Updated: August 25/2010
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Clean Smarter, Not Harder »
Tips for making quick and easy work of cleaning.
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Spring Cleaning Tips
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Quick Tips for Removing Red Wine Stains
My husband came home the other evening with a huge red stain on his nicely
pressed white shirt. And while he was apologetic about the mess, he was more
concerned that a portion of a really fine French vintage had been lost to the
absorptive cotton.
Make Your Home an Allergy-Free Zone »
The top 10 allergy triggers, how to keep dust down, plus test your knowledge
with the mold quiz.
•
Simple Ways to Freshen Your Home for Spring
•
Allergies: What You Can do to Stop the Sneezing
Index
A to Z of Cleaning July 11/07
Age Appropriate Chore Charts March 21/08
Agents to Keep You Home Naturally Clean March 6/09
Attacking the Laundry Monster August 2/07
Benefits of Line Drying Your Clothing March 21/08
Best tips for quick and easy spring cleaning April 29/10
Caring for Your Hardwood Floors This Winter Nov 26/07
Carpet Care Tips For The Pet Owner April 19/08
Carpet Cleaning Oct 14/08
Carpet Cleaning 101 April 6/10
Clean Your Home in Just Minutes a Day Sept 20/08
Cleanups for Every Room Oct 10/08
Cleaning A Mattress March 18/08
Cleaning A to Z April 24/09
Cleaning and Caring for Upholstery
Cleaning House: Home Hygiene Guide
Clean It, Naturally April 24/09
Cleaning Up Common Carpet Spots - Coffee And Mud March 24/08
Clearing Up the Christmas Clutter Nov 21/08
Coming Clean About Eight Laundry Myths March 18/09
Clutter-Busting Tips March 10/08
Common Home Laundering & Drycleaning Symbols March 1/08
Common Stain Removal July 18/07
Controlling Mold with Common Sense
Cut Down Your Cleaning Time Feb 27/09
Daily Cleaning Chore List March 25/09
Decluttering tips to start conquering your mess April 7/08
Develop clean-house habits one at a time June 19/08
Dust Busters - Make Cleaning a Breeze May 30/08
15 Minute Cleanups For Every Room
Floor Cleaners and Floor Polishes
Floor-cleaning Tips June 19/08
Frugal Air Freshener Feb 15/08
Frugal Housekeeping, Cleaning, Upkeep and Gardening Tips May 14/08
Get Motivated To Clean March 21/08
Get Out That Stubborn Stain March 18/08
Happy Slobs Way of Cleaning Nov 28/07
Homemade Carpet Cleaner Recipes Feb 15/08
Homemade Floor Cleaner: 7 Simple Solutions From Stuff You Already Have March 25/08
Homemade Laundry Soap Feb 20/09
Homemade Natural Cleaning Products Feb 15/08
Housework Hints for Quicker Cleaning Aug 7/08
Housekeeping: Keep It Clean March 19/08
How to Care for Bed Linens July 25/08
How To Clean A Mattress - And Keep It Clean Aug 25/08
How To Clean A Stinky Bathroom Aug 11/08
How to Clean Blinds April 6/10
How To Clean Blinds and Shades March 18/08
How to Clean Copper and Silver Heirlooms
How To Clean Crayon Stains From Clothes, Dryers, Walls and Carpets Sept 11/07
How to Clean Down Pillows April 6/10
How to Divide the Household Chores April 19/09
How To Fake a Clean House June 11/08
How To Keep Your Hardwood Floor Clean March 18/08
How to make your own laundry detergent and save money
How To Make Your Own Drain Cleaner Feb 15/08
How To Remove Carpet Stains April 15/08
How To Remove Coffee From Carpet Oct 10/08
HOW TO REMOVE STAINS AND STUCK ITEMS April 15/08
How To Save Money On Your Cleaning Budget Nov 24/08
Ironing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Aug 25/10
Keeping Stovetops and Ovens Clean
Make a Homemade Floor and Wall Cleaner March 19/08
Make Chores Faster and More Fun March 21/08
make the most of your time March 14/08
Make Your Home Dust-Proof April 14/09
Make your own non-toxic kid-safe cleaning products April 10/10
Make Your Own Household Cleaners
making your own laundry detergent April 15/08
Managing Things That Never End May 22/08
Messy Car Here's How to Get it Under Control. Oct 4/08
Miscellaneous cleaning tips and links May 8/09
Mold Removal March 25/08
Moving housework to the great outdoors-Hanging Out April 10/08
Natural Cleaning Products Sept 20/08
Natural ways to clean your house Nov 8/07
Natural Ways to Spring Clean May 11/09
No More Summer Stains July 18/07
Preserve Your Sheets and Towels March 19/08
Quick and Easy Cleaning Tips June 30/08
Quick Cleaning Tips For Busy Moms April 25/08
Quick Fixes for the Worst Holiday Stains
Quick Remedies for the Worst Summer Stains July 12/08
Reasons Your Family Wont Help Clean and How to Solve the Problem Aug 7/08
Rules for stain removal March 2/09
Remove Grease Stains from Clothes
Rules for Stain Removal Jan 30/09
Save Money in the Laundry Room March 2/09
Save space, money, and time on laundry May 8/09
Shining Brightly: Silver Care and Display Nov 17/07
Shortcuts for 10 Household Chores March 21/08
Shortcuts for 10 Household Chores March 25/09
Solution to Cleaning Simplified May 7/08
Speed Cleaning March 10/08
Spring Cleaning A Complete Checklist
Spring Cleaning: A Complete Checklist with links March 20/09
Spring Cleaning and Child Safety April 8/09
Spring Cleaning Checklist June 6/08
Spring Cleaning- Start in Your Garage! March 19/08
Spring Cleaning Tips and Hints
Spring Cleaning tips and preventives April 7/08
Spring Cleaning With Less Scrubbing March 13/09
Stain Solutions Aug 9/10
Stainbuster-a website July 16/08
Taking Care of Linens, Pillow, Duvet and Towels July 25/07
tackling Spring cleaning Feb 28/08
Teaching Your Child to Clean! May 20/08
Think Cleaning Isn’t Exercise Think Again March 6/08
Thirty-Minute Clean April 25/08
Time and Money Saving Kitchen Cleaning Tips July 17/08
Tips and Tutorials By Surface Feb 15/08
Tips For Speed Cleaning Feb 13/09
Top Green Cleaners Already in Your Pantry March 14/08
Top Twenty-Five Tips for Cleaning and Organizing Your Home Feb 23/10
Treat Similar Stains the Same Way March 2/09
Ultimate guide to conquering clutter Nov 24/08
Ultimate House Cleaning Calendar April 14/09
Unexpected ways to clean with vinegar June 30/08
Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Lemon Cleaning September 7/07
Ways to Save Energy on Laundry July 22/08
When Cleaning Equals Energy Saving May 8/08
When little messes become big problems Aug 15/08
Window Cleaning - Tips To Make Your Windows Sparkle July 3/08
Worst Case Laundry Scenarios -- and What to Do about Them March 19/08
Zen spring cleaning April 7/08
By Sarah Aguirre, About.com Guide
See More About:
Cheer Laundry DetergentFight the dingies with Cheer laundry detergent. Save $1.00 now!Cheer.ca
All-Purpose CleanerAdvanage is one of the most versatile all-purpose cleaners.www.advanage.com
Ironing Clothes Dry Cleaning Clothes Washing Clothes Pressing Steam Iron
Ironing clothes can be a tricky job. With so many fabric types, pleats, tucks, seams, etc. getting the wrinkles out can give even the best housekeeper a headache. Find out the top 7 ironing mistakes we make and how to avoid them. Some of them begin before we ever turn on our iron.
1. Letting clothes over-dry.
Clothes are very difficult to iron when they are fully dry or over dried in the dryer. Over-dried clothes can be very difficult to reshape. Try to remove clothes when they are still slightly damp. If you line dry your clothes, bring them inside to iron when they are not quite dry.
2. Overfilling the dryer.
It would seem like stuffing as many clothes as can fit into a dryer would save us time, but more than likely it will only lengthen the time you spend caring for your clothing. An average dryer should be only 1/2 full in order to allow freedom for all clothing to move. If too many articles of clothing are in the dryer, it will create monster wrinkles, and make your ironing much more difficult.
3. Forgetting to shake and smoothe.
When clothing is removed from the dryer, it frequently sits in a basket waiting to be ironed. Take a few minutes and shake out your clothing. Reshape garments, and smooth out seams and pleats. Even if clothing still needs to be ironed, it will be a much smoother process.
4. Not using the sprayer.
Many irons today come with a built in sprayer to dampen clothes during ironing. If yours doesn't have one, purchase a new inexpensive empty spray bottle to use. Dampen the clothing when you are ready to begin ironing. Wrinkles will fall out of the clothing as you iron. If you don't use the sprayer to soften up the clothing, ironing is much more difficult and for some garments, impossible.
5. Using Hard Water.
Tap water may be okay to use in your iron, depending on what type of water you have. People with hard water risk damaging their iron. Read the instructions for your iron, and if in doubt, use distilled water in your iron.
6. Improper use of starches and sizers.
Starches and sizers are a great tool when ironing, but they must be used properly. Spray these products as you iron, but allow them to actually penetrate into the garment before ironing over them. Allowing just a few seconds for the clothing to soak up the starch or sizer, will keep your iron's soleplate from becoming built-up with product residue.
7. Ironing heavyweight fabrics first.
If you have a large pile of ironing to do, try to iron your lightest silk, synthetic, and delicate fabrics first. These need to be ironed on low temperatures. Once the iron heats up, and you've ironed your lightweights, you can move on to the wools, cottens, linens, etc.
Ironing
Stain
Solutions
Getting stains out of clothing, carpet, and upholstery can be a really hard
task! Well, the University of
Illinois
thought that it should be easier, and that you should be able to find stain
solutions all in one place.
The easiest way to use the site if you have a stain you need to take care of is
to type the kind of stain into the search engine on the main page and clicking
the search button. (Some examples: barbeque sauce, red wine, kool-aid, ink,
etc.) Choose your stain from the list that comes up when you start typing and
head on over to its page to discover how to get rid of it.
But that’s not the only thing to do on this site. You can click the Getting
Started link to be whisked away to the section that teaches you about the
general care for carpet and upholstery, and the different product and tools you
might need to get rid of stains, as well as, the stain guide.
If you don’t want to mess around with the search engine you can head to Stains A
- Z to see the listing of different stains and their solutions.
Featured Solutions is a section that provides you different featured stain
solutions. While I was visiting it was BBQ stains and Spring stains.
This is definitely a site that you want to bookmark so that you have it on hand
when you have a stain to get rid of!
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/index.cfm
~Amanda
Stain solved! Rate or add to
this tip
here! Printer-friendly version is
here!
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Best Tips for Quick and Easy Spring Cleaning
Combat mold,
improve air quality, clean appliances to save energy (and cash), get rid of
stubborn stains, and more
Pro
secrets for
clean, streak-free windows
in 3 easy steps
Learn
how to prevent, identify, and
banish mold
How
to
remove any carpet stain—even
coffee and nail polish
A
landscaper's
yard clean-up checklist,
with tips for pruning, reseeding patchy lawns, composting, and more
Strip
paint from door hardware
without chemicals
Refresh
your washer and dryer
(add a drip pan, clean the ductwork, more) for optimal performance
Make your own non-toxic kid-safe cleaning products
Gloria Troyer
It’s easy to make your own non-toxic cleaning products that are not only safer
to use around babies, kids and pets, but are a lot less expensive versus store
bought cleaners. Are you looking for ways to go green? This is a good start!
From cleaning your bathroom to the kitchen and even glass, we have the non-toxic
solution for you.
You can purchase inexpensive spray bottles at most department
stores and use old flannel
baby
blankets cut into squares for cleaning cloths. Make sure to put a large black
‘X’ on the bottles using a felt pen marker, so no one uses them for any other
purpose. Keep all cleaners in a cupboard that is high up and away from little
hands.
Baking soda
Baking soda has a natural deodorizing property and a mild abrasive quality that
makes it an ideal replacement for commercial scouring powders.
Cleaning
bathtub rings and vanities
Use a damp sponge sprinkled with baking soda. For tougher grime make a paste
using baking soda and water. Apply it to your tub or sink and allow it to
stand for 10-20 minutes. The paste will soften dirt, soap scum, and deposits
making them easier to remove. Wash and rinse the area.
Clean your
toilet bowl
Sprinkle baking soda around the inside of the toilet bowl and scrub with a
toilet brush. Add some white vinegar into the bowl and let sit for a few minutes
before cleaning the entire toilet with the brush. Flush.
To clear
your drains
Pour
½ cup of baking soda down the sink drain and add 1 cup of vinegar. Cover the
drain and wait about 10 minutes. Remove the cover and pour 2 cups of boiling
water down the drain to rinse.
To clean
your oven
First
scrape off any burnt spots with a scrubbing brush or plastic spatula. Make a
paste of baking soda and water then apply the paste to the area. Using a non
abrasive scrubber work the paste into the oven. Use paper towel and wipe it
clean. Use a moist cloth to remove any residue.
White vinegar
White vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits. It is also
mild enough to use when washing hardwood floors and kitchen tiles. Vinegar odor
disappears when the vinegar dries.
Spray
cleaner recipe
In a
spray bottle mix 1 cup of undiluted white vinegar with 1 cup of water. In the
kitchen use this to clean countertops, your stove top, and back splash areas.
Undiluted white vinegar is better to use for hard –water deposits or soap scum.
Shower
heads
Place ½ cup of undiluted white vinegar into a plastic food storage bag. Secure
the bag to the shower head using a rubber band. Leave it for at least two hours
or overnight then rinse and buff the fixture to shine.
To clean
your windows and other glass
For every quart of water, add ½ cup of vinegar into a spray bottle. Be sure to
use a lint-free cloth to wipe the glass clean
Fabric
softener
Add 1 cup of undiluted white vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle. It softens
clothes and cuts detergent residue. It is also a great alternative for those
who are sensitive to scent.
Furniture
polish
In a spray bottle mix 1 cup of olive oil or vegetable oil and ½ cup of vinegar
or if you prefer lemon juice. Shake it well and spray a small amount onto a
cleaning cloth or piece of flannel. Spread it evenly over the surface of the
furniture. Use a dry cloth to polish it until it is dry.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic. A little goes a long way. Tea tree oil is
currently available in supermarkets and wherever essential oils are sold.
For mold
and mildew
Add 2
teaspoons of tea tree oil to 2 cups water. Combine in a spray bottle, shake and
spray on mildew or mold. Do not rinse. Its smell will disappear in a few
days.
This spray can also be used for disinfecting diaper pails or garbage bins.
When cleaning around small children, eco-friendly homemade cleaners make sense, cost less, and are safer both for the child and the environment.
More eco-friendly tips for moms:
-The new wave of cloth diapers
-Going green: Options for your baby
-3 steps to healthy homemade baby food
Proper care of your floor prevents damage, extends its life and keeps it looking new for years. How do you properly care for your flooring?
If you enjoy going barefoot, or even if you don't, kick your shoes off at the door. Why remove your shoes? If you have a rough board that needs smoothing, you grab a sheet of sandpaper for the job. Guess what's on the bottom of your shoes? Sand and dirt grind away at the fibers in your carpet, leading to an early death.
Take a closer look at the bottoms of those shoes and you'll find oil, dirt and heaven only knows how many bits of leftover dog deposits. Small wonder why your carpet stubbornly refuses to come clean. Do wear slippers or socks inside. The oil from the bottom of your feet also dirties the carpet.
Vacuum your carpet regularly, and do not use liquid carpet shampoos to clean them. Ever wash your hair and forget to rinse out all the shampoo? The same thing happens to your carpet. The shampoo can't be completely rinsed out, leaving a sticky residue. That residue acts like a big magnet pulling the dirt from the bottom of your shoes. Now you have clean shoes and even dirtier carpets. Use dry carpet cleaners instead. Stores selling vacuum cleaners carry dry carpet cleaners.
