Clear-Cut Cleaning Tips For a Multitude of Items

For this delicate fabric dry cleaning is your best bet, no matter what the laundry instructions on the label may say. Care must be taken in laundering by hand. Try not to twist or pull the garment.

To dry your acetate items carefully spread them out on terry-cloth towels on a flat surface. Alternatively you can put them over a clothesline.

NOTE: Do not use any nail polish removers or any clean­ers that contain acetone to clean this fabric!

Acetate is dissolved by acetone.

Use a damp cloth or 'shammy' to lightly 'dust' your acrylic furniture.

Wash with hand dishwashing liquid and water using a soft cloth.

Dishwashing liquid and water with a non-abrasive cloth is the best technique. After, use water to rinse and then lightly blot with a new cloth.

To keep your air conditioner working at top capacity, try changing and or cleaning the filter once a month during those hot months when it is most in use.

Remember to use your vaccum cleaner to suck the gunk out of those cooling coils at the back and front when you are cleaning the filter. (Watch out!..the coils have sharp edges.)

If your a.c. has filters that are plastic foam, they can be cleaned with a simple solution of dish-washing soap and water.

Note: before you put up your a.c. (if you don't leave it up all winter) make sure the coils that face the outside are cleaned of grit and dirt.

You will find that just cooking with certain, highly acidic foods, like rhubarb or tomatoes for example, will automatically remove marks, stains and leave the pot easy to wash.

Tip: boil a quart of water with 3 tablespoons of either lemon juice or white vinegar in the pot you want to clean. Then rub with an S.O.S. pad gently.

If you have one of the older porcelain sinks, you may find that your metal pots scuff and mar the enamel of the sink.

Such marks can usually be dispatched using a quality cleanser by first letting the cleaning agent sit for five minutes and then rinse.

You may find that your washing machine or dryer have easily marked surfaces. The baked enamel on them may be less resistant to scratches than say your kitchen range.

Caution: When cleaning baked enamel, don't use any cleaner that is abrasive! A simple dish-washing soap with water is safer.

After checking with the manufacturer instructions, you might also try an all-purpose cleaner for stubborn marks.

In daily cleaning, use a dampened mop.

Do NOT use the waxes that have solvent base. The dissolving agent may blemish the tile.

Tape recorders are full of small parts and pieces where dust and other elements easily get trapped, creating problems with your recording quality as well as damaging the equipement itself. There are heads,capstans and rollers that get clogged after some time of use.

Depending on how often you use your recorder, you should do the following to keep it in top shape:

If you don't have the commercially available head cleaner solution, make your own using isopropyl alcohol, (rubbing alcohol) available at all pharmacies. Get a Q-tip (and if you want to be super careful wrap the end in a lint-free cotton fabric) and rub gently any heads and other parts that come in contact with your tapes.

Caution: Never use an abrasive cleaning agent on electronics.

Best and easiest way to keep your auto carpeting free of damaging dirt buildup is to use a plug-in portable (hand held) vacuum. The plugins usually have more sucking-power and get the really small things like pet hair and sand. If you don't have pets and kids, you may find the battery vacuum works well enough.

After you have completed your cooking, try setting the gas barbeque on HIGH for about 15 minutes. This usually loosens most debris and you can also give it a once-over with a wire brush.

For a charcoal b.b.q. similarly let the grill sit over hot coals after cooking and use an abrasive powder and wire brush if necessary.

Depending on the quality of the bath mat you may find you can wash them normally in the machine. But remember to use a setting of about 90F (darks) and 105F (whites). If you are concerned about using the dryer on the mat, put outside in a shaded area and brush off when dry.

Best advice when cleaning these(shower curtains, walls,taps etc.) is to make certain, after cleaning with standard household cleaners, is to make certain you rinse away any detergent that may still be on the fixture or object. Leaving residue of cleaners does more harm than good.

Blankets come in many fabrics and types of material so it is important to read the label or any instructions that came with the blanket. Synthetics are in non-woven blankets which are made by heat bonding. With these, machine wash in a gentle cycle with the highest water level setting. Following this air dry.

With non-woven 'Vellux' blankets, which have a foam base which is glued to the fibres to bond the blanket together, just wash in a 5 to 8 minute cycle and tumble-dried on low.

Delicate cycle with cold water is best for wool blankets.

If your blender is glass you can safely wash it in the dishwasher. Plastic is easily scratched and should be cleaned by hand only. Try letting it sit after filling with water and dish liquid for 20 minutes then rinse.

