Useful Cleaning Procedures Around The House And On The Job

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Pen Ink - apply lukewarm glycerine, blot pressing hard on stain, keep stain moist with glycerine, continue as long as stain is being removed, flush with water, apply mild detergent solution with several drops of ammonia, keep blotting, flush with water
Asphalt Stain - place clean absorbent material under the stain, with absorbent pad apply drycleaning solvent, cover the stain with a pad moistened with solvent, change pads as it removes stain, with absorbent pad apply dry spotter, continue alternating soaking and tamping until stain is removed, An alternate method is to lubricate with lard or mineral oil, flush with dry cleaning solvent, continue alternating lubrication and flushing, allow to dry
Borax removes stains on toilet bowls
Lemons remove greasy fingerprints on windows
Toothpaste cleans silver
Salt can remove red wine stains
White distilled vinegar, diluted in water, is also a good all purpose cleaner
Streaking is often a sign that the window cleaning product is too strong, try adding a little water
To kill mold or fungus, use ¼ cup white vinegar in 1 gallon of cold water
Baking soda with water, makes an all purpose cleaner
Ink Toner Stain - sponge with laundry detergent and launder in cold water.
Super Glue Stain - soak fabric in cool water until glue softens and dissolves, then flush with water.
Shellac Stain - sponge with dry cleaning solvent, lubricate with mineral oil or dry spotter, flush with dry cleaning solvent., flush with alcohol
Scorched Fabrics - with medicine dropper bleach stain with hydrogen peroxide, add a drop or two of
ammonia, let stand for several minutes up to 1 hour, keep area moist with hydrogen peroxide and
ammonia, flush with water
Rust Stain - wet the area of the rust spot, apply hydrofluoric acid, rinse the fabric thoroughly and dry it</li>
Mustard Stain - brush or carefully scrap off excess mustard, with medicine dropper apply detergent and blot, with dropper apply vinegar solution and blot, with dropper apply enzyme product solution and blot, followed by water rinse
Lipstick Stain - with absorbent pad apply paint, oil and grease remover or drycleaning solvent and blot, with medicine dropper apply detergent solution and a few drops of ammonia, blot and flush with water, with dropper apply detergent solution and a few drops of vinegar, flush with water and allow to dry, sponge with alcohol and launder
Grass Stain - with medicine dropper apply amyl acetate and blot, with dropper apply detergent solution or enzyme product, blot and flush with water, with dropper apply ammonia solution, blot and flush with water, with dropper apply vinegar solution, blot and flush with water, sponge with alcohol, blot and flush with water
Tree Sap - dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol, vegetable shortening or petroleum jelly, rub the spots, wipe off with paper towel and wash remaining grease off with soap and water, use turpentine, followed by soap and water if stain still exist
Chlorine Stain - mix 1/4 teaspoon color remover with 1/2 cup cool water, sponge stain, flush with water
Candle Wax - place stain between blotting papers or folded paper towels, iron at low temperature. continue changing papers and ironing until no more wax remains, sponge with dry cleaning solvent
Black Walnut - sponge with water, with medicine dropper apply detergent solution and a few drops of vinegar, Cover with absorbent pad dampened with detergent solution and vinegar,let stand 5 minutes, flush with water, repeat until no more stain is removed
To remove stubborn counter top rings or spots, sprinkle baking soda or make a paste with baking soda and a small
amount of liquid soap
For lightly soiled ovens, make a thick paste with water and baking soda, scrub well with a white nylon
scrubbing pad
Rubbing gently with a wet cleaning pumice bar will remove the toughest spots and
will not scratch the surface
Once a week, put a handful of baking soda down the drain followed by boiling water
Never pour any type of grease down your drains because it can can harden and clog your pipes
To clean mold from surfaces, use a mixture of 1-teaspoon of borax in a quart of hot water in a spray bottle,
wipe with a damp cloth or sponge
To remove soap scum from glass shower doors, rub surfaces with Borax or diluted liquid soap and baking soda, and
scrub with a white nylon scrubbing pad
To remove stains, pour 1/4 cup of borax into toilet bowl and let sit for at least
30 minutes or overnight, scrub bowl well and then flush
Avoid warm or hot water on carpet stains, as these may set the stain
To remove room odors, sprinkle baking soda on the carpet, let stand for a few
minutes then vacuum
To clean most spills and fingerprints on furniture, rub with a soft cloth, lightly moistened with water and a small amount of vegetable based liquid soap, buff immediately with a soft dry cloth,removing any residual water
To clean oily stains on chrome, wipe with a small amount of liquid soap first, followed by diluted white vinegar, polish with dry cloth
Do not wrap silver with rubber bands because they can discolor the silver
A black light bulb will usually show even old urine spots on carpet
You should avoid using steam cleaners to clean urine odors from carpet or upholstery unless using cold water
Ashtrays - Use cat box filler to extinguish cigarettes and absorb the odor
For an old, musty mattress, sprinkle with cat box filler on top and leave for a week.
