Neat Tricks

Mon, Apr 5th, 2021 @ 12:36pm
Housekeeping. It’s a fact of life and if you’re short on time or have had a long day, the last thing you feel like doing is grabbing a mop or scrubbing the tub. As the weather, gets nice, who wants to spend their weekend cleaning?

You can get a lot done and quickly with a few tips and tricks of the trade as well as cleaning products you may already have around your home.

1.Olive oil.  It’s not just for cooking. A great option for cleaning stainless steel and pots and pans. A little olive oil and a soft cloth can buff out any dirty spots. Rub in a circular direction and watch them disappear.

2. Citrus magic. Stinky garbage disposal are a snap to clean with lemons or limes. Quarter the fruit and while running the water and the disposal, drop in the pieces. Instant freshment!

3. Vodka. It’s not just for drinking. It’s great for carpet stains. Blot the stain and pour the vodka directly on the stain. You can also use rubbing alcohol and white wine.

4. Shaving cream. Many of us have glass shower doors and shaving cream makes it a snap to remove water stains. Put it on the door and let it sit for about fifteen minutes and wipe it off. This often works better than glass cleaner on those stubborn water spots.

5. Vinegar and baking soda. One cup of white vinegar and half a cup of baking soda mixed in hot water make a great tub clean. Let the mixture sit for five minutes in an empty tub then start filling the tub with hot water until the bottom is covered and let sit an additional five minutes. Drain and rinse. The same solution can be used to clean the toilet bowl.

6. Lemon water. Clean your microwave by placing a cup of water with some squeezed lemon on the tray and nuke for two minutes. The steam from the water will loosen any particles in the microwave. Let the water cool and use it to wipe down the microwave.

7. Baking soda.  Stovetops can be cleaned with a bit of baking soda. Pour on the soda, sprinkle with water and let sit an hour. Wipe it off and polish with a soft cloth.

8. Rubber gloves. Remove pet hair that your vacuum misses by simply putting on rubber gloves and rub down any areas needing that extra bit of cleaning. Rinse the gloves after use so they’ll be ready to go next time.

So, think beyond the box next time you’re sprucing up your place. Common household items can often do double duty saving you time and money.