CLEANING TIPS

1. Chrome Fixtures

If not properly maintained, chrome fixtures can become dull and cloudy. After cleaning a bathroom, you want your chrome fixtures to sparkle! For blinding brilliance, make a paste of baking soda and dishwashing liquid. Apply this to your chrome fixtures and rub clean with a cloth. Warm vinegar will also make your bathroom shine. Here's an additional bathroom cleaning tip: To clean stains from your bathroom chrome and tile, use baby oil! Wipe off with a cloth diaper for a lint free shine.

2. Defogging Your Bathroom Mirror

No one wants to waste precious time in the morning defogging a bathroom mirror.Rather than spend time during your hurried morning shower, why not try this bathroom cleaning tip? Make mirror defogging part of your weekly bathroom cleaning ritual. To prevent your mirror from fogging after your shower, clean it once a week it with a solution of dishwashing liquid and water. For a more unconventional method, rub the mirror with shaving cream, and rub it off well with a soft cloth. If your mirror has already fogged, aim a hot air dryer towards it and it will clear in no time.

3. Wood Floor Maintenance

Most wood floors can be kept clean by first sweeping or vacuuming with a floor nozzle to remove most of the surface dust and dirt, then damp mopping with clear water (dip a sponge in clear water, squeezing it out so that the mop is barely damp, almost dry). Use very little water and rinse your mop thoroughly after each use since excess water can dissolve protective coatings, alter the color of the wood and raise the grain to roughen the surface.

If your floors are not dirty enough to need mopping every week, then you should not do it, as it will wear the floors faster, not to mention waste your time. Simply sweeping is often all they need.

If need to restore the shine to your wood floor after you get it clean, try damp mopping it with 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 tablespoons furniture polish in a gallon of warm water. Vinegar is also useful for removing any soap residue or build-up, but should not be necessary every week.

4. Non-Streaky White Cabinets

Try cleaning kitchen cabinets using baking soda and water. Baking soda is a very effective, yet gentle cleaner and it will remove and grease, food, and other materials without scratching the surface. The streaks on your cabinets are likely caused by detergent build-up from regular kitchen cabinet cleaning. If they're thoroughly rinsed, the streaks should disappear. If not, try using a vinegar/water solution, as vinegar very effectively removes streaks and soap residue. You could also try using window cleaner.

5. Bathroom Cleaning Tips

Cleaning properly means getting into all of those corners and crevices where dirt and bacteria can hide. To do this more efficiently, keep an old toothbrush with your bathroom cleaning supplies. This will help you get into hard to reach areas such as behind the faucet. Also great for those hard to reach places is an angled dish brush. This will easily assist you in cleaning bathroom tiles behind the toilet and other tight places.

6. Urine Stain and Odor Removal from Wood Floor

To remove pet urine stains and odors from wood floors, you can use a product such as PAWS Pet Accident Washup Solution. Spray PAWS on the stain and let PAWS sit for a few minutes. Blot the area with a clean absorbent cloth to remove as much moisture as possible. Cover the area with baking soda and let the baking soda sit overnight to absorb any remaining moisture. In the morning, sweep up the baking soda. However, if the urine has deeply penetrated the wood, there will be no choice but to sand it down and refinish. This may be best left to a professional.

7. Cleaning Ceramic Tiles

When floor cleaning ceramic tile floors, use a simple solution of soap and water. The trick is to use a rubber scraper - the kind they use at gas stations to clean the windows on your car.

You can also find specialty cleaning products that whiten grout and tiles to give your bathroom that sparkling shine.

8. Canvas Mold and Mildew Removal

To remove mold and mildew from your canvas tent, or awning, first vacuum or brush soilded areas to remove any excess dirt. Wash the affected area with a solution of 1/2 cup Lysol to a gallon of hot water. Rinse with a solution of 1 cup lemon juice and 1 cup salt to a gallon of hot water. Allow the canvas to air dry in the sun.

You can also try applying a cleaner such as IOSSO Tent & Camping Gear Cleaner. This cleaner is made to remove tough dirt and mildew stains. Afterwards, you may want to treat the canvas with a water-repellent compound such as Canvak.

9. Cast Iron Waffle Iron Cleaning

Here's an important kitchen cleaning tip for those who are thinking of purchasing a waffle iron. The cast iron on a waffle iron needs to be seasoned to make it non-stick. Coat it liberally with oil or lard and bake it in a slow oven. Never ever clean it again with anything resembling soap. Even the soap you would use for washing dishes. Wipe it clean after each use, after it is seasoned nothing should stick. When you make waffles you will add amounts of oil to the recipe which will keep your irons seasoned. Meanwhile, scrape off the mess as best you can without using soap or cleansers. Using salt as a cleanser should help remove any waffle residue without removing the seasoning on the finish.