Baby Bottles - Fill the bottles with warm water and add one teaspoon of baking soda, shake well and let set overnight, wash thoroughly
Cigarette Smoke - For smoke odors in rooms dampen a dish towel with vinegar and wave it around the room for a minute or two, or set small bowls of vinegar around the room
Stale Closets - Use potpourri or cedar chips in mesh bags or cat box filler
Garbage Disposal - Toss citrus rinds down the garbage disposal periodically. or sprinkle baking soda over a few ice cubes and run through the unit
Oven Cleaner - Bake citrus rinds in oven at 350 degrees
Paint - Place a couple of drops of vanilla extract in the can to help eliminate the paint odor
Never pour full strength liquid chlorine bleach into a wash load; it can fade colors and weaken fabrics
Fresh protein stains can be removed by soaking and agitating or rubbing the stain in cold water before washing, if hot water is used first it cooks the protein, causing coagulation between the fibers in the yarns of the fabric, making the stains more difficult to remove
Oil Based Stains - Wash using heavy duty detergent with hot water
Dye Stains - First, pretreat the stain with a heavy duty liquid detergent, then rinse thoroughly, soak the stained garment in a dilute solution of all fabric powdered bleach
Chewing Gum - Apply ice to harden gum, crack or scrape off excess
Skunk Spray - Soak in washing soda solution or detergent and warm water, wash clothing in a heavy duty
detergent with all fabric bleach (if colored fabric) or with liquid chlorine bleach (if white)
Paint Spills - Use spot treatment technique and paint thinner on spots until paint is
softened and can be flushed away in a heavy duty detergent wash
Iodine Stains - Iodine is removed quickly with sodium thiosulfate, which is sold in photo
supply stores as acid fixer
Turning jeans wrong side out before laundering reduces white streaks and fades garments more evenly
Cleaning Coffee and Tea Pots - Remove those coffee and tea stains by washing coffee and tea pots in a solution of 1/4 cup Baking Soda in 1 quart of warm water.
Extinguishing Fires - Throw baking soda at the base of the flames as an initial step in controlling small kitchen or electrical fires
Cleaning Brushes and Combs - Clean natural oil build up and hair product residue from combs and brushes
by soaking them in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water, rinse and allow
to dry
Chlorine Bleach Booster - Add 1/2 cup of baking soda (1/4 cup for front-loading machines) with your usual amount of liquid bleach
Cleaning Batteries - Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, apply with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal, after cleaning and re-connecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion
Wicker Furniture Yellowing Prevention - Stop wicker from yellowing by wiping down with salt water
Window Frost Prevention for Homes and Vehicles - Dissolve one tablespoon salt in 1-gallon hot water and rub on panes with a cloth then wipe dry and your windows will be frost free
Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Pour 1/4 cup of mouth wash into a toilet bowl and leave for 1 hour then flush clean
Shower Stall Cleaners - Apply a thin layer of car wax on a clean shower walls then buff to shine with a cloth, the wax will help to keep soap and mineral deposit from building up
Paint Remover from Hair - Remove paint splatters from hair with olive oil
Oven Spill and Grease Removers - Sprinkle salt on spill immediately and allow the heat from the oven to bake it to ash
Oil Paint Remover - Remove oil paint from hands by rubbing them with oil then washing with soap
Magic Marker Stain Removers - Painted Walls: Use toothpaste or hairspray to remove stains from wall, Carpets and Appliances pour white vinegar on carpet stain then blot with a white towel, Wood rub stain with alcohol
Label Remover and Sticky Residue - Apply vinegar on the label until saturated then simply peel off
Lamp Shade Cleaner - For a long lasting dusting job use a dryer fabric sheet to dust lamp shades and other fabric or intricate decor
Jewelry Cleaner - Clean gold and silver with a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
Humidifier Freshener - Add two tablespoons of lemon juice to water
Hair Dye Stain Remover - Apply hydrogen peroxide onto a cotton ball and rub dye stain on wood cabinets and counters until the stain is removed then rinse with cold water
Grout Cleaner - Clean grout with three parts baking soda and 1 part water creating a paste
Frying Pan and Non-Stick Treatment - Boil 2 cups vinegar in frying pan for 10 minutes, will keep foods from sticking to pan for months
Fiberglass Cleaner - Mix 1 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup ammonia and 1-gallon warm water. Use cleaning solution in 'well ventilated' area and wear gloves when using cleaner
