Easy Exterior Clean

It is spring, and you are starting to clean up the yard and the exterior of the house in preparation for summer.

You notice that the siding is a bit dirty and just water isn't really doing the job.

Grab your insecticide sprayer that attaches to your hose. Add a small amount of appropriate detergent. (make sure that it is safe for plants if you have plants at the base of your house)

Now just hook up to your hose and start spraying. When you are done, simply use a high pressure nozzle to rinse the grime away.

While you are doing this it is a good idea to clean out your gutters also!

Cleaning Window Coverings

Spring is here! Time to clean everything! Remember that it does not all have to be done at once. Each day, tackle a little project, before you know it they will all be done.

Using your vacume cleaner vacume the hanging curtains both front adn back. If you have it, use an upholstery attachment for the best suction with out sucking up the whole curtain.

If you have valances, or some hard to clean corners, grab a can of compressed air.

Don't forget your window tracks! Gently vacume each track and wipe down with a damp rag to remove any additional debris that might have been left.

Dishwasher Cleaning

At the beginning of each season I take a few minutes to clean the dishwasher. This will help to make sure that there is no buildup of smells and keeps it running clean.

Grab a sponge and add a bit of your dishwasher cleaner to it. Gently wipe down all the walls and racks of the dishwasher.

When you are done, sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and turn on for the smallest cycle.

Cleaning Wallpaper

Wallpaper is nice, but very hard to keep clean.

If you notice that yours needs to be freshened up a bit, you can do this quite easily on your own.

Simply combine about 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda.

Using a sponge or a rag, gently start cleaning your wallpaper.

One word of warning though, once you start, you may not be able to stop until you have a whole wall done or it will be noticeable.

Comforter Care

Spring is here and it is time to store the comforters until the fall. Before you bag them up, don't forget to spot clean and air them out.

Take a few minutes for each one to check the seams for any holes to be mended. Then check for any spots that may need to be cleaned.

When you are ready to store them, don't! Hang them out in the sun for a few hours. If you don't have a line, lay over some lawn furnature to allow air to ciruclate.

When you are ready to store, grab a large garbage bag for each one, some duct tape and the vacume cleaner.

Place the comforter in the garbage bag. Using the attachment hose from the vacume cleaner insert it into the bag and gently bunch the bag around the nozzle.

Turn on the vacume cleaner to remove most of the air from the bag. Gently pull the hose out and twist the bag closed. Fold the twist in half to secure tightly and duct tape closed.

Fold and place into an extra pillow case and it should stay compacted until you need it again!

Clean or Not Clean??

Since most of us are in the habit or rinsing off dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, it can be really difficult to tell if the dishes are clean or dirty.

Here is an easy tip that doesn't cost anything to help you!

If you have problems telling if the dishes in your washer are dirty or clean, you can take a cup and place it upright on the top rack.

When you wash the dishes, water will accumulate in the cup. Now when you open the door, if the cup is empty, the dishes are dirty. If the cup is full, the dishwasher has been run and the dishes are clean.

Don’t forget to take the cup out and empty it, replace it once the washer has been emptied so you are ready for the next load.

Dish Soap Blues

You just bought some powdered dish washing detergent, and now it is a lumpy mess.

What can you do???

For starters do not store it under the sink. It can be very damp there and cause your detergent to clump up.

Once it does clump, if you use it with out breaking it down, you will most likely get unsatisfactory results because dish washing detergent that is clumpy may not dissolve completely.

Unfortunately there is no easy way to get the lumps out once it has gotten wet. you can try to let it dry out thoroughly, remove from the box and break up by hand. Once you have broken it up into fine pieces, store in an airtight container.

It still may not work as well, so if you just keep it for doing things like washing the car or outdoor items, that would be the best. Just buy a new box for doing dishes and make sure that you store it in a dry location.

Cleaning Small Items

To quickly and easily clean small items fill up a bowl with some water and cleaner.

Place your hand in a rubber glove and then pull on a cotton glove.

Now just dip your hand in your soapy water and clean away.

