Clean Your Coach Handbag at HomeAfter reading the tip about throwing your Coach bag in the washer I thought I'd give it a try. I had found the purse as I was cleaning up after the last tenant moved out of the rental property I own.
Using Vinegar for CleaningHere are a few suggestions for when cleaning or deodorizing with vinegar. Make sure you're using white vinegar not apple cider. Use vinegar in the rinse cycle of your washing machine because many detergents leave a residue that we don't realize.
Cleaning Popcorn Ceilings the Easy WayMy popcorn ceilings may be old, but I still want them to be clean. They tend to collect dust and spiderwebs over time, and I've finally found a way to get them clean without much effort! Just use a new, thick-knapped paint roller, on an extension pole if possible.
Soak Off Jar LabelsIn my quest to reclaim a Mason jar (specifically Classico pasta sauce jars) I needed to soak off the labels. I submerged the jars in hot water and let them sit until the paper was easy to pull off. The best part with the Classico jars is that the glue they use is also water soluble!
Stop Smudges Before They StartA newlywed asked the question, "How do I keep my house clean with as little maintenance as possible?" on one of the Facebook groups I belong to.
Cleaning Plastic Containers Used For Powdered DrinksI made a little discovery this morning and wanted to share it with you. It's quick, simple, easy, and cheap.
Removing Sticky Adhesive Residue from PlasticFill a container with pretty warm water (as hot as you can without it distorting the plastic container of course) and let it sit 5 minutes. This heats up the adhesive on the outside of the container. Don't get the outside (where the glue is) wet though. Dump out the water (still keeping the outside dry) and generously wipe the gluey spot with a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil.
Cleaning with a DisabilitySo, I've already mentioned I broke my spine. Well, I also broke my spinal hardware bilaterally which runs from T-10 to my ilium. My stubborn self refused to be put down no matter what life threw my way, so I continued to do my chores, not wishing to become too much of a burden on anyone.
Cleaning Out a Deceased Person's HomeCheck pockets, linings of coats, insides of pocketbooks, inside pill bottles, radiators, inside books and picture frames for money and valuables. Check all collections of junk jewelry for the possibility of a gold or silver piece.
How to Care for Your SwimwearSwimwear goes through a lot more than your typical article of clothing. It gets in contact with chlorine, salt, sun lotions, and sprays. They're also way more elastic than your usual garment, so throwing them in the washer and dryer will only shorten its lifespan and kill its colour. Here is how I wash my swimwear to elongate its life and keep the quality pristine.
Busy Bees Event For Cleaning Your HouseWe have weekly family "Busy Bee" events. During the event all of us bees swarm into a room armed with cleaning supplies and bins for recycling and garbage, and follow the directions of the Queen or King Bee (usually the commander is the owner of the room).
Goop for Removing Paper Stuck on Wood SurfaceI tried these tips: olive oil, vegetable oil, and/or mayonnaise to remove paper that had been stuck on an antique cherry table. None of them worked. My husband said, "let's try 'Goop'." I rubbed a little bit of Goop on the area, let it set for a minute, and easily rubbed the paper off with an old washcloth.
Use Hairdryer for No Residue Label RemovalMost of the time, I can remove a label from a jar or plastic container by using the hairdryer to heat the label. It loosens the glue and makes the label easy to lift and peel off.
Saving Money on Paper TowelsI was one that enjoyed using my sewing machine a few years back. At this moment it sits in the closet. I am unable to use it due to pain in my hands. I was working on changing my life to become better with waste and money saving.
Keeping a Tidy Home and Your SanityBegin by washing the garbage can with a good cleaner. I used Awesome and alcohol. I sprayed the floor around the garbage can as well. Then, of course, the wall behind the garbage can. I let it sit and got on my knees to clean the area.
Ironing Clothes Without an IronI recently stayed overnight at a friend's house. To my misfortune, my clothes for the next day got crumpled in my bag and she did not have an iron. In the morning, I made us hardboiled eggs and used the boiling hot water with pot (covered) as an iron.
Duct Tape for Picking Up Fragments of GlassWhen you break thin glass on hardwood floors you are left with splinters of glass. I use duct tape wrapped around my hand the wrong way, and go over the area and it picks up every little sliver of glass. It really picks up well and you can turn the tape around on your hand carefully.
Removing Latex Paint from Hard SurfacesI found a Little Tykes bookcase at the curb. It was pretty dirty, but cleaned up beautifully. However, there was latex paint that wouldn't come off, even with hard scrubbing. I then remembered a trick my dad taught me.