Getting out old shampoo becomes the trick. Rent a shampoo machine that cleans with water. Mix 1 cup vinegar per 2 ½ gallons of water and clean according to directions. Go back over the carpet with warm water only. The vinegar pulls out the old shampoo, cleaning the carpet as well. It may take a time or two, but your carpets will be soft and free from grime. The hot water reactivates the shampoo already in the carpet, providing the needed cleansing action.
Stains in carpet can be a hassle to remove. Never rub a stain, just blot. Rubbing breaks down the fibers and spreads the stain. Remove most food stains with shaving cream. Spray on and resist the temptation to rub it in, then let it set for 15 minutes. Rinse with a vinegar and water solution.
Club soda generally removes red wine stains. Remove red dye stains (found in drink mixes, Popsicles, dog and cat food) with a 30/70 solution of peroxide to water. Remember, peroxide is bleach, so test an inconspicuous spot first for color fastness. Apply the mixture, wait 30 minutes, then remove as much moisture as possible and rinse with a vinegar/water solution. If the stain remains, add a bit more peroxide to the mixture and retreat.
Brake cleaner also does a good quick job of removing most food stains. Dab a little on a clean cloth and gently blot the stain. Rinse with soap and water. Brake cleaner contains the same chemical professional dry cleaners use to clean stains in clothing. Do not pour brake cleaner directly into the carpet. It could dissolve the adhesive holding the fibers in the carpet.
Oops, the dog had an accident and the stain and smell refuse all attempts at removal. First try an enzyme product. Pour on enough to saturate to the pad and treat an area twice as large as the stain. Urine hits the pad and spreads. Let it set a couple of hours. You'll find enzyme products at pet stores, RV or marine stores. They are used in the holding tanks to dissolve solid material.
Should that not remove all the stain or odor, baking soda and peroxide remain your best hope. Mix a 30/70 solution of peroxide to water adding 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda per cup of mixture. Yes, it bubbles and fizzles, but not before removing the stain and smell. Always test a spot first for colorfastness. Peroxide is bleach and may discolor the carpet. Blot up what you can with an old towel and rinse well with 1/3 cup vinegar per quart of water.
If you see red spots on your carpet where your pet just lost its lunch, switch food to a neutral colored food. The red dye in pet food is the culprit behind those spots. Dogs and cats are colorblind, so they can't tell the difference. Again, use the 30/70 peroxide and water combination for removal.
Oil, grease, magic marker and ink can be the dickens to remove. Most janitorial companies or department stores carry a product called DeSolvit. WD40 or Orange Clean also work wonders at removing these stubborn stains. Rubbing alcohol removes ink. Blot on, allow to set 30 minutes and blot to remove. Rinse with sudsy water. Magic marker is generally permanent and you may not be able to remove it.
Gum - Freeze gum with ice cubes and chip off what you can with the blunt side of a kitchen knife. DeSolveit removes the rest.
Wax - Freeze with ice and chip off what you can with the blunt side of a knife. Wax needs heat for removal. Some of the newer carpets are quite sensitive to heat and scorch easily, so test an out of the way spot first. You can also use a hair dryer set to the hottest setting.
Set your iron to a low to medium heat. The less heat you use, the less chance of scorching your carpet. Take a white paper towel or paper bag with no writing on it (the dye will transfer to the carpet) Put the towel down on top of the wax and iron the towel for no longer than two seconds. Move the towel and redo if necessary. Generally once is enough.
Pleated Cloth Shades: These shades present many cleaning problems. Never use a cleaner of any kind on day-night shades. They stain easily. Vacuum often to prevent dirt from taking control. Be sure to clean the bristles of your vacuum attachment before you vacuum. Hardware stores carry a dry sponge you'll find in the wallboard section. Use the sponge dry and wipe over the surface. The micro fiber towels do a good job as well. Dampen with water and wring out all the excess moisture. Quickly wipe over the blinds. Do not get excess moisture on them. Store the shades in a closed position whenever possible to keep the pleats well defined. Wood Window Shades Vacuum regularly. To clean, remove them laying them on a towel on a linoleum floor. Scrub with a soft nylon brush dipped in Ivory and water.
When it's time to clean your blinds and shades, even your best friend is hard to find. But there are some simple and effective ways to clean blinds and shades with minimal effort.
Aluminum Miniblinds: Putting off the job? Can't blame you, but here's an easier way to clean them. For general cleaning fill a spray bottle half full with water add a squirt or two of Ivory Liquid dish soap then finish filling with water. Ivory is inexpensive and makes a great all-purpose cleaner. Spray on a lint-free towel. Turn the slats toward you and wipe down going easy so you don't bend the slats. Reverse the slats, walk around behind the blinds and wipe once more. It only takes few minutes, so clean one set every time you dust to avoid that miserable buildup. If your blinds have reached the Cape of No Hope, removal becomes necessary. Pull up the tabs on each end and slide the blinds out. If the blind refuses to slide out, heat with a hair dryer for a few minutes. The heat expands the metal and they pull right out. Work early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid water-spotting problems. Hammer two nails into the side of your home and hang the blinds from the nails. Don't worry, it only takes a year for your neighbors to regain their composure from the laughter. Spray the blinds with a foaming bathroom cleaner (Dow is a good one). Spray the pull cords with shaving cream. When the dirt has left the scene of the grime flip the blind over, reverse the slats and spray again. Wipe with a clean very damp sponge and dry on a large bath towel.
Wood Blinds: Care must be taken when cleaning real wood blinds. Washing the blind is NOT recommended. Although the wood is sealed, water or even excessive dampness may cause warpage or discoloration of the slats. Since the surface of the slats is smooth, dust may be easily brushed off at regular intervals using a clean soft dust cloth or a vacuum cleaner brush attachment. Clean them as described above.
Fabric Pleated Shades: These shades present many cleaning problems. Never use a cleaner of any kind on day-night shades. They stain easily. Vacuum often to prevent dirt from taking control. Be sure to clean the bristles of your vacuum attachment before you vacuum. Hardware stores carry a dry sponge you'll find in the wallboard section. Use the sponge dry and wipe over the surface. The micro fiber towels do a good job as well. Dampen with water and wring out all the excess moisture. Quickly wipe over the blinds. Do not get excess moisture on them. Store the shades in a closed position whenever possible to keep the pleats well defined.
Cellular Pleated Shades: Most of the cellular shades, like the Hunter Douglas Duette shade, are anti-static, and they require very little cleaning. A light sweep with your vacuum cleaner brush attachment is all that is needed to keep them dust free. For a more thorough cleaning, the entire shade assembly may be gently wiped with a soft damp cloth using lukewarm (not hot) water. Take special care when handling opaque (blackout) shades to avoid creasing, and do not immerse them in water. For tough stains, spot clean with a mild detergent. Some shades, like the Graber Crystal Pleat have a "soft hand" fabric. Be very careful not to abrade the shades when cleaning these shades to avoid "pilling."
Wood Window Shades: Vacuum regularly. To clean, remove them laying them on a towel on a linoleum floor. Scrub with a soft nylon brush dipped in Ivory and water.
Conclusion: When in doubt, contact the establishment where you bought the shades or blinds for assistance. You can also check with the manufacturers, which usually have Service Policies Help Lines.
Read more:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/cleaningblindsshades#ixzz0jxArECZc
Take good care of your down pillows and keep
them clean to help them last for many years. They need special care as they
contain a delicate filling (usually goose feathers or something similar) that
can be damaged if not handled appropriately.
If feather pillows are taken care of, they can last you a life time. The best
way is to care for them is to clean them at least twice a year by following
these instructions, you can care for your down pillows and they will last
forever.
Tools and Equipment Required
Step 1: Read the Instruction Label
Always read the instruction labels on your down pillows. These provide essential
information that enable you to avoid doing any damage to your pillows. The
labels contain information on what not to do to your pillows and also
instructions on water temperatures, type of detergent to use as well as drying
instructions.
Step 2: Machine Wash vs. Hand Wash
When washing down pillows, always use a front loading washing machine as these
machines are most suitable for delicate items. Down pillows should NOT be hand
washed.
Before you load the pillows in the washing machine, check your pillows for any
tears or scratches in the pillow fabric. If there are any torn bits, it is time
to change your pillow. If you wash a torn pillow even on the gentlest cycle, you
are likely to destroy the pillow and make a mess in the washing machine.
If there is no wear and tear on your pillow, load your pillows in the washing
machine and add a small quantity of a very mild detergent. If you feel that your
pillow is even slightly greasy, use a detergent that contains degreaser, but is
still very gentle.
Set the cycle to the gentle option using cold water only, and start the cycle.
Step 3: Drying
When you take your pillows out of the washing machine they will be damp. Squeeze
the pillows gently to remove any excess water & moisture. You will notice there
may be a pungent sort of smell in the pillow as it comes out of the washing
machine. Do not be alarmed. This will go away as the pillow begins to dry.
It is not recommended to dry your down pillow on a clothes line or any similar
method. Always dry your pillows in electric dryers and as with washing, dry them
on their own. Do not add any other garment to dry in the dryer when drying
pillows.
Once you have squeezed the excess moisture out of the pillow, place them in the
dryer. Add a couple of tennis balls or a pair of clean sneakers in the dryer to
keep the fluffiness.
The down pillows take a long time to dry so be prepared for two to three hours
drying cycle. Set the dryer to medium heat and commence drying.
During the drying cycle regularly remove the pillows from the dryer and hand
fluff them to keep them in shape.
Read more:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-clean-down-pillows#ixzz0jxAx5rsM
http://store.tips.net/products/ebooks/TT029.html
It has long been said that a man’s home is his castle, and as such we tend to take pride in our homes. We love them, we care for them as much as is possible, we like them to look the best that they possibly can. This is evidenced by the wide variety of television shows and cable television channels dedicated to home improvement, cleaning, and organizational topics. There is one common element that runs through any of the programs on such channels, and that element is that taking care of our homes takes time that we don’t seem to have. Top Twenty-five Tips for Cleaning and Organizing Your Home is designed to help you address that common element.
It is often easier to keep your home clean if it is also organized. Now, while many people may not believe that they have the time and energy to get their home as clean and organized as they would like, it is possible. All of the tips, tricks, strategies and methods listed in this book are designed to help you make your home organized and clean in as short a time as possible.
Top Twenty-Five Tips for Cleaning and Organizing Your Home provides 40 pages of helpful information focused on making your cleaning and organizing efforts successful. It doesn't matter the size of your house, your skill level, or how much time you have—Top Twenty-Five Tips for Cleaning and Organizing Your Home has something for you. Here's just a few of the helpful sections you'll find within its pages:
Top Twenty-Five Tips for Cleaning and Organizing Your Home is designed to spark your imagination so you can make quick work of cleaning your home and keep it that way. In addition to the top tips, you'll also find a valuable list of additional resources that are available to help with your project. All in all, Top Twenty-Five Tips for Cleaning and Organizing Your Home is a valuable asset you can rely on to help make quick work of your cleaning and organizing your abode.
Top Twenty-Five Tips for Cleaning and Organizing Your Home is an e-book in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. In this format you enjoy the following features:
Since the electronic book is provided in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format, you need to either have Acrobat or the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Many computer systems already have the reader installed. If you do not, you can get it free, directly from Adobe.
By Sheri & Bob Stritof, About.com
Photo: Andersen Ross / Getty Images
Don't ask your spouse for help around the house. Asking for help gives the impression that the household chores are only your job and responsibility. Instead, ask your spouse to do his/her share. Chores around the house should be shared responsibilities.
· Set your priorities as a couple. What is truly important to each of you? Discuss how you both feel about home cooked meals versus quick meals or eating out now and then. Find out your feelings about dusting, cleaning the toilet, making the bed, mowing the lawn, paying bills, etc.
· Sit down together and make a list of the chores that each of you absolutely hates to do. What one hates, the other may be able to tolerate. If both of you detest the same chore, then figure out a way to compromise in getting this particular unpleasant task done. Or perhaps you could tackle the horrid chore together, as a team. You could also find some money in your budget to hire someone to do that task.
· It is important, too, to be considerate of one another's body clocks. Some folks are morning people and some folks are night owls. Forcing one another to do a project or chore when they really aren't ready to do it only creates tension. Timing is important. So is sharing expectations.
· Let one another know what the coming week is going to be like. Meetings, errands, special occasions, things that need to be done, etc. Then decide who is going to do what, make a list, post the list, and then let it go. Don't nag one another about what he/she volunteered to do. Some people dawdle more than others. If the task hasn't been done by the following week, when you next sit down to share expectations, that's the time to bring it up and talk about the undone chore or task.
· If one of you doesn't follow through on promises to do his/her share of the work around your home, try and discover together why there is such reluctance. Some husbands may view household chores as woman's work and not manly. Family of origin issues can be a reason for differing opinions on chores, too. Blaming your spouse for what hasn't been accomplished or finished is just wasting energy.
· Don't nag. Keep lists of chores written and posted if this is an issue in your home. After a while, the written lists probably won't be necessary.
· Be flexible and allow your spouse to accomplish a task in his/her own way. If having the towels folded a certain way is super important to you, then you fold the towels.
· Many couples find they look at the division of chores differently. Domestic disorder simply doesn't bother some people. If talking it over with your spouse doesn't improve the situation, then do what many people do. Hire someone else to do it.
· If after discussing the situation, your mate absolutely refuses to share equally in household chores, and you're tired of carrying the load yourself, then you have some choices to make. Bottom line, you can't change your spouse. You can hire some outside help, or you can quit doing some tasks that you don't want to do anymore. The roof won't fall in just because you don't cook a 3-course meal every night, or you don't clean the bathroom on a daily basis.
· Look at some areas of your house and yard that you may want to cut back on to save both time and money. Try to get your home organized so it runs more efficiently. Ask yourself if some chores even have to be done on a regular basis. For instance, I'm a firm believer that if you don't stick to the kitchen floor, it doesn't need scrubbing. If mowing the lawn is taking too much time, sprinkle wildflower seeds out there and let nature do her thing. If you hate ironing, give the clothes away that need ironing and toss the iron. Do the windows have to always sparkle? With this type of down sizing, and an examination of your standard of housekeeping, your domestic chores may become less draining emotionally and physically.
When either of you are unhappy about the allocation of household chores, the stress level in your home will increase tremendously. Conflict over domestic duties around the house is second only to conflict over money in a marriage.
The Biggest Mistake You Can Make Regarding Chores
The biggest mistake you can make in your quest to have your spouse do more chores around the house is to ask for help. Asking for help implies that the responsibility for the chores belongs to just you.
Don't ask for help, but rather that your spouse does his/her share. In actuality, chores around the house should be shared responsibilities.
Chores are a Major Source of Conflict in Marriage
If you ask wives what one of their top stresses is, quite a few will respond that it is the fact that their husbands don't want to do their share of work around the house. Stress levels increase in your home when either one of you is unhappy about unfinished chores.
Couples fight over who does what around the house almost as much as they fight over money. Many surveys and studies point out that even though many women work outside the home, they still tend to do most of the household chores.
The Partnership of Marriage
Marriage is in many ways a business partnership. The business is running the house. That means keeping financial records, maintenance, shopping, planning, cleaning, cooking, child care, transportation, etc. When the business runs smoothly, there is more peace and harmony.
However, if friends drop in and the house is a mess, or a child needs a ride to a football practice and the car is out of gas, or if there's no clean clothes to wear, or you run out of milk, or it really rains hard and the leaky roof wasn't fixed because of procrastination ... then irritations grow, misunderstandings surface, and the result is conflict.
Statistics About Chores
Doing chores is a dull, repetitive experience for most people. That's why folks don't like to do them. Courtney Ronan writes that according to an MSNBC survey, respondents were asked if the chores in their households were performed by just one person or if they were shared.
The results were telling: 74 percent of men said the chores were shared; 51 percent of women said chores were shared. Twenty-six percent of men said one person did the housework; 49 percent of the women said the same.
Setting Mutual Priorities
When a couple can divide chores in a way that both spouses feel satisfied with the outcome, they are showing mutual respect for one another. It is important for the two of you to set mutual priorities concerning the maintenance of your home and yard.