Handy Wipes

I got so used to having diaper wipes around when my daughter was little, that I have found that I can’t live with out them now.

I leave a container of them in my car, if there is a little spill or even smelly hands after pumping gas, you can use one to clean up.

Clean Tub Toys

We all know how much kids like to take baths with toys, but if you don't dry your toys properly you might be opening the door for mold and mildew to start.

Even if you give your kids a bath every night, you can still be harboring some unwanted friends. After your bath ritual each time, add these few extra steps to make sure that you keep the toys germ free.

After you have emptied the tub, make sure that all of the toys are thoroughly dry.

If there are cups or containers, make sure that you turn them upside down and let them drain thoroughly.

About once a month, run the toys through the dishwasher to clean and sanitize them.

If you have smaller toys, place them into a mesh bag so that they don't get jammed up in the mechanism of your washer.

If you can, try not to get any squirting toys as it is hard to keep them dry inside. If you have a few that you just can’t live without, about once a month make up a mix of 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon of bleach. Fill each toy and let sit for 10-15 minutes and then squirt out into the sink. Rinse with clean water well before placing back in the tub.

KEEPING SHOWER CURTAINS CLEAN

You have a lovely shower curtain in the bathroom but it seems like every time you turn around you are battling mildew.

No matter what shower curtain I have in the bathroom, I always pick up a liner from the dollar store or discount store that compliments it.

Now when the shower is used, the inexpensive one is placed inside the tub, and the decorative one is left out side.

Just before you step out of the shower, take a moment to use your hands to "squee-gee" some of the water from the interior curtain.

Once you get out of the shower, slide the curtains closed so that air get dry the curtains naturally.

When you are done dressing, or later you can go back and open them up if desired.

CLEANING SMALL SPOTS OFF UPHOLSTRY

You just noticed that your toddler has drug some dirt or something in, now it is on your upholstered chair.

You don't have to call a professional cleaner, there are a few things that you can try yourself first.

You can remove dry spots with a sticky lint roller, or grab a piece of tape and wrap it around your finger sticky side out.

Use that to gently dab at the spot and pick up the remains. (This will only work for dry dirt, or anything that is not/nor has been wet)

KEEPING THE BATHROOM SINK CLEAN

When I am washing up in the bathroom, I only use a washcloth once.

If you use a washcloth more than once you run the risk of exposing your skin to bacteria they may build up on it throughout the day.

After I am done washing my face, I will use the damp rag to wipe off the shower or sink and fixtures.

I immediately toss the rag into the laundry, and when I do the wash I will wash it with bleach.

Now each time you walk into the bathroom the fixtures are clean and it will help prevent buildup.

LEMON FRESH SHOWER DOORS

Cleaning shower doors is a battle that everyone has. You keep cleaning the shower doors, but when they dry they still look cloudy.

One way to help prevent this after you have cleaned it is to wipe down the entire surface with some lemon oil.

This will help keep some of the cloudyness from coming back.

HAIRSPRAY CLEANUP

You noticed that when you spray your hairspray it gets all over the floor, the door, the wall, and basically everywhere else in your bathroom as well as your head.

If you can, step into your shower or tub when you spray.

Now the excess spray will adhere to the tub and walls, and will be washed off the next time that you take a shower.

You will notice that your bathroom is much easier to clean up in the long run.

MILDEW IN THE BATH OR SHOWER

There are a billion products on the market for cleaning mildew from your bath or shower. I still find that the best thing that works is plain old bleach.

I take a spray bottle and fill it 1/2 full with water and the other half with bleach. Mark the bottle clearly that it is Bleach and Water, as well as POISON.

Now when you are done taking a shower or bath, spray the tub and walls with your bleach solution.

Take extreme care not to spray it on yourself or in your eyes, use it in a well ventilated room, and ensure that you are not getting it on any fabric.

This will help keep mildew at bay, and will also leave your bathroom smelling fresh.

WAX ON WOOD

You just got done serving a lovely dinner to your guests. After visiting for a bit they leave and you start to clean up.

