Cleaning Tips for Everyone!

For windows, mirrors, and any other glass(except electronics):

First thing, throw out the Windex, or give it to someone who wants to waste time. Now go out and buy baby cloths. Yes, that's right, I said baby cloths! Now first thing you want to do when you clean your mirrors or windows is to wash it with water, or vinegar. Vinegar will leave it mostly streak-free, but that's what the baby cloth is for. Just a quick wipe over to get all the stuck on stuff. Now all you you do is go over the streaks with the baby cloth, in small circles. You shouldn't have to put your back into it as long as you washed it properly with water or vinegar before.

For glass on electronics:

Use a dry cloth to remove any big finger prints or dust or dirt. Go over any leftover spots with a baby cloth in small circles.

Cleaning supply recipes:

Furniture Polish
-2 cups mineral oil
-6 drops lemon extract

Put mineral oil in a spray bottle. If you want a scent, add lemon extract. Shake well. Spray on furniture and polish with a clean cloth.

General Household Cleaner
-1 tbsp ammonia
-1 tbsp liquid detergent
-2 cups water

Mix together and use for general cleaning. Put in a spray bottle for touch-ups if desired.

Carpet Cleaner
-1 tsp mild detergent
-1 tsp white vinegar
-1 quart warm water

Mix ingredients. Apply with clean cloth, using only amount of cleaning solution needed. Be careful not to soak the carpet through and always absorb excess liquid with a clean rag.
Septic Tank Recharger
(Septic tanks depend on the action of bacteria to break down solids and purify the resulting liquids.)
-2 cups brown sugar, packed
-1 package dry yeast
-1 quart of water

To prevent sludge buildup and keep the bacteria working, use this formula once a month. Mix thoroughly, pour into the toilet bowl, and flush.

Homemade stain removers:

Alcohol-Most commercial spot removers are simply a basic base of two parts water mixed with one pat rubbing alcohol.
Cornmeal-Sprinkle on greasy stain to help absorb the grease. Combine with water for a paste or shake it right out of the box.
Cornstarch-Use while stain is fresh. Grease is absorbed as a powder or paste.
Hydrogen peroxide-Use diluted for some of the most difficult stains such as blood, mildew and milk products.
Lemon juice-Tackles fruit juice, mildew, ink and rust.
Petroleum jelly-Gets off crusty part of many stains, such as tar or food. Use to loosen and soften residue then scrape or lift off.
Salt-Absorbs grease. Shake it right out of the shaker. The sooner salt gets on a stain, the more likely it will come right out.
Talcum powder-Great grease absorber. Shake and rub it in.
White vinegar-Removes acidic stains, like fruit juice.
Others: Ammonia, glycerine, borax, pepsin powder, diaper was and sanitizer with sodium percarbonate. Look in pharmacy aisle of supermarket.

Laundry Tips:

Quick Stain Removal:

Alcohol-Stain may appear colorless, but it will appear without treatment. Rinse with water, rub in liquid detergent or paste, then rinse. Sponge with vinegar. Rinse and wash as usual.

Ballpoint Pen-Saturate stain with hairspray. Rub with clean cloth. Rinse and wash as usual. OR Mix 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol with one cup water. Rub onto stain until it disappears. Rinse and wash as usual.

Blood-Flush stain with cold water. Soak in cold water for 30 minutes, rinse, work detergent into stain. Wash using bleach safe for fabric. OR Sponge stain with cool water. Work spoonful of 3% hydrogen peroxide into stain. When foaming stops, rinse in cool water. Wash as usual. OR Make a paste of starch and water. Rub into stain. Let dry. Peel dried paste away. Rinse and wash.

Butteror margarine- For whites, rub stain with kitchen cleanser. Let stand for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water. Wash as usual.

Candle wax-Scrape wax off with dull knife. Place stained area between paper towels or pieces of brown paper sack. Press with warm iron until wax absorbs into towel or sack. Wash is hottest water safe for fabric.

Chewing gum-Put article of clothing into plastic bag in freezer. Scrape frozen gum off clothing with dull knife. OR Sponge gum with turpentine before washing as usual. ORRub gum with an ice cube. When hard, scrape with dull knife. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric. OR Soak in white vinegar until gum dissolves.

Coffee or tea-Rub stain with liquid detergent or paste. Rinse. Rub with vinegar, rinse, and let dry. If stain remains use 3% hydrogen peroxide. Wash as usual.

Cosmetics-To remove mascara or any powder based makeup from clothing, rub a paste of powdered detergent and water into stain or use a small amount of liquid detergent. Rinse with cold water. Wash as usual.

Deodorant-Sponge stain with ammonia, and wash as usual. If fabric is silk or wool, be sure to dilute ammonia with one part water. OR Sponge stain with white vinegar. If stain remains, soak in rubbing alcohol for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.

Egg-Scrape dried egg off fabric with a dull knife. Soak in cold water for 30 minutes. Work detergent into stain. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.