Separate Spatulas When WashingIf you have spatulas with removable tips, It's best to separate them from the handles before washing. When washing the spatulas, water can get in the handle slot and remain there for a long time. This makes a good breeding ground for germs.
Salt for Removing Super Glue from FingersInstead of washing your hands with chemicals to remove super glue from your fingers, dip your fingers into some water, then into a good amount of salt, make a salt paste and rub it around. Rinse with warm water. If you're left with a bit more super glue on your fingers, repeat the process until it's gone.
Make Up Brush for CleaningUse makeup brushes for more than just makeup. They are also great for cleaning. I change out my make up brushes often. Because it is so hard to discard them, I make sure to use them in another way.
How to Clean a Sink P-TrapThe P-Trap under the sink can get a lot of gunk buildup and cause an odor. Instead of using harsh chemicals to keep ours clean, I remove the P-Trap every 3-4 months and give it and the pipe above a good cleaning. If you have plastic pipes like ours, no tools are needed for this.
How To Clean a Popcorn CeilingMy bedroom ceiling is covered in popcorn coating. Each time I lay in bed, my focus was drawn to the dust hang off the popcorn. For me, that was bothersome as I am asthmatic. The other day it occurred to me that I could use compressed air to blow them off.
Clean Inside of Bottles with RiceUse raw uncooked rice to clean tall or irregularly shaped bottles that have difficult-to-reach areas. Add a little water, some rice, and a small amount of dish soap/detergent. Then fit the lid, (or just cover with your hand) and give it a good shaking.
Cleaning Greasy Residue Left by Goo GoneGoo Gone is great for cleaning adhesive and any other kinds of sticky residue. However, the product itself leaves a greasy/oil residue that requires its own bit of cleaning.
Removing Roof Tar from Skin with Olive OilAlthough my husband wore gloves while patching his brother's roof, some of the roof tar soaked through and got onto his skin. Soap and water didn't even come close to removing it from his hands. After doing a bit of research online, the best option seemed to be olive oil.
Spray Cleaning on a BudgetSpray cleaning is fast and easy and can save you a lot of time and effort. However it is more expensive than using a bowl of soapy water and a cloth. If you are living on a budget it is worth splashing out on a large bottle of multi purpose concentrated cleaner.
Keep Separate Plungers for Kitchen and BathHelp maintain your health by keeping a separate plunger for your kitchen sink. Plungers used in the bathroom, especially the toilet and shower/tub should never be used in the kitchen as they will transmit e coli.
Keep Up With Household Chores By Creating a Cleaning ScheduleI love to organize. I like everything to have a home and be labeled. I become so focused on keeping the small stuff in its place that I let the bigger picture fall apart. My craft items all have a specific home, but when is the last time I cleaned my baseboards?
Hair Dryer to Remove Price Tags EasilyUse a blow dryer on the hot setting. The glue will soften, get sticky, and peel right off.
Erasing Permanent Marker from Laminated PaperWhen I taught Pre-K, I laminated everything! Doing this helped make all of my activities, charts, and schedules last quite a bit longer. I was able to write on these laminated surfaces with permanent marker, erase, and reuse them. I did this with name tags, cubby tags, center signs, and so much more!
Efficient Ironing with Aluminum FoilYou can save time and electricity using this one simple trick for ironing. Put a sheet of aluminum foil under your ironing board cover before ironing. The reflected heat and insulation from the foil makes it so you don't have to iron the other side (and totally speeds up your ironing process).
Less Product is BetterI find that using much less product works just as well to get good results. For instance, I always buy a good dish detergent but I pour 1/4 of it into an empty bottle and fill the rest with water. I wash my dishes by hand with a washcloth and the diluted detergent works great.
Un-Du for Removing Hot GlueIf you get hot glue where it is not wanted squirt some UN-Du on the dried glue. Use your finger nail or a butter knife to scrape it off. The glue removes easily. It will also work on something that has been washed and dried.
Cleaning with Rubbing Alcohol and HairsprayIf you are like me and have a favorite pair of Converse that always get dirty on the white areas, you will like this part of the instruction. Take a paper towel (also try kitchen towels and rags) and wet it with some rubbing alcohol and rub it all over the white parts.
Putting Away ClutterAt our house, it only takes a few days for things to get out of place. I have figured out an easy and quick way to get things back in order.
Squeegee Your CountertopsI bought a squeegee at the dollar store. It has been the best way to clean my countertops. I spray glass cleaner on my countertop and go over with a sponge. I then squeegee all the liquid into the sink. This works so well and my countertops shine.