Dialogue Question
George Eliot wrote, What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?
Do you make life less difficult for each other, or more difficult? How does your answer make you feel?
Don't ask your spouse for help around the house. Asking for help gives the impression that the household chores are only your job and responsibility. Instead, ask your spouse to do his/her share. Chores around the house should be shared responsibilities.
· Set your priorities as a couple. What is truly important to each of you? Discuss how you both feel about home cooked meals versus quick meals or eating out now and then. Find out your feelings about dusting, cleaning the toilet, making the bed, mowing the lawn, paying bills, etc.
· Sit down together and make a list of the chores that each of you absolutely hates to do. What one hates, the other may be able to tolerate. If both of you detest the same chore, then figure out a way to compromise in getting this particular unpleasant task done. Or perhaps you could tackle the horrid chore together, as a team. You could also find some money in your budget to hire someone to do that task.
· It is important, too, to be considerate of one another's body clocks. Some folks are morning people and some folks are night owls. Forcing one another to do a project or chore when they really aren't ready to do it only creates tension. Timing is important. So is sharing expectations.
· Let one another know what the coming week is going to be like. Meetings, errands, special occasions, things that need to be done, etc. Then decide who is going to do what, make a list, post the list, and then let it go. Don't nag one another about what he/she volunteered to do. Some people dawdle more than others. If the task hasn't been done by the following week, when you next sit down to share expectations, that's the time to bring it up and talk about the undone chore or task.
· If one of you doesn't follow through on promises to do his/her share of the work around your home, try and discover together why there is such reluctance. Some husbands may view household chores as woman's work and not manly. Family of origin issues can be a reason for differing opinions on chores, too. Blaming your spouse for what hasn't been accomplished or finished is just wasting energy.
· Don't nag. Keep lists of chores written and posted if this is an issue in your home. After a while, the written lists probably won't be necessary.
· Be flexible and allow your spouse to accomplish a task in his/her own way. If having the towels folded a certain way is super important to you, then you fold the towels.
· Many couples find they look at the division of chores differently. Domestic disorder simply doesn't bother some people. If talking it over with your spouse doesn't improve the situation, then do what many people do. Hire someone else to do it.
· If after discussing the situation, your mate absolutely refuses to share equally in household chores, and you're tired of carrying the load yourself, then you have some choices to make. Bottom line, you can't change your spouse. You can hire some outside help, or you can quit doing some tasks that you don't want to do anymore. The roof won't fall in just because you don't cook a 3-course meal every night, or you don't clean the bathroom on a daily basis.
· Look at some areas of your house and yard that you may want to cut back on to save both time and money. Try to get your home organized so it runs more efficiently. Ask yourself if some chores even have to be done on a regular basis. For instance, I'm a firm believer that if you don't stick to the kitchen floor, it doesn't need scrubbing. If mowing the lawn is taking too much time, sprinkle wildflower seeds out there and let nature do her thing. If you hate ironing, give the clothes away that need ironing and toss the iron. Do the windows have to always sparkle? With this type of down sizing, and an examination of your standard of housekeeping, your domestic chores may become less draining emotionally and physically
By Murray Anderson
As the weather gets a little warmer and the days start getting longer, we’re all thinking about things that come with springtime. Things like warm air, sunshine, barbecues on the deck and unfortunately – spring cleaning. Now we all want our homes to be clean and healthy, and most of us would never consider the idea that the products we use for spring cleaning in our homes might actually be harming our families or us. However, it’s an unfortunate fact that some of the chemical based cleaning products we commonly use in our homes, do contain chemicals that either alone or in combination with other chemicals, can actually cause harm to people.
So if common chemical cleaners can potentially harm us, how are we supposed to clean our homes?
One option is using prepackaged natural cleaning products. All of the large retail and grocery chains are carrying ‘green’ or natural based cleaning products that will clean your house but not impact your family’s health. However, you could go a step further and clean you entire home with just four or five totally naturally products, (and as an added bonus, you’ll likely save yourself some money, since you’ve probably already got what you need in your kitchen cupboard).
The four magic products – Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda), lemon juice, vinegar and olive oil.
Long before scientists invented chemical cleaners, people used natural products to clean their homes and all these natural products still work effectively. In fact natural cleaning products may actually be a better choice for all our cleaning, since there is a growing body of evidence that some of the cleaning products designed to fight bacteria, may in fact be stimulating the development of ‘super bugs’ that are highly resistant to chemicals. The net effect could be we end up with strains of bacteria we can’t get rid of.
Murray Anderson is an experienced
freelance writer with over 500 articles published on the web as well as in print
magazines and newspapers in both the United States and Canada. He writes on a
wide range of topics and is a regular contributor to DoItYourself.com. He can be
contacted at
murand@lycos.com.
Miscellaneous cleaning tips and links
1.
How to wash a comforter or duvet?
2.
How to wash fine china dishes?
3.
Key Steps for Removing Stains
4.
How to Clean a Doghouse?
Saving in the Laundry Room
by R. Kellogg
Save space, money, and time on laundry
Awhile back, we took a good hard look at how we were doing our
laundry and asked ourselves what we could do to save space,
money, and time on laundry. Here's what we came up with:
Saving space:
Originally our family had one giant clothes hamper in the
bathroom, and that was it! Once it was full, we'd have a
choice to make. Do we sort and wash all the clothing now, even
though there will not be very many delicates and whites and
those loads will be small? Or do we try to pull out the
colored clothes and wash them, saving the whites for later?
When we had a baby, some weeks the laundry would spill over
the top and then one of us would finally cave and run a few
loads. Well, I didn't like the lack of order to this system or
the chaos it occasionally brought to my bathroom. So I came up
with a better alternative and asked my husband, who is handy,
to build a laundry sorter for me. It has saved on space in the
bathroom and eliminated the mess!
Here's how it works: Our washer and dryer are in the garage. I
asked my husband to build me a four-bag laundry sorter. Target
and other stores that sell home goods often will sell laundry
sorters you can assemble with plastic pipes, or they sell
laundry bags, which we purchased for our own sorter. With the
four bags hanging in the garage, I can take down the laundry
bag from the bathroom hamper when it gets full and sort the
clothes into the following categories: colors, whites,
delicates, and towels. The colors bag fills up faster than the
others, so we run that one more frequently. My bathroom hamper
no longer overflows and we have a streamlined process in place
that takes some of the headache out of laundry.
Saving money:
My mother-in-law pointed out that it does not take a full cup
of detergent to clean a load of clothes. A quarter cup of
powder or one good squirt of liquid is sufficient to clean
most loads. An exception might be when you're trying to get
some stains out. I removed crayon from clothing by running a
load with extra soap and hot water and after two washes the
crayon came out!
Dryer sheets can be used at the rate of one half sheet per
load. By regularly cleaning out the lint trap on my dryer, I
help the machine run efficiently and the clothes get dry
faster.
Using coupons and shopping sales or discount stores is a good
way to get laundry soaps, stain removers, and dryer sheets at
a good price. Check out the prices as your local warehouse
store and see how they compare to the discount stores.
Sometimes there is a cost-per-ounce savings for buying in
bulk.
Saving time:
Not every item of clothing needs to be washed after each use.
If it is smelly, stained, spilled on, or worn more than three
times, wash it! But if the pants you wore one day are still
clean, you can prolong the life of the garment and save
laundry time by hanging them back in the closet and wearing
them again another day.
Flylady suggests running a load of laundry a day. I find this
works pretty well for me. Or I'll run two loads one day, then
wait a day or two and run two loads again. Since my sorter and
washer/dryer are in the garage, I can put a load in when I
head out for the morning, move the batch to the dryer when I
come home, and then fold when I have time in the afternoon or
evening. By working it into my daily routine like that, I do
not have to be at home for a "laundry day" to get all our
family's clothes clean, thus freeing up my schedule and
ensuring we always have clean clothes to wear!
Forget store-bought cleaners! Save a buck and the environment, too, with these earth-friendly solutions.
Eliminate stubborn spots on fabric with some clever techniques and unexpected homemade concoctions.
These two rooms see the majority of traffic and are likely in need of the most scrubbing. See how to quickly and efficiently clean everything from appliances to cutting boards and shower stalls.
They consistently get walked on, scratched and soiled and yet get the least attention of all — until now. Find out how easy it is to freshen up your floors, furniture and even walls.
Don't forget the great outdoors. Get ideas for spiffing up all those hard-to-clean surfaces outside the house — from the driveway and deck to the gutters and grill.
Ultimate House Cleaning Calendar
Here's the scoop on what to clean and how often.
Wanting to
keep a clean home doesn't mean you have time to polish your silver every week.
We spoke with cleaning experts who have both feet solidly planted in the real
world and asked how often specific cleaning tasks really need to be done.
Here's the scoop on what to clean and how often:
EVERY
DAY
Put things
away when you finish using them.
Wash
dishes, wipe kitchen counters, clean up stove spills, and empty trash as needed.
Squeegee
showers after use to prevent mineral deposits and mildew.
Wipe
sinks.
Make beds
and straighten rooms.
TWICE A WEEK
Dust-mop
hardwood floors to prevent scratching from dirt.
Put away
clutter.
Vacuum if
you live in a dusty region or have children and pets that track in lots of dirt.
Otherwise, weekly vacuuming should suffice.
ONCE A MONTH
Wipe or
vacuum baseboards and blinds.
Sweep the
garage, patio, and walkways.
Vacuum
upholstered furniture with the brush attachment.
Clean
ceiling fixtures in one room per month (rotate).
Wash throw
rugs.
Dust
ceiling fans.
EVERY THREE MONTHS
Polish
wood furniture.
Remove
cobwebs from ceiling corners, stairwells, and such.
Change or
clean furnace and air-conditioner filters (less frequently in low-use seasons).
Clean the
oven (monthly if grunge builds up quickly).
EVERY SIX MONTHS
Wash
windows inside and out. Do this quarterly for windows near work spaces (the
kitchen sink or a desk, for instance).
Declutter
storage areas in the basement, attic, and garage.
Vacuum,
flip, and rotate mattresses.
Polish
silver.
Air out
pillows.
ONCE A YEAR
Move heavy
furniture to clean behind and underneath.
Vacuum rug
pads and the backs of area rugs.
Clean
drapes and carpets.
Turn area
rugs 180 degrees to even out wear.
Wash
walls.
Clean
chandeliers.
From 2,001 Amazing Cleaning Secrets
Originally in The Ultimate House Cleaning Calendar
Smart Strategies to Make Your Home Dust-Proof
Strategies that vastly reduce the never-ending dusting chore.
By Gary Wentz
The
solution to most household problems is to attack the source. But you can't
eliminate the sources of household dust. You can't even do much to reduce them,
because more than 90 percent of household dust comes from people and fabric. Our
bodies constantly shed tiny flakes of skin. Our clothes, bedding and furnishings
constantly shed barely visible fibers. These flakes and fibers float on the
slightest air currents and settle on every surface in your house. In a spot
sheltered from air movement, the particles stay put. In other areas, they
constantly rise and settle as doors swing open and people pass by.
Even if fighting dust is a battle you can never completely win, you can save a
lot of time and energy with these dust-busting strategies.
Comstock.com
Capture dust -- don't just spread it around.
1. Keep closet floors clear for easy cleaning.
Closets are dust reservoirs, full of tiny fibers from clothes, towels and
bedding. Every time you open the door, you whip up an invisible dust storm. You
can't prevent clothes from shedding fibers, but you can make closets easier to
keep clean and vastly cut down on dust.
Box or bag
items on shelves.
Clear plastic containers are best -- they lock fibers in and dust out and let
you see what's inside. When you dust, they're easy to pull off the shelves and
wipe clean.
Enclose
the clothes you rarely wear.
Those coats you wear only in winter shed fibers year-round. Slip garment bags or
large garbage bags over them. They help to contain fibers and keep the clothes
themselves from becoming coated with dust.
Keep
closet floors clear.
If the floor is cluttered, chances are you'll just bypass it while vacuuming.
But a wide-open floor adds only a few seconds to the vacuuming chore. And a wire
shelf lets you clear all those shoes off the floor without losing storage space.
2. Upgrade
your furnace filter.
If your home has a forced-air heating or cooling system, it can help control
dust by filtering the air. Most visible dust settles on floors and furniture
before it can enter the heating/cooling system, so no filter will eliminate
dusting chores. Still, a filter upgrade can make a noticeable improvement.
The most effective system is an electrostatic filter connected to your ductwork
($700 to $1,500, professionally installed). An electrostatic filter may be worth
the expense if you have allergies. But if you just want to reduce dust buildup,
it's smarter to spend $40 to $100 per year on high-quality disposable filters. A
standard fiberglass filter traps only the largest dust particles. It's effective
enough to protect your furnace but does almost nothing to reduce household dust.
Better filters are made from pleated fabric or paper. Most pleated filters also
carry an electrostatic charge that attracts and holds dust. A pleated filter can
capture virtually all the visible dust that reaches it. Manufacturers usually
recommend that you change these filters every three months, but you should check
them monthly, especially if you have cats or dogs, and replace them if they're
dirty. Dirty pleated filters can restrict airflow and damage your furnace.
3. Rotate bedding weekly.
Your cozy bed is a major dust distributor. The bedding collects skin flakes,
sheds its own fibers and sends out a puff of dust every time you roll over. To
minimize the fallout, wash sheets and pillowcases weekly. Items that aren't
machine washable don't need weekly trips to the dry cleaners -- just take
blankets and bedspreads outside and shake them. You can spank some of the dust
out of pillows, but for a thorough cleaning, wash or dry-clean them. When you
change bedding, don't whip up a dust storm. Gently roll up the old sheets and
spread out the new ones; even clean bedding sheds fibers.
4. Capture dust -- don't just spread it around.
Feather dusters and dry rags pick up some of the dust they disturb, but most of
it just settles elsewhere. Damp rags or disposable cloths that attract and hold
dust with an electrostatic charge (like Swiffer or Grab-it) work much better.
Cloths that attract dust with oils or waxes also work well but can leave residue
on furniture. Use vacuum attachments only on surfaces that are hard to dust with
a cloth, such as rough surfaces and intricate woodwork, because the exhaust
stream from a vacuum whips up a dust storm.
5. Beat and shake area rugs.
In most homes, carpet is by far the biggest dust reservoir. It's a huge source
of fibers and absorbs dust like a giant sponge. Even the padding underneath
holds dust, which goes airborne with each footstep. Some serious allergy
sufferers find that the only solution is to tear out wall-to-wall carpet and
install hard flooring like wood or tile. Those of us who don't want to take that
drastic step have to vacuum regularly. Vacuum pathways and busy areas at least
once a week. The dust that gathers under chairs or behind the sofa is less
important. It stays put unless it's disturbed by a toddler, a pet or a breeze.
Vacuum large area rugs too. But also take them outside three or four times a
year for a more thorough cleaning. Drape them over a fence or clothesline and
beat them with a broom or tennis racket. A good beating removes much more dust
than vacuuming. Take smaller rugs outside for a vigorous shaking every week.
6. Take cushions out for a beating.
Upholstery fabric not only sheds its own fibers but also absorbs dust that
settles on it. You raise puffs of dust every time you sit down. The only way to
eliminate upholstery dust is to buy leather- or vinyl-covered furniture. But
there are three ways to reduce dust on fabric:
Dust
settles mostly on horizontal surfaces; vacuum them weekly. Vacuum vertical
surfaces monthly.
Take
cushions outside and beat the dust out of them. An old tennis racket works well
and lets you practice your backhand. A thorough beating removes deeply embedded
dust better than vacuuming.
Slipcovers
for chairs and sofas are easy to pull off and take outdoors for a shaking.
Better yet, some are machine washable. Slipcovers are readily available at
discount and home furnishings stores and online (
surefit.net is one good source).
Do air
cleaners reduce dusting?
An effective air cleaner removes large and small particles from the air in a
single room. Within that space, it can relieve allergy or asthma symptoms and
even reduce smoke and cooking odors. But don't expect it to relieve you of
dusting duty. Air cleaners are sized to filter a small area, so only a small
portion of the airborne dust in your home will ever reach the unit. For air
cleaners to have a real effect on overall dust levels, you would need one unit
in every room-at a cost of $60 to $500 per room.
