Household Cleaning. Everything from Carpets
to Jewelry - get that toilet bowl gleaming.

Subject: Cleaning Coffee and Tea Stains from a Metal Thermos. - I use a denture cleaning tablet and about 1/4 cup of dishwasher cleaner. (powder). Fill about 3/4 full with hot, not boiling water and let stand for an half hour. Then shake the thermos. Let stand overnight and rinse the stains away. Cathy BC Columbia

Subject: Shaving cream. I pasted shaving cream all over a shower/tub that had grime built up, and let sit for a few hours. To my dismay, with a little elbow grease, my tub looks brand new, and the odor bearable. Also, this can be used on oil stains in the garage and on the driveway. -- "Gail A. Devine"

Subject: Getting Pee out of Kids Clothes. My son has a problem about wetting the bed i have found that if you take  your regular washing stuff and add a can of  cheap cola  to your laundry it takes the pee smell out. It also works great on  getting greasy stuff out of clothes just let the clothes soak for about 30 mins for both and when you dry them they will not come out smelling like pee.  ~Sabrina~ Michael Matthews 13 Oct 2003 

Subject: Blood Stains and Stuck on Gum. I've found the best thing for removing blood stains from clothing is liquid Tide. Just place garment in a pail of water with a fairly decent amount of liquid Tide. Let it soak for a couple hours and the blood just disappears.

Also, when my daughter was little she fell asleep in the back seat of my grandma's car and smeared her gum all over the upholstery. It was summer time and very hot. I was sure the seat was ruined. Anyway, I had some mineral spirits on hand and decided to give it a try. I wasn't sure if it would affect the color of the velour, but figured the seat was ruined already. It removed the gum easily and didn't bother the color (maroon) whatsoever. What a relief! -- Renee Charbonneau 23/04/08

Subject: REMOVING GUM Great way to get GUM out , rub it with PEANUT butter! I think it is the OIL in in, and though I have not tried it, I am sure oil would probably do the same thing, except the peanut butter is GOOEY, and the oil runs! -- Kathy Ulmer   5 Sep 2002

Subject: Candle Wax  I recently saw a submission saying there is no way to get out candle wax... Not true... Its easy... Just use a cloth or brown paper bag... And iron over the stain... The candle wax will then transfer to the cloth or bag... Just make sure to keep the iron in motion so as not to catch the bag on fire... In college... A candle melted all over our new carpet... And this trick worked like a dream! -- Amy Gehrt    

Subject: A Couple of Tips My mother taught me that if you use baking soda on a range top instead of harsh abrasives it is so much easier to clean. It also works on bathtubs. Also if your children like to draw on walls like mine, use Zippo lighter fluid on a dry cloth it works like a charm. I love your site it is under my favorites, You have a lot of helpful hints. Sincerely, Shelia Terry --  12/04/07

Subject: Stains on Carpets. I have found that shaving cream will remove most stains. Don't use  too much but it does take a bit of rubbing. Good luck. -- JOHN N.  Feb 7 2006

Subject: Clean your Jewellery  I find that the least expensive and best way to shine up your jewellery is with a Toothbrush and plain toothpaste. It is slightly abrasive, but not enough to do any damage and boy oh boy will you gems sparkle!  Sincerely   Niina      09/07/2005

Subject: Icky Shower curtain  I don't remember where I learned this but it works! To get your shower liners/ curtains clean and looking like new again, wash in your clothes washer with about 1 cup each of vinegar and bleach. Add white towels, normal amount of clothes soap and run. Don't forget to add liquid clothes softener (it helps keep your shower curtain clean). When the load is done, return the curtains to their place in the bathroom to drip dry (the wrinkles will disappear in a day or so). I do this every few months to keep my clear shower curtain just that! -- Danielle Lewis, Boise, ID, 15 Jul 2002

Subject: Scuff Marks on Vinyl, take a rubber sole shoe (tennis shoes)  wipe across the mark and it will come off. No joke, I have tried it, it works great!!! also, I would like to know, what will take those sticky holders off walls with wallpaper and not take the finish off? We have a brand new mobile home and some people used them instead of the Command hooks, which work real well. Thank you, ~~ Carol