Cleaning Neglected Spots in Your HomeMost of us clean house regularly enough, but most of us don't even think about the dirtiest surfaces, that are harboring bacteria and germs! The following are tips on cleaning those spots that get overlooked.
Scrape Crumbs off TabletopIf your table is beautifully decorated and would be difficult to undo just to shake it out, use a credit card or business card to scrape those crumbs into a dust pan or some type of container. I also use the same method when removing pins after quilting, although I admit that the crumbs are much more cooperative!
Tips for Cleaning a Coach PurseI buy awful looking Coach purses off eBay clean them up and resell them. This is what I have found that works best. If it's a fabric purse whether it's satin, canvas, or even cotton this product that is sold at the DollarTree is all you need. It's called "Awesome" it's yellow and comes in a spray bottle.
Put a Hand Sanitizer in Lunch BoxIf you take your lunch to work, put in a pocket-sized hand sanitizer. It's great if you can't wash up before lunch.
Dry Erase Marker Removes Permanent MarkerJust take a dry erase marker and rub it over the permanent marker and wipe off. This only works on shiny surfaces.
Washing Soda for Cleaning SpongesWashing soda is best for cleaning sponges and cleaning cloths. It will remove soap, dirt, or anything else remaining within. Things caught in the sponge will cause odors as well as give germs a place to fester. I even clean my micro cloths this way. It is safe enough to clean Enjo mops and cloths.
Disinfecting Sponges and Dish TowelsOnce a week, sometimes more often, I gather all my cleaning cloths, dish towels, and sponges and do a small load of laundry with hot water, clothes soap, and bleach. The sponges get disinfected, smell wonderful, and I know they are clean.
Bar Keepers Friend for Removing Hard Water...Bar Keepers Friend and a soft scrub sponge works best for me. It removes all shower spots and window spots from sprinklers. Window on right had the whole lower half with spots.
Removing Water Based Marker on Dry Erase BoardMy three year old scribbled all over my dry erase board. I was clueless and used plain water to clean it. Big mistake. The water marker smeared and it would not come off. I tried so many things, alcohol, hand sanitizer, acetone, etc. I gave up.
Removing a Sticky ResidueLemon essential oil removes sticky residues quickly and easily. Put 4 drops of the lemon essential oil onto a cotton ball. Hold the cotton ball onto the sticky residue for a couple seconds then rub in a circular motion until the residue is gone. I have successfully used this method for removing two sided tape from metal and also sticky residue from labels.
Goof Off to Remove Permanent MarkerUse a product called Goof Off. I spayed this on the marker spot and it ran off. Be sure to have a dry rag to wipe it up quickly. It's the only thing that takes it all off.
Using the Last of the Clorox 2As my husband was doing laundry he went to use the Clorox 2. Nothing came out, but it clearly had more in the bottle. He discovered that if you remove the spout, there is almost a capful of liquid trapped inside the bottle. Now none of it will be wasted. :)
Never Mix Cleaners or Household ChemicalsFor the fourth time in less than a year, I have responded to a med call where someone mixed household chemicals.
Use Vinegar for Rust and Wood TreatmentVinegar is really great stuff with many cool uses. Here are the the 2 best ones I know of. Remove rust from metal. Just let the metal soak overnight in the vinegar.
Avoid Cleaners With Ammonia to Remove Pet UrineWhen cleaning up any cat or dog pee on the floor never ever use ammonia. Dog and cat pee both have a high ammonia content (often cats more so than dogs) so the smell can attract your pet and cause them to keep mistaking that spot for a bathroom!
Reusing Refrigerator Baking SodaNo need to throw away that box of baking soda from your refrigerator when it is time to replace it. While it is not good for cooking, there are a lot of ways to use it up.
Removing Sticker Residue from GlassJust put some rubbing alcohol, mineral oil, or nail polish remover on a cotton ball or paper towel and rub it. The residue comes right off. So easy!
Removing Food Coloring Stains from Counters and TabletopsI used to decorate cakes for fun and always ended up with red food coloring on my counter tops. Then I discovered it could be removed by making a paste of cream of tartar and water.
Unclogging Hair Spray Nozzle or PumpHairspray cans always clogged? What a waste. Such an easy solution!
Removing Stains from White Counter TopDampen the counter top and sprinkle some good ol' baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) on the stain, just enough to cover it. With a little elbow grease, the stain will vanish.
