While Grandma remembered to pass down many of her recipes, she may have forgotten to tell you how she managed to keep her house so spotless.
Here are a few old-fashioned but tried-and-true cleaning tips:
* Kitchen: To help make kitchen cleaning more manageable, focus on one part at a time. For example, clean the refrigerator first, and then move on to the counters and floors.
Don't forget the small details like the garbage disposal. To freshen, put a few citrus rinds in the disposal, turn it on and flush with water. A freshly cut lemon can also be rubbed on the sink to remove stains. If your drains are clogged, use vinegar and baking soda to clean them out.
* Laundry: Using a natural laundry booster such as 20 Mule Team Borax in addition to your regular detergent will make laundry a breeze. Add a half cup of 20 Mule Team Borax to the laundry to fight stains, eliminate odors and keep your clothes and linens looking their best. In addition, it acts as a hard water conditioner, which also helps prevent fading.
* Furniture: Keep your furniture looking like new by spraying furniture polish on a toothbrush and using it to clean the hard-to-reach crevasses. Also, use iodine to touch up scratches on dark furniture.
* Glass: Glass cleaners often leave streaks and can be expensive. Instead, try using ammonia to clean windows and mirrors. Another tried-and-true method is to use vinegar and water, and plain old crumpled newspaper works just as well as paper towels.
* Trash cans: Deodorize all your household garbage cans to eliminate unwanted odors. Just toss a little Borax in the bottom of the can. For immediate air freshening, throw in a fabric sheet.
* Bathroom: A thorough, deep cleaning from time to time will help keep your bathroom clean longer, making weekly touch-ups less work. Make sure to scrub your porcelain enamel and fiberglass surfaces.
Deodorize your toilet by letting the cleaner soak in the bowl for 30 minutes. While you're at it, throw your toilet brush in the bowl to deodorize that, too. Instead of expensive cleaners, try lemon juice to clean the soap scum off shower curtains.
If you have tough stains, get removal tips from the stain guide at www.purex.com. - NU |
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