** Instead of throwing
away a sponge that has a stale odor, simply toss it in
the dishwasher and wash it with the next load of dishes.
It will come out clean and fresh smelling and will kill
any bacteria in the sponge, so it's a good idea to toss
your sponges into the dishwasher often.
** Keep a bottle of vinegar within easy reach. When your
stove, counter tops, walls or anything else becomes
spattered with grease, spray and wipe clean dry rag.
Vinegar cuts the grease and leaves a nice shine. Instead
of buying expensive lime removers for the toilet and
other bathroom fixtures try hydrogen peroxide first, it
can do the job for a fraction of the price.
** When cleaning stainless steel counter tops, ranges or
sinks, use club soda. You can buy a small bottle of
generic or store brand club soda for about 50 cents and
it cleans like a charm and dries to a gleam without
streaks or spots. Don't throw away flat club soda; even
flat, it still works to clean stainless steel or spots
spilled on the carpet.
** To clean up spills in the oven, sprinkle table salt
immediately on the spill. When oven has cooled, brush
away the burnt-on food with a damp sponge. The salt will
make the spill much easier to clean up, saving time and
money, since you won't have to buy oven cleaner as often!
** To keep lint and dust off glass top tables, wash them
in a solution of warm water and fabric softener. Add one
tablespoon of liquid fabric softener to one quart of warm
water. The fabric softener will clean the glass
inexpensively and will help keep lint from gathering on
the glass. Also great for computer screens and TV's.
** Good weather sealing around doors and windows not only
saves money on heating and cooling, but also cuts down
dusting dramatically.
** Don't throw away odd socks or socks with holes in
them, use them to make a mop. Tie several socks (10 -12
works best) to a mop or broom handle and use just like
you would a regular mop. By the time the "sock
mop" wears out, you'll probably have plenty more
socks to make a new one.
** To get nasty soap scum and dirt off your tub or
shower, put a little baby oil in a spray bottle and mix
with water (1 part baby oil to 4 parts water). Spray
mixture on a section and wipe off with a sponge. When
you're done, spray with a disinfectant cleaner to make
sure all germs are killed.
** Save celery leaves. Spread them out on paper towels or
a paper plate and let them dry. Crumble them into soups,
salads and stuffing. They will add an extra zippy flavor
for free.
** Get rid of tarnish on silver the easy way, place a
piece of aluminum foil (shiny side up) on the bottom of a
glass bowl or pan. Fill the container with a solution
made of 2 cups boiling water and 3 teaspoons of baking
soda, and you've made an inexpensive "bath" to
soak your silver in. Your silver will shine like new in
no time!
** Get rid of pet hair on upholstery effortlessly by
wiping the furniture with a slightly dampened sponge.
** Toss a few old bath towels in the washing machine when
you wash your shower curtains The towels will rub back
and forth against the curtain, which helps remove all
traces of dirt and soap scum. Hang shower curtains back
up right out of the washing machine. They will dry
quickly and the wrinkles will fall right out. Most have
at least some plastic on them that can melt in the dryer.
** You can economically repair any tears on your ironing
board cover by attaching iron-on patches. You don't even
have to know how to sew!
** When you need to touch up a scratch or other type of
blemish on a painted wall use a drop of paint on a cotton
swab to fix the problem. You won't waste a bunch of paint
and you won't have to waste time cleaning a paint brush.
** Don't want to spend a lot time on oven cleaning? Place
ammonia (about 1 cup) in an aluminum pie pan and place it
in the oven overnight. In the morning, simply remove the
pan and wipe the oven clean with a damp sponge. If you do
this often (about once a month) you won't have to spend
money on harmful chemicals to do the job.
** Keep cut flowers fresher longer by mixing up a
homemade formula. Mix 1 pint warm water, 1 pint lemonade
or a lemon-lime soft drink. Pour enough into the vase to
cover the lower three to four inches of the stem. Here's
how this formula works: the sugar in the mixture supplies
energy to the flowers and the citric acid in the lemon
helps preserve them
** Make giant ice cubes in muffin tins or plastic
margarine bowls. These are perfect for using in picnic
coolers or punch bowls.
** How about a low cost window cleaner: Add just a drop
of Dawn dish liquid to 3 cups of water.
** Don't throw those single serving gelatin plastic cups
away, make your own single servings. Place the cups in a
muffin holder, fill the cups and place in the
refrigerator. It only takes a few minutes and no mess.