Careful With Goo Gone on LeatherI bought a pair of Lilly Pulitzer sandals that had sticker residue on the leather insoles. I used Goo Gone and it removed the gold lettering also and also left a blotched area.
Use Squeegee for Removing Pet Hair from CarpetA rubber window washing squeegee attached to a long pole is an excellent way to pull pet hair from carpets. I have two in different widths. The narrow one does stair treads and can be used to reach confined spaces, the wide one makes short work of the open areas. I've a third one for furniture.
Removing Smells from Pet BedsMy Chiweenie, Henry loves loves loves his bed. But, it sure can get smelly. I will let it soak it a mixture of Dawn and white vinegar for about an hour or so. Then just wash and dry with towels...
Cleaning Trash CansHose your trash and kitchen garbage cans outside and put dish soap in and scrub with a sponge and let it air dry outside. Then spray with disinfectant.
Denture Tablet for Stained PorcelainI use a denture tablet in water. Just fill the cup with water and add a denture tablet and let it sit for several hours. Then just pour the water out and wipe the cup with a paper towel or dishcloth.
Two Minute Kitchen CleanI am a big believer in cleaning a little bit at a time. While my coffee is dripping in the morning, I either wipe out my microwave, wipe around the sink, or check the refrigerator.
Cleaning The Inside of BottlesI have found that the best and cheapest way to clean the inside of bottles is to use vinegar and baking soda. The soda will cause the vinegar to fizz; so, it reaches all areas inside the bottle.
Reuse Pump Bottles with VinegarI keep my large Germ X bottles or even the small ones. I fill one of the large ones with dish soap and keep it by the sink. I have another one I fill with white vinegar.
Clean Your House with VinegarI have stopped buying expensive and fume cleaning products and have gone to vinegar for everything. It is the oldest, safest and most effective cleaning product there is.
Square Pencil Erasers for Picking Up Pet FurI was going through my daughter's room and under her bed, when I picked up an eraser to kind of sweep a few bits of debris off the floor. It picked up fur like a dream! I used it on her carpet, as I was sitting on the floor going under her bed and sorting clothes, etc.
Use White Vinegar to Clean ScissorsWhite vinegar will not ruin the blades of scissors or rust the metal like water and soap will. Use a cloth soaked in white vinegar to clean scissors instead of water.
Maid Service During ChemotherapyThe following tip appeared in our recent condo newsletter. I had not heard of this before, but it sounds like a great idea for women undergoing chemo:
Remove Sticker Residue With Peanut ButterDon't you find it annoying when you buy something and when you try to remove the label it leaves a greasy or a sticky substance on the item? Well if you don't have any goo begone, just smear a gob of peanut butter on it.
Vacuuming Under Low FurnitureIf you have a canister vacuum cleaner and hardwood floors, it's very easy to vacuum under the bed and other furniture. If the vacuum head will fit under, just put the hose the other direction on the tubes.
Use Antacids to Clean a VaseI find it hard to clean the bottom of some vases so I add a little warm water with an antacid tablet at the bottom. I let it sit overnight and just rinse. Works well.
Plastic Bag Closure Tab to Clean CountersWhen I make my own pie crust my counter gets messy with flour and hardened dough. So that I don't scratch the countertop, I use a plastic potato bag closure.
Cleaning an Electric Tooth BrushTo clean the brush head for my electric tooth brush, I put it in a deep (3 inches tall) prescription pill bottle, fill the bottle with hydrogen peroxide covering the brush head.
Clean Your Smoke DetectorsBrush out and clean smoke detectors each season to prevent false activation. I had to call our fire dept. during night hours because our detector activated and we could not find a reason, nor could we turn it off.
Oven Cleaner to Remove Oil StainsTo remove car oil stains on your driveway or on the floor of your garage, spray foam oven cleaner, leave on for about 10 minutes, then wash with warm water and brush the stain away.
Getting More Soap Out of a Liquid Soap BottleOften, there is a little bit left at the bottom of a liquid soap dispenser where the manual pump cannot reach. In order to get to this soap, just fill the container about 1/3rd full with water and slowly agitate the bottle to dilute the remaining soap into the water.
Spring Cleaning Made EasierSeems most everyone is spring cleaning this time of the year. Even for someone like me who keeps up on things, this is the time to do things forgotten or put off. Most of these things we all do. Organization is the key here.
Cleaning Crayon with WD-40Crayons can leave a very hard thing to clean up, unless, you have WD-40 on hand. All you have to do is spray a little on and it melts the crayon so all you have to do is wipe off!