Duct Tape Residue Remover - Remove sticky residue by simply rubbing tape residue with oil then letting it sit for 5-10 minutes and wiping clean
Crayon Marks - Rub slice of cucumber over wall crayon marks then wipe with damp cloth, use lubricant WD-40 to remove stubborn crayon stains from walls by spraying stain and simply wiping with a cloth
Can-Opener Gears - Run a few strips of wax paper through can opener to clean gears or dip brush into white vinegar and brush onto gears then run appliance to clean itself
Bumper Sticker Removers - Remove bumper stickers by spreading mayonnaise on the sticker and letting it sit for at least 30 minutes then gently scraping off with a putty knife or spatula or saturate sticker with distilled vinegar and wait 10-15 minutes then use a spatula to remove sticker then wipe with a vinegar-moistened cloth to remove residue
Remove Flies - Push cloves into an orange and hang it in the kitchen to keep those bugs away

Remove Moths - In a yellow container, mix 1 part molasses with 2 parts vinegar, moths will be attracted and stuck to the mixture, for closets, stuff small cloth pillows with dried lavender or with equal parts of rosemary and mint
Mice - Set out a small bowl of potato flakes near a small container of water, the flakes swell up in the mouse until
he’s had his fill
Mold - Combine 2 teas. tea tree oil and 2 cup water in a spray bottle, shake and spray onto problem areas and do not rinse, or spray straight white vinegar on the area, do not rinse, the smell will dissipate in a few hours, or mix 1/2 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide solution with 1 cup water in a spray bottle, spray on area and do not rinse
Ants - Draw a chalk line around the basement of your home
Vinyl Cleaner - 1/4 cup vinegar 1/4 teas, vegetable oil based liquid soap water, saturate a cloth and apply
Leather Cleaner - 1/4 cup olive oil , a few drops of lemon oil, mix ingredients, saturate a cloth and apply
Furniture Cleaner - 1/8 cup linseed oil, 1/8 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup lemon juice, mix ingredients, using a soft cloth, rub into wood
Furniture Polish - 3/4 cup oil (olive or jojoba), 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice, combine in a glass jar, dab a soft wipe onto wood surface
Plastic Shower Curtain - 2 cups water and laundry detergent, machine launder along with a few towels, remove before spin cycle and air dry
Silverware - Soak over night in a pan with equal parts milk and vinegar, then rinse in soap and hot water and polish dry
Brass and Copper - flour (enough to make a paste), 1/2 teas. salt, 1/2 cup vinegar , mix ingredients to form a paste, rub onto the brass and let sit for 30 min (or longer for heavy tarnish), rinse with water and dry with a cloth dampened with a little vegetable oil
Chrome - 3 teas, baking soda ,water, mix the baking soda and water to make paste, apply with sponge and rinse
Fabric Softener - Add 1-2 cups of vinegar to rinse cycle to deodorize and soften fabrics
Blood Stain - Soak stain in cold water, then rub liquid soap or detergent into it and rinse in cold water, if necessary apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain for no more than 5 minutes and rinse again in cold water, rub liquid soap or detergent on the stain again and wash in warm water
Counter Stain - Apply lemon juice and let sit for 45 minutes
Aluminum Cleaner – Use a soft cloth with a solution of 2 tablespoons cream of tartar and one quart of hot water (can also use hydrogen peroxide for deeper cleaning), this works well for aluminum pans which have discoloration or any rusty drains, pans, or stains
Baby Clothes – Vinegar helps break down uric acid and soapy residue, leaving baby clothes soft and fresh, add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle
Brass Cleaner – Mix equal parts water, salt and vinegar
Brass, Bronze, and Copper Rust/Tarnish Remover – Sprinkle salt on half of a cut lemon, and use the cut end to polish the item, rinse with warm water and polish with a clean cloth
Cutting Board Cleaner - Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards by wiping with full strength vinegar
Fabric Stain Remover – Mix a few teaspoons of cream of tartar with some glycerin and use like spray and wash
Floor Cleaner – To clean no wax floors, add ½ cup vinegar to ½ gallon warm water & mop, no need to rinse
Flea/ Ticks on Pets - Use white distilled vinegar in your pet’s drinking water to help keep the animal free of fleas and ticks , add to one quart of water, 1 teaspoon vinegar for animals 40 lbs , ½ teaspoon vinegar for animals 10 lbs , add ¼ teaspoon vinegar for animals under 10 lbs
Grill Cleaner – 1 cup washing soda with 2 gallons warm water, soak grill overnight, or longer, use old towel, steel wool (very fine grade), or stiff brush, wipe or brush off the residue, rinse with water and dry, optional: coat with olive oil for protection
