Cleaning Tips and Tricks

There are so many products available on the shelf for cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, or windows, just to name a few, that it can be overwhelming and costly. Before you run out to the store and buy hazardous chemicals to clean with, consider using ordinary household items which are “greener” and produce the exact same results – sometimes even better results.

Baking Soda has a variety of uses.

• Pour in 1 cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl every week to prevent the toilet from backing up and eliminate odors
• Eliminate coffee/tea stains on the kitchen counters by creating a paste with baking soda and water and them rubbing it on the stain. This works for cup/glass rings, too
• Having a party and want your cut glass to shine? Get a damp cloth and a dab of baking soda and gently clean the glass. When you are done, rinse with clean water and buff with a soft cloth. The glass will sparkle.

Bleach is a wonderful cleanser and deodorizer.

• Dampen paper towels with bleach and place on mildew in the bathtub/shower before you go to bed at night. The bleach will continue working throughout the night and eliminate the mildew. All you have to do is throw away the paper towels and rinse the bleach. If you are “green”, I suggest using white rags and then throwing them into the washer with other whites - this is a two win situation - there is no waste and no need for extra bleach in the load of white - it's already on the white rags.

• Pour ½ cup of bleach into the bowl when you leave to run errands. It will eliminate and stains and unpleasant odors. All you have to do is flush once you get home. WARNING: If you use a bathroom cleanser that cleans each time you flush – DO NOT pour bleach into the bowl. The cleanser contains ammonia and when mixed with bleach it puts off a toxic fume.
• WARNING: If you have animals that use the toilet bowl for a watering hole, please close the lid - the bleach will kill them.

Baby Oil has other uses than creating supple skin.

• Put a little baby oil on a cloth and rub down the shower doors. It is known to fend off soap scum, dirt, and hard water deposits.

Dryer Sheets are not just for the dryer anymore.

• Instead of using a towel to dry the shower doors, use a fabric dryer sheet. It won’t leave streaks and will make the shower smell nice.

• Instead of buying expensive “plug ins” to make the house smell nice, consider fabric dryer sheets. Tuck them everywhere; in the corners of the bathroom, behind plants, in closets and under the couch, just to name a few.

Vinegar can be used to add a sparkle

• Combine a tablespoon of salt and 1/2 cup of vinegar and add it to the dishwasher the next time you run it. It will make your crystal and glassware sparkle
• Use white vinegar to remove dull water deposits on drinking glasses. Just soak them in warm white vinegar for an hour or so, then wipe with a soft cloth to remove the water residue.

Corn Starch is a great deodorizer

• Sprinkle cornstarch on your area rugs and let it sit for about an hour and then vacuum. It's a safe way to clean smells out of oriental rugs that have to be professionally cleaned (it's okay to walk on the rug - just know that if you have hardwood floors you will have cornstarch foot prints all over them) -