WINDOW CLEANING:

10. Removing Stickers From Windows

There are many techniques for removing stickers from windows, and everyone you ask will probably have their own favorite way. The best advice is to first try and scrape away as much of the sticker as you can. A razor blade or butter knife can probably help you do this. Once you removed as much of the sticker as possible, you will want to choose one of the many products you can use to remove the rest of the sticker. Goo-Gone is a great product you can buy from a drugstore or grocery store and rub on any sticker remains. The household rubbing alcohol you probably have in your bathroom cabinet should also work. And surprisingly enough, some people swear that a little peanut butter can get stickers off of any surface.

11. Cleaning Window Blinds

Many people find their window blinds extremely difficult to clean but it shouldn't be that hard if you know what you're doing. First of all, how you clean the blinds depends on exactly what kind cleaning you wish to do. For:

Light, routine cleaning: First make sure your blinds are lowered and the slats are closed. Wipe the blinds gently with a damp rag. When you are done with one side, close blinds the other way and wipe the other side.

Deep cleaning: You must remove the blinds from the window and lay them outside on a cloth that can get dirty. Then spray the blinds with an all-purpose cleaner and allow them to sit for a few minutes. Scrub the cleaner into the blinds with a soft-bristled brush in a parallel motion to the slats. Do this on both sides of the blinds and then rinse with a hose. Allow the blinds to dry outside before re-hanging.

12. Frost Free Winter Windows

Do you wake up to frost on the windows? It sort of ruins the view, doesn't it? Here's a window cleaning tip to keep this from happening to you: Mix one part anti freeze, or even rubbing alcohol, with two parts water, and use for washing the windows in the winter. This will keep your windows frost free and allow you to view scenic snow covered buildings or mountains instead.

13. Aluminum Window Frame Cleaning

When we're cleaning our windows, there are areas we don't forget. We like to make sure the glass shines. We'll also clean the sills and the frames. The inside tracks however, are a whole other story. The window cleaning supplies needed to clean aluminum window frames are liquid dishwashing soap, a scouring pad, and a soft toothbrush or cotton swab to clean the inside corners. After the window frames are clean, rub the area with a little mineral oil (food oils can turn rancid) or even baby oil to keep the window moving smoothly.

14. Window Screen Cleaning

Screens are not the most attractive part of window cleaning. They're dusty, they have dirt and debris stuck in their little holes. They can honestly present a window cleaning challenge. They can also be a lot of fun to clean if you use the right window cleaning equipment. Try taking them outside and cleaning them with a garden hose. Saved for a hot day, cleaning the windows can cool you off as well! Hose down both sides and leave in the sun to air dry. Here's an additional window cleaning tip: The hose attachment on a vacuum cleaner will get dirt out of all of the little holes and crevices.

15. Keep Paint Off Windows

Everyone likes to add new color to a room. Unfortunately, if not prepped properly this can mean hours of window cleaning to remove paint. If you'd like to keep paint off your windows, but don't want to shell out the money for painter's tape, you might want to consider this window cleaning tip. If you wet strips of newspaper and paste them around the edges and corners of your window, they'll stick for at least as long as it takes to paint the window. Another wonderful piece of window cleaning equipment is petroleum jelly. Smear the jelly around the corners and edges of the window and paint won't stick at all. Wipe clean with a cloth. Now isn't that much simpler than cleaning windows with a razor blade to remove all of that paint?

16 Lint-Free Mirrors

Cleaning windows to a lint-free shine can present a challenge. Paper towels and dust cloth leave little bits behind. Don't use the wrong window cleaning supplies! To clean your windows with leaving a reminder, try newspaper, coffee filters or a cloth diaper. You'll never go back to paper towels again!

17 Scratch Removal from Glass

Older windows can scratch easily, obstructing our view or causing the window to take on a dull look. For cleaing windows of tiny scratches, try rubbing in a white toothpaste. (Not a gel, please.) Wipe off with a cloth.

18 Cleaning Mini-Blinds

Many ofus pause when coming across mini-blinds at our local home improvement center. Sure they look nice, but the cleaning! It's bad enough to spend a day cleaning windows, but spending hours getting dust and dirt out of micro blinds is not anyone's idea of how to spend weekend. Here's a window cleaning tip to speed up the process: Use the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner. You won't even need to remove the blinds if you don't want. A dryer rubbed along the blinds will also quickly remove dust and alleviate the static so dust won't build up as easily.

19.Paint Removal from Windows

Before you set about painting your window frames, be sure to properly prep the windows with tape or vaseline. If you don't you're creating a window cleaning nightmare. No one wants to scrape paint from glass. If you do get paint on the windows however, try this window cleaning tip: Wet the paint with some soapy water ( a mild dishwashing liquid works fine) or vinegar. Whent he paint is softened, scrape away with a razor blade, being careful not to scratch the glass.

20.Mineral Deposit Removal from Windows

If you were cleaning windows with hard water, you probably have mineral deposits left behind on your windows. To rectify this, try cleaning windows with straight vinegar. It will remove hard water stains and mineral deposits and leave your windows with a shine. Wipe clean with newspaper.

21.Tape Removal from Window Glass

When prepping your windows to paint the frames, be sure to use painter's tape. The wrong type of tape will continute to stick to your window and no amount of window cleaning will remove the residue. Fortunately for you, cleaning windows with WD40 will remove any adhesive residue left behind by maskiing and other tapes. Simply spray on and wipe off.

