. Put this in your disposal, run it, and this mixture will clean and freshen it.
  • SHINE STAINLESS STEEL or chrome with a little olive oil. Source: RealSimple

DINING ROOM

  • CLEANING VINTAGE GLASSWARE: Wash glasses carefully in a plastic bowl or small plastic tub (with a towel or foam mat underneath) using warm water and a little liquid soap, one piece at a time. If the glass is very dirty or greasy, add a few drops of household ammonia to the water UNLESS the piece is gilded. Dry each glass with a lint-free cloth or glass upside down and let air dry in a safe place for 24 hours. If glasses appear dull, add a little salt to the water (dullness or cloudiness can be caused by hard water). Source: Kaari Meng, The French-Inspired Home

BEDROOM

  • FOR THE CLOSET: A bundle of dried lavender makes a good moth repellant.
  • Keep drawers smelling fresh and clean with a dryer sheet place in the bottom of the drawer—an inexpensive sachet!

BATHROOM

  • DIY ANTI-BACTERIAL CLEANING SOLUTION: Mix 1 teaspoon of bleach per 1 quart of water.
  • BEST PAINT FOR BATHROOMS: High gloss or satin paints have been the traditional choice, but you don’t have to use high-gloss paint if you prefer matte–as long as you use one with a mildew-resistant matte finish, like the Aura Bath & Spa line from Benjamin Moore. Other features of this paint: self-priming, zero VOC, good color selection. Source: Martha Stewart Living, May 2018 issue
  • KEEP SHOWER CURTAINS SLIDING EASILY by applying a thin coat of petroleum jelly to the curtain rod.
  • KEEP SHOWER DOORS CLEAN using shaving cream. Apply cream to doors and wipe off—it helps shower doors keep shiny, fog-free, and also removes built-up soap scum (you can use it to clean fixtures too).
  • CITRUS CLEANER: Wet tub or shower and sprinkle salt over the wet area. Cut a grapefruit in half and start scrubbing as if it were a sponge. Squeeze the grapefruit as you are going along so the citrusy juice gets all over the surface. When done, rinse off the area you scrubbed with water or wipe down with a wet rag.

HOME OFFICE

  • CLEAN SCISSORS that have become sticky with a cloth dipped i undiluted vinegar.
  • UNSEAL AN ENVELOPE: If you seal a letter and then realize you forgot to include something, place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two to unseal it.
  • Prevent old books from smelling musty: Stick a dryer sheet between the pages of each book. Source: RealSimple

LAUNDRY ROOM

  • FOR COLOR FABRICS: Add 1 Tablespoon table salt to your wash (linens as well as clothes). The chloride in the salt will help seal in the color in the fabrics.
  • KEEP BED SHEETS ORGANIZED: Store your sheet sets folded neatly inside one of the pillowcases—everything will stay smooth and kept together.
  • CLEAN YOUR IRON: Remove residue from the soleplate of your iron by setting it on low heat, then rubbing the iron over a dryer sheet until the residue disappears.
  • DRY CLOTHES FASTER: To speed up the drying process, toss a dry bath towel in with your wet clothes.
  • CARING FOR VINTAGE LINENS: Items with hand stitching should be soaked in lukewarm water and cleaned with powdered soap; heavier fabrics can be cleaned in the washing machine with mild detergent and cold water, using the quickest, most gentle wash cycle (add 1/4 cup white vinegar during the final rinse cycle); if possible, line dry linens to retain color and preserve delicate fabrics—if using a machine dryer, use the permanent press cycle; If ironing, use two or three towels on the ironing board in addition to the standard pad. For added crispness, use spray-on starch and for scented linens, spray distilled water mixed with a few drops of essential oil; between uses, store linens in a white cotton pillowcase to protect them from bright light and dust (wash pillowcases several times, even if new, to make sure dyes and other preservatives are removed); store linens at room temperature, avoiding attics and basements. Source: Kaari Meng, The French-Inspired Home
  • POWDERED LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR VINTAGE/DELICATE FABRICS: Combine 1 cup grated heavy-duty laundry soap bar, 1/2 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup borax, and 2 teaspoons essential oil (lavender works well). Makes enough for 8-10 loads of laundry. Source: Kaari Meng, The French-Inspired Home
  • REMOVE STATIC from clothing (and even hair!) by wiping the charged surface with a dryer sheet. Source: RealSimple

KIDS’ BEDROOM/PLAYROOM

FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS/DRIED FLOWERS

  • Preserve cut flowers and liven up droopy ones by adding 2 Tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar to a quart of water in a vase.

