They Call me "Mommy"

Here is a few cleaning tips that have been a tremendous help to me...

* When you dust, start at the top and work down.
* Take all your cleaning tools, avoid unnecessary trips back and forth.
* Clean as you go! It takes a lot less time to remove new dirt than old.
* Leave baking soda on carpeting over night will absorb musty odors
* Make a checklist of chores to get organized first.
* Wash walls from the bottom up, to avoid streaking.
* Use old socks as mitts for cleaning difficult wood work.
* Wash small knickknacks instead of dusting.
* To removing heel marks , take pencil eraser and rub them off.
* Don't mix cleaning products. Ammonia and bleach are toxic.
* Remember common cleaners such as windex and comet meet this don't do rule.
* Allowing cleaners to set for several minutes will ease the cleaning job.

Interior Walls

* Wall cleaner, mix 1/2 c. ammonia, 1/4 c. white vinegar, and 1/4 c. baking soda to 1 gal. warm water.
* For cleaning textured walls use nylon socks instead of a sponge or cloth to avoid leaving material chunks behind.
* To dust wall paper, tie a dustcloth over your broom and work from the top down.
* To remove pencil marks & other non-greasy spots from non-washable papers, use an art-gum eraser .
* To remove greasy spots or crayon, apply a paste of cleaning fluid and fuller's earth and cornstarch. Let the wall dry and brush off residue. Repeat the treatment until the spot is gone.



Windows

* Make your own spray cleaner. Fill a spray bottle with 3 tablesoopns ammonia, 1 tablespoon vinegar & the remainder with water.
* Dust blinds by wrapping a cloth around a ruler. Spray cloth with a dusting spray and run the flat end across each blind.
* Shine windows using old newspaper.
* Clean windows on an average temperature, preferably overcast day to avoid streaks.
* Dry windows outside in one direction then inside in the other direction. If you see a streak, you will know which side is the ofender.
* To clean window sills, pour diluted rubbing alcohol on a cloth and rub the entire surface.Then dust off the sill with a clean cloth.

Bathroom

* Rubbing alcohol can remove the dull haze from mirrors.
* Use rubbing alcohol to remove spots from bathroom fixtures.
* Glass shower doors will sparkle if cleaned with white vinegar.
* To clean the shower, use a solution of 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 cup ammonia, and 1/4 cup baking soda added to one gallon of warm water.
* Lemon furniture oil will remove water spots on metal frames.
* Rusty tile marks can be removed with kerosene.
* Running the shower on hot for five minutes will steam the dirt loose.
* Dull walls will shine when washed with vinegar and waterand plished with a dry cloth.
* Lighter fluid will remove most stains from porcelain sinks and bathtubs.

* Pour club soda on counter and clean with a soft cloth, rinse with water then wipe dry.
* Baking soda or club soda will clean and shine stainless steel sinks easily.
* Remove stubborn water spots from a stainless sink with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol.
* Spots on stainless steel also can be removed with vinegar.
* Rub stainless steel sinks with lighter fluid if rusty .
* For a sparkling white porcelain sink, place paper towels across the bottom of your sink and saturate with household bleach. Let sit for 8 hour & rinse. Never use bleach in colored sinks.

Refrigerator

* An open box of baking soda will absorb odors for a month or so.
* A few drops vanilla extract on a piece of cotton placed in the refrigerator will eliminate odors.
* Wipe refrigerator with vinegar to prevent mildew.
* Use your vacuum on the front of the coils and motor to remove dust and dirt

Appliances

* Stop yellowing of white appliances. Mix 1/2 cup bleach, 1/4 cup baking soda and 4 cups of warm water. Apply with a sponge and let set for 10 minutes. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
* Wax large appliances with car wax to make them shine and to remove small scratches.