Subject: A couple Tips. My mother taught me that if you use baking soda on a range top instead of harsh abrasives it is so much easier to clean. It also works on bathtubs. Also if your children like to draw on walls like mine, use Zippo lighter fluid on a dry cloth it works like a charm. I love your site it is under my favorites, You have a lot of helpful hints. Sincerely -- "Shelia Terry"

Subject: Tub Stains  Use the Gel Type Dishwasher Detergent to remove tub stains. Put it on and allow it to sit for 5 or 10 minutes. It tends to be slippery so rinse very well. -- JEM- "jeanna hawley"  

Shaving cream.  I pasted shaving cream all over a shower/tub that had grime built up, and let sit for a few hours. To my dismay, with a little elbow grease, my tub looks brand new, and the odor bearable. Also, this can be used on oil stains in the garage and on the driveway. --   "Gail A. Devine"

 

Subject: Cleaning Mini Blinds Fill the bathtub with hot water. Add 3 scoops of a product called OxiClean an unbelievable environmentally safe cleaner. Place mini blinds in tub for about 30 minutes. Rinse and dry. Even the cord is clean; and your porcelain tub is sparkling as a bonus! Thanks, -- Eileen Traylor "Eileen Traylor"

Subject: Cleaning Mini Blinds  I knew there had to an easier way to clean mini blinds without having to clean each slat. So i took the blinds outside, it's easier than bending over the tub, back breaking! Rinse off the dust, no matter even if they are smoked up from cooking. Spray them on both sides with Dow bathroom cleaner. Let them set until you see the kunk running down and spray them off and shake the excess water and whalah! You are done and no scrubbing and they come out beautiful. TRY THIS! -- D I Kelly 22 Dec 2002

Shower Curtains: To remove mildew soak shower curtains in water containing 20% chlorine bleach. To remove soap and water marks wipe with vinegar. – Essy Edmunds.

For more tips on cleaning mildew see the stains page

Use vinegar when cleaning windows (glass) -- Vanessa Echols.

I find ammonia pretty useful too for greasy bathroom marks. In fact ammonia is a great grease "cutter" if you can stand the smell. Keep windows open

Ammonia is an excellent cleaner in the bathroom, it used to be easy to buy it but last time I tried I had some difficulty getting hold of some, if any of our readers know of a good way to get it in their country please let us know. -- Ed

Subject: Crayons on the wall I was talking to my neighbor about how my 3-year-old twins decided to draw all over their room - top to bottom, with crayons.  She said that she saw a woman on TV. who used WD-40 and then cleaned it up with soap and water.  So I figured I'd try - it was that or sand down the whole room and paint.  I was AMAZED!!  The crayon came off with minimal elbow grease!!!! and I mean there was A LOT of crayon on the wall - ALL GONE!  My problem afterwards was the greasiness from the WD-40.  Although the woman had suggested soap and water, I used a spray grease cutter and that worked well.  Dishwasher detergent may also work, anything that is  a grease cutter.  -- "MLNeathery"

Subject: Household Hints. For crayon on walls, use WD-40. It removes it immediately, but if you use it on a flat paint it will leave a greasy line that can easily be washed off with soap and water. -- Kelly Jimenez,

Subject: Crayon on Walls  I haven't seen anyone say this one. Take a pad and just damp it and dip a little baking soda and rub and then clean off with clean water and that's  Diane Kelly 22 Dec 2002

Subject: Crayon On Walls.  I have tried both of the other methods you have shown, and neither worked successfully. The only method I found that worked quickly and easily was to use white spirit (mineral Spirits) and an only rag. It works a treat, but be careful on emulsion walls (it works best on vinyl and gloss). --  Ian Matthews  3 Dec 2004

