Household hints and cleaning recipes!

girl_dee · 02-22-2012, 03:39 PM

Questions, answers and tips here!

lot's of folks in the craft thread had some great ideas, so here we go!

LaneyDoll · 02-22-2012, 03:50 PM

One of my faves...

Vinegar in laundry! Add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar to the last rinse. It is too mild to harm fabrics, but strong enough to dissolve the alkalies. It also whitens whites, brightens brights and makes black less blah. AND, it acts as a fabric softener and static reducer; using it will actually make your towels softer. Plus, it helps with the bad smells like smoke etc. Finally, it works on clothes that have mold or mildew (for anyone who has forgotten about a load of wet clothes in the washer).

Novelafemme · 02-22-2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaneyDoll

One of my faves...

Vinegar in laundry! Add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar to the last rinse. It is too mild to harm fabrics, but strong enough to dissolve the alkalies. It also whitens whites, brightens brights and makes black less blah. AND, it acts as a fabric softener and static reducer; using it will actually make your towels softer. Plus, it helps with the bad smells like smoke etc. Finally, it works on clothes that have mold or mildew (for anyone who has forgotten about a load of wet clothes in the washer).

I never knew this. Thank you for sharing

I use vinegar to clean my stainless steel appliances. It gets even the hard water marks off without having to scrub and it leaves everything shiny and streak-free.

LaneyDoll · 02-22-2012, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Novelafemme

I never knew this. Thank you for sharing

Anytime! For the price, you cannot beat it. I actually keep my vinegar in the laundry area-not the kitchen.

1QuirkyKiwi · 02-22-2012, 03:58 PM

Red wine spill on carpet? Douse with soda water then dab with layers of paper towel. Continue until no colour shows on the paper towel.

Line the laundry baskets with a couple of sheets of paper towel sprinkled with tea tree oil to keep nasty smells at bay.

A box or small bowl of baking soda in the refrigerator, freezer, or any cupboard will keep away unpleasant odours. Similarly, baking soda will keep away garbage odours; sprinkle the bottom of the pail, and then sprinkle again after you put a new bag in.

To remove stale smells from food containers, rinse out with hot water and baking soda. If the smell persists, let the container soak overnight in the baking soda and water mixture.

For burnt-on food in the bottom of pots, sprinkle with baking soda, and then add hot water. Let soak overnight; the dried on food will come loose much more easily.

Baking soda in the litter tray will help prevent odours.

Add a few drops of Essential oils to a damp cotton wool ball and put it in your vacuum.

Add a few drops of Essential oils to a wet wash cloth and place in your dryer.

girl_dee · 02-22-2012, 04:01 PM

i do the essential oils in the vacuum but never thought about the dryer!

Herne is my favorite for the floors, a few drops in the water bucket is great.

Electrocell · 02-25-2012, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1QuirkyKiwi

Red wine spill on carpet? Douse with soda water then dab with layers of paper towel. Continue until no colour shows on the paper towel.

You can also pour regular table salt on red wine spills this absorbs it then just vacuum it up.

girl_dee · 02-22-2012, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaneyDoll

Anytime! For the price, you cannot beat it. I actually keep my vinegar in the laundry area-not the kitchen.

i will try this!

LaneyDoll · 02-22-2012, 04:09 PM

Ok, more laundry stuff-kind of.

Laundry sheets uses:

~put in your pocket to help repel mosquitos
~tuck under the seat of your car to help the scent stay fresh
~wipe across hair when static is an issue
~stash in the lingerie drawer for body-friendly sachets

girl_dee · 02-22-2012, 03:53 PM

Essential oils in the bath! i love eucalyptus for my breathing and lavender is the best for relaxation.

i put a few drops in and the whole house smells great

deedarino · 02-25-2012, 10:48 AM

Quote:

One of my faves...

Vinegar in laundry! Add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar to the last rinse. It is too mild to harm fabrics, but strong enough to dissolve the alkalies. It also whitens whites, brightens brights and makes black less blah. AND, it acts as a fabric softener and static reducer; using it will actually make your towels softer. Plus, it helps with the bad smells like smoke etc. Finally, it works on clothes that have mold or mildew (for anyone who has forgotten about a load of wet clothes in the washer).