7. Clean the air while you clean house.
All vacuums whip up dust with their "agitator" (the cylindrical brush that
sweeps the carpet) or blowing exhaust stream. That dust eventually settles on
the surfaces you've just cleaned. But if your forced-air heating/cooling system
is equipped with a good filter, you can filter out some of that dust before it
settles. Just switch your thermostat to "fan on." This turns on the blower
inside your furnace and filters the air even while the system isn't heating or
cooling. Leave the blower on for about 15 minutes after you're done cleaning.
But don't forget to switch back to "auto." Most blowers aren't designed to run
constantly.
8. Match the vacuum to the flooring.
Suction alone isn't enough to pull much dust out of carpet. For good results,
you need a vacuum with a powerful agitator. Upright vacuums are usually best for
carpet, although some canister vacuums with agitators work well, too. When it
comes to wood, tile or vinyl flooring, your best choice is a canister vacuum
without an agitator (or with an agitator that can be turned off). An agitator
does more harm than good on hard flooring because it blows dust into the air.
By Vincent Iannelli, M.D., About.com
Created: May 3, 2005
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
Spring cleaning doesn't have to be such a chore, especially when you get motivated by knowing that the following spring cleaning activities will help to keep your kids safe.
Medicine Cabinet
Your medicine cabinet is not meant to be a storage area for all of the medicines that your child has ever been prescribed. For whatever reason, parents do seem to end up having left-over or half used prescriptions in their medicine cabinet though. Spring cleaning is a good time to get rid of them and any expired over-the-counter medicines that you may have.
Smoke & CO Detectors
If you didn't replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at the start or end of daylight saving time, now is a good time to do it. It is also a good time to test your smoke alarms and CO detectors, although you should be doing that each and every month.
You can also this time as a reminder to review and rehearse your family's fire escape plan.
Broken Toys
Many parents use spring cleaning as an excuse to go through and get rid of toys that their kids no longer play with, but you can also use it as a time that you check the toys that they do still play with and get rid of those that are broken and can't be repaired. When considering toy safety, you should be especially watchful for:
· splinters or sharp edges on wooden toys
· weak or loose parts that could fall off and become a choking hazard
· broken pieces
· leaking batteries
· loose screws and bolts, especially on things like playground equipment and ride on toys (bicycles, scooters, skateboards, etc.)
· loose or exposed wires in electrical toys
Even if your home is well childproofed, with latches on cabinets, gates on stairs, and covers on door knobs, you do have to regularly inspect them to make sure they are still working properly. Cabinet and drawer latches and locks are especially prone to wear and tear, which may allow your child to get in them and to any unsafe items you have stored in them.
You should always be watching for reports and alerts about recalled products, but if you don't, spring cleaning time is a good time to check and see if any toys or household products in your home have been recalled.
Checking your child's car seat to make sure it still fits and is installed properly is another thing that you should be doing much more often than when you are doing your spring cleaning, but it is a good time to think about it all the same. Is your child ready to move up to a booster seat? Is he ready to move out of a seat and to use regular seat belts?
Pediatric Resources
Pediatric BasicsParentingPediatric Problem Solver
Safety Quizzes
Child Safety QuizCar Seat QuizHome Safety Quiz
By Sarah Aguirre, About.com
1. Clean Dishes
Why Clean Dishes Daily
Maybe you've never seen what happens to a sinkful of dishes left to sit, but it isn't pretty. Smells, stains, and odd fungal growth usually go with forgotten dirty dishes. Cleaning dishes daily is the best choice all around.
Dishwashing Resources
Dishwashing Tools
Dishwashing 101
Proper Dishwashing Order
2. Wash Laundry
Why Wash Laundry Daily
Not every family needs to wash laundry daily, but many of us find that at least a daily load of laundry is necessary. With work clothes, school uniforms, soccer practice clothes, and sports uniforms, our families can generate a lot of dirty clothes. A daily load can help prevent a mad dash to find a baseball jersey in the bottom of a hamper.
Laundry Resources
Stain Removal
Sorting Laundry
Baking Soda in the Laundry Room
Choosing Water Temperature
3. Tidy Up
Why Tidy Up Daily
Doing a little clutter control on a daily basis keeps your home ready for company at a moment's notice. A few minutes of picking up each day also prevent your home from turning into a disaster zone that will take hours to plow through. A tidy room makes a big difference in our motivation to tackle bigger projects. Use the 15 Minute Cleanups as a daily help to keep your main rooms ready for visitors.
Clutter Resources
4 Container Clutter Method
Quick Clutter Cleanup
15 Minute Cleanups by Room
4. File Papers
Why File Papers Daily
If you don't file daily, you risk piles of papers on every surface in your home. Between junk mail, letter offers, school papers, and receipts, paper can overtake our homes before we even realize it. It only takes a few minutes each day to prevent a major pileup.
Filing Resources
Reducing Piles of Papers
Storing Family Records and Documents
Tips of Storing Kid's Papers
Creating a Cleaning Schedule
Weekly Cleaning Chores
Monthly Cleaning Chores
Seasonal Cleaning Chores
By Sarah Aguirre, About.com
Dusting
Try dusting cloth lampshades with a lint roller. It works quickly and effectively without the hassle of a vacuum.
Slip an old unmatched sock on your hand and dust as you go.
Windows and Mirrors
Use old newspapers to clean mirrors and windows. You'll have a great disposable cleaning rag and be recycling at the same time.
Vinegar is an inexpensive easy cleaner that can be used on windows and mirrors.
To prevent streaking and extra rubbing, wait for an overcast day to clean your mirrors and windows.
Cleaning Out the Microwave
Bring a cup of water to boil in the microwave, the steam will help loosen dried on particles making them easily wiped away.
Scrubbing the Toilet
Put toilet cleaner in the toilet to soak while you wipe down the outside. The inside dirt and stains will be loosened and more easily cleaned.
Buy a drop-in toilet cleaner dispenser, to increase the time between needed cleanings.
Cleaning Out the Refrigerator.
Briefly clean out trash and bad food each trash day morning. It only takes a few minutes to dump the stuff, and will clear out space to make cleaning easier.
Use baking soda to wipe down the inside of the refrigerator. It scrubs and eliminates odors without damaging surfaces.
Cleaning Out the Oven.
On nights when you get take out, take a few moments and spray the inside of the oven with oven cleaner. Then after dinner, or the next morning if your stains are tough, you’ll be able to wipe away the dirt and grime easily, without missing the use of your oven.
Filing Paperwork
Make filing time coincide with a favorite show that you feel guilty for taking time to watch. Most filing can be done with little thinking, and you’ll get to watch your favorite show in the process. Sort the papers into categories based on your file names. Don’t forget to include trash. You’ll be surprised how much of the pile you won’t need to keep.
Laundry
Make each person responsible for washing, drying, and putting away their own clothing. Write and post some basic instructions in the laundry room. Have a trial period where your trainees assist you with their clothing.
If you get truly overwhelmed by your laundry, check out a local Laundromat that will wash, dry, and fold your loads for you. These services frequently charge by the pound for laundry and aren’t inexpensive, but may save you time and energy when life starts to overwhelm.
Washing Dishes
Let the person who is in charge of washing the dishes, get to pick out dessert.
When you begin cooking, run a sink of hot soapy water, and wash as you go. Food on dishes won’t have a chance to harden, and you’ll be that much ahead when the meal is done.
Keep a supply of disposable plates, flatware, and cups. On nights when you’re overwhelmed by double-header Little League games on the same night as PTA, you won’t have to worry about dishes.
Washing dishes can be a great time to have a parent interview with a child you need to reconnect with. The job may not go more quickly, but you'll be accomplishing a lot more than clean dishes.
Clearing Clutter
Find a local charity to donate items to prior to a clutter clearing session. Some charities may even be able to pick up your donations at a prearranged time, saving you a trip.
Label various storage containers before you begin to sort your clutter. A label makes placing items in the right category a much easier task.
Go through and grab obvious trash as the first step. Once the trash is gone, it makes it easier to see what you want to keep, and just how much stuff you’ll need to get rid of.
Cleaning Schedules
Cleaning Chores
Seasonal Cleaning Chores30 Thirty Second Chores
15 Minute Cleanups
15 Minute Bathroom Cleanup15 Minute Bedroom Cleanup15 Minute Kitchen Cleanup
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By Sarah Aguirre, About.com
The flowers are blooming, the birds are serenading, and our house still feels like it's stuck with winter blues. Spring cleaning is a tradition that allows us to freshen up our homes and get a head start on the hectic seasons of spring and summer. What do you need help spring cleaning?
Spring Cleaning Checklists By Room
These tutorials help with spring cleaning for any room. Each tutorial gives a list of steps, tools and supplies needed, and tips to help you get the job done.
· Living Areas Spring Cleaning
Clearing Clutter and Organizing During Spring Cleaning
One of the biggest parts of spring cleaning is getting rid of clutter that you don't need. Use these resources to clear out your stuff. Cleaning will be a lot easier if the clutter is gone.
· Beginning Organization Steps and Spring Cleaning
· Spring Cleaning and the 4 Container Clutter Method
· Spring Cleaning Your Medicine Cabinet
· Organizing A Community Garage Sale
Getting the Family Involved in Spring Cleaning
If you need a little help in your spring cleaning endeavors, try to get your family involved. Even the most unwilling helper can make a big difference in the work load.
· Tips For Organizing Family Spring Cleaning Days
· Organizing a Family Spring Cleaning Garage Cleanup Day
· Reasons Your Family Won't Help With Chores
· 5 Easy to Set-Up Chore Charts
· 12 Tips for Chore Chart Success
Extra Spring Cleaning Chores
There are some spring cleaning chores that need to be done seasonally. Even though these chores only need to be done once or twice a year, they will help your home run look better and run smoothly.
Products to Use During Spring Cleaning
The cleaning aisles of our stores are stocked full of supplies to help you clean. Find out what supplies you need and which ones you don't.
· Basic Cleaning Supplies List
· Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Lemons
Maintaining the Spring Cleaning
If you want some ideas to help you maintain the spring cleaning around your home our 15 minute cleanups can keep that spring cleaning feeling around for a long time.
· 15 Minute Living Room Cleanup
· 15 Minute Kid's Room Cleanup
· 15 Minute Dorm Room or Efficiency Apartment Cleanup
Spring Cleaning
Spring Cleaning and StainsSpring Cleaning and MaintenanceSpring Cleaning and Natural Products
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http://www.mythbusters.com/coming-clean-about-eight-laundry-myths-part-i.html
Laundry myths offer a good example of how even everyday tasks can accrue a web of misconceptions and false facts that get in the way of actually getting the job done. With the exception of a few Beverly Hills types and lazy husbands, almost everyone does laundry -- and a lot of what we know about it is wrong.
In this two-parter, we'll take a look at eight laundry myths that all of us would be better off without believing.
Nope, not even close -- though this is one laundry myth we'd all like to believe. Even really hot water usually isn't enough to kill every microscopic bug on your Underoos, though it'll get most of them. And you certainly shouldn't avoid using hot water just to save a few bucks (we'll go into more detail on that later).
Unless you use a healthy dose of bleach, all a washing machine does is redistribute the existing bacteria across your entire load. Some bugs will drain away with the rinse water, but by no means all. To truly sterilize your clothing, you need to use chlorine bleach; color-safe bleaches won't cut it.
This laundry myth is true enough from an ecological and economic standpoint; obviously, you save energy and resources if you use only cold water to wash your clothes. However, there's a point where cleanliness and concern for the environment need to part ways, and this is it.
From a health perspective, hot water works best to get clothing clean, especially when combined with the proper amounts of detergent and bleach (see Myth 1). Admittedly, however, it's possible to wash lightly-soiled laundry in warm or cool water, presuming you use the right amount of detergent.
This laundry myth seems reasonable, but the truth is that too much of a good thing is a definite possibility when it comes to soap. Even if you don't end up with a roomful of suds, you may find yourself with clothes so saturated with detergent that it's impossible for the rinse cycle to get rid of all of it.
The result may be itchy clothing and, in some cases, skin allergies. Even if that doesn't occur, excess detergent can degrade the fabric of your clothing. Check your dryer's lint trap; if you get an unusual amount of lint with each load, you're probably using more detergent than you need to.
According to Clorox Labs (and, yeah, we admit that they might be biased), this isn't so. It's mostly wearing clothes that causes fabrics to deteriorate, though washing and drying do contribute. Then again, it's all a matter of using bleach as directed; use too much, and this one of our laundry myths might very well come true for you.
Spring
Cleaning With Less Scrubbing
The weather's getting
warmer. Soon it will be time to throw open the windows and give my home a
thorough scrubbing after what's been a very long winter. There are a number of
tasks, from the closets to the garage, that I need to tackle. Here are a few
tips to help you get through your spring cleaning with less scrubbing.
By Courtney Curtis, About.com
Have you ever wondered why you use chemicals you can’t pronounce to make your home sparkle and shine? Really, when was the last time you took a look at the label on your favorite blue solution?
You probably grew up helping your mother clean the house with Windex and Pine Sol, so of course you never questioned why. But what if I told you there was a different way? A better way?
Ultimately it’s up to you, but if you’re looking for a more natural way of cleaning that’s equally effective, consider equipping your cleaning kit with the following agents:
1. Lemons or Lemon Juice
What Can it Clean?
Lemon juice is an all around natural cleaning wonder. With it, you can remove lime scale, make windows and mirrors shine, polish copper or brass, clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces, and remove sweat stains.
Why Does it Work?
Lemon Juice is one of the strongest food acids, marked by its sour taste. Because the pH is so low, lemon juice can kill most household bacteria, while also leaving your home smelling fresh.
2. Baking Soda
What Can it Clean?
Baking soda is unrivaled in its wide variety of uses. It not only cleans, it also polishes, deodorizes and softens water.
For these reasons you can use baking soda as an agent when cleaning multiple surfaces, jewelry, carpet, ink stains, fish tanks, windows, and window screens. Baking soda also works well as an air freshener, and in your personal care routine.
Why Does it Work?
Baking soda is a naturally occurring, but often artificially produced, substance that is slightly alkaline.
Because of its basic nature, baking soda works well as a water softener and can easily break down proteins. Baking soda also works well as a deodorizer because as a basic compound, it easily neutralizes acidic scent molecules.
3. Castile Soap
What Can it Clean?
Castile soap might sound fancy, but it’s really not. Liquid, powder, or bars of soap that are unscented are biodegradable and can clean just about anything.
Castile soap, however, can be made with just oils, lye, and water, so you can be sure it will get your home clean without leaving any buildup.
Why Does it Work?
Any surface you want to clean probably has a build up of both dirt and oils. Dirt can simply be wiped away with plain water, but oil is another story. Thanks to some basic chemistry, soap is what makes these oils stick to your damp cloth so they can be easily wiped away.
4. Borax or Boric Acid
What Does it Clean?
Borax is best known as an alternative to bleach. However, this natural cleaning product also cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, and effectively renews painted and wallpapered walls.
Note: While borax has a wide array of uses, and is naturally occurring, it can irritate the skin, and is toxic if ingested. Please keep borax out of reach of children and pets, and make sure to rinse clothes and surfaces before use.
Why Does it Work?
Borax has many defining properties that make it an excellent cleaning agent. When mixed with water, borax reacts to make a hydrogen peroxide / water solution. It also can act as a chemical buffer when cleaning, so the pH is what it needs to be to make something effectively clean.
5. White Vinegar
What Does it Clean?
While you actually have the option of using typical yellow vinegar as well, white vinegar cleans without the possibility of staining. White vinegar’s is best used to cut grease, clean wood floors and multiple other surfaces, remove mildew, deodorize, and clean certain stains and wax build-up.
Why Does it Work?
Vinegar is actually weakly acidic, making it a powerful cleaning agent. The acid in vinegar cuts through grease and germs found on counter tops while also inhibiting bacteria and mold.
6. Washing Soda
What Does it Clean?
