House Cleaning Tips
Caring for Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors LOOK great, but can be tricky to clean. Here are a few tips to keep your new (or old) floors looking fantastic with as little fuss as possible:
1. Remember - Wood and Water Don't Mix - When you think of washing any other type of floor, the first thing you think of is a good old mop and bucket filled with sudsy water. NOT SO with your wooden floors.
2. Is Your Floor Treated? How your wooden floors are treated will change how you need to wash them. Many newer floors are treated with polyurethane and experts say it's more like you're cleaning THAT than the actual wood itself.
3. Easy Does It - Sweeping Dry sweeping or sweeping with a Swiffer cleaner (or similar cleaning mop) with very lightly moistened cloths will usually do the trick. Always test your floor in an inconspicuous area FIRST before trying any new cleaner to make sure it doesn't react in a strange way.
4. To Wax or Not to Wax Another tricky question! If your floor has never been waxed before, you shouldn't start. It's very difficult to remove. Check with your flooring manufacturer to make sure - but generally nowadays waxing your hardwood floors is a real no no.
Cleaning Kitchen Cabinets
Okay, my fellow cleaners...here is one fairly simple task that will make a huge difference to how your kitchen looks and feels. Don't groan - stick with me here. Cleaning your kitchen cabinets doesn't have to be a horrifying task. And they'll look all shiny and practically like new - making your whole kitchen feel fantastic.
The easiest way to get the grunge and built-up oil grime off the exterior of your kitchen cabinets is to use a good orange oil cleaner. The orange oil (a natural essential oil) helps to really cut through that built up oily mess. I like using a sponge or my favorite - scrubby sponges! (The kind of sponges that are sponge on one side, and a scrubby pad on the other.)
Add a good amount of orange oil cleaner to some lukewarm water in a clean bucket, and get to work. Having a friend (or your kids - a cleaning crew at no extra charge!) help out will make this go a lot faster. Give those cabinets a good scrub, rinsing out your sponge often.
Worst case scenario? If your cabinets STILL look old after you've tried cleaning them, let them totally dry and then paint them! Painting your cabinets is an easy way to refinish them, without having to replace them. :)
Epson Salt Uses
Think that epsom salts are only good for soaking tired, sore muscles? Think again! This amazing stuff has all sorts of neat uses that you'll want to try...
For Cut Flowers - 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salts, plus 1 tablespoon of bleach and 1 1/2 cups of lemon lime soda is apparently a great mixture for keeping fresh cut flowers alive! (I guess they like drinking soda too, huh?) Just remember to trim the stems often.
Cleaning Tiles - Mix Epsom salts and natural dishwashing liquid soap to make a thick paste and use this to scrub at the bathroom or kitchen tiles. It works effectively to get those tiles REALLY good and white. Just rinse well with water when you're done scrubbin'.
Baking Soda Uses
1. Oven Cleaner Sprinkle baking soda on bottom of oven, and spray with just enough water to slightly dampen. Let sit overnight, and then scrub clean.
2. Carpet Freshener Sprinkle over entire carpet area, and then allow to sit for 15-20 minutes. Vaccuum all the baking soda up and the smells will go with it! Great way to replace commercial carpet fresheners.
3. Unclog Drains Pour a cup of baking soda down any drain and follow with a few cups of boiling water to keep drains running well. To unclog a tougher clog, try baking soda, followed by a cup of vinegar - let that sit and then flush out with boiling water.
4. Powder Cleanser Use baking soda instead of powder cleanser to scrub the tub, toilet, etc. Works great! And it's totally safe to use.
5. Scrub Pots Sprinkle into the bottom of pots and let sit and then give a good scrub. Can also make a paste of soda and water if you prefer.
6. Garbage Cans Use in garbage cans to reduce odor. Sprinkle generous amount in bottom before replacing garbage bags.
7. Add to laundry Helps get clothes REALLY clean, and you can reduce the amount of detergent you use. Great for sensitive skin too, or those with allergies.
8. Wash the fridge Use a generous handful of baking soda in a small pail of water and use this to wash out the fridge. Cheaper and more effective than other cleaners, and non-toxic too.
9. Add to dish water Add a small handful to your sinkful of soapy water when doing dishes. It makes both your hands and dishes really clean!
10. Add to dishwasher A generous handful in the dishwasher will get your dishes extra clean.
11. Clean out the dishwasher Run the dishwasher through with baking soda filling both detergent compartments. It will give your dishwasher a thorough cleaning and will help it clean better again.
12. Fabric Softener. I use b aking soda in the rinse water of my "cold water washables". It gets all the soap out real good and softens the clothes. I do not use a fabric softener with them.
13. Scented Carpet Freshener (Submitted by Debbi) I use baking soda when I vacuum my carpets..but I add scent. I make candles as a hobby and have plenty of scent oil around. Anybody can go to the local craft store and purchase candle scent. Mix a couple of drops in with about a cup of baking soda..mix well (sometimes I sift) and sprinkle on carpets and vacuum. It scents the whole house!
14. Puts out Minor Kitchen Fires (Submitted by Carol) Soda kept near a stove is good in case of a pot fire also, throw baking soda on it and it will snuff it out.