Free Cleaning Tips:
Sometimes a mess happens that needs cleaned now and you just don't have the necessary products available to get the job done right. In those situations, here are a few household items that you may have around the house or office that can be a viable substitute.
AMMONIA - Cuts grease , strips the wax off floors and cleans windows.
BAKING SODA - Cleans, deodorizes , scours , polishes , and removes stains.
BLEACH ( sodium hydrochloride) Whitens practically anything and removes mold , mildew , and disinfects and deodorizes at the same time.
ABOUT CHLORINE BLEACH
MYTH - Chlorine and liquid bleach are one in the same.
FACT - Actually they aren't! The term chlorine bleach is actually a misnomer. What's in the bottle is sodium hydrochloride , the active ingredient in liquid bleach . Although chlorine is used to manufacture sodium hydrochloride , there is no free chlorine in bleach.
BORAX - Alternative for bleach , deodorizes , prevents mold , removes stains and boosts the cleaning power of soap.
CORN STARCH - Cleans and deodorizes carpets and rugs .
KETCHUP - Cleans copper.
LEMON JUICE - Cuts grease and stains on aluminum and porcelain , whitens.
SALT - Makes an abrasive , but gentle , scouring powder.
VEGETABLE OIL - A furniture polish.
WASHING SODA - Cuts grease and disinfects.
WHITE VINEGAR - Cleans windows , shines metal surfaces , removes mildew , stains , and wax buildup.
Sometimes combining some of the above ingredients creates better cleaners , but remember : "NEVER MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA TOGETHER"
USEFUL CLEANING TIPS*
*Get Rid of Stubborn Bottle Labels* To remove the label from glassware apply some peanut butter to remove the glue and rub with your finger. The glue will melt away.
*Candle Wax Removal* If you get candle wax on your carpet all you have to do is get a brown paper bag and your iron . Tear the bag open , heat up your iron , place the bag over the wax and iron over it.The wax will melt into the paper bag .Works every time.
*Get Rid of Crayon Marks* To get crayon marks off of walls , take a soft cloth and some WD-40. Spray the cloth with the WD-40 and wipe the spot.
The oil gets absorbed into the cloth, while the other ingredients work on the wax from the crayon. Works on painted or paper surfaces.
*Rust Free Garden Tools* Here's a way to prevent rust on your garden tools: Fill a 5 - gallon bucket with sand and a quart of motor oil. After using your tool , scrape off excess soil and plunge the tool into the bucket of sand a few times.
*Ammonia In Laundry Cuts Grease* Put a half-cup of ammonia in the wash to loosen up the grease stains on work clothes and oil stains. It makes your coats , jackets , and pants cleaner and believe it or not , the stains miraculously disappear.
*Get Rid Of Odors* To eliminate household odors from cooking and smoking , fill a bowl (or small container) with Cotton balls , pour in vinegar and place in a out of way area. Keep one in every room , and repeat the process every week.
*Remove Rust From Sinks* To remove rust from metal sinks , wet the stain and pour baking soda on the stain . Let it set overnight. Run water and wipe the rust down the drain.
*Remove Blood From Carpet* If you get blood on your carpet , clean it in a circular motion with a baby wipe. You may need 2 or 3 , but it takes ALL the stain out. It's a miracle!
*Use Shaving Cream On Carpets* For years I have used the inexpensive shaving cream to spot treat my rugs and carpets. Not only does it clean well and is nontoxic, but it leaves a refreshing scent behind.
*Epsom Salts Can Damage Septic Tank* Don't let Epsom salts drain into a septic tank. They stop enzyme reaction and can cause damage to the leach field and require costly repairs.
*Removing Carpet Stains* I have found that club soda works really well in taking stains out of my white Berber carpet. Every stain I have used it on has come out.
*Quickly Sterilize Sponges* To sterilize sponges used in the kitchen , place a damp sponge in the microwave for 20 seconds. It will (kill) any bacteria in those sponges. Do this once a week or more often.
*Clean Spots From Carpet* When cleaning carpet that has stains of grease , mud , salsa , etc. , always spray cleaning solution around the spot or stain first , rather than directly on it . By circling it first ,this will stop the spot from spreading outward as would have happened if you sprayed directly onto the spot to be cleaned. The spot will not have a dry area to absorb it as it dissolves , thus allowing it to be absorbed with a dry sponge.
*Keep Sinks Sparkling* Mineral oil will make your sink shinny but why go out and buy another product? Just spray sinks with your furniture cleaner.The cleaner will make sinks shine , and the water will not spot your sink. So easy and handy!
*Cleaning Oven Racks* When cleaning oven racks and burner bibs , place the racks and bibs in a large plastic garbage bag and spray liberally with oven cleaner . Tie shut and leave overnight . The next day rinse.
*Great way to unclog a toilet* Having trouble with a stopped up toilet? Try this, a couple good squirts of dish washing liquid in bowl, let stand for 5 minutes, plunge a few times with a toilet plunger, viola clog gone!
Safety First: Always read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products. Always store cleaning products out of reach of children. |
