Various Household Hints

Submitted by: Teddi Neevel

I was recently talking cyber talking with some internet friends and we began sharing cleaning techniques and ideas. These are some of the suggestions my friends made.

Stain Removal:

Make a paste of baking soda and water. Rub the paste into stained tea cups or coffee cups, then rinse, stain is gone.

Use Goop or Go Jo hand cleaner (often found in the automotive section) to pre-treat grease stains or soiled shirt collars.

Shampoo for oily hair makes a great pre-treatment for collar rings.

For the really gross but it works group of stains. Fresh blood on cloth can be removed by having the individual who bled spit on the blood. Big spot needs lots of spit. Then rinse in cold water. The enzymes in each persons saliva will break down their blood. (Found that out while helping make a quilt.)

Goop or Go Jo works wonders on almost anything, including crayon marks from doors & walls.

Cleaning the stove vent filter is a piece of cake with hot water, water softner salt, and light rubbing with a toothbrush.

Goop or GoJo to cut the grease on stove filter vent screens It's also great for those stubborn scuff marks on tile or vinyl floors. Tar on the car and just about everything else I've tried it on.

Goop or Go Jo has been used to clean paintings, oriental rugs and antique furniture. Because it has lanolin in it for your hands, it is great for brittle wool orientals. After you have washed the rug, the lanolin naturally stays with the wool in the rug, making it supple again.

Greased Lightening works well on cabinet doors and woodwork. Just spray it on and wipe it off, it works that fast. No tears, no buckets of water. You can get it at Walmart or the grocery store, 32 oz bottle runs about $2.50 here.

50/50 mixture of water and household amonia with a dash of dish detergent added will clean kitchen cupboards. It will make you cry and make your nose run, but it works and is cheap.

Hair spray will remove ball point pen ink stains

Vegetable Storage:

Store your onions and potatoes in pantyhose, hanging from ceiling in the basement or a cool porch or garage. Place a vegetable into the toe of the stocking, tie a knot in the stocking and then add the next vegetable.  Repeat this process until all potatoes and onions are stored. When you are ready to use the vegetables just cut the stocking below the knot.

Helpful Hints:

Put shaving cream on your bathroom mirror to prevent it from fogging up when you take a shower, simply apply, rub, and then wipe off. This de-fogging action lasts about 4 weeks.

Dark scuff marks on tile or vinyl floor can be erased with the sole edge of a white athletic or tennis shoe. Some kids actually enjoy using the side of their foot to erase the floor. 

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