22.Smoke Film Removal from Blinds

Here's a window cleaning tip for smokers: To remove a smoke film from your blinds, wipe each slat with a sponge dipped in a vinegar water solution. This window cleaning solution will also remove the odors associated with smoking.

23.Cleaning Many Small Window Panes

Many families dread spring cleaning for one reason, window cleaning! Who wants to spend a beautiful day cleaning windows? Those multi paned windows are the worst to, they distrupt the flow and take longer to clean. To make it run a little smoother, you'll need a different type of window cleaning equipment. Try cotton balls! Cotton balls sprayed with window cleaner are great for those hard to clean areas!

24.Cleaning Fabric Blinds

When it's time to do the window cleaning, of course you'll want to handle the window treatments as well. Blinds made of fabric can present a challenge, however. To remove dust and cobwebs from your window treatments consider this window cleaning tip: Use the hose attachment on your vacuum to remove all traces of dust and dirt. If you need to take the shades down for an extra cleaning, always follow the manufacturer's care instructions. In the shades can be washed by hand, you'll only need these window cleaning supplies: mild dishwashing liquid and warm water. Wash the shades in warm soapy water, and hang to dry. Rather than wringing the water out, roll them up in a towel -- squeezing as you go -- to remove excess water before hanging outside to dry.

25.Remove Bleach Streaks from Mirror

Streaks from a bleach based cleaner can cause mirrors to look dull. To clean mirrors to a shine, you only need your basic window cleaning supplies. Spray the mirrors with a window or glass cleaner and wipe away with a squeegee or low lint type cloth such as a diaper.

26.Latex Paint Removal from Screens

Be sure to tape newspaper over window screens before painting their frames. Otherwise you may be left with a messy window cleaning situation. If you do get latex paint on the windw, it's easy enough to remove. Just dip a rag in a paint thinner or remover formulated to thin latex paint. Rubbing Alcohol or nail polish remover might also work. Your window cleaning supplies for this task shouldn't include cotton balls or paper towels however, these can get caught in the holes in the screen, making matters worse.

WALL CLEANING:

27.Cleaning Baseboards

There is no real easy way to clean baseboards that we know. Try using warm soapy water, and for a bit of a time-saver you could use old socks on your hands for your cleaning tool. This way you can use both hands and wipe them down quicker.

28Smoke Film Removal from Wallpaper

To remove a smoke film from vinyl wallpaper, try washing the wallpaper with a solution of 1/2 cup borax, 2 tablespoons soap flakes (like Ivory Flakes), 1 tablespoon ammonia, and one gallon of warm water. Use full strength in a spray bottle or add two cups to a pail of warm water.

Regular wallpaper is not meant to be washed, but you can use the same solution as above, just proceed with caution and do not overwet it.

29Ink Stain Removal from Wall

You can remove ink stains from your wall by using a non-oily liquid hairspray. Spray the area well then wipe with a clean cloth. You may need to use several applications. Remember to always test in a non-visible area first to be sure that this does not harm your wall.

30.Water Stain Removal

Unfortunately, water stains in a ceiling are nearly impossible to remove. The water will have actually altered the ceiling and this is what causes the discoloration. If your ceiling is white, you may be able to bleach it, after the stain is dry. Make a bleach solution with water and bleach, and apply to the stain. You will likely have to paint over the stain, but be sure to seal off the stain first, or it will continue to leach through and keep reappearing. You can buy a sealant at home improvement or paint stores.

31.Dry Erase Marker Stain Removal from Wall

To remove a dry erase marker stain from your wall, you can try using a liquid non-oily hairspray or rubbing alcohol, but dry erase markers can leave permanent stains. Another product you could try is a melamine sponge, but use a melamine sponge carefully since too much pressure can remove the paint.

32.Smoke Odor Removal after Fire

To remove the smoke odor, you will need to give EVERYTHING a thorough cleaning. Walls, curtains, cupboards, ceiling, etc. When washing the curtains, or anything else washable, add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse water to remove odors. Use baking soda as a scrubbing agent on the walls and ceiling, and after everything is clean, place small bowls of vinegar throughout to collect any lingering odors. Also, try to get as much fresh air through the room as possible.

33.Crayon Removal from Wall

To remove crayon marks from walls, sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth then rub gently. The baking soda should be gentle enough for most wall coverings, including paint and wallpaper.

34.Tell Candle Soot Stains Goodbye!

If you have candle soot on your walls, you may want to think about moving your candles. They may be too close to your walls! You may also want to consider purchasing candles made from beeswax to cut down on soot stains.

•To remove soot stains, you should first use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum and go over the soot stains. This will lift any residue that is still on the wall.

•Add soap to water to a quart of water and mix well.

•Dip a soft sponge or cloth into the liquid and work the cleaner into a small section of the soot stain. Be careful that your sponge or cloth is not dripping because it can make the soot stain run down the entire wall.

•Rinse the clean area and dry with a soft cloth.

