Handy House Cleaning Tips

Coffee Stains

To remove a coffee stain from fabric or a rug, try one of these methods:

Dip a white cloth into a beaten egg yolk and rub the yolk into the stain. Then rinse with clear water.
Work denatured alcohol into the stain, then rinse with water.
Apply a solution of 1/2 teaspoon mild detergent in a pint of water. Blot with a white towel. If the stain remains, apply a 50-50 solution of water and white vinegar and blot.

Removing Smoke Odor

Place a small bowl of vinegar in affected room and this should help  absorb smoke odor.

Refrigerator Odors

A little vanilla poured on a piece of cotton and placed in the refrigerator will eliminate odors.
After cleaning the refrigerator add a dash of lemon extract to the rinse water for a fresh scent.

Glassware

Use the bartender's method for speedy stemware washing. Holding the base, pump the glass vigorously in very hot sudsy water, then quickly put it in hot clear water (cooler water may shatter it) Dry upside down on a cotton towel.

For extra-shiny, streakless glasses, add a little vinegar or borax to the final rinse water.
If glasses have hard-water stains, rub them with a scouring pad dipped in vinegar.

Never use hot water, harsh soaps, ammonia or washing soda on silver or gold-rimmed glasses.

A well-lathered shaving brush cleans deeply etched or hobnailed glass especially well.

If eggs have dried on your patterned glass tableware, rub off the residue with a slice of lemon.

Removing gum

Gum can be removed using ice to harden and when completly hard scrape a dull knife to remove.

Burnt food on pots and pans

Sprinkle pans liberally with baking soda, adding just enough water to moisten. Let stand for several hours. You can generally lift the burnt food right out of the pan.

Coffee and tea stains in cups

Just moisten the cups with lemon juice and rub genlty using a little salt to remove stains.

Spills in your oven

To clean up spills in your oven, sprinkle the spills immediately with salt. When the oven has cooled, brush away the burnt-on food with a damp sponge.

Removing stickers

Children's stickers can be removed from wood by applying white vinegar to the sticker, letting it soak and then scraping off.

Spilled nail polish

Remove spilled nail polish from wood furniture: Don't wipe it up! The solvents in nail polish soften most finishes, and wiping may take off the finish. Instead, let the polish dry completely; then gently scrape it off with a credit card. Wax the surface, using superfine steel wool

Crayon marks on walls

Removing Crayon from walls: use damp sponge and Colgate toothpaste. Rub carefully

Dirt on shirts or blouse collars

Dirty neck rings around shirt or blouse collars can be removed by putting shampoo on them. Rub the shampoo in like you were washing your hair. Shampoo is specifically made to remove body oils. A cheap bottle of shampoo kept by the washing machine is handy for all kinds of stains in clothing. Don't forget this trick when you are travelling.