Washing soda is scientifically known as sodium carbonate decahydrate, a naturally occurring mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans walls, tiles, sinks and tubs.
How Does it Clean?
When it comes to chemical properties, washing soda is a close relative to baking soda, with a slightly lower pH level. As a stronger base, washing soda easily breaks down proteins and neutralizes odors.
7. Cornstarch
What Does it Clean?
Cornstarch is one of the lesser known natural cleaning agents though it is a very effective ingredient in home solutions. Cornstarch can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, be used when ironing, and shampoo carpets and rugs.
However, one of it’s most amazing cleaning qualities is its ability to remove grease stains. Not many products can claim to do that!
How Does it Clean?
Corn starch is actually derived from corn and is known its fine, silky texture. Since it is a great deodorizer and can get into very small spaces, corn starch is great for cleaning carpets and shining smooth surfaces. Also, as a starch it can be added to water to make a liquid starch solution perfect for ironing.
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By Mary Marlowe Leverette, About.com
Laundry is inevitable, wasting money isn't. Learn how to save money in the laundry room with these tips.
Use cold water and the right cycle
No need to pay for heating water when you don't need it. Cold water and today's detergents will take care of most of your laundry needs. Hot water is only needed for items where bacteria growth can occur - cotton underwear, towels and bed linens.
If you have heavily soiled or greasy clothing, try warm water first. You may be amazed at how clean the laundry gets without hot water. Be sure to select the right cycle on your washer. No need to pay for extra water for big loads if you don't have them or keep the washer running any longer than necessary.
Do full loads, back-to-back
Every time the washer runs, it should be full. You'll save time and money. And if you are using the dryer, you'll save money by not having to bring up the heat level for each load. You'll use the residual heat and save money.
Use the right amount of the right detergent
When purchasing detergent, always look at the number of loads that can be done for that size container. Do a bit of math in your head, and you may find a better bargain. Buying detergent that do not include other additives like bleach or fabric softeners is always more cost effective.
Take time to read the directions on how much detergent to use. The marked levels on the cap or scoop may be confusing. It will help to use a permanent marker to define the level you usually use. Pay attention to whether your detergent is 2X or 3X concentration. You'll need much less than you think.
Drying clothing outside not only saves money on your utility bill, it also saves money by being more gentle on your clothing. If you can't dry laundry outside, use an indoor drying rack or clothesline.
No need to pay for higher priced additives for the laundry. Vinegar is great for reducing static cling. Just add a cup of white vinegar to the final rinse. For softer sheets and towels, add one-fourth cup of baking soda to the wash cycle.
Use home dry cleaning kits
Home dry cleaning kits are much less expensive than commercial cleaners, easy to use and do a great job of freshening clothes. You'll be able to reduce your trips to the cleaners and save money.
Wear clothing more than once
I'm not disputing your mother's warning to always wear clean underwear, but most of us can wear garments more than once. The most effective way to save money in your laundry room is to just do less of it. Wearing your clothes more than once before tossing them in the dirty pile is the first step.
Look items over carefully after wearing. Hang them up carefully or fold and return to a drawer. It takes a moment more in effort but can really save money. Rather than a full laundry or dry cleaning cycle, some garments may just need a light pressing to remove wrinkles or even just a quick steaming in the bathroom.
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·Ways to Use Walking for the Planet
By Mary Marlowe Leverette, About.com
Stain removal is one of the most crucial parts of handling your family's laundry. These 10 rules are basic for any type of stain removal.
Timing
Take care of stains as soon as possible. Fresh stains are much easier to remove than those over 24 hours old.
First things first
Blot up any excess stain liquid with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Avoid rubbing the stained area with a linty terry towl or a dark-colored cloth. You may make matters worse. Remove excess solids by gently scraping with a dull knife or metal spatula. With some solids, such as mud, removal may be easier after the stain has dried. Brush off the excess before the garment is submerged for washing.
No soap
Never rub a fresh stain with bar soap which sets many stains.
Check before washing
If you do the laundry for the whole family, they may not have told you about a stain. Teach your family to tell you about stains or mark them with a clothespin. Always check before washing, many stains need pretreatment.
Check again
Stains slip by us all. But it helps to inspect wet laundry before drying. If a stain is still evident, do not dryer dry. The heat of the dryer makes the stain more permanent. Same principle applies to ironing - no heat should be added to stained areas.
This is only a test
Before starting on the stain, test the stain removal agents on a seam or hidden area of the garment to be sure they do not affect the color or finish of the fabric.
A gentle touch
Avoid excessive rubbing unless the fabric is tough and durable. Rubbing can spread the stain and damage the fabric. However, gentle to vigorous rubbing under running water helps remove dried food, blood or oil stains from shirts or jean-weight fabrics made of cotton or cotton blends.
Separate and conquer
Wash heavily stained items separately. Soil and stains can be redeposited on cleaner clothing during laundering if too little detergent is used, water temperature is too low, washing time is too long or the wash is overloaded. Never wash family clothes with pesticide-soiled clothes.
Go for the cold
Avoid using hot water on stains of unknown origin. Hot water can set protein stains like milk, egg or blood.
Except sometimes
Use the water temperature recommended on stain removal products and detergents. Hot water should be between 120 and 140 degrees F, warm water between 85 and 105 degrees F and cold water between 65 and 75 degrees F. Water below 60 degrees is too cold for detergents to be helpful.
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By Mary Marlowe Leverette, About.com
Even with all of the things we can spill on our laundry, there are really only five types of stains - Protein, Oil-based, Tannin, Dye and Combination. Once you learn the correct way to treat each of these groups, you'll be a stain-removal pro.
Fresh protein stains like baby food, formula, blood, egg, milk or ice cream can be removed by soaking or rubbing the stain with cold water before washing. Never use hot water because it can actually cook the stain and drive it deeper into the fabric fibers.
Oily stains like butter, salad dressing, hand lotion and automotive oil need a stain-removal pretreatment to remove them. After treating, they also need the hottest water safe for the type of fabric to rinse them away.
Tannin stains include beer, coffee, fruit juice, soft drinks and tea. The most important thing to remember is that natural soaps will set the stain. Use a detergent and the hottest water acceptable for the fabric to wash them away.
Dye stains like grass, red foods and felt-tip pens are hard to remove. They will need pretreating, soaking and perhaps, bleaching.
Combination stains like ballpoint ink, crayon, gravy and makeup contain both an oily/waxy component and a dye/pigment component. Start by removing the oily portion first and then tackle the dye stain. Take your time and most will come out completely.
Sometimes stains appear that no one seems to know how or when they happened. Before you dive in, check a few clues and first, do no harm. Begin with the most gentle methods and ramp up the treatment as needed.
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Cut
Down Your Cleaning Time
I'm stressing a little
bit about going away for the weekend with my husband. It's not because I don't
want to go. In fact, I'm sure we'll have a great time. It's actually because I'm
wondering how I'm going to get my house clean if I'm not there on a Saturday.
Fortunately, there are ways to get your house in tip-top shape without spending
all weekend with a mop and cloth.
by Carrol Wolverton
Are you revolted by the cost of laundry soap?
"Have you checked the price of laundry soap lately?" I watched an older lady just staring at the soap aisle with a dejected look. I share her concern. When a big bottle of the good stuff costs $20 and up, it's time to make changes. I know the super concentrated product is supposed to last twice as long, but I note the number of "loads" listed on the labels keeps getting smaller along with the bottles. The only good part is the absence of the big bottles to lug home and later populate the recycle bin.
I've stopped buying commercial laundry soap altogether. One person told me she hadn't used powdered laundry soap in years. Is that a good thing? There are liquid homemade versions, but they are way too messy.
Make your own by using a bar of deodorant hand soap grated and a cup each of Borax and washing soda (Arm & Hammer makes this). Mix all together. The hardest part is grating the soap. Most bar soap will work, but the softened varieties come out looking like coleslaw. Use the hard bars. My preferred store brand deodorant hand soap is purchased on sale from a popular pharmacy chain and is frequently sold for several bars for a dollar. Don't be fooled by the "anti-bacterial" fancier bars. All soap is antibacterial. I use a dollar store plastic bucket to grate and mix. You may have to check one or more markets to find your ingredients, but it's around. Publix in Florida carries both Borax and washing soda products. Target, at least locally, carries Borax, and the local you-bag-it super discounter carries washing soda. Store your mixture in a plastic container near the washer, and use 2 Tablespoons per wash load for a regular size load. If you don't like the lack of suds, add a squirt of liquid dish detergent. I skip the suds and love the results. Your laundry is clean and clean smelling. I use lukewarm water instead of hot, except for whites, and that's usually a small load.
I've heard a complaint from people using well water that the mixture does not get clothes white enough. If you're using very hard water, you might consider mixing the homemade version 50/50 with your expensive commercial detergent. That is still a significant savings.
When traveling on road trips, I pack individual packets in plastic baggies to use at the self-service laundry. We no long buy the expensive stuff.
Additionally, use 1/4 cup of plain white vinegar in the rinse cycle as a fabric softener. This removes soap residue, too. Vinegar is much cheaper if purchased by the gallon, and pricing varies greatly. It's worth every penny because it has so many uses such as in your dishwasher as a spot remover and as a window cleaner.
__________
Carrol Wolverton is retired from careers in government service, counseling, and teaching. Recipes for all of this are in her "Living Cheap & Loving It, tomatoes in the flower bed," available for $12.99 on amazon or lulu.com or $2.50 for the ebook on lulu.com. Visit her website at <http://www.northfloridawriters.org/CarrolW.htm>
Take the Next Step:
- Does the cost of commercial laundry soap leave you frustrated? Then try your hand at making homemade laundry soap.
- For more recipes for homemade cleaners, please visit <http://www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-a.htm#cleanrecipes>
- Subscribe to our new weekly "Inflation Fighters" newsletter by sending <mailto:subscribe-InflationFighters@hub.thedollarstretcher.com> "Inflation Fighters" is a free email newsletter that will provide ways to help you save money as the cost of everyday items rise. Each issue features six or seven articles to help you stretch your dollar!
By Sarah Aguirre, About.com
Keep Supplies Together: The number one rule for speed cleaning is to have quick and easy access to your tools and supplies. When it's time to clean, it zaps all of your motivation when you have to hunt for needed supplies. Consider creating a cleaning caddy for different areas of your home. You'll always have your supplies right where you need them.
Pump Up the Music: Music makes a big difference in how quickly I'm able to clean. My mix of songs for cleanup music is a playlist of high energy, fast moving songs that make me feel great. Using music can help you to move more quickly, all while giving you the feeling of fun. Just be sure to shut the blinds if your favorite tracks make you bust into dance moves that you don't want the neighbors knowing you have.
Start With Your Least Favorite Room: The room you always leave until last is the best one to start in. Procrastinating the rooms we hate cleaning only makes us feel worse when we say that we're done. When we're finished with everything else, our mind still remembers that we chickened-out of the hard rooms.
Do the most difficult and annoying areas of your house at the beginning, when you are most motivated. Once you accomplish the feeling of completing those tough areas, everything else will seem like a piece of cake.
Don't Clean Just To Clean: I know it sounds silly, but don't waste time cleaning things that don't need to be cleaned. If your refrigerator is still spotless from last weeks cleaning, then why bother moving everything around to clean it? If you never use the downstairs bathroom, then it won't need to be cleaned as often as the master bathroom. Don't clean something just because it's a scheduled day of cleaning. Clean the dirty things, and leave the rest alone.
Clean As You Go: When you see a mess, clean it up. We tell our families this all the time, but do we actually practice what we preach? This can be as simple as grabbing a handful of items that belong upstairs when we know we're heading upstairs anyway. It also includes wiping up spills and splatters before they have the chance to harden. Cleaning as you go will save you a lot of time in the long run.
Don't Overuse Cleaners: The knee-jerk reaction is to use as much cleaner as possible in an effort to get our homes clean. This can actually backfire. Too much cleaner can damage the surfaces in our home. It can also leave a residue that will attract dirt and dust like a magnet. Do yourself a favor and use just enough.
At the same time, realize that cleaners rarely work instantly. Give a cleaner some time to penetrate the dirt and grime. Then, instead of spending several minutes scrubbing, you'll usually be able to just wipe the dirt away.
Top To Bottom: This was one of the first rules I learned from my mom. Always start cleaning at the top of a surface, and work your way down. This allows you to avoid dripping cleaner, or settling dust over surfaces that have already been cleaned.
Dry To Wet: The second rule I learned was dry to wet. Do your dry cleaning, dusting, wiping down, etc. first. Next, move to your wet cleaning. The more you can take care of with a dry cloth, the less streaking, spreading of dirt, and potential for spilling you'll have.
Put Supplies Away: So that you'll be ready for your next speed cleaning session, make sure that all of your tools are put away neatly. They'll be ready for you the next time you decide to speed clean.
By Mary Marlowe Leverette, About.com
Stain removal is one of the most crucial parts of handling your family's laundry. These 12 rules are the basics of any type of stain removal.
Timing
Take care of stains as soon as possible. Fresh stains are much easier to remove than those over 24 hours old.
First things first
Blot up any excess stain liquid with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Avoid rubbing the stained area with a linty terry towl or a dark-colored cloth. You may make matters worse. Remove excess solids by gently scraping with a dull knife or metal spatula. With some solids, such as mud, removal may be easier after the stain has dried. Brush off the excess before the garment is submerged for washing.
No soap
Never rub a fresh stain with bar soap which sets many stains.
Check before washing
If you do the laundry for the whole family, they may not have told you about a stain. Teach your family to tell you about stains or mark them with a clothespin. Always check before washing, many stains need pretreatment.
Check again
Stains slip by us all. But it helps to inspect wet laundry before drying. If a stain is still evident, do not dryer dry. The heat of the dryer makes the stain more permanent. Same principle applies to ironing - no heat should be added to stained areas.
This is only a test
Before starting on the stain, test the stain removal agents on a seam or hidden area of the garment to be sure they do not affect the color or finish of the fabric.
A gentle touch
Avoid excessive rubbing unless the fabric is tough and durable. Rubbing can spread the stain and damage the fabric. However, gentle to vigorous rubbing under running water helps remove dried food, blood or oil stains from shirts or jean-weight fabrics made of cotton or cotton blends.
Separate and conquer
Wash heavily stained items separately. Soil and stains can be redeposited on cleaner clothing during laundering if too little detergent is used, water temperature is too low, washing time is too long or the wash is overloaded. Never wash family clothes with pesticide-soiled clothes.
Go for the cold
Avoid using hot water on stains of unknown origin. Hot water can set protein stains like milk, egg or blood.
Except sometimes
Use the water temperature recommended on stain removal products and detergents. Hot water should be between 120 and 140 degrees F, warm water between 85 and 105 degrees F and cold water between 65 and 75 degrees F. Water below 60 degrees is too cold for detergents to be helpful.
Related Articles
·How to Spot Treat Stains in the Laundry
·Soft Drink Stain Removal Removing Soft Drink Stains Soft Drink Stain Remova...
·Soft Drink Stain Removal, Removing Soft Drink Stains, Soft Drink Stain Remo...
·Ink Stains Removing Ink Stains Ink Stain Removal
By Sarah Aguirre, About.com
See More About:
Saving money is always a great idea, but can you save money without cutting any of your cleaning power? These 10 tips will help you do just that.
1. Use Mild Dish Soap Or Plain Water
Photo
Credit: George Doyle/Getty Images
Many areas of your home can be kept clean by using a mild dish soap and plain water. Dish soap can be used as a laundry stain remover, a window cleaner, a surface spray, a carpet stain remover, fruit and veggie wash, and to clean most surfaces in your home.
We often turn to specialty cleaners for each different surface in our home, but dish soap is a great mild alternative that won't damage most surfaces, and manages to remove a lot of dirt and grime.
2. Switch Lightbulbs To Fluorescent
Photo
Credit: Stuart Gregory/Getty Images
As your lightbulbs need to be replaced, switch from normal incandescent bulbs to fluorescent light bulbs. The bulbs will cost a little more in the short run, but they last up to 10 times longer, and use 2/3 less energy to provide the same light. You save money on your energy bill and your household budget by buying bulbs less frequently.