•If this does not remove the candle soot stains from your wall, you may want to purchase a soot sponge that is specifically made to tackle this tough stain.

35.Marker Stain Removal from Wall

To remove an alcohol-based marker stain, spray the area with non-oily hair spray or rubbing alcohol.

If the marker is oil based, apply a little lighter fluid (using caution, as this is highly flammable).

If the marker is water-based, use dishwashing liquid mixed with color-safe bleach or prewash spray. Spray lightly, rub gently, then dry.

36.Tape Removal from Glossy Painted Doors

To remove the tape from your glossy painted doors, sponge the tape with vegetable oil to loosen the adhesive. Let it stand for several minutes. Using a dull knife, work cautiously and slowly to remove the tape. Continue to apply vegetable oil to any adhesive that remains as you are removing the tape.

37.Wax Removal from Painted Wall or Wallpaper

To remove wax on a painted wall or from wallpaper, wait until the wax gets cold. Pick as much as you can off with your fingers, plastic credit card, etc. Then, heat an iron on low temperature and place a tissue against the wax and gently heat the wax. It will absorb into the tissue. Repeat with numerous tissues until the wax is gone.

38.Minwax Oilbase Stain Removal from Painted Wall

You probably won’t be able to remove the stain without harming the paint underneath. Turpentine would likely remove the stain, but test it in a hidden area first. You may need to repaint the spot, if you do not have any matching paint, you can take a small chip into a paint store and they should be able to make an exact match.

39.Wallpaper Removal

The ease at which the wallpaper comes up depends alot on how it was put on, the kind of wallpaper, and what is underneath it. Get a "paper tiger", it is a small hand tool that puts small cuts and nicks in the paper to let the wallpaper remover penetrate the paper and disolve the paste. To remove wall paper, run over an area with the paper tiger, spray on hot water or adhesive remover, let it sit for a few minutes and then peel and scrape it off. If the wall paper was put directly on bare drywall without painting or sizing underneath, it can be very difficult to remove.

40Cleaning Painted Woodwork

Painted wood should be dusted only, to prevent damaging the paint. If it is absolutely necessary to clean woodwork, wipe it lightly with a damp sponge, being careful not to chip the paint.

41.Office Cubicle Cleaning

To clean an office cubicle, treat it in a similar fashion to upholstery. First, vacuum it regularly to avoid dust and dirt from getting ground in. Try the following in a non-visible area first, to ensure that the fabric is color-fast. Mix 1/4 cup high-suds laundry detergent with one quart of warm water. (If you can, do this in a blender or with a mixer to make the most suds possible.) Apply just the suds with a medium-bristled brush. Work lather in small circles, overlapping as your go. Wring out a towel in clean water and go over the entire surface. Be careful not to get the fabric too wet at any time. When dry, vacuum to remove any remaining residue.

42.Cleaning Wood Walls or Wood Paneling

The way you clean your wood walls or wood paneling depends completely on the type of finish (if any).

If the wood is sealed with a polyurethane, you can wash it down with soap and water and marks or dirt should wash off with no trouble. You should be able to tell if it is finished by checking for a shine or coating.

If the wood is unfinished, you will only be able to dry wipe it or vacuum it. You may want to consider finishing the wood to make future cleanings easier.

43.Ink Stain Removal from Wallpaper

You can remove ink from wallpaper by using either hairspray or lemon juice. Spray the area well then wipe with a clean cloth. You may need to use several applications. Remember to always test in a non-visible area first to be sure that this does not harm your wallpaper.

44.Vinyl Stain Removal from Vinyl Wall

Vinyl on vinyl can be difficult to remove, as the two have likely fused together to form one. I have a few things to try, but I can’t guarantee success, unfortunately. I would start with baking soda, and use it as you would an abrasive cleanser, and scrub. Non-gel toothpaste may also do the trick. If that doesn’t work, try mineral spirits (available at most hardware or department stores), and as a last resort, I would try rubbing the stain with silver polish. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after trying each product.

STAIN REMOVAL FROM CLOTHES

45.Softer Towels

The cause of stiffness in laundry is usually that too much detergent has been left in the clothing. To make your towels softer, use less detergent than normal, and add white vinegar to the first rinse cycle. You may also want to add an extra rinse cyle when washing towels. Line dried towels do not get as fluffy and soft as ones dried in the dryer, but this should help.

Softer Towels

The cause of stiffness in laundry is usually that too much detergent has been left in the clothing. To make your towels softer, use less detergent than normal, and add white vinegar to the first rinse cycle. You may also want to add an extra rinse cyle when washing towels. Line dried towels do not get as fluffy and soft as ones dried in the dryer, but this should help.

46.Refresh Black Clothing

You can refresh your black clothes by adding bluing, or strong coffee, or tea (2 cups) to the rinse water. They should return to their original dark black state. To prevent future fading, wash them in cold water, with Ivory Flakes plus only a small amount of detergent.

47.Get The Ink Out With Style

Ink stain removal can be nearly impossible and many fear their clothes are ruined. Often regular laundry sprays aren’t up to the task and if that’s the case try turning to a different kind of spray to remove that ink.

