Tricks for stain removal, cleaning and fixing around the house

January 29th, 2008 · 1 Comment

OK, how many of these do you know about? I’m posting this for myself, as much as others. I’ve heard of several of these helpful tips, but I never seem to remember them when the situation arises. Most I’ve probably heard from my mom or grandma at some point, if I was actually listening, like I should have been. Thanks Jake for sending these along.

NOTE: I’ve not tried a lot of these out, so test them at your own risk. Do you know of any others?

Opening a sealed envelope: Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. (hmmmmmm…)
Store appliance cords: Use an empty toilet paper roll. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.
For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: Get warm water and put Dawn dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won’t refreeze.

To remove old wax from a glass candle holder: Put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.
Crayon marks on walls? This works wonderfully! Use a damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease, that is!).
Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops: (like store receipt BLUE!) Put rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
Economizing with S.O.S pads: Whenever you purchase a box of S.O.S pads, immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into half. It is more economical. A box of S.O.S pads will last indefinitely! In fact, the scissors get “sharpened” that way!
Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time! (Now, where to put the body?)
Minimize streaks when cleaning windows: Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. Then you can tell which side has the streaks. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don’t wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
Air freshening: Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.
Keep the just washed smell: Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.
Extend the life of candles: Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
Cleaning artificial flowers: Pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!
Remove burnt food from pans: To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan. Bring to a boil on stove top.
Stain free Tupperware: Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces. No stains.
Keep celery longer: Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
Make your corn taste better: When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn’s natural sweetness.
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half, and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
Got leftover wine after a party? Don’t throw out all that leftover wine, freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces… Left over wine? What’s that?
Itchy mosquito bites: To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
Ants, ants, ants everywhere. Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So, get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
Cleaning mirrors: Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
When you get a splinter: Reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.
Clean a toilet: Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer, drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
Clean a vase: To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.
Polish jewelry: Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
Clean a thermos bottle: Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).
Unclog a drain: Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes and then run the hot water.
Burn your fingers? Pour soy sauce over it and the burning sensation will immediately stop (and you have a good chance of not blistering, too.) I don’t know why, but it just works.