This is so wonderful! Adding a little essential oil with will make your clothes smell amazing.

Vinegar will also attract those pesky fruit flies. They dive right in to a little cup left on the counter.

PaPa · 02-25-2012, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaneyDoll

Ok, more laundry stuff-kind of.

Laundry sheets uses:

~put in your pocket to help repel mosquitos
~tuck under the seat of your car to help the scent stay fresh
~wipe across hair when static is an issue
~stash in the lingerie drawer for body-friendly sachets

I have also found that dryer sheets are good for dusting furniture and television screens...anything that usually gathers dust. The fabric softener in the sheet works as a dust repellent.

Also using cooled cigarette ashes mixed with a little bit of water on water stained end tables or coffee tables will remove those white spots.

Toothpaste is an excellent cleaner of silver jewelry. You must brush lightly with a toothbrush because it can be abrasive.

Use a rubber glove to help grip and open tough to open jars. Also if you put it under hot water it helps to break the seal.

Hard to clean shower doors? Use WD 40 applied to a cloth and be careful not to get it on the tub or floor surface because it will make it slippery. But it will clean the hard to get off soap scum.

A clogged drain? 1 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of hot vinegar (heated in the microwave) Wait a few minutes and then follow with two quarts of hot water. The reaction of the baking soda vinegar boils out anything that is in there...it's temperature helps as well.

Also you can remove odors from a garbage disposal in the sink by running through some citrus.

Coat a deck of old cards with baby powder to make them slippery again.

Ever wonder why they sell bunches of daffodils together without other flowers?? Do not mix cut daffodils with other flowers as there is a toxin that daffodils produce that will kill the other flowers.

Vinegar water (1/2 cup vinegar to 2 cups water approximately - more vinegar if the glass is very dirty) and old newspapers for cleaning windows for a streak free look.

Crayon on walls? WD 40 or a hair dryer which will help to melt the wax base of the crayon and assist in wiping it off.

Pen or pencil marks on the wall. Cloth dipped into milk and wipe it off.

Clean brass with lemon juice.

Remove chewing gum with peanut butter. If on clothing put it in the freezer and then scrape it off.

Rubbing alcohol to clean flat topped stoves.

Clean the microwave...I always hated this job until I found this! Cut up one lemon and add one cup of water in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for five minutes. It will loosen any stuff from the inside and you can just wipe it out with a cloth. It gets rid of the grime while adding a fresh scent.

I guess that is all from me for now. I have learned many tricks of the trade over the years. I did janitorial work for many years. Hope these help y'all. If I think of more I will post again later.

The JD · 02-25-2012, 12:36 PM

Am I the only one who gags at the smell of white vinegar? My parents used to run it through their coffee maker once a month to make their coffee taste fresher (yet another use for it), but I HATED those days. I'd run for the jar of Vick's salve and rub some on my upper lip to fight off the smell and the gag reflex (years later, I discovered that forensic scientists used Vick's in exactly the same way, to mask the smell of decomposing bodies... it seems I was on to something. Wait, does that count as a household cleaning tip?).

Anyway, I want to like the smell of vinegar. I do. It's clearly the miracle cleaner, and way better for the environment. But thanks to my nose, just not *my* environment.

deedarino · 02-25-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The JD

Am I the only one who gags at the smell of white vinegar? My parents used to run it through their coffee maker once a month to make their coffee taste fresher (yet another use for it), but I HATED those days. I'd run for the jar of Vick's salve and rub some on my upper lip to fight off the smell and the gag reflex (years later, I discovered that forensic scientists used Vick's in exactly the same way, to mask the smell of decomposing bodies... it seems I was on to something. Wait, does that count as a household cleaning tip?).

Anyway, I want to like the smell of vinegar. I do. It's clearly the miracle cleaner, and way better for the environment. But thanks to my nose, just not *my* environment.

I HATE it...Blech. The laundry tip doesn't leave the vinegar smell in the end.

julieisafemme · 02-25-2012, 12:42 PM

Wow! My favorite subject is cleaning! Great tips so far.