48.hair spray is a great ink stain removal tool for clothing. Simply spray the hair spray onto the stained area—make sure you’re generous so the spray penetrates the fabric—and let it sit for a few minutes. Throw the clothing item into the wash straight away and the ink should be removed when the washing cycle is done.

For leather garments try applying a liberal dose of petroleum jelly to the ink stain. Leave the jelly sitting on the stain for several days and then wipe the area clean.

49.Whiter White Cotton Socks

Return white socks to sparkling white by boiling them in a saucepan with a few slices of lemon. The lemon is a natural bleach. Dishwasher detergent also whitens socks - just add a little to the regular washload.

50.Restore Whites

You should be able to restore your clothes to white (and not damage the fibres of the fabric) by soaking them them in lukewarm water and color safe or oxygen bleach for 24 hours, then rinse them with vinegar and water. Use one tablespoon of vinegar to one quart of water. After treating them overnight, wash them in hot water with chlorine bleach added. This should refresh them to their original white state. If possible, dry them in the sun.

51.Stink or Shrink?

Bacteria and mildew love a moist warm environment to breed in. Clothes are made of fibers that will trap many microscopic bits of skin and bacteria- no matter how many times you wash them. If your clothes are not being properly or completely dried before you put them away, this can cause mold, mildew and bacteria to flourish in the fibers of your clothing. Mildew is especially hard to get rid of once it finds its way in. Washing in hot water and bleaching may work- unless your clothing is dyed or are of a fabric not recommended for bleaching, such as nylon or spandex- but this at best, would be a temporary fix.

Most fabrics today can handle medium to high heat. Light fabrics and certain synthetics should be dried on low or hung to dry on a hanger. Cotton fabrics are very durable and versatile and can be dried on higher heats. If you are still not comfortable with drying your clothes on a higher heat setting, another possible alternative- if you are able- would be to line dry your clothes! Just make sure they are completely dry before you take them down.

52.Keep Jeans Looking Like New

To prevent a new pair of jeans from fading when washed, soak them in 4 tbsp. of vinegar mixed with 5 quarts of water for about 30 minutes. For added insurance, wash them inside out.

53Deodorant and Perspiration Stain Removal

Yellow underarm shirt stains are likely caused by a combination of deodorant and perspiration. Many deodorants and antiperspirants contain aluminum salts. When these salts are combined with laundry detergent, especially in cooler water settings, they are not easily dissolved, and they remain on the fabric.

To remove the stains, try soaking the shirts in warm water with an enzyme pre-soak product or rubbing the soiled area with white vinegar. Wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric. If the stain remains, dampen and sprinkle stain with meat tenderizer. Let stand for about an hour, and launder again.

To avoid new stains from forming, always wash the shirts in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Also, allow antiperspirant to dry completely before dressing.

54.Removing Rust From Clothing is Easy

The best way to get rust stains out of your clothing is to use a lemon, or table salt and cream of tarter.

Lemon

•To use a lemon, lay your garment on a flat surface on top of a towel.

•Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice onto the rust stain. (If you do not have a lemon, you can use bottled lemon juice, it works just as well.)

•Lay your garment in the sun and allow it to dry.

•Once your garment has dried, look to see if the rust stain has lifted. If it has not, repeat the process. •If the rust stain is removed, launder your garment.

Salt and Cream of Tarter

•To use salt and cream of tarter, simply make a mixture using equal parts of both.

•Lay your garment on a flat surface on top of a towel.

•Spread your cream of tarter and salt mixture onto the rust stain.

•Place your garment in the sun and allow it to dry.

•If the rust stain has lifted, launder the shirt.

•If the rust stain has not lifted, repeat the process.

55.Grease Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove a black grease stain from clothing, try saturating the stain with rubbing alcohol, then blot with a clean white cloth. If the stain persists, try using a grease cutting dish detergent, such as Dawn, and rub with a soft toothbrush. Another option, although it seems crazy, is to soak the soiled area overnight in a solution of detergent, Coca-Cola and water. Launder as usual.

56.Grass Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove grass stains, dab the area with rubbing alcohol or diluted hydrogen peroxide before washing. Or, try putting liquid dishwashing detergent on the stain, let sit for ten minutes then wash.

57.Too Much Starch Can Cause a Shine

You should iron dark clothing and heavy denim inside-out. This will prevent shiny marks at seams and cuffs. If you're ironing with a lot of starch, go without a few times. Let the starch wash out. Likewise, if you take your uniforms to the launderer, ask for no starch a few times. Launderers press your clothes by pulling down a heavy, heated pressing plate. This heat plus a starch build-up may be turning your uniform shiny.

58.Tea and Coffee Stain Removal from Clothing

For a fresh tea or coffee stain, immediately pour boiling water over the stain until it disappears. Or, soak the stain with borax and water, then wash as usual. On old stains, make a paste of borax and water, leave on for 15 minutes, then wash as usual.