Microwave Cleaner - mix ¼ cup vinegar and 1 cup water, boil in microwave, the steam will loosen caked on food, making it easier to clean, will also get rid of odors
Porcelain Sink/Tub/Commode Stain Remover - rub the porcelain surfaces with cream of tartar and watch the stains disappear
Rust Remover – Soak metal in vinegar in a large container for 24 hours, wiping off residue every 6-8 hours, then neutralize in baking soda and water, if item is too large to soak spray on vinegar or apply with brush, and let stand a couple of hours, neutralize the acid on the rust with baking soda warm water, rinse, and wipe dry, repeat if necessary, after using vinegar for rust removal, let stand for a few days, the suspended rust particles will settle to the bottom and you can render the clean vinegar for a later use and dispose of the dirty remainder on the bottom, acetic acid in the vinegar keeps working if left on metal, thus needs to be neutralized with baking soda dissolved in warm water to prevent corrosion
Veggie Cleaner – For a non toxic and inexpensive fruit and vegetable cleaner, spray white vinegar (or cider vinegar) thoroughly on produce, and then spray with 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (the same as found at the drugstore), then rinse the produce under running water
Mineral Oil - Polishes furniture, chrome and metal
Oxygen-based Bleach - Active ingredient is sodium per carbonate, which is hydrogen peroxide and soda ash (chlorine bleach is very toxic to all life), this can be used, if needed, to “bleach” decks and wood fences
Lemon: One of the strongest food acids, effective against most household bacteria deodorizes, cleans glass, cuts grease and removes stains, it can also be used to remove tarnish can be used on brass, copper, bronze and aluminum (not to be used on silver)
Hydrogen Peroxide - A mild alternative to chlorine bleach that can be used for stain removal and mild bleaching and killing germs
Cream of Tartar - A common baking ingredient, it is a mild acidic salt that comes from grapes, cream of tartar is an inexpensive and earth friendly alternative to bleach, that can be used as a sink and bathtub stain remover, and to remove spots from aluminum cookware
Car Odor - Place a fresh dryer sheet under each of your car seats to counteract some of the musty odors that can linger in a car
Car Tar Removal - To get tar off of your car apply mayonnaise over affected spaces and leave on for several minutes, use a soft, clean rag to wipe off the residue, this remedy also works to remove pine sap off of the hood of cars
Tree Sap Removal - Rubbing butter or margarine onto sap drippings smeared on your car exterior can help remove the sticky sap, use a soft cloth to apply and wipe over the paint job, and you will find the sap instantly comes off
Remove Grease From Carpet - To get rid of grease spots on your carpet, sprinkle cornstarch on the stain and let stand overnight, follow up with a vacuum in the morning
Home Made Car Wash - A recipe for homemade car wash soap combines one cup liquid dish detergent and 12 tablespoons of powdered laundry detergent added to one large bucket of water
Shine Chrome - To give chrome fixtures a nice shine, add one cup of rubbing alcohol, one cup of water, and one tablespoon of vinegar to a spray bottle, which will create an effective cleaner
Remove Chrome Stains - Remove stains from the chrome trim of kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures by rubbing in a few drops of baby oil using a clean cloth
How to Clean Scratched CDs - Locate the scratch on the CD surface, Apply a small amount of toothpaste, baking soda mixture or brasso, using only one cleanser at a time, gently rub from center to rim only on the scratch itself with the cleanser, rinse off the toothpaste or baking soda mixture, if using brasso, simply wipe clean
Garbage Disposal - Slice the lemons and put the whole slice into the disposal. The juice of the lemon will disinfect and clean the disposal while the rind will release a fresh fruit aroma, it is not harmful to your garbage disposal and will remove any odor causing bacteria.
Laundry Aid - Lemon juice will help brighten whites and colors, add the juice of one lemon to any load along with your normal detergent
Counter Tops - A combination of lemon juice and baking soda will clean your counter tops, slice apart the lemon in half and place the exposed part in baking soda, rub the exposed half over your counter tops; the baking soda will be crude enough to eliminate any residue while the juice will clean and disinfect
Furniture Dullness - An excellent home cleaning remedy for wood is using two parts olive oil to one part lemon juice, take a clean rag and buff the oil mixture into the wood lightly, once you apply the oil, you need to take a new clean cloth and wipe the excess oil off of the wood, it will leave your furniture well hydrated and shine like new, lemon juice gets the dirt out of the furniture while the oil will polish it