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Cleaning Tips

Cleaning Windows
Cleaning Walls
Cleaning Floors
Cleaning Bathrooms
Cleaning Chopping Blocks
Cleaning Cabinets and Counter Tops
Cleaning Mildew with Bleach
Grease
Hard Water Deposits
Removing Stickers
Soot Stains
Faucets
Chrome
Cleaning Recipes
Food Pickup
Chewing Gum
Wood Stain
Piano Keys
Miniblinds
Carpet
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Cleaning Windows

Lightly Soiled Windows:

1 cup of vinegar
1 gallon warm water

Extremely Dirty Windows:

1 tablespoon household ammonia
3 tablespoons denatured alcohol or vinegar
1 quart warm water

To save money and get good results dry and polish glass with crumpled newspaper—but do not use this method on plastic glazing.

Homemade Cleaner

For a window cleaner you can add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to 1 quart of warm water. Clean away!

Cleaning Plexiglass and Other Plastic Surfaces

Stick with the polishes that clean and leave an antistatic coating on the plastic. Wash area first to get any dust particles off the surface. Use lots of circular motions with a wet cloth!


Cleaning Walls

Painted Interiors

Clean with a mild solution of detergent and water, rinse. If uncertain about washability of paint, check on an inconspicuous place.

Glazed Tile/Brick

Wash with soap and water solution. Remove discoloration with non-abrasive household cleaner.

Wood Paneling

Clean with commercial wood cleaner; treat with linseed oil or special wax.

Mildew

To remove the fungus that causes it; use 3 tbsps. TSP and 1 ½ cups household bleach in 1 gallon water. (Wear rubber gloves.) Allow several days before painting of papering.

Cleaning Solutions: Hot and Cold

Hot is not always better----do not use hot water on wood or cork. Hotter water means those water molecules are moving around quickly and aggressively, and breaking down the dirt better and faster. Heat helps remove grease or wax faster also.


Floors

Hardwood

Mop or vacuum and periodically use a paste wax. If excessively soiled, clean with mineral spirits or commercial floor cleaner, then wax.

Linoleum, Asphalt, Vinyl, Vinyl-Asbestos and Rubber

Sweep, mop, or vacuum. Clean with diluted detergent or recommended floor cleaner. Wax to protect. Use detergent or ceramic-time cleaner on tile.

Unpainted concrete

Clean with 4 to 6 tbsps. Of washing soda in 1 gallon hot water. Use special concrete sealers or paints.

Slate or Clay tile

Seal to prevent staining.

Carpeting

Vacuum regularly, avoid excessive moisture when shampooing.

Cleaning Cork Floors

  • Cork tiles, bulletin boards, wall coverings: Vacuum or dry sponge it.
  • Impregnated Soil: Wipe surface carefully with all purpose cleaner.
  • Cork Floors: Keep grit swept up, so the finish won’t get abraded. Use coasters under furniture legs. Use extra caution.




Bathrooms

China, Enameled-Cast Iron, Fiberglass, Man-Made

Fixtures may be china, enameled-cast iron, fiberglass or other man-made products. Regular cleaning prevents soap scum buildup and discoloration. Don't use abrasive cleaners.

Enamel and Tile

Use 1 tbsp. Sodium Hexametaphosphate (Calgon) of Tri-Sodium Phosphate (TSP) dissolved in 1 gallon warm water. (Never use hot water. Wear rubber gloves, as these are caustic.)

Cultured Marble

Use nonabrasive commercial cleaners.

Chrome and Brass

Use glass cleaner or metal polishes.

Grout

Use a stiff brush on grout. For heavy stains, use commercial grout cleaner. Tubs and showers should have old caulking removed and new installed whenever cracking appears.


Cleaning Chopping Blocks

Cleaning Wooden Chopping Blocks




Cabinets and Counter Tops

Cleaning Cabinets and Counter Tops




Cleaning Mildew

Cleaning Mildew with Bleach

Put bleach solution (one part bleach, three parts hot water) in a spray bottle. Spray the bleach solution on the ceiling and walls of bathroom and let work. After a few minutes wipe off with wet rag.
Also, bleach erases writing from permanent markers on the walls even if they have been painted over several times.
Thanks to Lawrence Bennett

Dampness Brings Mold and Mildew

You only need some dampness in and around the house for mold and mildew to thrive. Any roof or foundation leaks, humidity inside the house, and flooding are some common ways organic matter establishes itself. During house upkeep and repairs check your drywall, wallpaper, and carpet backings to keep mold and mildew in check.

Musty Odors

Trying to get some musty odors out of your sealed up house? Place a couple pieces of charcoal in inconspicuous areas around the house to absorb and eliminate odors. For a very strong odor, try leaving a bowl or two of vinegar in that particular area for several days!


Grease

Cleaning Up Grease

Plain old dish detergent if up to the job of dealing with many grease problems around the home. The secret is TIME….so spray on the solution and let soak for 10 seconds or more. Then wipe it away!!


Hard Water Deposits

Getting Rid of Deposits

Much tap water is “hard”, and leaves deposits on everything. Therefore an acid cleaner is needed to get rid of the deposits. Phosphoric acid (4%) in tile cleaner works well, or you can get 8 to 9 % solutions at a janitorial supply store.

Iron Cleanout

If your steam iron no longer steams, it might be clogged with mineral deposits. Try cleaning with vinegar in the water reservoir, then set the iron flat on an oven rack, plug the iron in, with the setting at “STEAM.” By the time the vinegar is steamed out, your iron should be clean.


Removing Stickers

Sticky Stickers

We’ve all had our share of stickers and trying to remove them!!! Here are a few hints:


Soot Stains

Smoke and Soot Removal




Faucets

Cleaning Solutions

After cleaning your coffee maker with water and white vinegar take the solution while still hot and use to help clean your kitchen and bathroom faucets. The hot water will dissolve any soap residue, while the vinegar gets any lime deposits .

Coffeemaker Cleaner

You never want to use soap to clean a coffee machine because it leaves a film that affects the coffee taste! Instead mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and run through the machine. Let it run through its cycle, then refill with clean water, and repeat. A once per month cleaning should be sufficient unless you have extremely hard-water. There the mineral buildup inside your coffee maker is more of a problem.


Chrome

Rustproof Chrome

Rub some paste wax on your chrome area using steel wool 000. Let the wax dry, and then buff with a soft, clean cloth. The wax will help stop rusting and you will have less cleaning to do!

Tarnished Metals

A homemade paste for cleaning slightly tarnished metals is equal parts of salt, vinegar and flour. Rub paste on with a soft cloth, rinse off and buff. More stubborn stains might need a rubbing with salt and vinegar or some lemon juice.


Cleaning Recipes

Earth and Use Friendly Cleaning Recipes

If you have any tips you would like to share, please Email them to us and we'll post them!
Thank you for sharing!


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