As you clean up you notice that one of the candles dripped onto the top of your table.

Great, how are you going to get that off with out scratching up the table?

Grab a plastic spoon and use it as a scraper. Once you have removed all of the wax, simply clean the table as you normally would.

SCRATCHED SURFACES

You are cleaning the house and you noticed that the great looking vase that you bought last year is scratching up the bookshelf that you placed it on.

There are a couple of different products that you can use to help prevent this.

Run down to the store and pick up a package of Felt, Cork, or Plastic feet.

These are little pads that have an adhesive back. Peel off the adhesive and place directly on the bottom of the object that is doing the damage.

Make sure that you have one at least every inch or so around the whole base.

If you don't the item may not sit flat and may fall off balance and break.

NAPKIN MAYHEM

You are getting really tired of buying napkins just to find them strewn all over the kitchen or storage area. You are throwing out more than you are using it seems.

Save some money and some time by buying some fingertip towels or regular kitchen towels to use instead.

Now when you are done with a meal all you have to do is toss them in the wash.

Once they get a little worn and are no longer pleasant to look at, toss them out with the shop rags.

CLEANING CHROME

When you are cleaning your bathroom fixtures you notice that the white film keeps coming back. You have tried everything and it is even building up on the shower head.
You can easily get rid of this white buildup by soaking a rag in vinegar and draping it over your faucet.

After about an hour, remove the rag and thoroughly wipe off the whole fixture.

This will clean chrome like a dream.

For harder to clean shower heads, remove the shower head and drop it in a bowl of vinegar for at least an hour.

Using a soft brush or a toothbrush clean the holes and rinse well inside and out to remove any debris.

Now you have a sparkling clean bathroom!

Getting Rid of Smoke Odors

More and more people are not smoking indoors anymore. Sometimes when it cannot be prevented you need to find ways to get rid of the odor. There are lots of products out there for the air, but ashtrays can retain quite a bit of odor on their own.

Make up a paste of Baking Soda and water to use as a scrubbing compound for cleaning ash trays. After the tray is clean, you can sprinkle a bit into the bottom of it before it is used to help keep down the smell.

CLEANING THE TUB/SHOWER

You are tired of breaking your back cleaning the bathtub/shower. The next time that you are ready to clean the tub grab your sponge mop.

Drizzle a little cleaner on the head and scrub away.

Now you can reach all those hard to get to locations.

When you are done, just use a damp cloth and clean off the fixtures.

Cleanding with Brushes

When you are cleaning, keep a broad assortment of brushes on hand in your cleaning kit.

Paintbrushes, old fasioned shaving brush, extra toilet brush (that has not been used in toilet)

Use paint brushed for getting to hard to reach places.

Use a shaving brush for cleaning delicate items.

Use toilet brush for getting into hard to reach places with out straining your back too much.

Dusting the Fridge

You may not know this but you do need to clean dust from around the refrigerator at least twice a year. This will help the refrigerator to run more efficiently.

If you have a long handled ice scraper with a brush on one end, this can be a great tool for cleaning the coils behind the refrigerator and underneath the fridge. Be carful not to knock anything loose though!

Dryer Sheets

I actually used dryer sheets for a lot more than what they are designed for.

Grab one and leave it next to your glasses or in the case. Use it to clean your glasses. It will help prevent them from fogging up on you.

Keep one next to your computer monitor to clean off the dust. It will work to repel dust from the surface also.

Cleaning Clutter

Every now and then take a look at everything in a room. Ask yourself a few simple questions:

Have you touched it in the last year? Is it broken and never been fixed, or can be fixed?

Typically I will set these items aside for a yard sale or craig's list.

If I find that I need it before the sale I pull it out.

When I have enough accumulated I start getting ready for a sale.

Directional Dusting

The easiest way to dust is to pick a room to start with.

Grab a soft cloth and some dusting spray or oil. This will prevent some dust from floating off into the air.

Starting from the top or highest point, and work your way down. Now as you knock dust off one shelf you will pick it up again as you continue down.

