Miscellaneous
Cleaning Tips
Ring
around the collar
Dirty
neck rings around shirt or blouse collars
can be removed by putting shampoo on them.
Rub the shampoo in like you were washing your
hair. Shampoo is specifically made to remove
body oils. A cheap bottle of shampoo kept
by the washing machine is handy for all kinds
of stains in clothing. Don't forget this trick
when you are traveling.
Cleaning
Scuff Marks
Use
3 tbsp. Of TSP (trisodium phosphate) to a gallon
of water to clean scuff marks or crayon marks
off walls. TSP can be found in the paint department
of a hardware store. Wear gloves and do not
use on semi-gloss or gloss paint or wood surfaces.
Removing
Blood from Furniture
Use
hydrogen peroxide to remove blood from clothing
or furniture. Rub gently.
Dusting
Tip
Use
paint brushes to dust cracks and hard to reach
places in telephones, stereos, etc.
Make
a Schedule
Set
aside a regular short period of time each week
for the family to straighten up the house. It
teaches good habits to the kids and gives the
family a project to do together. Everyone will
feel better when the job is done, and might
just look forward to the day when they know
things are going to be neat and organized.
Listen
to Books On Tape to Help You Clean
Having
trouble finding time to read these days? You
can rent great books on tape from the library
to listen to while you're cleaning and doing
chores. It helps to pass the time, keeps you
working a little longer and lets you catch up
on those mysteries you've been wanting to read.
Removing
Candle Wax from Walls
Candle
wax can be removed from walls or other surfaces
with an iron and facial tissue. Set the tissue
over the wax and gently iron. When the wax seeps
through or the tissue begins to brown, apply
a new tissue.
Cleaning
Chrome
Club
soda or seltzer water will clean chrome.
Removing
Blood Stains
Corn
starch can remove blood stains. Rinse the stain
in cold water, then rub in moistened cornstarch.
Place the item in the sun.
Removing
Gum
Gum
can be removed using ice to harden and a dull
knife to remove.
Removing
Magic Marker Ink
Hair
spray will remove magic-marker ink from surfaces.
Cleaning
Window Screens
Nylon
covered sponges are great for cleaning window
screens.
Removing
Smoke Odor
Place
a bowl of vinegar out to absorb smoke odor.
Unstick
That Door
Car
wax applied to a sticking door will ease opening
and closing.
Repairing
Cigarette Burns in Carpets
Cigarette
burns in carpeting can be repaired by cutting
the blackened fibers from the hole. Squeeze
liquid glue into the hole and fill with fibers
trimmed from carpet remnants.
Repairing
Small Holes in Window Screens
Clear
nail polish will repair small holes in window
screens.
Killing
Flies
Hair
spray will kill flies.
Window
Painting Tip
Newspaper
strips when wetted can be used around windows
when painting, in place of masking tape. Remove
strips before they dry out.
Drying
Out Wet Magazines or Books
Place
paper towels on both sides of a wet page to
absorb the moisture and prevent wrinkling.