Buying just a few at a time to replace burned out incandescent bulbs is easy to do and will make a big impact over a year.
Doing a little bit of daily maintenance will reduce the need for tougher cleansers to clean your home. Most stains can be removed with water, dish soap, or laundry soap if they are treated quickly. Spills that are wiped up right away rarely need much cleanser at all to be cleaned. Make it a point to clean and maintain your home daily, and you'll find much less of a need for specialty cleaners and expensive solutions.
4. Use a Store Brand
Photo
Credit: Sarah Aguirre
We get stuck on the brands we know and trust a lot, but sometimes there's a store brand of the same cleaner that may work just as well for a fraction of the cost. As an example, the store brand of the household eraser was forty percent less expensive than the name brand, and they are virtually identical. Look for store brands and compare ingredients. More and more store brands clean just as well as more expensive name brands.
5. Buy On Sale and Use Coupons
Photo
Credit: Jack Star, Photo Link/Getty Images
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a coupon person, but a tightened household budget can really benefit from some careful shopping and coupon usage. Manufacturer's websites often have coupons to entice buyers to try their product. Grocery stores and drug store alike print coupons in their sale papers. Look for sales on items you normally use and buy extra if the price is right.
6. Store Cleaning Supplies Properly
Improperly stored cleaning supplies can turn into a mess. Make sure your supplies aren't exposed to extremes in temperature or light. Keeping supplies from spilling and mixing is also a major concern. Cleaning supplies should also be stored away from areas where pets or small children might come into contact with them.
Photo
Credit: James Baigrie/Getty Images
There's a cleaner for everything and if you get them all your cleaning cupboard would be overflowing. The truth is that a lot of cleaners can pull double duty. If you really want to save on your household budget, pick all-purpose and multi-purpose cleaners. Save specialty cleaners for really tough jobs, and only if your others don't work well. You may be surprised by how little you really need to keep your home clean.
8. Choose Reusable Cloths and Mops
Photo
Credit: The Libman Company
Disposable items are handy, but they can quickly eat up a household budget. To save money, pick items that can be reused. Microfiber cloths are a great choice for cleaning, dusting, and scrubbing. Instead of disposable mopping pads, pick a good reusable mop and take care of it. Choosing reusable items can save a lot of money.
Photo
Credit: Steve Wisbauer/Getty Images
There are a lot of ingredients around your home that can be used to make great cleaners at a fraction of the cost. Vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaners. Baking soda is gentle enough to use as a mild abrasive in many areas of your home. Lemons have a natural bleaching ability. Making your own cleaners can be a great way to cut cleaning costs.
10. Control Clutter
Photo
Credit: James Baigrie/Getty Images
Controlling clutter is a major part of keeping a house clean. Removing unwanted and unnecessary items from your home means you have less to clean. The added benefit is that clutter can be turned into extra cash through yard sales. Getting rid of items that aren't need will cut your cleaning time and expenses drastically.
The Ultimate Guide to Conquering Your Clutter
Posted: 19 Nov 2008 05:05 PM CST
“Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” - Lao Tzu
For many years, I was a packrat, clinging to possessions like a safety blanket, like trophies, like you might cling to the past. My life was filled with clutter, from my closets to my living room to my countertops to my desk at work.
That changed about a decade ago, when I realized that I simply had too much stuff.
I was owned by my possessions, and they were no longer making me happy. I wanted to conquer my clutter.
And so I did, one heap at a time. I think I saved the closets for last, because they were way too intimidating. But slowly, I made progress, and simplifying my possessions was (and is) an ongoing project.
Today I’m pretty happy with the way I’ve simplified my home (and workspace). I’m pretty minimalist, and while clutter still does accumulate when I’m not vigilant, I tackle it head on every now and then to keep things fairly clutter-free.
I’m not saying everyone needs to be as minimalist as I am. Take my minimalist workspace, for example — I don’t expect anyone to reduce clutter that much, nor do I think they’d even want to. Everyone has their ideal level of simplicity — what matters most is keeping what’s essential to you, and getting rid of the rest.
And so today I’ll take a look at how you can conquer your clutter, no matter what your goals are or how bad things are now. Note: I’ve written about this topic a number of times before, but I thought I’d gather together the best strategies and tips into one powerful guide, useful both for those who have read previous articles and for those who haven’t.
First: Why Should You Simplify?
What’s the problem with clutter? Well, nothing, if that’s the way you like things. Everyone lives differently, and I’m not saying the decluttered lifestyle is better than the cluttered one.
However, I’ve found some benefits of decluttering from my decade or so of experience with this issue:
Fundamental Simplicity Principles
Before you tackle your clutter, there are four basic steps to decluttering to keep in mind. Let’s take the example of decluttering a single drawer. These are the fundamental steps:
This process is repeated for every drawer, shelf, table top, counter space, floor, closet, or any other area you’re trying to declutter.
10 Ways to Get Started
When you first decide to tackle your clutter, things can be overwhelming. Don’t let that intimidate you! Just get started, and tackle one small thing at a time. Don’t worry about the entire mess — focus on one area. Just that one area. It could be a countertop. It could be a drawer. It could be just a little corner of a room. It doesn’t matter what you choose — just start small.
Here are some different strategies for getting started — choose one and give it a try. If it turns out to be too hard, try another. It doesn’t matter which one you choose — what matters is starting.
The Next Steps
Once you’ve gotten a start, here are some other steps you can take to keep your momentum going:
Keeping It Uncluttered
Once you’ve tackled most of your clutter, you want to keep it fairly uncluttered from here on out. And trust me, clutter will come back if you let it. You have to make decluttering a continuous process — not necessarily every day or week, but something that you regularly revisit. More importantly, create systems and habits that will keep the clutter from overwhelming you once again.
Here are some ideas:
“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” - William Morris
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By the HGTV.ca Editorial Team
http://www.hgtv.ca/articles/articledetails.aspx?ContentId=2258&cat=2&by=1
It takes no less than a small army of helpers and countless hours of preparation (and an ample supply of duct tape and glue) to prepare for family holiday celebrations. From hoisting outside lights and pinning mistletoe overhead, to marathon-like shopping trips and speed-wrapping gifts; it’s a wonder the tasks get done in time! Yet after all the celebrations have finished, the eggnog carton is empty and the reindeers have left – it’s time for some heavy-duty household clean-up! This guide will show you how to pack up, recycle and return the home to its natural splendour.
Wrapping it
up!
If mountains of torn gift wrapping paper have started to collect dust bunnies in
your home – chances are it’s time to tidy up. Here are some ways to help you and
your family plan a strategy to pack up the decor. Starting as early as the week
after New Year’s, hauling down the Christmas tree and dissecting the light cords
can begin!
·
Start the packing process with the ornaments by grouping each into categories
such as: fragile, glass or special collections. Give kids their own box of
non-breakable decorations to wrap for next year. Use acid-free tissue papers to
deter discolouration, and keep all breakables in hard cases (shoeboxes can
easily hold 3-5 medium sized baubles). Label the contents in each box or colour-code
boxes if you have multiple trees to decorate.
Tip: Use egg cartons
to store Christmas tree balls, and keep bubble wrap close by for delicate
pieces.
· Untying tree lights can be a painstaking task. Group coloured lights and single-coloured lights separately, and outside lights together. For packing, if you cannot navigate through the original light packaging, try tying light cords around an empty paper towel roll to keep it tidy.
· Artificial trees can be as prickly as a real spruce! Wear worn leather or close-pored gloves for extra-tough pines. Use yarn or twine to tie down sticky branches and avoid possible scratches while opening the box next year (trees can shift while being moved into storage). Wrap the tree base and place it inside with the tree, making sure all the nuts and bolts are inside. Finally, tape the set-up instructions to the outside of box to avoid mishaps next year.
· For any remaining household odds and ends, create a scavenger hunt where kids seek out remaining pieces like holiday candles, tea cozy’s or serving platters. Kids can pass them to the parents to wrap up as they find the remaining pieces!
· Store all boxes and supplies in a dry area of the house that’s free from any possible water damage (like leaky pipes or hidden drains).
Waste Not,
Want Not
The holidays are as much about giving as they are about receiving, as we reflect
and think consciously about our environment there are many ways to give back to
Mother Nature during this decadent time. Here are some ideas to help you and
your family give back by recycling some of the resources used during the
holidays:
· Watch for local recycling listings to determine what your neighbourhood waste management centre can accept and keep these in a visible location (fridge or home office).
· Most resource centres can accommodate the following items: greeting cards (and envelopes), paper gift bags, wrapping paper and rolls, shopping catalogues, cardboard boxes, paper egg cartons, pop cans and bottles, aluminum trays that have been rinsed thoroughly and wine bottles (some beer or liquor stores can accept these in some provinces).
· Organic food recycling is available in some areas, which can help reduce the amount of waste leftover from entertaining.
· Local tree recycling is usually announced to areas ahead of time, be sure to mark the appropriate dates.
Planning
Ahead
Consider some alternatives for next year’s planning to help reduce overall waste
produced by holiday decorating.
· Purchase generic wrapping paper to wrap gifts as-needed throughout the year (great for crafters and kids). This reduces the amount of holiday-specific ribbons and bows needed too! Or use the comic pages of the newspaper for gift-wrapping (it’s both recyclable and funny!)
· Decorate a potted plant rather than a traditional Christmas tree, the plant can stay in your home throughout the year and this eliminates having to purchase an artificial or real tree altogether. Or if you do purchase a new tree each season make certain to mulch, compost or recycle it through your neighbourhood waste disposal.
· Sift through your greeting cards and pick out the most meaningful ones. Consider making a scrapbook, and besure to recycle the others!
· Consider re-using gift bags for the immediate family to use for gift exchanges year after year.
Being organized and environmentally conscientious for the holidays starts where you left off, just as opening up holiday boxes neatly packed with all the memories of years past can present as much of a surprise as the gifts bring themselves.
I have found the best cleaning for carpets is using hot water. Cleaning a carpet is not different than washing clothes in your clothes washing machine, except the carpet is flat on the floor.
- Dirt requires being softened with hot water, so it releases.
- Grease and oil require appropriate solvent, and Simple Green is excellent.
- Laundry soap or dish soap presents the problem of foam.
- To break foam, Dow Corning has a product called Antifoam 2210 or H-10. These are so potent in reducing foam. Use only two drops! This defoaming product can be used anywhere foam is a problem, including fountains and hot tubs. Follow instructions and warnings.
- Soap must be rinsed out of the carpet! Why? It attracts
dirt!
Cleaning carpet is hard work, but it doesn't have to be expensive. Many of the detergents on the market have a 100x markup, and are no better than hot water, ammonia, vinegar, Simple Green and a splash of fabric softener in the final rinse.
Use five passes with hot water for the initial rinse to soften the dirt, and after the soap pass, use two rinse passes. It's important to inspect the water being removed to see if your carpet is clean. Unfortunately, the rinse water will probably never be totally clean because of the micro dirt, which is carried in the air. The carpet acts as a magnet to airborne dust.
Drying carpet more quickly can occur by using Isopropyl Alcohol in the final rinse. This reduces the surface tension of water and thereby accelerates evaporation. Keep good ventilation. Doors and windows should be open with fans running. You may be surprised at how quickly alcohol reduces the dry time.
I have cleaned my carpet in this way, and without excessive foot traffic, my living room carpet has been good for almost 20 years. I know this is an unusually long life, but it is now ready to be replaced.
P.
How To Remove Coffee From Carpet
Author: Niv Orlian
http://homemakersjournal.com/articles/learn_how_to_remove_coffee_from_.htm
When you crawl out of bed in the morning, a cup of coffee is the only thing that gives you the energy to the face the new day. Unfortunately, while you are still dragging yourself around your home, trying to get ready for work or to run some errands, it is very likely that you will spill that cup of coffee, before you've even had one sip. If you do drop that cup, don't panic. Even if you have a light colored carpet, you can still remove coffee from carpet. Follow the steps below and you will know how to start removing coffee stains from carpet.
For this first step, you will need to get a paper towel or a clean cloth. Once you have them, quick pat the area so that it can start the process of removing the coffee stains . Keep daubing the stain so that the cloth can get maximum absorption. Never rub a stain as it can cause the liquid to be pushed deeper into the carpet fibers.
Do some research and try to find out what stain remover is best when removing coffee stains. The reason for this step is that different carpets are made with different materials. If you have a natural carpet (grass or wool) a stain remover can damage it. If you are unsure about what to do, a professional may be needed to do the job correctly.
Fill a spray bottle with lukewarm water and spray a small amount on the stain. For a different method, you can wet a sponge and use it to pat the coffee stain. Get a bowl and add ¼ teaspoon of a mild solution that won't bleach your fibers. You can also use a shampoo for the carpets.
After you have selected the cleaning solution, you can add it to one liter of water. Make sure that the water is warm. Blend the mixture until it is completely mixed.To remove coffee from carpet, wet a clean, white cloth in the newly mixed solution and then put the cloth directly on the stain.
Using the back of a spoon apply a slight pressure to the cloth and stain. Move the spoon around so that you have covered the entire cloth with the gentle massage. Remove the cloth from your carpet and apply a spray of warm water to the stain. You once again have the option of using a spray bottle or a wet sponge for this step. Pat the area to transfer any left over coffee stains to the sponge.
Remove any excess liquid by daubing the wet spots with a clean rag or heavy duty paper towel. Do not rub the spot. Rubbing can cause more damage as you try to remove coffee from carpet. The last step to follow when removing coffee stains from carpet is to allow the carpet to dry. Using another clean white cloth or paper towel, you will cover the entire area that is wet.
Get a plastic bag and lay that over the cloth. Now you can use a heavy object like a large book or statue so that it can apply pressure to the spot for a few hours. You can even let them sit on the spot overnight. When you remove the objects, you will find that you have effectively removed the stain.
Never let a stain sit for long periods of time. If a stain is not cleaned up immediately, it may be difficult or impossible to remove unless you call in a professional. Although, they are likely to get the job done well a carpet specialist will cost a lot of money. You don't want to have to call them to clean one small area of your carpet when you can easily do it yourself.
About The Author: Find more
info about how to clean carpeting at
http://www.howtocleancarpeting.com and how to remove carpet stains at
http://www.howtocleancarpeting.com/carpet-stains.html
By Sarah Aguirre, About.com
A 15 Minute Cleanup is a brief step-by-step guide to cleaning a room in 15 minutes or less. While the room may not be white glove clean, it will be presentable to guests. 15 Minute Cleanups are a great way to maintain a home in between more thorough cleanings. These cleanups include step-by-step instructions, a list of supplies, tips, and links for more thorough information.
What a 15 Minute Cleanup Isn’t:
A 15 Minute Cleanup is not the only cleaning regimen you’ll need to keep your home in tip top shape. It’s not an intense cleaning, but only a brief pickup of a room. To really keep a home clean, more thorough work will need to be done according to your cleaning schedule. Before intensely cleaning a room, it’s a good idea to start with that room's quick 15 Minute Cleanup.
The Cleanups:
This cleanup can work for formal and informal living areas and sitting areas. It also works for formal dining rooms, and other rooms where entertaining is done. The idea with this cleanup is to get the room ready for guests, or events without spending a lot of time on the details.
The kitchen cleanup aims to remove trash, dirty dishes, and unwanted items from a kitchen, making it ready to be used, or in good shape for guests to be around. While you won’t scrub out the refrigerator, or clean under the sink in this cleanup, you will remove any offending trash and dishes, making your kitchen clean and clutter free.
The bathroom cleanup helps you quickly organize and wipe down bathroom surfaces. This cleanup will work to maintain your weekly bathroom scrub down, or get a bathroom ready in a hurry when unexpected guests show up.
This kid’s room cleanup is great for parents at a loss for where to begin when faced with a disaster area child’s room. It’s also perfect for older readers who can actually follow the list themselves to get their rooms clean. Print it off for them and watch as an all day chore turns into a 15 minute miracle.
