10 Cleaning Tips You’ve Never Heard Of
From mildew-y bathtubs to bug-stained windshields, here are 10 tips to get the gunk out of just about anything.
1. Get mildew out of your shower and tub caulk.
To remove mildew and mold stains from the caulking around your tub or shower, apply a cotton strip (the kind sold in beauty supply stores) soaked in bleach on the caulk. Use gloves and a cotton swab to push into the corners, making sure it’s all covered. Leave on overnight and wake up to a mold-less tub!
2. A fresh shower – every time.
Keep a dish brush with a refillable handle in the shower. Add a mixture of ½ white vinegar and ½ liquid dish soap into the handle. Steal a few moments while you shower to scrub down the walls around you. A little extra work will keep your shower squeaky clean!
3. Clean gunk off baking sheets and kitchen utensils.
Mix 1/4 cup of baking soda in a small glass bowl with a few tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide until it makes a nice paste. Then use a sponge to rub it on your gunked-up baking sheets, pans, spatulas, tongs, serving spoons, casserole dishes and the like. Scrub it in, then rinse well.
4. Now for the gunk in your hair brushes.
First, remove as much hair as you can. Then add a few capfuls of shampoo to a sink full of warm to hot water. Swirl your brushes around, and then let them soak for at least an hour to remove the hair styling gunk. Rinse well.
5. Get those bugs off your windshield.
Mix 5 parts baking soda to 2 parts dish soap to make a paste. Apply to windshield with a wet sponge and scrub. Rinse well. (Use only on glass—not recommended for car paint.)
6. Wipe the winter off your white plastic patio furniture.
Mix 1 gallon hot water with 1/4 cup dishwashing detergent, sponge mix onto furniture and leave sit for about 15 minutes. Scrub off then rinse with water. (However, this one’s only good for white plastic, since the detergent could bleach colored plastic.)
7. Keep your ceiling fans from spinning dust around.
Turn a sock inside out and dip into warm soapy water. Wring out well, slip onto your hands like gloves, and gently run your hands over each fan blade.
8. Make your lampshades look like new.
Use a baby brush—or a soft paint brush—to gently whisk away dust and grime from lampshades. You can also use the brush attachment on your vacuum.
9. Restore your wood floor’s natural color and shine.
Bring a pot of water to boil and then add 3 to 5 black tea bags. Use the black tea-infused water to mop and you’ll find your hardwood floor has that much more luster.
10. Get sand off your skin.
Here’s a neat trick. Bring along a bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. Then as you’re leaving the beach, just rub the baby powder on the skin. The sand will rub right off. How cool is that?
Happy cleaning!
Leave a Reply