Cleaning Tips for the Bathroom

Bars of soap too small to use effectively can be pressed into the sides
of new bars softened by recent use.

Shower curtains can be renovated by being washed on gentle cycle,
with a pint of white vinegar.

If you have more than one bath to clean, keep separate cleaning
supplies in each bathroom, that way you can clean the bath at a
moments notice.

To clean tubs and showers use a product that contains phosphoric
acid, their is no scrubbing involved.

Buildup on shower doors: Wipe with lemon oil. Removes buildup and
keeps doors protected longer from future buildup.

Removing mildew from shower or bath: 3 parts bleach and 1 part water
- put in spray bottle. Spray on mildew areas and it will virtually
disappear.

Cleaning Tips for the Laundry Room

To remove perspiration stains in clothing, soak in warm vinegar and
water.

Microwaves can be used to emergency disinfect clothes, such as a
child's cap that another kid has put on, as long as they have absolutely
NO metal in the zippers, buttons, rivets etc. ALWAYS place a cup of
cold water next to the article to absorb the heat and microwave on high
until the water is steaming.

Removing mildew stains from clothes: Begin by brushing of mold
outdoors so you don't scatter mildew spores in the house. On
washable fabrics, pre-treat by rubbing detergent into the dampened
stain. Then, launder the items in hot water, detergent and chlorine
bleach, if it is safe for the fabric. If the stain remains, sponge it with
hydrogen peroxide, rinse and launder. If the item isn't bleach-safe,
soak it in an oxygen bleach that is safe for colors, then wash it. Take
non-washable fabrics to the dry cleaner and tell them what the stain is.

Urine Stains: For washable fabrics that can be bleached... pre-soak
them in cold water for at least thirty minutes. Launder these fabrics in
hot water using detergent and chlorine bleach according to the
directions on the bleach container. For washable, non-bleachable
items, sponge the stained area with a solution of equal parts of
household ammonia and water then launder the item in warm water
and detergent. Rinse it well. For non-washable items, sponge just the
stained area with clear water to which a few drops of ammonia have
been added. Then, sponge with clear water only.

Gray Dingies: One cause of the gray dingies is overloading the
washing machine. When you do this, the clothes cannot move freely,
resulting in poor washing and un-removable soil. To estimate the right-
sized load, place dry, unfolded clothes in the washer loosely until it is
about three-quarters full. Another cause is using non-phosphate
detergents, particularly the granular type. If you're using a non-
phosphate detergent, use the hottest water possible and dissolve the
detergent in the water before adding the clothes. If you have hard
water, you might want to add about a third to a half cup of packaged
water softener along with the detergent.

Cleaning Tips for the kitchen        Miscellaneous Cleaning Tips