Hand dishwashing soap is essential for lacquered brass if you want to keep the finish looking shiny. Unlacquered should be done with a commercial brass cleaner than cleaned of this product's residue with a nice warm rinse of suds. Use a soft cloth to buff.

Use a small, rubber blow-brush (most camera stores carry them) to remove surface dust from your camera and lens. Then take a sheet of lens paper and starting with the center of the lens, swirl slowly in an anti-clockwise direction while you wipe.

Lens fluid can also be placed on a clean, soft cloth to clean the lens, but never use film cleaner to clean a lens as it can damage it.

With high-priced items always consult your dealer or camera store for advice and let them clean areas inside the camera that you may have concern about.

Never use bleach with chlorine as it can interact with ammonia and create fumes harmful to your cat. Try very hot soapy water and scrubby pads which can be bought at any dollar store by the dozen and disposed of afterwards.

While your average china can be cleaned by the dishwasher, fine china requires more delicate cleaning. Be careful not to put in a dishwasher as the harsh detergent may harm your metallic decorations or glazes on fine china. Also the powerful jets of water can chip your plates and cups.

Always remove the lint filter and take out any lint it has in it after a dry cycle. Otherwise your dryer may get over-heated and the clothes may not fully dry. Use a vacuum cleaner on any visible parts of your dyer inside and out.

Always clean the basket (if your drip coffee maker is not paper filter type) after making a pot as the coffee oils can dry in the basket and affect the taste of your next pot. When using hard water with automatic coffee makers, once a week or so you should run some well-diluted white vinegar through it to clean away mineral deposits.

A lint-free cloth on Cd's will clean them of most marks and fingerprints. When doing so move the cloth in the 'radial' direction--across the grooves. CD players do not 'read' scratches made in the radial direction so that is the safest way to clean. You can also use simple dish-washing liquid to remove more stubborn prints.

First shut off/unplug your keyboard. Then vacuum, with the attachment that has the small bristles on the end. The best thing is to have a can of compressed air to get out all the dust between keys, and use rubbing alcohol to kill germs. Remember, computer keyboards are one of the most over-looked surfaces in the house that is a real germ collector! We eat and drink sitting at the keyboard never thinking of the food particles and other germs we are depositing as we type!

Many people find a solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle is the best way to keep counters clean. If you don't like the smell of vinegar use diluted dish soap in the spray bottle. If you have plastic laminate surfaces don't use the harsh abrasives, as they will scratch. Bleach will remove ink stains from fingerprints that have been touching newspapers for example, but don't let the bleach stand for more than a minute before wiping off.

If your vacuum has one, select the lowest setting to clean curtains. Try putting a plastic screen between the nozzle and the curtain to avoid having the curtains sucked up. Also you should take down and wash curtains in the gentlest fabric setting on your machine about once a year.

About once a year, depending on where you live, vacuum the coils to keep your machine working smoothly.

Follow the manufacturer's care and cleaning in­structions. Just remember that some fabrics should not spend any more time in water than absolutely necessary to clean them. (Even cold water)

Always follow manufacturer's instructions. Normally it is ok to machine wash in cool water and on delicate setting, but do not have it dry-cleaned as the chemicals could harm the inner wiring of the blanket. Let air dry.

Electric coil elements are more or less self-cleaning, since spills burn off quickly.Clean under the control knobs by pulling them off.

You can raise or remove the cooktop to clean beneath it. But some electric ranges have a fixed cooktop; so you have to feel around with your hand through the burner holes. Clean drip pans and reflector bowls with the least abrasive cleanser .

Spills of food—especially those containing sugar—should be wiped up immediately as the sugar can bond to the surface under heat.

Clean metal blades carefully to prevent bending them, by removing the cover of the fan and wiping those grimey blades down with vinegar and water solution. A whole-house or attic fan's louvers and screening should be brushed and vacuumed at least once a season the same way.

Try a wax remover. Use fine steel wool for hard to remove spots.

Most fridges today are self-defrosting. If not you have a real job ahead of you. Turn off the fridge, after removing items that may spoil as it takes several hours to accomplish this task. Then place pots of boiled water in the freezer and allow to steam off the ice. If it is summer this job will go faster than in winter. You can also use an electric hair dryer and ever a small electric heater to melt the ice of the freezer. As the ice melts you can remove it in chunks which you can break off with a kitchen knife or windshield ice scraper, but be careful not to damage the elements or wires that may be visible as well as your own hands!

If self-defrosting, you can skip the manual defrosting chore and just swab down inside surfaces with a cleaning solution of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and water.

