Other Uses for Common Household Cleaning Products

Cleaning solutions and tools are marketed for use on specific things you have in you house or yard. But here are some new ideas on how to use things in various ways.

Use Pledge wood cleaner in the bathroom. It works great on toilet seats. Start by disinfecting them, and then use some pledge. Use it just like you do on the wood- spray, rub in with a cloth, and buff it to a shine with another dry one. It really shines the lid and seat area. You can also use it on the cabinets and base boards even if they have a finish on them. It will shine them like no other.

Swiffer cloths with the wand part can be used for many things. The best way to use Swiffer, is to sweep up leftover dirt with the Swiffer system after sweeping with a traditional broom. I've also discovered you can use the swiffer wand with two Windex wipes attached to wipe down windows- it works great even outside! I'm sure you can find more ways to use the Swiffer wand for other things, but that is how I use it.

I love using Clorox Clean Up Spray with Bleach. This stuff is brilliant in the kitchen, bathroom and for other random things like sanitizing trash cans. My favorite use for it is cleaning grout. Spray it directly onto the grout in your kitchen or bathroom and allow it to sit for about ten minutes. Then get out a scouring (non scratch style) pad, a toothbrush and scrub away! Use a damp rag to wipe away the grime. Also don't forget rubber gloves, as the chemicals can be harsh on your hands.

Used fabric softener sheets are great for wiping down and deodorizing things. I rub them on the sofa, bedding or anywhere I want some extra freshness. Sometimes I even throw them into drawers with clothes. Another great idea, is to vacuum up a new fabric sheet- it leaves a pleasant smell when you tidy up your floors.

A couple teaspoons of dish soap can do wonders when put into a bucket of hot water. You can use this inexpensive solution to clean blinds and walls. Even for the floors- dip your mop in it. Just be sure not to use too much soap, or you'll end up with a tacky surface which only attracts more dust.

Automatic dishwasher liquid is great for the drain. It leaves a clean scent. My advise is to grind up a chunk (not a whole or even half) of lemon first in your garbage disposal. Then, put a teaspoon or two of the dish liquid. Run a tiny bit of water. Let it to set for a few minutes, then run cold water and turn the disposal on. Voila! Fresh, sanitized drain.

Vacuum your screens. When you don't have the time or simply want to 'de-dustify' them between washings, this is a great solution. Use the hard floor or upholstery attachment. It doesn't do a perfect job, but it sure cuts down on dust in your home. While you're at it you can suck up all that dust from the window sills and the door jams as well.

Qtips are wonderful to clean small nooks and crannies. I like to use them on the keyboard on the computer, TV remote or around other buttons such as the phone. These household items usually have more bacteria than you might think. Simply moisten the Qtip with some disinfectant spray and use it to really dig into those deep spaces. The amount of dirt and dust you see is crazy. You will most likely need several swabs for this task. They also work great when dusting woodwork that has carved details in it. All you do is put some pledge on the swab and rub in those tiny areas, being sure to rub it off with a dry one.

Well those are my tips for today. Good luck and happy cleaning!