PORCH & PATIO

  • ICY WALKWAYS AND STEPS: Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on icy patches on walkways and steps. It’s easier on cement than salt and helps make the area less slippery.

HOME ORGANIZATION 

  • Organize wrapping paper by slicing through a toilet paper or paper towel tube lengthwise, and use it as a cuff around a roll of wrapping paper to keep it from unrolling in storage.

HOME MAINTENANCE

  • PREP WALLS FOR PAINTING: Fill nail holes before painting by rubbing the holes with white bar soap or filling with (non-gel) toothpaste.
  • PAINT SPATTERS ON WINDOWS: Use hot vinegar to remove paint spatters. Wearing rubber gloves on both hands, dip a clean cloth into the vinegar and then wipe over the paint spatters on the window to remove them.
  • DENT-FREE CARPETS: To remove carpet dents after moving furniture around, take ice cubes that are about the size of each dent and place an ice cube in each dent. Allow them to melt down completely and dry. This will cause the carpet to eventually rise back up.
  • PICTURE-HANGING: Wall studs are magnetic, so to find a wall stud when hanging pictures or other items, tie a short string to a magnet from your refrigerator. Hold it near the wall and move it along until the magnet swings toward the wall. That’s where the stud is!
  • UNCLOG A DRAIN: Pour a cup of baking soda down a clogged drain and follow by pouring down a large potful of boiling water (wear padded kitchen mitts or gloves as you’re handling the handles of the hot pot). Let sit overnight, then flush the drain with hot water in the morning (If the drain empties after pouring down the first pot of hot water, pour down another pot, then let cool water run from the tap for a few minutes).
  • WOOD FURNITURE DINGS: Rub walnut meat on damaged wood furniture to cover up dings.
  • CLEAN WOODWORK: Use cold tea to clean woodwork, wiping with a dry rag afterward to remove moisture.
  • DEODORIZE GARBAGE DISPOSAL:  Freshen your garbage disposal by cutting up a lemon or orange (seeds removed), and placing it in the disposal. Run the disposal with cold water running. ANOTHER WAY is to pour 1/2 cup of salt directly into the garbage disposal, then run the disposal with cold water running.
  • GREASE FIRES: Grease fires should be smothered—use a cookie sheet, a large dish bowl dunked in water and rung out well, or a pot lid. Don’t douse the grease fire in water. A mix of baking soda and salt will extinguish the fire completely.
  • CLEANING TOOLS: When tools get gummed up with oil and grease, soak them overnight in Coca-Cola®—it should remove the grease and make them shine.
  • RUSTY TOOL TIP: Get rid of rust on tools, screws, and bolts by soaking them overnight or for several days in undiluted white distilled vinegar. Or try soaking them in Coca-Cola—some people say that gets rid of the grease and makes the tools shine.
  • LEATHER CLEANER: Remove ballpoint pen marks from leather by spraying the spot lightly with hairspray, then rubbing with a clean cloth. May need to repeat a second time.
  • CHROME POLISH: To shine chrome sink fixtures that have lime buildup, use a paste made of 2 Tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.
  • FURNITURE SCRATCHES: Repair scratches on furniture or hardwood floors by rubbing shelled nuts into the shallow scratches. The natural oils of the nuts help hide the scratches.
  • CLEAN DRYER HOSE: Disconnect and vacuum out your dryer hose for a more efficient dryer.You can also trim the hose it so that it’s just long enough to pull the dryer a few feet out from the wall—a short, unobstructed line could save money on utilities and clothes will dry faster.
  • HEALTHY AIR: Indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air from common household products like cleaning supplies and formaldehyde-containing furniture. OPEN THE WINDOWS for a daily dose of fresh air (at least 5 minutes) and fill your home with green plants—Rubber Plants, Peace Lillies, Ivy, and Golden Pothos are especially good at drawing toxic gases like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide out of the air. If burning candles, use clean-burning soy candles.

CAR TIPS

  • FROST-FREE WINDOWS: Keep your car windows frost-free overnight in winter by coating them with a solution of 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water.
  • DE-ICE CAR WINDOWS: Fill a spray bottle with window cleaner and one teaspoon of antifreeze. Keep on hand to de-ice your car windows and mirrors throughout winter.
  • CHROME CLEANER: Use club soda to clean your car’s chrome—just pour it on a clean cloth and polish the chrome.
  • REMOVE DECALS AND BUMPER STICKERS by repeatedly spraying them with full-strength vinegar. They should peel off in a few hours.