Cheaper, Better, Faster by Mary Hunt Read Free Book Online Page B

grout
    Borax and baking soda mixed together make an effective nonabrasive cleanser forremoving mold and mildew from tile grout.
    Mini-blinds—cleaning on driveway
    Clean metal or vinyl mini-blinds the fast and easy way: Simply lay the mini-blinds in your driveway and spray them with an all-purpose liquid or foaming bathroom cleaner. Rinse with the garden hose, then hang the blinds on a clothesline to dry.
    Mini-blinds—quick clean
    Use a dampened fabric softener sheet to quick-clean mini-blinds and reduce the static cling that attracts dust.
    Mini-blinds—superclean
    Put on a rubber glove and an old sock over it. Douse the sock in straight rubbing alcohol and clean away while blinds are in place.
    Mirrors —hair spray removal
    To remove hair spray spots from the mirror, dampen a soft cotton cloth with rubbing alcohol and, using a circular motion, wipe them away.
    Mirrors—use cold tea
    Clean mirrors with cold tea. They’ll really shine.
    Mops
    Has floor wax made your favorite mop stiff and foul-smelling? Soak it for a half hour in a gallon of water mixed with ½ cup of no-suds ammonia. It will look brand-new. To prevent repeat performances, clean the wax mop thoroughly with an ammonia-water mixture after each use. Never clean a wax mop with soap or detergent, and use it only for the purpose of applying liquid floor wax.
    Odor—food containers
    To remove odors from food containers, fill them with water and several tablespoons of baking soda. Let them sit overnight, then wash and rinse.
    Odor—garbage cans
    To inhibit the growth of odor-producing molds and bacteria, sprinkle ½ cup borax in the bottom of the garbage can.
    Odor—smoke in upholstery
    To get rid of the unpleasant smell of smoke on chairs and sofas, sprinkle baking soda on the fabric and allow it to sit there for a few hours—then vacuum.
    Odor—thermos
    Here’s an easy solution for a sour-smelling thermos. Fill the container with 1 quart of water and 4 tablespoons baking soda, and let it sit overnight. In the morning, wash as usual. Do this every week or so as preventive maintenance.
    Odor—use a match
    You can buy all kinds of room deodorizers and pretty-smelling things for the bathroom that do nothing more than cover up bathroom odors. Or you can simply light a match and blow it out immediately to completely eliminate the odor.
    Oven
    Sprinkle water and then a layer of baking soda on oven surfaces. Rub gently with very fine steel wool for tough spots.
    Oven racks
    To clean grease buildup from oven racks, bathe them. Put enough hot water in the bathtub to cover the racks, add ¼ cup automatic dishwasher detergent and ¼ cup white vinegar. Stir to dissolve the detergent. Wait for an hour or so, then rinse and dry the racks. Drain the tub immediately, or you’ll end up with a major-league bathtub ring.
    Oven spills
    Pour salt on oven spills when they occur and while they are too hot to clean up. The salt will make the cleanup easier once the spills have cooled,and it will prevent the spill from smoking or flaring up.
    Paper towel substitute
    As a substitute for paper towels, coffee filters will shine glass, mirrors, and chrome perfectly without lint or streaky marks.
    Permanent marker stains
    Tough stains from permanent markers are easily removed from most surfaces with rubbing alcohol.
    Pet hair on carpet—spray
    To remove unsightly dog and cat hair from your carpet, spray a mixture of 1 part liquid fabric softener to 3 parts water on your rug, wait a minute or two, and then vacuum. No more animal hair.
    Pet hair on rug—squeegee
    To remove pet hair from a rug, try a window squeegee. Just pull the rubber edge toward you and let physics do the rest. Static electricity will cause the hair to cling to the rubber strip.
    Phones
    Use a clean, soft cloth dipped in a bit of rubbing alcohol to remove grease and grime from your phone. Use an ordinary cotton swab dipped in alcohol to clean around the