Fruit juice- Stretch stained area over large bowl. Pour boiling water through stain from height of two feet. Repeat until stain disappears. Wash as usual. OR Rub lemon juice into stain. Let stand for 15 minutes. Rinse with cold water. Wash as usual. If stain is fresh, sponge stain with cold water. Soak in cold water for 30 minutes. Wash with bleach safe for fabric.

Grass-Soak in cold water for 30 minutes. Rub detergent into stain. Wash in the hottest water and bleach safe for fabric. OR For silk, wool, or colored fabrics, soak stained area with two cups water and one cup rubbing alcohol. Rinse. Wash as usual.

Grease-Rub detergent into stain. Hand wash in warm sudsy water. Rinse thoroughly. Wash as usual. OR For knits, rub stain with club soda. OR For suede, sponge with vinegar. Let dry. Brush to restore nap.

Fountain Pen- Pour cold water through stain until gone or until no more color runs. Rub stain with paste of detergent and lemon juice. Let stand for 10 minutes. Wash as usual.

Ketchup-Scrape off. Sponge with cool water. Soak in cool water overnight. Work either powdered or liquid detergent into stain. Rinse with cool water. Wash as usual.

Lipstick-Rub stain with petroleum jelly. Hand wash in warm sudsy water. Rinse thoroughly. Wash as usual.

Mud-Let mud dry completely. Scrape off or rub off dried mud with brush. Sponge stain with cool water. If stain remains, sponge with rubbing alcohol until gone. Wash as usual.

Mustard-Moisten stain with cool water, rub detergent into stain. Rinse with cool water. Soak overnight in warm sudsy water. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.

Pencil-Try to erase stain with a clean pencil eraser. Rub detergent into stain. Rinse thoroughly, If stain remains, rub ammonia into stain. Rinse.

Perspiration-If the stain is still fresh, sponge immediately with warm water and detergent or ammonia. Soak for 30 minutes in warm water. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric. OR If stain has already dried, sponge with vinegar. Soak in warm water for 30 minutes. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.

Rust-Spread stained area of fabric over bowl or pan of boiling water. Pour lemon juice through stain. Rinse thoroughly. Wash as usual. OR Make paste of lemon juice and salt. Rub into stain. Let dry in sun. Rinse dried paste off fabric with warm water. Wash as usual.

Soft drinks-Sponge area immediately with rubbing alcohol diluted with one part water. Rinse thoroughly. Work liquid detergent into stain. Rinse. Wash as usual. Note: It may look like there is no stain at first, but soft drinks leave a yellow stain when they dry.

Wine-For a red wine stain, immediately pour white wine on soiled area. Then wash with cold water and ammonia. For white wine, wash with cold water and ammonia. Rinse and wash as usual.

Ironing tips

Your ironing board should have a snug-fitting cover to make the job easier and to prevent bunching and wrinkling while ironing. The iron can either be a dry or a steam iron. Regardless of what you're ironing, follow these simple steps.
Take clothes that need ironing out of dryer while still damp. Lay them neatly on the ironing board. If ironing later, bring a spray bottle to dampen each item as you iron. (Do not dampen silks, as it will leave water spots.)
Start out cool. Start with clothes that need to be ironed at a lower temperature, and work your way up to the warmer ironing temperatures, to prevent overheating.
Use a light hand. Don't use too much pressure while ironing. Use a back and forth motion. Don't stretch or pull the fabric.
Iron double-thick clothing on the inside first. Where the fabric is doubled, such as cuffs, collars, hems, pocket flaps, etc. iron the outside last.
To get crisp seams, dampen first. Spritz seams with a mixture of one part water and one part white vinegar, then press them open from the inside before pressing on the outside.
Start with the smallest parts of a piece of clothing. For example, on a shirt, iron the cuffs and collars first, then do the sleeves, then the front and finally the back.
Iron wool, silks, rayons, and dark fabrics on wrong side. When doing a minor touch-up on the right side of the fabric, put a light weight clean cloth between the iron and the fabric.

Tips to make it go faster.

Do laundry at the same time. Whatever it is you're doing, you can always have a load of laundry in at the same time. Consider using cold water and liquid detergent for cold water to save money on your heating bill, if you haven't already done so.
Clean in broken sections. For example, do a load of dishes, then clean the bathroom. This will make you more motivated to finish the dishes, but still get something else done. Plus, if you wash the dishes and leave them in a dish rack, by the time you finish the bathroom, your dishes should be dry enough to put away. (Just remember to wash your hands first!)
Keep things organized. When you aren't cleaning, try to at least keep things organized. For example, keep your dishes stacked, keep garbage in garbage cans, if you have pop cans, have a designated spot for them during the week, keep laundry in baskets, etc.
Reward yourself, but set a reasonable goal. For example, if you are a smoker, and you would really like to stop for a smoke, tell yourself to hold on until you get one more thing done. Once you've done this enough times, you will eventually be able to do all your cleaning without stopping for a smoke, and that makes it go much faster, and will not affect your motivation.
Try to enjoy it! Turn on music, get your kids to help you, make it a game. Think of the rewards of having a clean house. If you don't want to do it, it's not going to get done fast or efficiently. You have to want it to achieve it.