Cleaning a Tad at a Time

To help keep cleaning tolerable, set aside 10 minutes a day. It can be in the morning, afternoon or evening.

Set a stop watch or a timer and pick a room. See how much you can get done in the 10 minutes.

You can even crank up the tunes and dance while you clean and maybe burn off some extra calories too!

Green Cleaning

Instead of using paper towels and deposable dusters, use cotton cloths and rags.

When you are done, just toss in the wash and re-use again.

It will not only save you money, but you can also save the environment at the same time.

Multi-Task Cleaning

When cooking, why not multi-task and clean out the refrigerator inbetween steps.

You can glance in the fridge, see what is old and needs to be tossed. It only takes a few minutes, but makes you feel great.

Cornered Again!

Planning ahead just a little always pays off in the end.

When you are cleaning floors, take a look at the room and see where the exits are. Now set up your supplies so that you work your way from one end of the room to the exit.

Now you won't have to walk across the floor that you just cleaned and may still be wet.

Consistant Cleaning

You hate to clean, but it does have to be done. Did you know that if you cleaned consistantly that you can actually save money?

If you vacume at least once a week really well, your carpet will last longer.

If you wash your clothes properly, they will wear longer. (read the labels)

If you dust and cleans shelves and walls consistantly, you will not have to paint as often.

Cleaning light fixtures and light bulbs occasionally will keep your light fixtures operating bright and effecient.

Wiping down the microwave after each use will help it to last longer.

Family Cleanup

It seems that you can never get caught up. Between working and your kids activities it seems that the house is loosing the battle.

Here is another hint to help get your family involved in cleaning.

Set aside a half an hour each night just before everyone goes to bed as a designated time to do a quick clean up.

Everyone will be assigned an area, or their own items to pick up. Now you will have less work to do to keep the house organized.

Permanent Marker Mayhem

Your kids were coloring and little did you know they grabbed some permanent markers. They now have marker all over the lonolium floor. There may be a way to clean this up easily (It may not work on all surfaces, but it is worth a try!)

Grab a can of aerosol hairspray (usually the cheaper the better) Spray liberally so that there is literally a puddle on the floor where the marker was used. Let it sit for a moment and use a moist soapy rag to clean up. With any luck all of it will be lifted from the floor.

Annoying Ink Stain

You just noticed that you got a ball point ink stain on your favorite shirt. You have tried everything to get it out.

It is actually simpler than you think. Grab a can of aerosol hairspray, usually the cheaper the better. Spray the stain thoroughly so that it is soaked with the hairspray. Now, grab a bar of hand soap and gently rub on the ink mark. Take the garment to the sink and gently rub out the ink in cold water.

If you don't get it all out, repeat until the stain is gone.

Easy Pet Hair Remover

You are trying to get ready to go and you notice that you have pet hair all over your outfit. You can't find the hair roller, or you don't have one. What can you use?

Go to the kitchen sink and pull out a rubber glove that you use for protecting your hands when doing dishes. Put it on and gently start rubbing the hair off your clothes.

Keep one in your car for quick touch ups before appointments.

Towel Etiquette

Everyone has towels in the bathroom, but have you actually thought for a minute about how long it has been there? Is it sanitary?

In the moist environment of the bathroom, bacteria and/or mold can propigate quickly. Here are some rules of thumb for preventing buildup and cleaning out towels that may have already become stale.

First things first, do not use towels more than 2 times. Even though you can't see it dirt, perspiration and body oils are transferred to the towel each time that it is used. This will go doubly so if you have children in the house as they tend not to was as thoroughly as they should.

When cleaning the towels, I separate into 2 loads. Colors and whites. Only fill the washer about half full. A lot of movement and water contact is needed to clean towels thoroughly.

After you have loaded the machine add a detergent booster such as Borax or and Oxi based laundry detergent. When possible wash with bleach to kill microbes.

Before starting the machine set it on the highest hot water setting and the washer on the longest cycle setting.

Once the wash cycle is done remove the towels immediately and place in the dryer. Dry the towels thoroughly. If you put them away damp, bacteria can build up before you even get a chance to use them.