To clean a slow or stinky drain put a big pot of water to boil. Take some baking soda and pour it into the drain. Pour some vinegar on top and watch it froth up! Let that sit for 10 minutes or so and then pour the whole pot of boiling water down the drain. Do this once a month to keep drains fresh and clear. This will not, however, clear up a very clogged sink.

What are your favorite cleaning products you can buy at the store?

girl_dee · 02-25-2012, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julieisafemme

Wow! My favorite subject is cleaning! Great tips so far.

To clean a slow or stinky drain put a big pot of water to boil. Take some baking soda and pour it into the drain. Pour some vinegar on top and watch it froth up! Let that sit for 10 minutes or so and then pour the whole pot of boiling water down the drain. Do this once a month to keep drains fresh and clear. This will not, however, clear up a very clogged sink.

What are your favorite cleaning products you can buy at the store?

i love COMET. Plain ole Comet!

deedarino · 02-25-2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Coat a deck of old cards with baby powder to make them slippery again.

Also cornmeal...

The JD · 02-25-2012, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deedarino

Vinegar will also attract those pesky fruit flies. They dive right in to a little cup left on the counter.

So... you catch more flies with vinegar than honey?

~ocean · 02-25-2012, 02:20 PM

coffee filters r great on windows too

chai~ · 02-25-2012, 09:25 PM

I haven't read the entire thread, but before this slips my mind again, I will share it.
Maybe someone already has and if so, sorry for the repeat!

Sterling silver is my favorite precious metal.
I use toothpaste, not gel to clean all my jewlery.
To get into all the nooks and crannies, I use an old toothbrush.

I scrub till the past turns grey, rinse and voilla!!!

Shiny, gorgeous, as beautiful as new, and inexpensive!

To lessen the tarnishing of sterling, it's a great idea to keep the pieces in a zip lock bag with as much air squished out as possible.

02-22-2012, 03:39 PM	#1
girl_dee Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: dee Relationship Status: Hitched up Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Livin’ the Dream Posts: 24,079 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,560 Thanked 54,956 Times in 13,922 Posts Rep Power: 21474873	Household hints and cleaning recipes! Questions, answers and tips here! lot's of folks in the craft thread had some great ideas, so here we go!

02-22-2012, 03:50 PM	#2
LaneyDoll Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Girly girl femme Preferred Pronoun?: She; Ma'am; Miss ;) Relationship Status: Pitbull protected. Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,204 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 6,892 Thanked 7,689 Times in 1,610 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	One of my faves... Vinegar in laundry! Add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar to the last rinse. It is too mild to harm fabrics, but strong enough to dissolve the alkalies. It also whitens whites, brightens brights and makes black less blah. AND, it acts as a fabric softener and static reducer; using it will actually make your towels softer. Plus, it helps with the bad smells like smoke etc. Finally, it works on clothes that have mold or mildew (for anyone who has forgotten about a load of wet clothes in the washer). __________________ There are beauties who stop traffic and then there are beauties who grow obsessively in the hearts of the susceptible.

02-22-2012, 03:58 PM	#5
1QuirkyKiwi Senior Member How Do You Identify?: BBW. Unique femininity that does not encompass the western paradigm. Preferred Pronoun?: Anything Respectful! Relationship Status: Single, Happy, not Desparate or Looking, but Open to Possibilities... Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Europe and Aotearoa on a 5:2 ratio. Posts: 2,308 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,003 Thanked 6,035 Times in 1,617 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	Red wine spill on carpet? Douse with soda water then dab with layers of paper towel. Continue until no colour shows on the paper towel. Line the laundry baskets with a couple of sheets of paper towel sprinkled with tea tree oil to keep nasty smells at bay. A box or small bowl of baking soda in the refrigerator, freezer, or any cupboard will keep away unpleasant odours. Similarly, baking soda will keep away garbage odours; sprinkle the bottom of the pail, and then sprinkle again after you put a new bag in. To remove stale smells from food containers, rinse out with hot water and baking soda. If the smell persists, let the container soak overnight in the baking soda and water mixture. For burnt-on food in the bottom of pots, sprinkle with baking soda, and then add hot water. Let soak overnight; the dried on food will come loose much more easily. Baking soda in the litter tray will help prevent odours. Add a few drops of Essential oils to a damp cotton wool ball and put it in your vacuum. Add a few drops of Essential oils to a wet wash cloth and place in your dryer. __________________ What will make the difference to me is your strength of character and what's in your heart...