59.Cooking Oil Stain Removal from Clothing

The most effective way to remove grease stains from laundry is to treat the stain with a dishwashing detergent that is formulated to remove grease. Rub it into the stain, let sit for a few minutes, then wash as usual. Waterless mechanic’s soap (from an auto-parts store) is also very effective at cutting grease. Grease is very effective at removing grease, so you could also rub Crisco into the stain, then launder.

.60.Shoe Polish Stains

If you have stained your clothing with shoe polish, there is a chance that the stain can be removed. Before you throw away a good clothing item, try this quick and easy remedy.

•Mix two parts of water with one part of rubbing alcohol for colored fabrics.

•Pour straight alcohol into a small bowl for white fabrics.

•Saturate a soft cloth with the liquid and wet the shoe polish stain.

•Rub gently in a circular motion.

•Lay the garment in the sun to dry.

•Repeat as needed.

61.Fresher Looking Whites

You should be able to restore your clothes to white (and not damage the fibres of the fabric) by soaking them them in lukewarm water and color safe or oxygen bleach for 24 hours, then rinse them with vinegar and water. Use one tablespoon of vinegar to one quart of water. Your clothes may be turning gray because you have hard water, and this diminishes the effectiveness of detergents, and often leaves a residue on clothing. If you think this is a case, you may want to add a powdered water softener to your wash, particularly when washing white clothes.

62.Unshrink a Sweater

There is no guaranteed way to unshrink a sweater, but I have a few ideas for you to try. 1) Soak the sweater in hair conditioner and water solution, and pull gently to reshape, lay flat to dry. 2) Dissolve one ounce of borax in a couple of tablespoons of hot water, add the mixture to a gallon of warm water, immerse the garment. Pull the sweater gently into shape, and rinse in a gallon of warm water to which you have added 2 tablespoons of vinegar. 3) Dissolve two cups of non-iodized salt in enough hot water to cover the garment. Let cool, and leave the sweater to soak in it for three hours. Wash it in mild suds, rinse three times, roll the sweater in towels, then reshape and let dry.

63.Remove Gasoline Odor From Clothing

To remove the odor of gasoline from clothing, place the clothing in a large bucket of cold water. Add two cans of coke to the water and a box of baking soda. Allow the clothes to soak for 24 hours. Then, hang the clothes on a clothes line to air dry. Finally, place the dry garment into the washing machine and launder as usual.

64.How To Remove Stickers and the Adhesive

Some adhesives are easy to get off. Say you need to get the label off that empty pickle jar. Scrape through the label a little and smear it with dish soap. Soak in hot, soapy water. The paper comes off, leaving just a little adhesive to scrape off. Easy stuff. Price tags and stickers are harder to remove. Citrus oil to the rescue! It's a powerful dissolver, or solvent if you want to be scientific. Your store's cleaning aisle has citrus-based cleaners as well as goo removers. Follow label directions. Has the sun baked tape or a sticker to the outside of your window? Visit the hardware store. They'll advise you on the right kind of scraper.

65.Softer Flannel

A great alternative to commercial fabric softeners (which work, but tend to leave a build up over time, thus the flannel loses softness after awhile) is vinegar. If you add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washer, it removes any soap residue and naturally softens the fabric. Also, be sure not to use too much detergent, as this makes fabric stiff and hard; and you could add an extra rinse cycle to ensure that all the detergent is removed.

66.Washing White Clothes

When washing white clothes, hot water works the best, since your detergent will dissolve and work the most effectively at this temperature. Water rinses equally well at any temperature, however, so be sure to rinse all your clothes using cold water to save on hot water. If your clothes are not particularly soiled, you could probably get away with using hot water every second or third washing to save on hot water as well. Be sure to always follow the washing directions given on the label of your clothes for best results.

67.Deodorant Build Up Removal

The deodorant/antiperspirant build up, which also causes yellow armpit stains, is likely caused by a combination of deodorant and perspiration. Many deodorants and antiperspirants contain aluminum salts. When these salts are combined with laundry detergent, especially in cooler water settings, they are not easily dissolved, and they remain on the fabric. To remove the stains and build up of antiperspirant, try soaking the shirts in warm water with an enzyme pre-soak product. Wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric. If the stain remains, dampen and sprinkle stain with meat tenderizer. Let stand for about an hour then launder again. To avoid new stains from forming, always wash the shirts in the hottest water safe for the fabric. To prevent these stains, allow your antiperspirant to dry completely before dressing. Wearing a cotton undershirt under polyester shirts will help absorb perspiration.

68.Stain Strategy

When applying stain-removing solutions to fabric, it’s best to work at the stain from the back of the fabric and not the front. This way the stain won’t spread deeper into the fabric.

69.Softening New Sheets

New sheets are usually stiff because of the chemicals and sizing that the manufacturer adds. To remove this, try washing with less detergent than recommended (as detergent will also make clothes stiff), and add 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Vinegar works great at removing detergent and sizing build up. You may also want to add an extra rinse cycle.