Cleaning Kids Clothes

Kids can be messy, it is a fact of life. As you look at their clothes and shoes, they are dirty and sometimes full of grass stains.

To easily get clean dirty shoes grab your bottle of ammonia and an empty spray bottle. Fill it with full strength ammonia. Now simply spray the shoes and using a damp rag wipe off the surface of the shoes.

To get rid of grass stains from clothing, use the same bottle of ammonia spray the grass stain thoroughly and let soak for a moment. Now rinse thoroughly using warm water. If the stain persists, continue the process to your satisfaction.

If you are going to leave the ammonia in the spray bottle, do not forget to mark it well.

Cleaning Taps

You are cleaning the bathroom and you notice that the sink needs a bit of help. The faucet is covered with water spots and tooth paste.

Grab a bottle of vinegar and pour some onto a rag and use it to rub away all of the spots.

Home Made Scouring Powder

You are cleaning the kitchen and you just ran out of scouring powder. You don't have time to run to the store to get more. Chances are you have all the ingredients to make your own at home.

From the kitchen, grab a box of baking soda. From the laundry room grab the box of Borax.

In a bowl combine 1 part baking soda to 2 parts of borax. Using a fork combine them well.

To clean, simply sprinkle some onto the surface that you would like to clean and rub with a damp cloth. Rinse well with warm water and buff dry with a dry paper towel or cloth.

You can use this for cleaning sinks, walls, bathtubs or most any other non-porous surfaces.

Cleaning Chocolate Stains

Your kids (or you) enjoy chocolate too much! You usually find it all over clothes. It is extremely hard to get out.

Fill a bowl about half full with warm water. Add a few tablespoons of water softner. Using a spoon mix well.

Now just place in the article of clothing that has the stain in the solution and gently rub the stain out.

Cleaning Silver

You have some silver that needs to be cleaned but you don't like to use all of the harsh chemicals. You can actually clean it easily with items from your kitchen.

Grab a aluminum pie plate, foil pie plate or bowls that has been lined with aluminum foil. Add in about a teaspoon of regular table salt (1 teaspoon per quart of water) Now add a bit of water softener (optional, can be found in the laundry aisle) Now add about a cup of hot water. Stir gently to combine.

Gently place in your silver that you would like to clean. The tarnish disappears almost instantly. Remove the items from the pan and rinse with cool water and dry completely.

Do not use this method on jewelry that has stones or antique finishes.

Cleaning Burner Pans on Stove

The burner pans on the stove are covered will spilled and burned on food. You scrub and scrub but have a hard time removing all of the stains.

Here is a quick solution that should help you clean them easily.

Grab some Cream of Tarter and some white vinegar. Pour some Cream of Tarter and the White Vinegar together to make a thin paste.

Using a soft rag apply to the surface and let soak for a few minutes. (heavy grime may take a bit longer) Once it has soaked, use a moist rag and gently rub off the grime.

You can use this for broiler pans, glass pans, most anything with burned on food.

Scuff Mark Scrubbing

You are cleaning the floors and you noticed that you have scuff marks. You have tried scrubbing and every cleaner but they still persist. There is a very simple way to clean scuff marks off the floor with very little elbow grease.

Go to the bathroom and grab a tube of toothpaste. (I like the white kind, but most kinds will work) Squeeze some of the toothpaste out of the tube and using a soft cloth gently scrub the scuff mark away.

Controlling Dust

Dust is the enemy of every house keeper. The easiest way to get control of it is to clean properly. There are a few simple things that you can do around the house to help alleviate some.

Make sure that you clean your furnace air filters at least once a month.

Set up a schedule so that the same time you clean your furnace filters, also wipe off ceiling fans.

Using a damp cloth, thoroughly clean all of the surfaces of your ceiling fans and light fixtures.

They often get forgotten in day to day cleaning.

Cleaning the Toilet

You feel like you are constantly scrubbing or cleaning something in the house. Take a break! I hate cleaning the toilet, so I found this handy little tip for making the job easier!