02-22-2012, 04:09 PM	#9
LaneyDoll Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Girly girl femme Preferred Pronoun?: She; Ma'am; Miss ;) Relationship Status: Pitbull protected. Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,204 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 6,892 Thanked 7,689 Times in 1,610 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	Ok, more laundry stuff-kind of. Laundry sheets uses: ~put in your pocket to help repel mosquitos ~tuck under the seat of your car to help the scent stay fresh ~wipe across hair when static is an issue ~stash in the lingerie drawer for body-friendly sachets __________________ There are beauties who stop traffic and then there are beauties who grow obsessively in the hearts of the susceptible.

02-25-2012, 12:36 PM	#13
The JD Be the Fearless Bunny How Do You Identify?: Hers. Preferred Pronoun?: he Relationship Status: Medusa’s Snake Charmer Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: This must be the place. Posts: 649 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,740 Thanked 2,686 Times in 540 Posts Rep Power: 21474850	Am I the only one who gags at the smell of white vinegar? My parents used to run it through their coffee maker once a month to make their coffee taste fresher (yet another use for it), but I HATED those days. I'd run for the jar of Vick's salve and rub some on my upper lip to fight off the smell and the gag reflex (years later, I discovered that forensic scientists used Vick's in exactly the same way, to mask the smell of decomposing bodies... it seems I was on to something. Wait, does that count as a household cleaning tip?). Anyway, I want to like the smell of vinegar. I do. It's clearly the miracle cleaner, and way better for the environment. But thanks to my nose, just not my environment. __________________ I don't deserve any credit for turning the other cheek as my tongue is always in it. ~Flannery O'Connor

02-22-2012, 04:01 PM	#6
girl_dee Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: dee Relationship Status: Hitched up Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Livin’ the Dream Posts: 24,079 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,560 Thanked 54,956 Times in 13,922 Posts Rep Power: 21474873	i do the essential oils in the vacuum but never thought about the dryer! Herne is my favorite for the floors, a few drops in the water bucket is great.

02-22-2012, 03:53 PM	#10
girl_dee Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: dee Relationship Status: Hitched up Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Livin’ the Dream Posts: 24,079 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,560 Thanked 54,956 Times in 13,922 Posts Rep Power: 21474873	Essential oils in the bath! i love eucalyptus for my breathing and lavender is the best for relaxation. i put a few drops in and the whole house smells great

02-25-2012, 12:42 PM	#15
julieisafemme Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Woman Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: Married to Greyson Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: In the present Posts: 828 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,156 Thanked 3,445 Times in 660 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	Wow! My favorite subject is cleaning! Great tips so far. To clean a slow or stinky drain put a big pot of water to boil. Take some baking soda and pour it into the drain. Pour some vinegar on top and watch it froth up! Let that sit for 10 minutes or so and then pour the whole pot of boiling water down the drain. Do this once a month to keep drains fresh and clear. This will not, however, clear up a very clogged sink. What are your favorite cleaning products you can buy at the store?

02-25-2012, 02:20 PM	#19
~ocean Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme blows a kiss off my finger tips * Preferred Pronoun?: ~ hey girl ~ Relationship Status: ~ single & content ~ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Massachusetts ~coastal Posts: 7,905 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 22,958 Thanked 16,125 Times in 4,736 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	coffee filters r great on windows too

02-25-2012, 09:25 PM	#20
chai~ Member How Do You Identify?: Self possessed Aquarian Preferred Pronoun?: Don't call me baby~ Relationship Status: Deliciously single and loving it. Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: lotus land Posts: 1,173 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,937 Thanked 3,383 Times in 864 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	I haven't read the entire thread, but before this slips my mind again, I will share it. Maybe someone already has and if so, sorry for the repeat! Sterling silver is my favorite precious metal. I use toothpaste, not gel to clean all my jewlery. To get into all the nooks and crannies, I use an old toothbrush. I scrub till the past turns grey, rinse and voilla!!! Shiny, gorgeous, as beautiful as new, and inexpensive! To lessen the tarnishing of sterling, it's a great idea to keep the pieces in a zip lock bag with as much air squished out as possible.