Cleaning Tips

Cleaning Tips

I asked some of my family and friends to share with me some tips on cleaning that they have tried and really like –I also added some of my own – hope they help!

§ Try cleaning your bathtub with laundry detergent (liquid or powder). Just put a little bit of water in the bottom of the tub, add ½ a capful of detergent and wash away! It will take any soap scum right off!

§ Cleaning Shower Heads: Warm some vinegar in a microwave and pour into a ziplock bag large enough to place your shower fixture. Leave the shower head in the warm vinegar bath for about an hour. After that time, discard the vinegar and use a toothbrush to clean off any remaining mineral deposits. Rinse in warm water.

§ Removing Hairspray Residue: You can use this formula to remove hair spray residue from any hard surface -- vanities, tile, floors, walls, etc. Mix a solution of 1/3 liquid fabric softener and 2/3 water in a spray bottle. Spray on the surface to be cleaned, and wipe. Not only does it remove hair spray, it also acts as a dust repellent and shines vanities beautifully.

§ Removing soap scum form glass shower doors: Lemon oil or even plain mineral oil will remove soap scum quickly and easily and will help to keep it from coming back. Apply the oil with a scrubbing sponge and rub it across the dirty shower door surface. Buff with a soft cloth or paper towels to provide a haze-free shine. The oil provides a protective coating that keeps the water beading and the soap scum from adhering. Never put oil or allow it to drip on the floor of the shower; this will prevent good traction in the shower and may cause someone to fall.

§ Toilet Bowl Cleaning: Coca- Cola will remove stains from inside your toilet bowl. Just pour it in and let it sit for about an hour, giving the acid some time to work and then flush. Here's another tip: drop a couple of Alka Seltzer or denture cleaning tablets into your toilet. Let these dissolve and go to work and then flush. If you'd rather use a more conventional household item for bathroom cleaning, pour vinegar in the bowl and let it sit overnight (vinegar works well to get hard water stains off side of toilet bowl).

§ You can use liquid toilet bowl cleaner to clean your tub. Just pour it on and rub it around. Let it sit for awhile and it gets the stains out really well. (I learned this by accident. My daughter squirted it in the tub and left it for a while. A few days after she cleaned it I asked her what she had done because it was really white where she has poured the cleaner.)

§ Tile Cleaning Tip: It's not enough to give tile a wipe down every now and then. If not cleaned properly, grout will turn gray and dingy. Try this safe home remedy for cleaning bathroom tiles. Make a paste of baking soda and peroxide, apply to your grout, rub in with an old toothbrush and let sit for at least 30 minutes. For more heavy duty bathroom cleaning, dip your toothbrush in some bleach and give the grout a good scrub. Rinse by cleaning with a damp sponge.

§ Try washing your shower curtains in the washing machine with a big towel. Just put the detergent in like normal and then put a half of a cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle. Don't let the machine go to the spin cycle. Then just hang the curtain up. The wrinkles will go out. It only works if you have a towel with the shower curtain.

§ Homemade Laundry stain remover: 1 part household ammonia, 1 part liquid tide. Pour on stains and scrub. For tough ones pour on and let soak over night. I love this for orange baby food and diaper blow outs! It doesn't hurt or fade colors.

§ Homemade Scouring Cleaning: If you have a hard to remove stain and a surface that you can use a scouring cleaner on, trying sprinkling salt onto the stain and rubbing with a clean micro fiber cloth soaked in either lemon juice or white vinegar.

§ Cleaning with Vinegar: Cleaners don't have to be pricey or chemical-laden to be effective. In fact, they don't even have to be store-bought. Create your own all-purpose cleaner by filling a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water. Then, shake up the mixture, and you're ready for your next cleaning spree. Why This Works: The acetic acid in vinegar kills viruses, germs, bacteria and mold. It also dissolves tough mineral deposits and stains like those found in sinks, toilets and tubs.

§ I use baking soda & vinegar to clean all of my tubs, sinks and counters, fridge, etc. Vinegar is a disinfectant and the baking soda is a scouring agent. It works well and is cheaper than other cleaning supplies. I do occasionally use a cleaner with bleach to keep things white though. I also use lemon juice around my kitchen and bathroom faucets. It gets the hard water build--up & smells a lot better than the lime-away. Besides the cost savings I also like using these things to clean because then I don't have to freak out so much when one of the kids wants to come in and be in the middle of everything while I am cleaning. The vinegar smell goes away after you rinse things and they dry. Baking soda gets crayons and pens off the walls. I have found it works just as good as magic eraser and it is much cheaper.

§ I love vinegar! It works so great for any hard water spots that you can't get with any other cleaner. It stinks for a minute but it goes away just as quick as all that gunk on your shower doors and sinks.

§ I love ammonia for cleaning my jewelry; it works so great for all the sterling silver jewelry that I have. I even clean my wedding ring with it occasionally. If you just put your jewelry in a small cup of it and let it sit for a few hours it works best.

§ You know the black scuffs and such on your walls and baseboards? Well my grandma taught me to use hairspray. Iit works like the magic erasers you can buy now but most women already have it in their home.

§ For a great once-a-month drain cleaner, pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the drain, follow with 1/2 cup white vinegar -- it will foam. Cover and let sit 30 minutes and then flush with cool water. For stubborn, slow-running drains, pour 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup salt down the drain. Follow this with 2 quarts boiling water. Let sit 30 minutes, then flush with cool water.

§ I like "20 Mule team Borax Laundry booster.” There are a lot of things people can use it for, obviously most use it for a laundry booster. But I like it best for odor problems. Now that I have a dog- it works great! After he peed in my car, I just poured this stuff on, rubbed it in good, and when it dried I vacuumed it up. I had to do it again, but now there is no trace of it. It also works well with odor stains on mattresses.

§ Outside Windows: Combine the following in a bucket. 2 quarts of warm water and 1/2 cup of cornstarch. Mix well and then wash the window with the solution using a sponge. A natural sponge is the best choice. Then simply buff dry for a fantastic shine.

§ Stuff plastic grocery sacks in an empty Kleenex box to store them.

§ Find plastic tubs or bright colored containers for kids toys. Draw or tape a picture on the front (like balls, trucks, dishes etc.) so small children know what goes in them - helps them to help you pick up.

§ Check out this website: www.flylady.com. Four or five people recommended this website and nothing else. It has a lot of great ideas and a cool system for cleaning and organization.