Like many people, I usually leave cleaning my own bedroom for last. After a busy day or week, a bedroom can be in terrible shape. This cleanup will help maintain a bedroom or give it a quick pickup just in time for a restful night.
The dorm room cleanup is for those who live in a very small area like an efficiency apartment, or campus housing. These small places can quickly fill up with junk and trash, but this quick cleanup will help organize even the worst-case scenario.
Why A 15 Minute Cleanup Works:
A 15 Minute Cleanup works because it recognizes that there are three types of items we need to clean up in a room. Everything falls into one of three categories...
· Trash
· Things that don't belong in the room.
· Things that belong in the room, in a different place.
Having only a few categories to sort items into makes a pickup run more
smoothly. The 15 Minute Cleanups also work because they are designed to maintain
a room. Having a 15 Minute Cleaning session in a room several times a week will
keep your home looking great between more intense cleanings.
More Intense Cleanups:
If you need a little more intense cleanup, you can try the following. These cleanups will take you between 1-2 hours per room depending on how much cleaning they’ve had lately. When you make your cleaning schedule, you can use the 15 Minute Cleanups and the Intense Cleanups together to create a perfectly clean home.
Messy Car? Here's How to Get it Under Control.
By Monica Resinger
http://homemakersjo
Speaking from experience, I understand how easy it is for your vehicle
to become an out-of-control mess. You use it to go shopping,
traveling, visiting friends and family, pick the kids up from school,
get to work and back and more. All this results in empty soda cans,
shoes and socks, French fries, hamburger wrappers, chip bags,
receipts, loose change and who knows what else rolling around in your
vehicle.
This is not only embarrassing (if someone is allowed to see it) but it
can slow things down when you can't find what you're looking for and
can make you unappreciative or resentful of your vehicle. Wouldn't you
rather have a nice clean car with everything in its place?
It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking it's too hard to keep your
vehicle clean and organized but really, it isn't difficult if you
apply a few `rules of the road`. To get on the `road' to recovery,
begin applying these rules:
~ When you get home or to your destination, be sure everything that
doesn't belong in the vehicle comes out of the vehicle. I know,
you're tired and don't feel like doing it right when you get home, but
you're most likely not going to feel like it tomorrow either so get it
over with now. Tell everyone that what they bring into the car they
bring out of the car the same trip and be sure everyone follows this.
If your kids want to take items with them, have them put the items
into a backpack or tote bag. This will make it easier for them to
bring in the house when you get home. It will take a little effort to
begin with but after a while, it becomes a habit for everyone.
~ If you stop for fast food and eat in the car, be sure to throw the
garbage away in the restaurant's garbage can before leaving the
parking lot. This not only saves your garbage space but also leaves
you one less thing to do when you get home.
~ Always have a garbage bag in the car. You might even want to
include one in front and one in back. Tell everyone the only place
garbage is allowed is in the bags and they are not to set it anywhere
else even if it is only temporary. Good triggers to empty your bag
are when you are getting gas, going shopping or stopped at a rest area
or fast-food place. All of these places provide garbage cans and it's
a great reminder to get rid of it.
~ It's helpful to carry a whiskbroom and pan to clean as you go.
Also, keep some rags and a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner to wipe
things up as they happen. Replace the rags as needed.
~ On road trips, make it a habit at every rest stop to do a quick
clean up of the vehicle. Dump the garbage in the cans provided, wipe
spills or dust, put things in their places and sweep it out.
Now, get your car organized.
The best way to organize your car is to be sure that everything is in
it is needed in the car. So the first step would be to go through what
you have in the vehicle and decide if each item is necessary. It helps
to have 3 containers, boxes or bags to sort the items into. One
container for garbage, one for items you don't want and can give to
charity and one for items that belong in the house. Anything you want
to keep in the car set to the side for the time being.
Once you have sorted through everything, take the garbage container to
the garbage, take the charity bag to the charity and put you household
items in the house.
Now organize what's left - hopefully it isn't too much because cars
don't have much storage space. If you find the glove box or other
containing places in the car aren't roomy enough for what you have
left, then you might want to double check your items and be sure you
really need and want them in the car. If so, you could go to the
store and look in the automotive section for car organizers. There are
a lot of different vehicle organizers on the market. I noticed they
are now carrying an over-the-seat organizer for children's and other
items. The important thing to remember is that whatever you decide to
keep in the car, be sure it has a home.
What should be in the car? First I'll tell you the must-haves. In
the glove box, you should have current insurance card (if you don't
keep it in your billfold), vehicle registration and vehicle
maintenance book. In the trunk you should have a spare tire, jack,
lug wrench, and battery jumper cables.
There are many other helpful things you could store in your car such
as a first aid kit, flashlight, screwdriver, etc. It's up to you what
you decide is helpful when you're using your vehicle. If you keep a
lot of tapes or CD's in the vehicle, consider keeping 4 or 5 at a time
in the car then rotating them from the house.
To summarize, it doesn't take that much effort to keep your vehicle
neat and clean. Establish `rules of the road', what you want in the
car and places for these items and you've got it made!
For more tips for getting organized, check out this e-book:
Guidebook for Getting and Staying Organized:
http://homemakersjo
Cleaning products are certainly necessary to keep your home spotless, but they can also be toxic to your family's health and the environment. Instead of using commercial, chemical-based products, which can add to problems associated with allergies, asthma, sinusitis and bronchitis, look in your cupboards for simple homemade solutions instead.
Baking Soda
This common household product not only keeps things fresh in the fridge and adds
to your baking needs, it also cleans, deodorizes, softens water and scours.
Lemon
As one of the strongest food-acids, this citrus-based fruit is a powerful weapon
against household bacteria, soap scum and hard water deposits. It can also be
used to clean and shine brass and copper, as well as scrub dishes, surfaces and
stains. Mixed with olive oil, it can also serve a as a great hardwood furniture
polish.
Vinegar
Mixed with water, vinegar can naturally cut grease, remove mildew, disinfect and
deodorize. Effective as a cleanser for surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen, it
can also be used as a natural fabric softener.
Cornstarch
This product can effectively clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets
and rugs.
Borax
This sodium borate works wonders as an all-purpose cleaner and can also be used
as laundry soap. In addition, you can turn to borax when you need to clean
wallpaper, painted walls or painted surfaces.
Salt
Everyone has salt in their home, so next time you need to scrub something, mix
it with lime juice and use it for such things as removing rust.
Club Soda
You’ve probably already been instructed to dab a little club soda on your
clothes in order to remove a stain, but you might not know that club soda is
also good for cleaning glass.
Coca Cola
You may think twice about drinking this as a beverage after reading this, but
the popular soft drink is often used by the highway patrol for cleaning blood
off the roads. It is also good for removing rust spots from your car, removing
stains in your toilet bowl, removing grease spots and cleaning road haze from
your windshield.
Clean Your Home in Just Minutes a Day
By Meagan Francis
Find more about cleaning, clutter busters, chores
From the Disney Family Editors: We always think our home is fairly clean, but when company is on their way, we see through a different set of eyes. Do we still think the house is clean? Uh, not so much. Here are simple ways to make sure you always see a clean house -- without the rose-colored glasses.
Confession time: Raise your hand if you spend the last hours before a guest arrives madly dusting, mopping, disinfecting, scrubbing, and dealing with cobwebs in the corner.
Busted! But help is on the way. Follow these steps and the days of trying to cram a month's worth of cleaning into a single afternoon will soon be over.
Invest in Quality Tools
"You may spend a bit more for good quality, but it will cut your cleaning time
and save you a bundle of money down the road," says Mary Findley, author of
"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cleaning" and founder of
Mary Moppins. That $13 wet-sponge mop that you replace 10 times a year or
the dust mop that's falling apart aren't really "bargains" if they don't get the
job done well, she reasons. "Buy quality equipment. It will speed up your
cleaning time and the tools will last you many years."
Don't Let the Dirt Pile Up
"When you start ignoring a surface it's far too easy to continue overlooking
it," says Findley. "A two-second wipe-over when it's not visibly dirty will save
30 minutes of cleaning down the road." If it's an area of the house that doesn't
see much action, like a guest room, you can hit it with a vacuum and dust cloth
monthly; otherwise, clean surfaces at least twice a month.
Keep Clutter Out of the Way
It takes a lot longer to clean a bathroom counter that's covered in bottles of
hair product and scattered makeup, so have each family member put their things
away on a shelf or in a tote when they're done using them. In the morning, as
you're brushing your teeth, attack any remaining clutter. After you're done
brushing, pull the sink stopper and fill the sink with hot water. Place soap
dishes in the water to soak, and shake the bathroom rug outdoors.
As for the kitchen, divide your kitchen into five zones, then wipe down one zone each morning or evening -- maybe while you're waiting for water to boil or toast to pop. By the end of the week, you'll have cleaned every surface in the kitchen without adding any extra time to your day. You can do more intensive cleaning on the weekend. Another timesaver, if you have a divided sink, is to fill the sink with hot, sudsy water before you start dinner, says Findley. As you finish cooking, put your pans in the sink and let them soak while you eat. "They'll get clean in seconds."
Make Use of Phone Time
"The next time you're shopping, pick up a package of men's cotton tube socks,"
says Findley. "Before you dial the phone, slip a sock over one hand and spray it
with furniture cleaner or a bit of water. As you talk, dust your furniture." You
can also tuck a second cloth sprayed with window cleaner into your back pocket.
That way, as you're dusting your cabinets, you can take care of those small
fingerprints on the glass doors at the same time.
Do Double Duty
"Going to the store? Take the garbage out at the same time," suggests Findley.
And never leave a room empty-handed: grab a toy or piece of paper on your way
out and return it to its home. Better yet, keep a basket for just such a
purpose, and fill it with stuff to put away each time you leave the room.
Now, the next time you've got company coming over, you can use the prep time for more important things -- like teaching your preschooler not to burp at the dinner table.
How
To Clean A Mattress - And Keep It Clean
Author: Tori A Hewitt
A significant portion of your life is spent lying on your
mattress, so it is important that you know how to clean a
mattress properly and maintain it. Learn how to clean a
mattress, and get a regular schedule setup to keep your mattress
clean. Cleaning your mattress can't be accomplished as easily as
cleaning your bedding, but it doesn't have to be a huge chore
either.
Protect Your Mattress With Regular Cleaning
A good tip on how to clean a mattress is to keep it well
protected. A mattress pad or cover can help keep the dirt and
debris off your mattress. If you have children or occasionally
bring liquids in to your bedroom, you may want to consider
purchasing a waterproof mattress pad for your bed. A mattress
pad or cover fits into a washing machine a lot better than a
mattress does.
To keep your mattress from uncomfortable sags and soft spots,
you will need to rotate the mattress layout on a regular basis.
A good schedule for mattress rotation is about six months. Your
mattress needs to be reversed with the head and foot positions
switching place, as well as being flipped over so the opposite
side is resting on the bed frame or box spring.
Another tip on how to clean a mattress is to vacuum it. This
can be done on a weekly basis for those who suffer from
allergies or every six months when you do a mattress rotation.
Allergy sufferers will find that regular vacuuming of their
mattress will help reduce allergic reactions, particularly if
they suffer from an allergy to dust mites.
Stain Removal Made Easy
It is best to attempt to remove mattress stains with a dry
method rather than use liquids. Liquid cleaners will soak into
your mattress and produce mold and mildew, which will ruin the
mattress. Upholstery cleaners can be used, but they must be used
delicately and with care. Try to create an abundance of suds and
apply them to the stain using a dry sponge.
Some stubborn stains, such as blood and urine, can be very
difficult to remove even with commercial upholstery cleaners.
Common hydrogen peroxide found in most bathrooms can often aid
in the removal of stubborn stains. Remember to allow the
mattress to fully dry before redressing with your bedding. You
can dry your mattress with a fan blowing directly at the cleaned
area or let it sit upright outside on a warm and sunny day. Just
check for complete dryness before using your mattress again.
A properly maintained mattress can provide you with a wonderful
night of sleep for many years. Find a schedule that works for
you and stick with it. Learn how to clean your mattress and keep
it that way. Remember, a clean mattress is a comfortable
mattress, and a comfortable mattress means a better night's
sleep for you.
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Cleaning House: When Little Messes Become Big Problems
Posted: 12 Aug 2008 05:00 AM PDT
Kris and I drove down to clean Mom’s house last night. Over the past decade, her place has gradually been overtaken by Stuff and clutter. Since Mom is still in the hospital, we figured this was a great time to tackle some of the mess.
After three hours of cleaning clutter and sorting Stuff, there’s no mystery about where I acquired my compulsion to buy. I come by it honestly. But while I’ve managed to kick the habit, Mom is still under its sway.
The gift that keeps on giving
We started cleaning upstairs in the spare bedroom. It was difficult to even get
the door open, and when we did, we didn’t know where to begin. The room was
piled with boxes and bags and bubble wrap.
Mom has a thing for ordering from catalogs like Current, ABC Distributing, and Colorful Images. Over the years, she’s ordered boxes and boxes and boxes of Stuff from these companies to give as birthday and Christmas presents. She’s given most (but not all) of these things away, but, for some reason, she’s kept the boxes.
She’s also kept some of the gifts, misplacing
them beneath stacks of paper and plastic. Kris found one item intended for our
nephew, Michael. Mom wrote herself a sticky note: “Christmas 2002 2004″.
It’s now 2008. Michael will be ten years old this winter, and the gift is no
longer appropriate.
The spare bedroom also contained:
At one point I stopped and sighed as I looked around the room. “This is a great example of why you shouldn’t buy too much in advance,” I said. “This whole thing is a mess.” I’m sure Mom no longer has any idea what is left in the room. She ought to take an inventory.
Best by date
Next we worked on cleaning Mom’s refrigerator and pantry. We sorted the old,
expired food from the good. Little was good. “This soup is from 1997,” Kris
said, discarding a can of
Campbell’s
cream of mushroom. “And this Wheaties box has
Clyde Drexler on it.” We laughed.
We found many similar examples:
Mom apparently buys a lot of food at Costco in bulk packages. She might drink the first two bottles of a Snapple four-pack, but then the last two become spoiled. Or she’ll buy a six-pound bag of pretzels but forget about them.
(”Maybe she likes pretzels,” I said when Kris showed me the bag. But she replied: “No woman living alone should buy a six-pound bag of pretzels.” The bag was from 2001, so I’ll give Kris the point on that one.)
We threw out several hundred dollars in spoiled food, nearly all of it in giant Costco containers or bound as part of a Costco bulk pack. Costco (and other warehouse clubs) can be a great way to save money, but not if the food doesn’t get used. A bargain is not a bargain if it goes to waste.
Little messes become big problems
Eventually we noticed something alarming. My father had actually purchased many
of the items in the freezer and the fridge. My father died in 1995. Obviously it
makes no sense to throw food away just because the person who bought it has
died. But it also makes no sense to keep the food for twelve years past the
expiration date.
“You know,” I said. “Mom probably never meant to save this Stuff so long. I’ll bet it started small. She let a couple little things slide. She kept this jam, for example, or those pickles. Before long, she wasn’t throwing away any of her old food.”
A similar problem became apparent with the cats’ litter boxes. What had started as a single “accident” is now a looming disaster, an accretion of months or years of similar accidents. The stinky mess has ruined not only the linoleum, but perhaps also floorboards underneath. If you let the little things slide, they eventually become big things. In this case, a mess that might have taken a few moments to clean will probably now cost several hundred (or several thousand) dollars to repair.
A small step
Going through all of Mom’s Stuff, and handling her finances recently, I feel
like I’ve been given a peek at a secret life. I’m able to see how she handles
money, what she spends it on. Mostly she’s doing okay, but like all of us, she
has blind spots.
We didn’t finish the job tonight. We managed to get a lot of Stuff out of the house, but Mom’s back porch is littered with trash. Her laundry room reeks of cat urine. We have a shopping list of things to buy for her. Even after we take care of these tasks, the work will continue in the weeks and months ahead.
Best Way To Clean A Bathroom:
How To Clean A Stinky Bathroom
Author: Nikki LeRoi
There's nothing worse than a stinky, smelly bathroom. It's not
only bad on your eyes and nose, but a dirty bathroom is a real
health risk too. Lots of germs and mold can build up, exposing
everyone who enters to an array of bugs and viruses.