Subject: Removing Crayon Marks. I've had great luck removing crayon marks off just about everything with the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I have not had the same luck with the store brand ones. They seem to disintegrate too fast. I've used it on all sorts of plastics, painted walls, even furniture painted with flat paint. -Risa Jackson -- 23/01/08

Subject: Scratched watches. If your watch has a plastic 'glass' - like Swatches do - and it has become scratched, polish it with Brasso. It might seem to get worse at first but persevere for only a few minutes and it will become completely clear and scratch free. -- Jenny Leman 29 Aug 2002

Toilet bowls come up shiny when cleaned with old, flat Coke or Pepsi.  Leave overnight to dissolve limescale -- Sylvia Burge, London UK

A good replacement for those expensive cleaners for shower stalls/doors that I have found is, believe it or not: WD-40. I never believed it until I tried it, and it certainly makes a shower door sparkle, so give it a try! --"Susan Kelly"

Use vinegar when cleaning windows (glass) -- Vanessa Echols.

Ammonia

I find ammonia pretty useful too for greasy bathroom marks. In fact ammonia is a   great grease "cutter" if you can stand the smell. Keep windows open ~~ Maroof

Ammonia is an excellent cleaner in the bathroom, it used to be easy to buy it but last time I tried I had some difficulty getting hold of some,  if any of our readers know of a good way to get it in their country please let us know. -- Ed

Answer: Cleaning Ammonia Hi Ed, I can buy what they call Cloudy Ammonia here in Oz at any supermarket. Using a bleach with Ammonia is a definite No No, as it gives off toxic fumes and can lead to reparatory problems and death. Let me know if you want more info. on how to purchase from over here. I can find out the companies names on the containers for you. - regards Sumanaju  

Answer:  Ammonia. where to get. Ask your local friendly jeweller. It is used for cleaning jewellery. Cheers from sunny Down Under -- Lilo Stadler

Answer: Ammonia I have purchased ammonia at my local Wal*mart -- lm 27 Jun 2002

Old Newspapers give windows a shine, every bit as good as a chamois leather -- Wendel Quinn, Hong Kong

Silk plants Why pay expensive prices for silk plant cleaners? Just spray them with Dow bathroom cleaner and let them dry. This works just as well as the more expensive alternative --“Toni,  

Marks on Walls: Try using bread to remove marks on walls and surfaces - - Mike Weller

Brass: Clean brass with lemon juice. – Comi Edwardes.

Dry windows with old newspaper -- Nigel Hartley.

Apply mineral oil over your shower doors and tile surface. That delays the mineral build-up in future use. -- Cameo  

Marks inside cups and mugs are caused by the metal cutlery abrading the glazing coating the service. Try an old fashioned remedy from an old fashioned man - toothpaste! (Betcha it works!) -- Alan - English Bob  

The whitening toothpaste usually contains alumina which is an abrasive. I suppose that if it is safe on the teeth it has to be O.K. on cups etc. -- Ed

Subject: Stains  I use peroxide in my laundry. Half of a large bottle(32 oz. size) w/ half box (sm) of baking soda. It removes stains. I also use it straight on stains. It seems to work like the oxy wash that's advertised on TV. It's a lot more friendlier to our environment than bleach and doesn't have the offensive smell. -- Donetta   

Caution: Directly mixing cleaning products can be risky. I suspect in this case the ingredients are relatively harmless but to be on the safe side should be added separately. Chlorine bleach can react with other chemicals to produce poisonous chlorine gas. Davina M.

After working on your car you can clean your hands with a mixture of dishwashing liquid and sugar -- Simon Spicer

Use Olive Oil or other cooking oil to clean hands dirtied by engine oil -- Jean Edmunds.

To Remove Toilet Stains, use a pumice stone and rub hard, It will not scratch and works well- did on my toilet bowl after 20 years of build-up -- James A Boyle  

Toilet bowls come up shiny when cleaned with old, flat Coke or Pepsi. Leave overnight to dissolve lime scale -- Sylvia Burge, London UK

Crayon marks on wall: use a blow drier to heat the crayon so it can easily be wiped off. -- Heather Dickerson