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Here are some quick cleaning tips for different areas of your home!
BATHROOM
• Cleaning porcelain tubs – Make a paste of powdered alum (available in drugstore) and water. Rub well, as if using cleanser.
•
For stains, make a paste of powdered alum and lemon juice; apply and
let dry, then moisten with more lemon juice and rub well. Rinse
thoroughly.
• Borax and water is also a great cleaner for porcelain. Make a paste and rub well, then rinse.
•
Cleaning fiberglass showers and tubs – Heat white vinegar until it is
hot, but not too hot to pour into a spray bottle. Spray heavily on
shower and tub. Wait 10-15 minutes. Moisten with scrubbing-type sponge
with more vinegar. Scrub down shower. Use more heated vinegar as
necessary. Rinse well and dry.
•
Stubborn shower spot remover – For stubborn spots and scum buildup, use
a dry soap filled steel wool pad on a dry shower. Water will cause the
steel wool pad to scratch. Follow up with the vinegar process above.
KITCHEN
•
The smoking oven – Sprinkle a heavy layer of salt over the spill and
keep cooking. The smoke and odor will stop immediately. When finished
cooking, leave the salt on and wait overnight. The next day lift the
spill out with a spatula.
•
Cleaning glass and smooth top ceramic cooktops – Clean only when cool
with dishwashing liquid, a paste of baking soda and water (3 parts
baking soda to 2 parts water). Apply with a paper towel or clean soft
cloth. Rinse thoroughly and towel dry.
• Burned on soil can be removed with a razor blade scraper. Do not use abrasive cleaners or pads.
•
If your cooktop is in really bad shape, use Bon Ami. Use with a soft,
wet rag. You can also use a mild ammonia solution along with a
scrubbing type sponge. Non-gel toothpaste applied with a soft cloth
also can be used. After using these products, wash with dishwashing
liquid and water and rinse well. Rinsing with club soda will put a nice
shine to the surface.
•
Broiler pans – Put the pan in a garbage bag and lay some paper towels
over it. Spray the towels with ammonia. Leave in the bag over night. In
the morning open the bag (away from your face, wipe the pan with the
towels in the bag. Remove it from the garbage bag and wash it.
•
Chrome burner rings and guards – Remove the burner rings from the
stove. Lay a sheet of paper toweling over each ring and moisten with
ammonia. Place them in a plastic bag and close it. Let sit several
hours. Open the bag (away from your face). Remove the rings. Wash,
rinse, and dry them.
CLEANING WALLS
• To remove marks – First try to erase the mark with an art gum eraser that you keep just for this purpose. Erase just the mark.
If it is a stubborn spot, use a little baking soda on a corner of a
white rag and rub gently on the mark. Non-gel toothpaste can also be
used on a cloth over the tip of your finger.
• To remove crayon
– Spray W-D 40 Lubricant and wipe away the crayon with a paper towel.
Afterward wipe up with a soft cloth dipped in a hot water and
dishwashing liquid solution. Wash in a circular motion.
• To remove ink or marker – Use a cheap hairspray, rubbing alcohol, or denatured alcohol from the hardware store only on the spot.
• To remove marks on wallpaper –
Erase with an art gum eraser. If the wallpaper is not washable, rub a
scrunched up piece of white bread over the mark very gently. Repeat
until mark is gone.
Crayon on wallpaper – Rub lightly with a dry soap-filled steel wool pad
very gently. Rubbing with baking soda on a damp cloth also may work.
On vinyl paper use a little silver polish.
Grease spots on wallpaper – Make a paste of cornstarch and water. Apply
it to the grease spot and let dry. Brush or vacuum it off when it is dry.
You can also apply a double fold of brown paper (like from a grocery bag,
but do not use the side the writing is on). Press the paper over the spot
with a warm iron. Continue until it is gone. This also works with candle
wax. Follow up with a little hairspray or alcohol. Test before doing this.
Excerpt from Talking Dirty With The Queen Of Clean by Linda Cobb.
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