The next time that you have to clean you toilet, simply drop in a denture cleaning tablet.

If you drop it in at night before you go to bed, all you have to do in the morning is scrub it quickly with the toilet bowl brush and flush all the residue away.

Cleaning Out the Coat Closet

The coat closet is one of the last places that you would think of cleaning. You always clean the rest of the house, but the coat closet seems to always fall by the wayside. If you can allow yourself about 10 minutes about once a month, you will be able to find everything that you need.

Take a peek around inside first, It only takes a few minutes to pull out any coats that are not being used anymore or the kids out grew.

Grab some clear plastic storage boxes and box up anything that might be wandering around loose on the floor or shelves. Make a box for gloves, scarves, etc.

Give the shelves a quick swipe with a dust cloth and it is all clean!

Removing Candle Wax

Yikes! You had a party and the candle dripped all over your tablecloth. It is your best tablecloth, so how do you save it? This tip will help you out. It may not work all the time, but it is certainly worth a shot!

Using a butter knife or spoon, scrape off as much of the wax as possible.

Get out your iron and ironing board and iron.

Place a clean tissue or paper towel under and over the wax.

Using the dry setting on your iron, place on top of the tissue/towel and gently press.

The heat from the iron will melt the wax and the tissue/towel will absorb it. Remove the tissue/towel and repeat until you don't see any more wax.

Wash the cloth in your washing machine in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric and dry as normal.

Removing Blood Stains

We have all done it. Whether it is ourselves, our spouses or kids, we are going to get blood on something at some time. You have tried different things in the past, but nothing seems to work really well. Try this little tip and it should work well for you most of the time.

Immediately soak the stain in cold or lukewarm water for at least 30 minutes. Rub the cloth between your fingers a bit and see if the stain rinses out.

If not, add about 3 tablespoons of ammonia to your water and let sit for about 15 more minutes.

Rub again and see if the stain rinses out.

If the stain is still visible, put a little liquid laundry detergent on the spot and rub in. Let sit for another 15 minutes or so and wash as normal.

Not all blood stains will come out entirely, but depending on your fabric this will work most of the time.

Remember that if you resort to bleach or hydrogen peroxide, DO NOT use it on colored clothing. Both of these items will bleach out color.

Too Much Stuff!

If you find that you are constantly walking around the house picking up your kids stuff there is a way to manage it. After trying different methods, I have found this one to be quick and effecient.

Get a large basket for each child and place their name on it.

As you are moving throughout the house during the day pick up items for each child and drop them in the respective bin.

If you have a younger child, once a day take the bin to their room and put their stuff away.

If you have an older child, make them put away their own stuff each day.

If you have problems getting them to clean out their bin, at the end of the day empty it into a secret location.

Now when they are missing something you know right where it is, and you can tell them that they have to do a chore to earn the item back.

Eventually they will learn to pick up their own stuff.

Removing Chewing Gum

Oh joy! You toddler just left bubblegum in the chair and you sat on it!!
How are you going to get it off?? This hint may not work on all surfaces, but it is worth a shot!

You can try placing an ice cube directly only the gum and holding until it freezes.

Now you can use a dull knife or spoon to gently break away the gum.

Laundry Labor

You work all day long, then you have to do laundry…. Yech! You wish that you could have a magic fairy that would do all of it for you! Unfortunately we are on our own, but you can try this to alleviate some of the burden and lessen some trips.

Go to the store and pick up a large storage bin for each member of the family.

When you get home write the name of each person on the bin and decorate with some stickers.

Place the empty bins in the washroom.

When you get done doing laundry fold the clothes directly into each person's container.

Now pick up the bin for each person and take it to their room and put all the clothes away.

If you kids are old enough, let them pick up their own bins and put away their own clothes.

But I Don't Have a Baby in the House Anymore….

Since my daughter has grown, I have left the box of diaper wipes in the bathroom.

These things have been an absolute blessing!

Not only can you quickly remove your make up, wipe up a small mess on the counter, or clean anything else that comes to mind or sight!