70.Mildew Removal from Swimsuit

You should be able to get the mildew stains out of your swimsuit by soaking it in warm soapy water and borax. Or, combine 1/4 teaspoon of color safe bleach and 1/4 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide. With a clean cloth, gently rub the stain until it is gone. Launder the garment, and dry in the sun if possible.

71.Washing Colors Without Bleeding

To set colors in colored items, soak them for an hour in a mix of 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 tablespoon of salt, and 1/2 gallon of water. If the rinse water shows color after an hour, repeat the process. Use this technique only for single-colored items, because multi-colored items may bleed into each other. Multicolored items will likely need to be dry-cleaned.

72.Sneaker Cleaning

The best way to clean white sneakers is with an old toothbrush and some form of a cleanser. Murphy?s Oil Soap, liquid laundry detergent, Comet, etc. are all good choices. Air dry. Most sneakers can be washed in the washing machine, but it will shorten their lifespan, and may cause some of the glue to come loose. If any stains remain after cleaning, they can be covered up with white shoe polish. If you choose to wash your sneakers in a washing machine, remove the laces and wash them on their own or with a couple of old towels. Don’t use bleach. Let your sneakers air dry or machine dry on a "fluff air" cycle, since the heat of the dryer can melt parts of the sneakers. "Air" type sneakers cannot be washed in a machine. For spot removal, you can try some white-colored (but not whitening) non-gel toothpaste and a soft toothbrush, then rinse with water.

73.You Can Remove Tar From Clothing

The most important thing to remember if you get tar on your clothing is to make sure it is not exposed to heat – such as a dryer or iron.

When you get tar on your clothing, freezing the tar is one of the best methods you can use to remove it.

•Place ice cubes into a plastic bag. The amount of ice you place in the bag should match the size of your tar stain. For small stains you can use a sandwich bag. For large stains you can use a freezer bag.

•Lay the stained clothing on a flat surface.

•Place the bag of ice onto the tar stain. This will freeze the tar and make it harden.

•When the tar is completely hard, peel it off of your clothing.

74.Eliminating Static Cling

To eliminate static cling from clothing, stroke the garment with a wire hanger. Do the same for your hair if static in your hair is also a problem.

75.Rust Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove rust from clothes, you can cover the stain with cream of tartar (gathering up the edges of the item to keep the powder on the spot), then dip the spot in hot water. Let stand 5 minutes, then wash as usual. If the item is white, you could also apply lemon juice to the stain, rub with salt, and let it bleach in the sun.

There are also several commercial products available that are designed to remove rust stains, such as Zud or Whink. If the item is white, you could also apply lemon juice to the stain, rub with salt, and let it bleach in the sun.

76.Ketchup Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove a ketchup stain, soak fresh stain in cool water. Wash in warm suds. Rinse. If a greasy residue remains after washing, sponge or soak in dry-cleaning solvent.

77.Mystery Stain Removal from Clothing

For stains of an unknown origin, try following these steps: First, rinse the stain in cold water. Pretreat it with a prewash, then rinse again. Now wash the garment with an all fabric bleach, in water that’s as hot as the manufacturer recommends, adding extra detergent. Let it are dry and if the stain is still there, soak in cold water for 1/2 hour. Sponge it with a cleaning solvent, let it sit for 5 minutes and then rinse again. Repeat all of the above if the stain persists.

78.Stool Stain Removal from Clothing or Diapers

To get the baby stool stains out of your clothing, try using an enzyme pre-soak or liquid, such as Biz or Axion. The enzymes digest the stain in the same way your body digests food. Soak the stain, then wash as usual.

79.Hard Water Stain Removal from Laundry

If your water is leaving marks on your clothes this means that you likely have hard water. The hardness of water causes it to interfere with the effectiveness of detergent and leaves a film on the clothing. To remove this film try soaking the clothes in a mixture of one gallon of water and one cup of vinegar. To prevent this from happening in the future, you can add a water conditioning product along with the detergent, or add a cup of borax. It will soften the water and freshen the wash as well.

80.Bleach Spills on Clothing

Bleach is not a stain, it removes color; therefore there is no stain to remove. However, if you spill bleach on a single-colored article of clothing, you can try using Rit dye to restore the color. It is very effective, and quite easy to use - you can even do the entire process in your washing machine. It comes in a wide range of colors, so you should be able to find a color to match, or you can even mix two or more of the colors. The color is as permanent as any clothing dye, so it will fade, but not any more quickly than other dyes normally do. After you have completed the dying process, you can help to set the color by soaking the items for an hour in a solution of 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 tablespoon of salt and 1/2 gallon of water. If the rinse water shows color after an hour, repeat the procedure.

81.Lip Balm Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove lip balm that has melted onto your clothes in the dryer, place the stained surface down on pad of paper towels, spray with WD-40, let stand a few minutes, turn fabric over and spray the other side. Apply liquid dishwashing detergent and work into the stained area, replacing towelling as it absorbs the stain. Wash in hottest water possible with laundry detergent and bleach (if the item is bleachable) and rinse in warm water. Special Note: If the clothes went through the dryer be sure to clean the drum of your dryer to remove any remaining wax residue by spraying a soft cloth with WD-40 then wiping the drum. Run a load of dry rags through a drying cycle to ensure that your drum is clean.

