I have a large ink spot on the carpet in my bedroom. Do you have any tips?
Rubbing alcohol works great for getting ink stains out of carpet. Using a spray bottle, spritz the alcohol onto the stain and then dab it with a cloth. Repeat this process until your stain has disappeared!
I dropped a greasy piece of pizza on my favorite pants. How do I get the grease out?
Try this trick: Saturate the greasy stain with grease removing dish soap, let it set for an hour, then wash in hot water. You might need to blot it with a soft bristled toothbrush. The bristles help break up stains and can also help get stain-removing cleaning solutions deeper into the fabric. Don’t rub back and forth like you’re brushing your teeth though -- hold the toothbrush with your index finger behind the head, and use short, light taps.
My microwave is full of gross cooked-on stains (seems like every time we use it, something explodes all over the inside). Is there an easy way to get the gunk off?
We hear you –- that darn pasta sauce splatters everywhere! We’ve always scrubbed our micro until our knuckles were sore. But for a better, faster answer, we consulted Donna Smallin, author of Cleaning Plain & Simple. Her advice: Steam clean your appliance by placing a mixture of 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract or a few slices of lemon (this helps it to smell better), in a micro-safe container and zapping it on high for five minutes. When done, remove the container and wipe down the interior of the oven, and the gunk should glide right off.
Bonus tip: Cover everything you zap with a damp paper towel –- to suppress the splatter.
I’m a little grossed out -- I saw this commercial that suggested that if you wipe your counters with a sponge, you might as well be cleaning up with a piece of raw chicken! Is it true?
Yeah, we saw that one too. Unfortunately, it’s not much of an exaggeration: Sponges do carry tons of bacteria. We’ve read buzz on the message boards about zapping a wet sponge in the microwave for a minute every day to kill the germs that have been festering (and yes, it works). We also consulted the The Soap and Detergent Association (and if they don’t know, who will?), which recommends drying sponges and dishcloths between uses and throwing them frequently into the wash with liquid bleach to kill germs.
The drain in our apartment is so slow. Drano doesn't work and I'm sick of having standing water in our shower. Do you have any suggestions?
While clearing the drain probably isn’t on your list of favorite things to do, it is very necessary. Begin by removing your drain cover and pulling out any blockages with a pair of pliers or wire hanger. You’ll be amazed at how much yuckiness builds up in there.
If your drain is still slow, try pushing blockages the other way. Use a plunger or rent a small power auger to drive the buildup down the drain. If you decide to use an auger (also known as a snake), you might need to call in some backup -- it can be a little tricky to handle, but it should get the drain cleared.
To maintain your drains and prevent buildup, use DrainCare (which can be found at the hardware store) once or twice a month. Allow it to sit in the drain overnight, and then rinse with hot water. Another great way to keep everything clear is to pour a pot of boiling water down the drain during your normal cleaning routine.
We have a tiled shower, and a bad case of mildew in the grout between the tiles. How can I inexpensively clean it and make it look like new (white) again?
Here’s a great tip for cleaning grout that we just have to pass on: Dissolve some powdered OxiClean in water (see the directions on the container for the exact amount). With the solution on a toothbrush or a small sponge, wipe away the mildew between the tiles. You’ll be amazed at how easily the grout cleans up…for very little money.
Another option is to invest in a steamer, which is also very good at getting grout white again.
Our stove has really bad stains on it. We’ve used the cleaning solution that came with it, but there are still stains! Do you have any secrets for getting it clean again?
We completely understand your frustration on this one. No one wants stove stains ruining a sparkling-clean kitchen. You started by doing the right thing, though. We hear that specialized stove cleaners really work best, so you should always try using them first. Make sure to follow the directions exactly as they are on the back of the bottle. For example, it does make a difference whether you wipe down with a wet or dry cloth. If you’re using a regular cloth and the crud won’t budge, try using a scouring pad, which is good on tougher stains. If your cleaner still isn’t working, try using a straight-edged razor to lift the caked-on food. Hold the razor at a 45-degree angle so you don’t scratch the stove’s surface, and scrape away at the grit. One last suggestion: Don’t let stains set. If you spill something on the stove, wipe it up right away. And try to make a habit of wiping down your stove and countertop with a wet sponge or dishcloth after you’re finished cooking. This way, residue will never have the chance to build up and stain your kitchen surfaces.
[Nestpert] Donna Smallin, author of Cleaning Plain & Simple and founder of UnClutter.com.
3/14/08
See more:
cleaning & organizing,
Decor Tricks