Cleaning Tips For Any Room
What cleaning solutions can I mix up myself?
- Dilute ammonia with three parts water in an empty spray bottle and
use it to clean windows, appliances and countertops. At full strength,
it can remove wax build-up from the kitchen floor.
- An excellent way to scour copper and brass is by using ½ cup vinegar
mixed with one tablespoon salt.
- Full-strength pine oil is great for deodorizing garbage cans.
- Baking soda can be used instead of scouring powder. It also removes
stains and odors from refrigerators and coffee pots.
- Sprinkle some dry baking soda on your carpeting before vacuuming to
freshen it. It also helps deodorize diaper pails and kitty litter.
How should I clean my doors?
- Scrub the door from top to bottom with a rag and soapy water.
- Use a scrub brush for especially tough spots.
- Wipe down the top edge of the frame.
What are good ways to clean window screens and window sills?
Use a nylon-covered sponge to clean window screens. To remove spots from
your windowsills, rub the surface with rubbing alcohol.
How do I clean my mini-blinds?
For wood mini-blinds, spray a white cotton glove with furniture polish
to dust them – running each blind between your fingers. If you have vinyl
mini-blinds, you can also use a white cotton glove sprayed with window
cleaner to dust them – running each blind between your fingers.
Another good approach is to slip your hands into a pair of socks that
you can use to clean the mini-blinds. Dip one hand into a bucket of warm,
soapy water and hold the blinds between your two hands. Rub back and forth
until you've cleaned the whole surface. Reverse sides so that the dry
sock dries the blinds. Wipe the mini-blinds with damp fabric softener
sheets to eliminate dust-collecting static. (The same trick works for
your TV screen.)
For a more thorough mini-blind cleaning...
- Remove the blind and take it outside.
- Lay it on an old blanket, preferably on a slanted area of the yard.
- Let the blind out all the way and make sure all the louvers are flat.
- Mix up a bucket of all-purpose cleaner or ammonia solution.
- Scrub the front with a soft brush, and then flip over to do the backside.
The saturated blanket continues to clean and protect the blind.
- Hang the blind on a clothesline and hose it off.
- Shake it gently to help the blind drip-dry.
How do I dust hard-to-reach areas?
Use paintbrushes to dust cracks and hard-to-reach places in telephones,
stereos, etc. If you can't reach cobwebs with your feather duster, use
the detached vacuum wand as an extension.
How do I clean my acoustical ceiling tiles?
Clean your tiles using your vacuum cleaner dust brush attachment. You
can remove stains and dirt with mild soap and water, but do not let the
tiles get too wet.
How do I clean wallpaper?
- Dust your papered walls by tying a dust cloth over your broom. Work from the top down.
- Wipe off fingerprints with a damp cloth. Sprinkle the moist area with
fuller's earth. Let it dry, then brush it off.
- To prevent splash marks while you're washing baseboards or other woodwork,
mask wallpaper with a wide ruler, a Venetian blind-slat or a piece of
rigid plastic.
What's the best way to clean wood paneling?
You can clean both genuine and synthetic wood paneling the same way,
as long as it has varnish or another protective coating. If the paneling
is uncoated raw wood, washing is risky.
To clean uncoated/unfinished paneling:
- Wipe paneling with a dry sponge.
- Damp-wipe lightly.
- Once dry, oil paneling with a wood treatment recommended by the manufacturer or by a local cabinetmaker.
To clean finished paneling:
- Use an oil soap, and clean from the top down.
- Apply oil soap solution sparingly with a sponge. When the sponge gets
dirty, squeeze into an empty bucket (not the cleaning water).
- Buff the paneling dry with a clean cotton terry cloth, wiping with
the grain to hide the occasional skip or streak.
You can clean any sealed wood surfaces this way. However, avoid leaving
the solution on for more than a minute or two. The slight bit of oily
residue from the oil soap will shine the paneling and eliminate the need
to apply heavy panel polishes. These polishes tend to leave a sticky surface
that collects and holds dust, dirt, and handprints.
How do I polish detailed or carved furniture?
To polish carved furniture, dip an old toothbrush into furniture polish
and brush the surface lightly. To remove polish build-up, mix one of cup
water and one cup vinegar. Dip a soft cloth in the mixture and wring it
out before wiping furniture. Dry immediately with another soft, dry cloth.
How do I clean wicker?
Remove dust from wicker by vacuuming with the dust brush attachment.
To remove grime, wash with a solution of two tablespoons ammonia per gallon
of water. Use a paintbrush or toothbrush in hard-to-reach places. Rinse
well and air dry in the shade.
How do I clean dirty houseplants?
Plants get dusty too. You can rinse small plants in the kitchen sink;
larger ones enjoy a shower in the bathroom.
How can I freshen my curtains?
Freshen curtains in the dryer with a fabric softener sheet and a damp
towel.
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Ready for regular maid serivce? Let the professionals at
Merry Maids
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