A chest freezer has a smooth interior and removable wire bas­kets or dividers instead of shelves. Use a windshield ice scraper to remove frost and hasten defrosting. An upright freezer requires more patience because you must wait for the ice to melt off the cooling coils in the shelves. If you use a tool to scrape and pry ice away to speed the process, the result could be damage to the re­frigeration system, which is expensive to repair.

NOTE: Wait until your food supply is relatively low before you defrost. Transfer any remaining food to an iced picnic chest or wrap food in food wrap, then layers of news­paper for insulation while you defrost. If it's snowing outside, you can store the food in the snow while you take your time defrosting.

Always clean up anything you spell on furniture as soon as possible before it sets in. You will find that the best protection for your furniture is the lacquer or oil finish that is originally applied to the furniture. Always use a soft cloth when cleaning furniture and it is best not to apply polish every time as this may affect its original luster.

When cleaning always move your hand with the grain. Whether you have hardwood floors or thick carpeting, it is best to place insulating pads under the legs of your furniture to protect the floor.

You should always allow your garbage disposal to keep running for 60 seconds after grinding is finished. Another tip, is to fill the sink halfway with water and allow the garbage disposal to run.(Remember to take out the drain stopper first.)

Always wash crystal glassware by hand if you can. Otherwise chipping and breakage may result. Dishwashers can etch scratches into your glassware, especially in soft water. If you do use your dishwasher at to clean your glassware, do not exceed 140°F, and do not overload the dishwasher. Dry the glassware without heat.

The reflective surface on many electric heaters which aids in projecting the heat outwards into the room, should be kept clean and dust free. This reflective surface needs to shine to do it's job.

Pine oil or some all-purpose cleaners may loosen dirt best

Before cleaning a hot plate always unplug it first. Never immerse it and water.use a sponge or a dish washing cloths to clean non-burning surfaces. A soapy scouring pad is best for difficult greasy marks.

The best way to avoid humidifier dust which is a fine white powder that settles on furniture, is to use soft water or distilled water in your humidifier.

Allergies can be triggered by bacteria from vaporizers.

Even ultrasonic vaporizers can spray fragments of mold, hence they should be cleaned on a regular basis.

After unplugging and emptying the humidifier, clean it as di­rected by the manufacturer, If there are no directions, rinse the tank with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach in a pint of water, followed by a thorough rinsing with fresh water. For large units, use a cup of bleach in a gallon of water, then rinse the tank thoroughly with fresh water.

A steam vaporizer, the kind that boils water ancTproduces mois­ture in the form of steam, doesn't present problems of molds and bacteria. But a steam vaporizer must still be cleaned to keep it working properly. Rust or scale accumulations in a steam vapor­izer are harmless but should be rinsed out periodically, particularly before storing the unit.

Linen is very durable. It actually seems to improve in the texture and feel the more it is laundered.

Linen that has been chemically treated for wrinkle resistance may withstand hot-water washing.

Tum­bling in a clothes dryer may be most effective. It's worth try­ing a lint roller or, if you don't have one:

• try wrapping Scotch-type sticky tape around a hand, sticky side out, and patting the garment to remove the lint.

Wipe the inside with plain water, or water with a bit of hand dishwashing liquid. Spills and spatters are gen­erally easy to wipe up with a damp (not wet) sponge. Keep the oven clean to prevent odors from developing.

Tip: you can also try putting a bowl with some lemons (cut in half) in the microwave and cook for a minute or two. The chemicals released in this way will loosen almost anything stuck to the inside of the microwave and allow you to easily wipe them off.

It's a common household mold that thrives in dark, damp, poorly ventilated places and is best cleaned with Chlorine bleach, diluted according to label directions.

If you live in a humid region like Florida or Mississippi, or during humid periods of weather, when mildew growth is greatest, leave burning a 60-watt bulb in a closet to raise the temperature (and thereby lower the relative humidity).

Some specialty bathroom cleaners contain effective mildew fighters. But liquid chlorine bleach applied according to label directions is an effective mildew cleaner.

Tip: It can discolor many fabrics and wallpaper, so rinse thoroughly any mildewed surface that has been washed with bleach.

NOTE: You should never mix bleach with other cleaning products as it reacts with many household cleaners and can produce dangerous fumes.

Nylon should be washed by itself because of it's tendency to pick up colours from other items.

All-purpose cleaners should be tried on an in­conspicuous area first

Experiment before using an all-purpose cleaner by washing an area of the wall that is not conspicuous to see what effect the cleaner has on it.

Paint can be harmed or marked by pine oil mixtures. Try not to rub too hard or abrassively.