I have been known to use them to clean around the toilet seat and to wipe off the counter for a quick refresher before company arrives.

You will find a million uses for them!

Just remember, don't flush them unless the manufacturer states it is ok.

I also leave a box in the car for quick cleanup's on the road.

Mud Room Showers

If you are fortunate enough to have a mud room with a small shower stall or large sink, consider getting a hand held shower head.

Now when your lovely critters (2 legged or 4 legged) wander inside with nature stuck to their outside, you can quickly grab the shower head and rinse them off before they track mud and muck throughout the rest of the house.

Cleaning Aluminum Pans

If you have some aluminum pans that have seen better days you can try to clean them up.

Combine one quart of water and 2 tablespoons of Cream of Tartar in a large bowl. Pour enough water into the pan to fill it.

Pots:
Bring to a boil for 2-3 minutes, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Pour out the water then wash and dry as normal.

Pans:
Place the pan into an oven that has been preheated to 350 degrees f. Bake for 1/2 hour and turn off oven. Let sit for another 30 minutes. Pour out the water and wash and dry as normal.

Cleaning Grimy Floors

You can use simple household ingredients to clean dirty grimy floors.

Fill a large bucket with a gallon of hot water and add 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Grab a mop and mop away.

Sometimes when I feel that I need just a bit more cleaning power I add a tablespoon of good grease cutting dish soap like Dawn.

Homemade Furniture Polish

You can make your own furniture polish with just a few things in your pantry. It is great for the environment and you can make up more whenever you need it.

To make the polish combine 1 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice into a spray bottle. Shake well and spray a small amount onto a clean dry cloth, now just wipe dust and prints away!

Staying Salt

You just bought some new jeans/towels/curtains (insert item of choice) They are the perfect color, but you don't want the color to fade when you wash it. You can help prevent this in the first couple of washings.

Grab your salt and add 1 cup to the water the first few times that you wash them. The saline of the salt will help set the color in the fabric. It will also help to make sure that the color does not bleed onto other fabrics that might be washed together.

Are My Cleaning Products Still Good?

You have a bunch of cleaning products under the sink, and you don't use them all the time. You don't see an expiration date on most of them and you wonder if they are still effective. Here are some basic rules of thumb to help you decide:

Is it in a plastic container? If it is, inspect the container for discoloration, cracks, brittleness. If you see any symptoms it may mean that the product is breaking down and may no longer be effective or safe to use.

Do you have a bottle of bleach water for sanitizing? When mixed with water, bleach breaks down and looses it's disinfecting properties within about 24 hours. You should make it fresh each time that you use it.

Powder Cleaners/Drain Cleaners - If the color has changed or if it has lumps you need to discard it. If drain cleaner has clumped and you use it, it could blow out a pipe causing a larger problem and possible injury.

As always, before just thowing in the trash, check with your local waste disposal company to make sure that you dispose of it properly to protect water supplies and the environment.

Shining Silver

You remember years ago those commercials for the silver cleaning plates? I had bought one and through the years it has gotten misplaced. I loved it because it cleaned the tarnish off of silver easily with no chemicals and not a lot of rubbing.

There is a way that you can make your own with items that you have in the kitchen. Grab a large glass baking dish. Place a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the bottom in the pan. Wash all of your silver items and place on the foil in the pan. Heat 1 quart of water to boiling. Add 1/4 cup of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of salt to the water. Pour into the pan with your silver items and cover for a minute.

Now when you pull your items out most or all of the tarnish will be gone. (Careful! they may be HOT!) For larger items you may need to turn them several times to cover all sides.

Frequent Filters

You have always heard to change your filters every month to help your furnace run more efficiently.

Now here is another reason, DUST!

If you change your filter monthly, especially when the blower is used a lot (summer & winter) a clean filter will trap more dust and prevent it from being spread throughout the house.

Sparkling Shower Curtain

You just noticed that your vinyl shower curtain is looking a bit dirty around the edges.

The quickest way to clean it is to place it in the washing machine with a couple of towels.