Many Uses For Hand SanitizerI have found so many uses for plain old hand sanitizer. The cheaper, the better. The uses are as follows:
Lotion For Removing Ink From SkinI have used various brands of hand/body lotion. Rubbing alcohol works as well. If you have hand sanitizer it works too, but takes longer.
Cleaning In Tight SpacesI found that an easy solution to cleaning corners or tight spots is to purchase a cheap set of artist paintbrushes from the craft area at Walmart, etc. Use the big brushes for larger dirty areas, small brushes for tiny areas.
Rubber Gloves To Remove Pet Hair from...Put on a pair of latex gloves. Then "pet" your furniture. You will notice the pet hair rolling up under the gloves, almost into a rope. Really embedded pet hair will loosen, but it will take a little elbow grease!
Lysol Wipes for Cleaning Dry Erase BoardI bought some Lysol wipes for my ladies' Sunday School class because we kept getting sick with colds. Aside from wiping down the table, chairs, and doorknobs, I found the alcohol content made it perfect for cleaning dry eraser marker writing from our dry erase board!
Alcohol For Cleaning a Dry Erase BoardI always clean a dry erase board with alcohol.
Store and Go Cleaning BasketYou only need a few basic cleaning supplies to perform all of your household cleaning tasks. All purpose cleaners save money and eliminate clutter caused by an over abundance of specialized products.
Use Vinegar for CleaningVinegar is a cheap and easy cleaning solution. Vinegar is naturally antibacterial. In my kitchen, I use one part vinegar to one part water to clean the counters and sink, and to disinfect.
Lint Roller For Cleaning Lamp ShadesI got so frustrated trying to vacuum my lamp shades or knocking the dust off with a rag. A lint roller is the best thing I have ever tried. It takes the dust off like a champ. Cleaning lamp shades could not be easier.
Rubbing Alcohol For CleaningI've seen a lot of tips about cleaning items with hand sanitizer. The thrifty alternative is plain old rubbing alcohol. The main (active) ingredient in hand sanitizer is alcohol.
Orvus to Clean Vintage LinensSome professionals use Orvus. You can order online or visit a feed store.
Denture Cleaning Tablets For BottlesOne of the best methods I have found is to buy the tablets for cleaning dentures. Depending on how large the bottle is, drop a whole one or 1/2 of one in the bottle and add hot water.
Oxi Clean For Cleaning BottlesUse 2 Tbsp. of Oxi Clean, fill with water and shake. Leave overnight and use a bottle brush the next morning.
Break Denture Tablets to Fit Inside BottleUse denture cleanser tablets to clean the inside of the bottles. Put in the tablet (break up to fit), add water, and shake.
Salt to Clean Inside BottlesPut in some coarse salt inside the bottle with a bit of water and swirl it around. The salt scours off the crud and it can be rinsed out easily. Repeat if necessary.
Have a Cleaning ScheduleI find it's easier to keep up on the housecleaning if I have a cleaning schedule. It's also easier for my 4 year old son because he is learning that each day we have different chores and he knows what is expected.
Cleaning Vinyl RecordsI wash each vinyl record with Dawn and a soft sponge, then let it dry in the dish rack. After they have dried, I apply a thin coating of fabric softener and let it dry. This reduces the static a lot.
Used Vacuum For the GarageI don't spend money on those vacuums for the garage, workshop, etc. I buy the old working vacs from garage sales, for no more than $4.00. They do the job just as well.
Cleaning Garage EfficientlyI keep certain things on hand when cleaning the garage, such as my camera, which I use to take pictures of things I want to sell so I can post them quickly. Of course cleaning supplies, and a large floor squeegee works wonders when mopping a garage floor to get it dry fast.
Tips for Cleaning a LampshadeLampshades can build up grime, dust, and pet hair over time. Cleaning them can be difficult, but it is worth trying before your replace them. Here are some tips for cleaning lampshades:
Hydrogen PeroxidePlease don't use bleach! It is very caustic. Instead, buy a 32 oz bottle of hydrogen peroxide and buy and empty 32 oz sprayer bottle at Wal Mart. Remove the sprayer head and place on the hydrogen peroxide bottle and spray.
Wear Earplugs When VacuumingInstead of spending the money for an expensive, silent vacuum cleaner, use earplugs or your earplug music device with the volume turned up to help get rid of the noisy, annoying vacuum sound. These items are much cheaper!
Cheap White Washcloths for EverydayIf you have young children or teenagers who wear make-up, purchasing a bulk package of plain white washcloths can be very economical! I used to have nice, thick washcloths with pretty designs until I began to have kids.