The good news is that dirty, smelly bathrooms can be turned
into squeaky clean, even pleasant places to conduct your
personal business. It helps to take on one section of the
bathroom at a time.
You can break it down into: sink, bathroom mirror, shower,
toilet, floor, mats and rugs.
Sink
If your bathroom sink has a counter, the first thing you want
to do is clear off all the clutter on top of the counter. Items
like toothpaste, toothbrushes, facial creams, lotions, shavers,
grooming items, and such can be neatly organized into storage
baskets or bins. Fit as much of these items beneath the sink or
on storage shelves, etc.
Use a gentle cleanser to clean the sink basin and the counter.
Be sure to thoroughly clean the area around the faucet, since
that can get grimy. Dry with paper towels or a soft cloth.
Bathroom Mirror
This is probably the easiest thing in the bathroom to clean.
You want to spray on some mirror cleanser and wipe clean with a
paper towel or soft cloth. Make sure you clean the whole mirror
and not just a portion of it. A clean mirror is less likely to
steam up completely.
Shower
The shower is probably the one area that people hate cleaning
the most, especially if it is full of dirt and grime. However,
this is a necessary chore and if it is kept clean on a regular
basis, it's not such a big deal.
Dirty tiles can be cleaned with a solution of one part white
vinegar and four parts water. You can also use a spray cleanser
that prevents the build up of mold.
Grout can be cleaned with a solution of one part bleach to six
parts water. Use an old toothbrush to do the scrubbing. A grout
cleaner is also just as good.
Toilet
Toilets can be cleaned quickly using a disposable toilet
cleaner that has a plastic handle that you keep for future use.
Of course, you can use the standard toilet cleaning brush with a
commercial bowl cleaner. Try to clean the toilet regularly to
avoid foul odors and stains. You can use prepared cleaning wipes
to clean the top and sides.
Floor
You no longer have to use an old fashioned mop to clean your
bathroom floor. You can use one of the new steam cleaning mops
or a mop with disposable cleaning heads. It's really important
to keep the floor clean of hair and dirt, because germs can be
picked up and carried by the feet.
Mats and Rugs
Bathroom rugs should be washed once or twice a month. Scrub
rubber mats with a good detergent or cleaner and scrub brush.
Rinse thoroughly. Do not let slime build up on them. If you
already have a really slimy mat, you may want to toss it in the
trash and buy a new one.
Lastly, add some life to your newly cleaned bathroom with
framed or laminated pictures, fake flowers, a jar with sea
shells, fancy soaps, etc.
About The Author: Quick information on topics important to your
health, well-being and happiness.
http://www.1MinuteSolutions.com
By Sarah Aguirre, About.com
See More About:
Many people feel that their spouses and/or children don’t help out enough around the house. In addition to a general dislike of household chores, there may be significant factors influencing your family’s decision not to pitch in. If you feel like a lone warrior in a war against dirt and debris in the home, it may be time to look at the reasons your family is failing in the fight.
Reason #1: Their way isn’t the right way.
If you are the type of supervisor who is never satisfied with other peoples’ results, you may be teaching your housecleaning recruits to fail. Make sure your demands are reasonable. Your husband may not want to use the same method to scrub a tub that you do. If the tub gets clean and you did not have to do it, does it really matter? If your family is failing at accomplishing the job, they may not fully understand what you expect. “Clean the bathroom” can be a vague request. Consider posting a list of what cleaning the bathroom really involves. Try the 15 Minute Cleanups for steps to clean any room in the house. Your family will understand what is required and you will be more likely to have a job well done.
Reason #2: They do not know how.
Sometimes we forget that jobs that are easy for us, may be a mystery to the rest of our family. (Especially if they are used to having someone else do all the work.) Just as jobs outside the home have training periods, incorporate teaching chore requirements to your children. Consider a few days of side-by-side cleaning, followed by supervised cleaning. Be sure not to fall into the trap of over criticizing. You will risk a workers revolution. Training your help will alleviate the frustration of them being overwhelmed by what to do. Besides showing them how to accomplish certain chores, also show them how to make chores fun.
Reason #3: It’ll get done eventually. Nothing will happen if they don’t do it.
Consider your family member's motivation to clean. Do they have one? If you have consistently cleaned their messes for them, suddenly asking them to take responsibility may come as a shock. Soften the blow by holding a family council and discussing the responsibilities associated with each family member. This is a great time to bring up consequences for not following the plan. There may be natural consequences. If laundry is not brought to the laundry room every Monday, people will not have clothes to wear. Other families may tie treats, allowances, or TV time to chore completion. It may take them experiencing these consequences a few times to get the idea across.
Reason #4: Everyone is too busy and overscheduled.
If your family is overscheduled and overwhelmed, you are probably feeling the pressure of not enough time in the day. You can look to your family to help pick up the slack, but are they just as busy as you are? Many families today have few minutes left over in the day to tackle ordinary household chores. If your family is trapped in a time crunch it may be time to reevaluate priorities to insure that necessary maintenance for your home is included. Don’t forget to incorporate leisure time inside the home into your schedule. Help your family learn that their efforts at accomplishing chores can remake their home into an oasis from the chaos of the outside world.
Related Articles
·5 Reasons to Observe Family Traditions
·Making Chores Effective for Dads and Kids: Keeping it Going
·Adoption Home Study - International Adoption - Russian Adoption
·Adoption Home Study - International Adoption
Guide since 2004
Sarah Aguirre
Housekeeping Guide
Housework Hints for Quicker
Cleaning
When school starts up again, and the soccer cleats start piling up alongside the laundry and the dishes, sometimes a small tip can make a big difference. To avoid these overwhelming times of chaos and disorder, check out these tips from Momtourage!
Get more great cleaning ideas and make a clean sweep of your housework!
Enjoy!
Allison Busacca
Associate Producer | Pregnancy & Parenting
by Pat Veretto
The ultimate frugal laundry machines
I learned to do laundry in an era when everyone hung clothes outside to dry. Dingy and stained laundry, whether it was white socks, kitchen towels or dad's coveralls, was a sign of a lazy and uncaring housewife. Everything we washed came out sparkling clean, and even though colored clothes faded over
time from an abundance of bleach, they were clean.
We didn't wash our clothes every time we put them on for a few minutes, either. We wore a pair of jeans or a shirt two or three days and sometimes more. (With a family of eight kids, two pairs of jeans each in a week's time were enough, anyway.) Dirty laundry meant dirty, not "not fresh." Mom had a wringer washer by the time I started helping with the laundry, so stains and real dirt were no real problem.
There's something magic in the rhythmic slosh and gurgle of laundry and hot water. That agitator was styled for serious business, not like today's wimpy agitators, with gentle curves rocking back and forth. Oh, no. This was a vigorous and slender tower, with blades stretched taut against top and bottom, slapping and swooshing and forcing water and detergent through sodden fibers until they turned loose of every bit of grime.
As the clothes twisted and writhed in the hot tub, we could lift the lid without disturbing the process and determine if they were clean yet. Nothing shut off; nothing second guessed what we wanted to do. It was plain and simple. Turn it on, put the water and detergent and clothes in, turn it off when we were ready.
Ten to fifteen minutes was enough for most things, but for the really grungy jeans and coveralls, we "let them run" to 30 minutes or more.
And I don't believe the baloney that after ten minutes your clothes are as clean as the detergent will get them. I know better. Unless you're washing in filthy water to begin with (or your detergent is worthless), your clothes will get cleaner and cleaner with each passing minute. (Why else do they have "heavy" (long) and "light" (short) washes on modern machines?)
There are tricks to buying and using a wringer washer, but first let me give you the reasons you should consider one:
* They use less detergent. One measure of detergent will do three or more loads of laundry.
* They use less water. You use the same water for succeeding loads. You do whites, then light coloreds, and then dark coloreds. You can do three full wash loads for the price of one.
* But there's more. The rinse water can be used several times, too. That's a savings of at least 160 gallons of water. How? A 40 gallon tub fills to wash. It refills to rinse. That's 80 gallons of water down the drain. Three full loads of laundry will use up 240 gallons of water. If you use 40 gallons in a wringer washer and another 40 gallons to rinse, you use a total of 80 gallons of water to do three or more loads of laundry.
* Wringer washers get clothes cleaner. All the time I used a occasion that clothes didn't come out clean, I simply rewashed them.
* Since it runs few hours, it will cost less in electricity to operate. (For those of you "off the grid," gas models are available, too.)
* It's faster by a long shot. You can do your laundry in one morning and not have to think about it again the rest of the week. That includes sheets, towels and rugs besides clothing. If you hang clothes outside rather than waiting for a dryer, you can do the week's wash in the morning and go to a meeting (or a picnic or an opera or a baseball game) in the afternoon.
____________________
Pat Veretto is a work at home grandmother who has homesteaded, homeschooled and happily lived frugally most of her life. She currently freelances and is the moderator of The Dollar Stretcher Community at http://community.stretcher.com/forums/.
Laundry is one of those never-ending tasks. These tips won't necessarily make laundry any easier, but they should help you save money on your laundry and on your clothing costs.
Dry washing quick & cheapCut your laundry day in half Save tme, money and electricitywww.spin-x.com
Basement Clothesline
If you have a basement in your home, then you might try this tip for saving
money on clothes drying.
Clothes Banks
If you have a clothes bank in your area, you might be able to save a lot on
clothes.
Clothes Swap
Arranging a clothes swap meet with your neighbors can save you money. Here's
how.
Cut Dryer Sheets Costs In Half
Cut your dryer sheet costs in half with these tips.
Dry With a Clothes Horse
You can save both money and time by using a clothes horse with your laundry.
Here's how.
Frugal Dryer Tips
You can save a lot of money on your electric bill with these simple tips for
your clothes dryer.
Homemade Dryer Sheets
Making your own dryer sheets is easy and can save a lot of money each month.
Install a Clothes Pole Rod
Save money by installing a pole rod in your laundry room for drying your heavier
clothes.
Laundry Stain Remover
Here's a tip for saving money on expensive laundry stain removers.
Make a Clothes Budget for Kids
Teach your kids the value of money by giving them their own clothes budget.
Here's how.
Money Saving Stain Remover
A real "stain expert" shares her tip for removing stains from clothes.
Protect and Store Your Pantyhose
This tip will help you protect and store your panythose.
Save Money Drying Clothes
Here's a tip for saving money when drying your clothes.
Save on Clothing Costs
Shop for your clothes in the off season and save.
Softer Dried Clothes
It's much cheaper to dry your clothes outside, but the clothes can get hard.
Here's a tip to help you save money and have soft, line-dried clothes.
Use a Drying Rack
You can save both on drying costs and wear and tear on clothes with a drying
rack. Here's how.
Vinegar Fabric Softener
Use plain white vinegar to soften your clothes inexpensively.
Whiten Your Whites
Save money on your clothes by getting your old whites white again.
Clothing Tip : Laundry...
http://www.tipztime.com/tips/home/bedroom/laundry.shtml
Clothing Tip : Pantyhose...
http://www.tipztime.com/tips/home/bedroom/pantyhose.shtml
Clothing Tip : Deodorant Stains...
http://www.tipztime.com/tips/home/bedroom/deodorant.shtml
Clothing Tip : Remove Smoke Smell...
http://www.tipztime.com/tips/home/bedroom/smoke.shtml
Clothing Tip : Stains...
http://www.tipztime.com/tips/home/bedroom/stains.shtml
By Coral Nafie, About.com
Filed In:
2. > Bedrooms
3. > All About Bedding
4. > Care for Bed Linens
Photo courtesy of Bed Bath & Beyond
When you go to buy bed linens, you can find lots of different colors, patterns, fabrics, and prices for the pieces you need. And for as many different choices available, there are as many different ways of caring for them. Colors must be protected, fibers must be treated just right.
But you don't need to be puzzled about how to care for each of your choices. You don't need to guess if it's how water or cold, line dry or tumble. Each piece of bed linen you'll buy comes with specific recommendations for cleaning and drying. Follow the directions!
It's a great idea to save the care instructions wrapped with every piece of bed linen. Some of the tags sewn into the hems even tell you how to wash and dry. But it's helpful to tape the instructions on a file card, mark the card with the particular product that it applies to, and keep it near your laundry area. When you're not quite sure how to treat a piece, you'll have the information at hand in the laundry room.
Yet beyond specific instructions are some general, common sense tips for purchasing, cleaning, and caring for sheets, pillow cases, and other bed linens. Did you know that you can remove some wrinkles from sheets by throwing a damp cloth into the dryer? Read more tips on caring for and cleaning bed linens.
Sheets
· Washing
· Wash the linens in cool or lukewarm water that's less than 104 degrees F. No need for hot water.
· Set wash cycle on "gentle." The sheets aren't really dirty.
· Use the extra rinse cycle if available in order to remove any detergent residue.
· Use less detergent than usual. In fact, you need only about one half the amount recommended by the detergent label.
· Avoid using bleach since it breaks down fabric fibers.
· Drying
· Leave the sheets in the dryer just until dry.
· Avoid over drying. You'll just have more wrinkles.
· Remove sheets from the dryer promptly and fold immediately. Hand press to remove excess wrinkles.
· If sheets have cooled in the dryer and wrinkles have set, toss in a dampened cloth and dry for 5-10 minutes longer.
· For a neat-looking bed, iron the top section of you flat sheets. They'll be crisp when you turn them over the top of the blanket.
Pillowcases
· If you find pillow cases that you particularly love, buy a few extra. Pillow cases wear out more quickly than sheets.
· Iron pillowcases for fresh, crisp good looks on your bed.
· Change pillowcases at least twice a week in normal climates, more often in hot and humid regions.
Storage
· It's a great idea to have three sets of sheets per bed. Use one on the bed, one in storage, and one in the laundry.
· Rotate the sheets sets you use (vs. the sets you store) frequently so they wear evenly.
· Change sheets once a week in normal climates, more often in hot and humid regions.
General Tips
· Use a mattress pad between the mattress and bottom sheet. Wash the pad when needed, at least every few months.
· If you love a particularly expensive pattern, buy just the pillow cases and top sheet in the pattern. Buy the bottom sheets in a coordinating, less expensive solid.
· When sheets are used as fabric for pillow covers, shams, bed skirts, tablecloths, or curtain panels, avoid washing them as they will lose body and become limp. Dry clean if necessary.
Learn about caring for pillows, duvets, and towels on the following pages.
Related Articles
·How to Care for Household Linens
·Care Instructions for Bed Linens
·How To Make a Bed Easy Steps to Make a Bed
·BED LINEN INDEX - Before You Buys
From Carissa Houston, for About.com
Follow these 10 simple tips to save energy, cut water use, and minimize detergent waste. By reducing energy consumption when doing laundry you'll help the environment. Bonus: lower utility bills.
1. Ask Yourself: "Does it Need to be Washed?"
Develop a hang-up habit! Keeping clothing off the floor and re-wearing items can save you from doing more laundry than you need to. As you change outfits consider whether clothing is truly dirty; wash clothes if they need it, hang for another use if they don’t.
2. Save Energy by Going Large
Take advantage of your washer's capacity. Hold laundry until you accumulate a full load -- a complete cycle for a small or medium load uses the same amount of energy as the cycle for a large load.
3. Avoid Hand Washing Laundry
If you let the sink or tub run, you may use more water by hand washing delicates than by washing them in the machine. Protect delicates in a mesh bag and machine wash with similar but sturdier items on the gentle cycle.
4. Wash in Cold Water
· 90% of the energy your washing machine uses is to heat the water.
· Grease and oil stains require hot water, but as the hot water wash does the work to dissolve grease and oil, a cold water rinse is fine.
· If you notice a problem with detergent residue try using a product labeled "Cold Water"; these detergents are designed to dissolve quickly in cold water.
5. Use Less Detergent
· More isn't always better. Follow the instructions on your detergent package and measure as indicated for your load size.
· Concentrated detergents waste less water and packaging by condensing cleaning power -- note the smaller dose.
·