Watch for oily stains and remove as soon as possible.A wet bar of soap and then a damp towel prior to washing may help loosen the oil mark.

Toilets, bathtubs and sinks, are often made of metal with a heavy outside layer of porcelain which can tolerate abrasive cleansers without wearing off, however the surface which is resistant in new items will wear down with repeated abrasive cleansers,making the fixture less resistant to staining and therefore harder to clean.

These often have numerous small crevices and hard to get at ridges. A dampened new toothbrush reserved can help you with this.

Lp's often wear more rapidly if not consistently dusted. Records should be cleaned im­mediately before you play them with a commercially available cloth. Always hold records only by their edges to prevent skin oils from attaching dust to the record's surfaces.

Note: If you do buy a commercial cleaning product, make certain it has no silicon, which will attract dust rather than repel it.

You will find the condenser coils at the back of the fridge. and it is important to clean them a few times a year, especially during or prior to the hot summer months.

You can get a special brush for cleaning condenser coils from hardware stores, and of course you can also use your vacuum with any special attachment that would work well to get in small crevice areas.

Cleaning inside the refrigerator is best done with the mildest possible detergent or just a damp sponge. . A solution of baking soda and water is also a good cleaner and placing a box of baking soda in the fridge (opened) will help to absorb odours from week to week.

Daily cleaning is advisable for men's shavers. Unclasp the blade cover. Shake and brush clippings from the cutters and the underside of the head. Some shavers come with tiny brushes useful for this purpose. An uncleaned shaver will clog up and cease to work properly in a very short order if this in not done.

Note: Some of the better shavers come with lubricating oil with which to keep the moving parts working well. If your's does make sure to use it as per instructions.

Garments made of silk usually require dry cleaning because water and silk are often not compatible. Watch out, because some dyes used on silk will dissolve in water,which causes dye bleeding and dye transfer.

Best use is a sponge for this item. Cleanup is eas­iest if you can take out the stone or plaster liner and put it in the sink to wash as you would any dishes. Make certain you do not immerse the electrical part of your 'crock pot' when you are cleaning it.

It is very important to keep your smoke detector free of dust that might hamper it's proper detection of dangerous smoke particles in the air. You can pass the vacuum over it and if the cover is removable take it off and gently move the wand of the vacuum up to it and suck off any dust and lint that may be there.

• unplug and allow to cool down
• wash with a sponge and dishwasher liquid
• never submerge in water

The static electricity is the culprit TV sets and all such electrical devices. Best not to spray a mild solution vinegar and water directly on the set but rather spray a paper towel with it and then clean that way.This will help to prevent streaks.

Most toasters have a small latched door or compartment at the bottom that can be opened and the crumbs shaken out while holding it over the sink. This should be done about once every week or two. The outside metallic surface can be cleaned with a sponge or paper towel and vinegar water spray or liquid detergent. Never submerge in water to clean, and always unplug before trying to extract a piece of toast that is lodged in the toaster!

If your vacuum seems not to be picking up, try putting a stick or ruler up the nozzle and seeing if anything dislodges.

Often large amounts of hair strands get clumped together at the very mouth of the nozzle and need to be pulled out by hand.

If you open the vacuum and feel the bag, you can determine how full it is by squeezing the bag. If it feels like there is less than 1/4 free space left it is best to change the bag. Make sure to right down your exact model and type of vacuum bag before going to get replacement bags, as there are numerous types for this and you want to get the one that will fit your machine.

If you rent many tapes or in particular if you loan them from the public library, you may find that your VCR gets dirty allot faster than it might other wise do.

If so you can clean the heads quite efficiently by using a cotton swab attached with tape to the end of a chop stick or a wooden ruler. Dip the swab in rubbing alcohol if you do not have the commercial head cleaner solution, and 'roll' the heads you will see when you open the door of the VCR (where you put the tapes in to play them.)

The heads and a large, shiny roller are pretty obvious, but use a flashlight if necessary. You may find the cotton swab is quite dark with dirt when you look at it after trying this method. Allow a minute or two for the heads to dry and then put in a tape and fast forward it to allow the heads to spin fully and move any excess alcohol around on them.

Wooden surfaces that come into contact with meat products need to be cleaned promptly after every use. Otherwise you could create botulism, especially in hot summer weather. One way to do this is with salt and hot water, followed by chlorine bleach solution. Make certain you clean the undersides of the butcher's block as well, as meat juice often collects there unnoticed. Also allow all surfaces to dry completely before using again.

Never use bleach on wool and always hand wash in cool water. Do not dry in tumble dryer to prevent shrinkage, rather hang on a hanger in an open space to air dry.