Cleaning up! Some new (and very old) cleaning tips for your home.
Regular Endust cleans stainless flawlessly!
You may not call me "Mr. Clean" but I'm the real tidy one in this house. Growing up in Surrey, BC, it was my mom who taught all her boys how to cook, clean, and even sew. Thanks mom.
I like a perfectly folded shirt, and cook and clean up at the same time. It's just my nature. It's a nice orderly home that probably inspired me to become a home inspector. It was definitely what inspired me to build both the houses that we've owned.
When I was detailing my motorcycle, I discovered Endust, and how perfectly it cleans oil and road dust off smooth surfaces. I decided to try it on my stainless appliances and hood fan. Wow. You have to try it. I have discovered Endust now also sells a product for stainless steel (which is probably essentially the same) If the regular Endust is cheaper, go for it! It's amazing.
Here's a few other tips!
Clean Silver Flatware - Fast.
Put it in a pan containing two quarts of water, two teaspoons of baking soda and two teaspoons of salt. Bring the solution to a boil, let silver remain in the pan for 15 minutes, remove and rinse under cold water.
Recipe For Window Washing Solution
Mix up your own window washing solution and keep a quart or two on hand. Put it in a spray bottle and use as needed. Mix two cups ammonia, two cups white vinegar and one-half cup of cornstarch together to make a quart and one-half cup.
Removing Carpet Stains Naturally.
Keep a bottle of club soda handy. Douse a stain with it, let it stand a few minutes, then sponge off. The chemical action of the soda water will keep the stain from soaking in and settling. This also works on upholstery, wallpaper and clothing.
Adhesive Will Wipe Right Off.
The best way to remove the sticky adhesive that price stickers leave on thigns is to cover the spot with cooking oil. Let it stand for a few minutes then wipe off. Not a trace will be left and you won't have scratched the item.
Get Shower Doors Sparkling Clean.
To remove soap scum and mienral deposits from glass shower doors, wipe them with a soft cloth dipped in fabric softener then apply glass cleaner to make the doors sparkle.
Eliminate Mildew On Upholstered Furniture.
Wipe the spots with a cloth that has been dipped in a solution of one cup denatured or rubbing alcohol and one cup water.
Disinfecting Cleaner.
Mix 2 teaspoons **borax, 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap, 4 tablespoons white vinegar, and 3 cups hot water in a spray bottle. If you want to skip the borax, look up a recipe for a hydrogen peroxide-based do-it-yourself cleaner.
Floor Cleaner
Use 1/4 cup washing soda, 1 tablespoon of liquid soap, 6 tablespoons of cornstarch, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and two gallons of hot water on linoleum and no-wax floors. For wood floors, use 1 cup of vinegar in a bucket of hot water.
Zap The Sponge!
We all know that sponges can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Disinfect yours every night by squeezing it out and microwaving it on high for a minute. When it's shredded and smelly, replace it.
Cleaning The Microwave
Cleaning a microwave is easy. Fill up a cup of water and put it in there on high for a few minutes. The steam from the cup will loosen any stuck-on food, and then you can just wipe it away. It's that simple.
Coffee Grounds
Use your morning pick-me-up to eliminate odors in the fridge. Simply place coffee grounds, new or used, in a bowl on a shelf. Replace them every two months for a fresh, slightly caffeinated smell.
Newspaper - Use It For Your Little Green Box!
Before you toss out (or better, recycle) your newspaper, use it to get rid of some garbage grime. Cover the bottom of your trashcan with old newspapers to soak up leaks and odors. I live in Surrey, where we have the big recycling bins. I fold the newspaper into a rectangle, then using my scissors cut four fold marks into each corner. I can then fold the newspaper into a perfect little recycling bag that conveniently fits my little green waste box. It keeps the waste box nice and clean and odor free and is a simple throw away.