Set the cycle for gentle and let the towels scrub the curtain clean.

Do NOT place the curtain in the dryer.

Hang it back on the rod with the curtain inside the tub so that any extra water goes down the drain.

Shiny Stainless

You Love your stainless steel appliances, but it is really hard to keep them clean. As soon as you clean it, it seems that fingerprints magically appear.

The next time that you clean it, use a citrus based furniture polish.

The polish will leave a beautiful shine and the oil will help prevent finger prints and water spots.

Easy PreSoak

The next time that you go to the grocery store grab an extra bottle of shampoo for oily hair.

Keep this bottle next to your washing machine. Now when you are separating your clothes you can spot clean with a bit of the shampoo.

Shampoo is safe for most clothing and the properties of it will actually help break apart oil based stains and grass stains.

Tidy Toilets

You can clean your toilet while you are sleeping, It is really that easy!

Just before you go to bed use a liquid toilet cleanser and spray around the rim of the toilet. While you are sleeping the cleaner will slide down the rim of the bowl.

Now, when you get up in the morning grab the brush and give it a few quick swipes.

Your toilet is now nice and clean with very little elbow grease!

Loosening Labels

You are trying to get a label off of a jar. You have tried everything to get it to come off.

An easier way to remove the label is to place the jar into a container with some vinegar.

Let it soak for a while.

When the label starts to loosen, help it along with a rubber spatula.

Cleaning Patrol

If you are having problems getting your kids to help out with cleaning up, try turning it in to a game.

Everyone can join in the fun and you can even have prizes for the best cleaning job!

Grab a timer and set it for 5-10 minutes. Now race with your kids to see who can clean up the most stuff in their room before the time goes off.

After the timer goes off, give a brief inspection to each kid's area. If they did a good job cleaning you can have treats like getting to select a movie to watch or help make cookies.

Remember, don't be a perfectionist and always compliment for a good job.

If you see something that was done wrong, let them know that you like their creativity and show them the correct way.

Each time that you play the game they will get better and better about cleaning up.

Handy Cleaning

You have been working in the garden all day long, and now you are trying to wash your hands and they are just filthy. You can try this hint to clean them a bit easier.

Before you wash your hands grab a small bit of sugar and mix it with your hand soap. The grains of sugar will add an extra bit of scrubbing power to your soap cleaning more dirt off.

Tip Top Tea Pot

You love your teapot, but when you look inside you cringe. It is stained and looks gross. How can you clean it?

Grab a lemon and cut it into 6 or 8 pieces and drop it into the pot. Now add some lukewarm water and let it sit.

After 5-6 hours, pour the lemon and water down the garbage disposer.

Now you have a clean pot and a clean disposer all at once!

Choring Chores

Chore time can be a difficult time with kids. To try to set up a system and get everyone to help out, you can try this helpful tip.

Set up a decorated can or box that is filled with daily tasks that need to get done.

Items might include washing dishes, sweeping the floor, cleaning the tub/sink in the bathroom, folding clothes, loading the dishwasher, etc.

Write these tasks on little slips of paper and drop into the can/box that you created.

Now each morning everyone pulls a task from the box and has until bed time to complete it. When the task is done, place it back in the box and give each person who completed their task a gold star on the calendar.

You can set up so that each star equals an amount of points and when certain point levels are reached then prizes are awarded.

Once you get everyone is used to helping out, you can increase the number of slips that each person gets each day.

Eventually you will have all the help that you need around the house.

Mopping Instructions

OK, so you probably think that I am silly, but I am going to tell you how I mop my floor.

It may not be the way that you do, but it is the best way that I found to clean my floor.

First, I have a double basin sink, if you don’t you can use a bucket and your sink instead.

I fill one basin of the sink or the bucket with soapy water.

Dunk your mop into the soapy water and start mopping your floor.

After mopping about an 8 square foot area, rinse the mop in the sink; letting all the dirty water go down the drain.

Wring your mop well, and place the mop in the clean soapy water and repeat until your floor is clean.