Household Cleaning Tips

House Cleaning Tips

• Top Ten House Cleaning Tips
• Cleaning Tips for Efficiency
• Deep Cleaning
• Cleaning Checklist
• House Cleaning Checklist

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Household Cleaning Tips with Common Household Products

We all want to make cleaning as painless and inexpensive as possible. After years of practice, we are here to offer you a few of our tricks of the trade. Most of these recipes and remedies are made with things you will find around your house. Expensive cleaners are almost not necessary in most cleaning cases. By using non-toxic cleaners, we can get the kids involved in helping keep the house clean as well. When toxic or potentially dangerous chemicals are mentioned, we note that. Also, for any cleaning of clothing, carpet or upholstery be sure to test for colorfastness.

Kitchen Cleaning

The kitchen is a special challenge because of the variety of cleaning needs. Grease can be absorbed while still fresh by throwing a bit of cornstarch or baking soda right on the grease then wiping away when cleaning the rest of the kitchen. The stovetop can be treated every few months with car wax to keep the surface slick and easy to clean.

Oven and Microwave Cleaning

Microwaves can be cleaned easily by putting a sponge soaked in white vinegar or lemon juice in the microwave and cooking it for 1 or 2 minutes. Don’t open the microwave for about 5 minutes. The stuck on food should slide right off.

The same procedure can work with ovens except use a shallow pan with a couple of cups of white vinegar and no sponge. Cook for 5-10 minutes and leave in the oven to cool for about 30 minutes. Food will slide right off.

Any left over vinegar or lemon juice can be squeezed onto the sponge to keep it fresh. To control germs you should bleach it or run it through the dishwasher or clothes waher on a regular basis.

Red Dye Stains

For red food dye stains on counters, like those left by drinks, use straight rubbing alcohol, enough to puddle on the stain. Leave it for several minutes and wipe away. Use a sudsy cleaner on counter after.

Stuck on Food

For food stuck on pots and pans, put a dryer sheet in the pan and leave overnight. In the morning the food will slide right out. The fabric softener will soften the food overnight.

Tarnished Silverware

For tarnished silverware, heat 2 cups of water and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Put silverware on a sheet of aluminum foil in a pan with the silverware making contact on the foil. The combination of metal and baking soda will cause the tarnish to disappear.

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Bathroom Cleaning

Bathrooms can be a source for all sorts of cleaning problems. Keeping mildew under control in the bathroom can be a challenge. Try spraying a mixture of 50% hydrogen peroxide and 50% water on the walls every six months to prevent mildew. Cut the seam off of the bottom of the plastic shower curtain to keep mold from growing there. Also, put a couple cups of bleach in the back of the toilet every few weeks to help control germs. Be careful that children and pets don’t come into contact with this water.

Bathroom Odors

Bathroom odors can be controlled by putting cotton balls filled with vanilla extract in bowls or under the sink. Also put baking soda in the bottom of the trash cans to absorb odors.

Use car wax on the clean shower walls every six months or so to prevent soap scum from sticking. Vinegar works well on soap scum, especially hot vinegar. Try heating up vinegar in the microwave, clean the microwave and take the vinegar to the bathroom to clean the soap scum from the shower curtain and walls.

Clothing Stains

General stains on clothes can be treated with shaving cream. Keep a couple of bottles handy and treat just before laundering. Always check for colorfastness. Goop ™ works well as a spot treatment on grease stains. Just put it directly on the stain and throw it in the wash.

Put dryer sheets in between sheets and towels to keep away creepy crawlies and leave a nice smell after. Cotton balls with vanilla extract in the corners of the closets makes for a nice smell when you pull open the door.

General Cleaning and Other Household Tips

Grease stains on the driveway can be cleaned with dry concrete. Scatter some dry concrete on the stain, swish it around with a stiff broom and sweep up.

For those of you with a chimney, throw a few handfuls of salt on the fire periodically to help stretch out the chimney sweep visits. The salt will keep the soot from depositing. Also, use a foamy bathroom cleaner on the bricks or stone in front of the chimney to get rid of fireplace stains. Be sure to wash with a mild sudsy cleaner after.

Chrome can be cleaned with aluminum foil dipped in Coke ™. Be sure to wad up the aluminum foil, hold over the sink and wipe the chrome. The chemical reaction will get rid of the rust.

For crayon on the walls, try using WD40 ™. The oil will cut right through the wax in the crayon. If color remains, try bleach. Kitty litter and baby powder mixed in the toe of old pantyhose makes a wonderful odor remover for those smelly kids shoes. It absorbs, dries and freshens as the same time.

To keep ants from entering the house, sprinkle cinnamon or any other pepper along entranceways to prevent the ants from entering the house. If you live near a wooded area and have a problem with snakes, you can sprinkle mothball powder along decks, garage doors and other entranceways to prevent all sorts of creepy crawlies from coming in.

Baking soda in the bottom of trashcans will help absorb any stray odors as well