82.Preventing Fading and Color Bleeding

We all have had that favorite dark colored shirt that fades and ends up with a "frost" of fade on it. Next time you buy dark (or bright) colored clothing, set the color by soaking the garment for an hour in a mix of 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 tablespoon of salt and 1/2 gallon of water. If the rinse water shows color after an hour, repeat the process. Use this technique only for single-colored items, because multi-colored items may bleed into each other. Multicolored items will likely need to be dry-cleaned. The clothing will still fade, but after many more washes. This will also prevent already laundered items from fading even more.

83.Washing Whites

Hot water works the best, since your detergent will dissolve and work the most effectively at this temperature. Water rinses equally well at any temperature, however, so be sure to rinse all your clothes using cold water to save on hot water. If your clothes are not particularly soiled, you could probably get away with using hot water every second or third washing to save on hot water as well. Be sure to always follow the washing directions given on the label of your clothes for best results.

84.Restore Black Color with Coffee

To answer your question, you can refresh your black clothes by adding bluing, or strong coffee, or tea(2 cups) to the rinse water. They should return to their original dark black state. To prevent future fading, wash them in cold water, with Ivory Flakes plus only a small amount of detergent.

85.Scuff Mark Removal from Shoes

How you remove the scuff marks on your shoes depends on the fabric the shoes are made out of. If they are leather, you can remove the scuffs by rubbing the scuff with non-gel toothpaste, rinse, wipe and let dry. If they are vinyl or plastic, you can remove the marks by rubbing them with a pencil eraser and if that doesn’t work, try a non-gel toothpaste and toothbrush or try using lighter fluid. If they are canvas, you can scrub them using upholstery cleaner, cleanser or a non-gel toothpaste. Air dry.

86.Wax Removal from Tablecloth

To get candle wax off your tablecloth, put a plain paper bag over the spot, and press with a warm (not hot) iron. Continue this, using fresh pieces of paper until all the wax is absorbed. If some of the dye has seeped into the fabric of your tablecloth and remains after removing the wax, try laundering with a color-safe bleach.

87.Makeup and Foundation Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove makeup stains, rub shampoo or dish detergent (preferrably a grease cutting formula), or shampoo into the stain. You could also try spraying with hairspray or using a non-oily makeup remover to remove the stain. Then, launder as usual.

88.The Bane of the Red Kool-Aid Stain!

Hey Kool-Aid! Do you have to be such a pain?

For the most part, anything that uses red dye can be a monster to deal with. Stains result when a foreign agent lands on a porous surface- a 'porous surface' being a surface with microscopic holes and pits. When these tiny holes and pits fill up with the red dye, it's a good idea to try and get it back out before it has a chance to settle in for good. The sooner you can get to a stain, the better chance you'll have for getting it out.

When it comes to dealing with Kool-Aid stains, the best thing to NOT do is press or rub on it. If the stain is in a piece of clothing, try soaking it in a stain remover or other remedy. (Some recommend vinegar, others recommend baking soda or a bowl with a couple tablets of denture cleaner.) Then launder as you normally would.

If the stain is in carpet- and you can get to it immediately- remove as much of the Kool-Aid with a shop vac and spray it down with a carpet cleaner. Cover the stain with a clean rag and then place an iron set on low- as not to damage the fibers of your carpet- on top of the rag for 15-20 minutes. (Remember not to press or rub!) The heat will cause the red stain to soak up into the cloth. Repeat this process with as many clean rags as necessary.

This may not get rid of the stain completely but will help to lessen or fade the stain, especially with regular or repeated treatments over a period of time.

89.Act Quick to Remove Shellac From Clothing

If your clothing has been stained with shellac, you have to move fast or it will harden.

•Get a cotton wool rag and moisten it with methylated spirits.

•Dab the stain with the moistened wool.

•Next, go over the area with a soapy cloth.

•If the clothing is washable, toss it in to the washer immediately. If it is not washable, continue to go over the stain with the soapy cloth, rinse with clear water and blot the fabric until it dries.

90.Lipstick Stain Removal from Clothing

You can get rid of lipstick stains by applying some non-gel toothpaste to the mark. Rub the toothpaste well into the garment, then wash as usual.

If this doesn’t work, try using a dry-cleaning solvent. To do this, put the item down on an old towel, apply the solvent and use an edge of the towel to soak up solvent and stain. Launder as usual. If any color remains, try using ammonia and water.

91.Leather Gloves Cleaning

To clean your leather gloves, slip them onto your hands, then wash with cold water and mild soap. Air dry flat. You could also use either saddle soap or Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean up dirty leather.

92.Chocolate Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove chocolate, rub with a borax and warm water solution before laundering (4 tbsp. borax to 2 1/2 cups water).

93.Enamel Paint Stain Removal from Clothing

You should be able to remove the paint stain by rubbing the area with liquid dishwashing detergent, let stand a few minutes, then wash. If the stain is persistent, you can spray the stain with Easy-Off oven cleaner, let set for about 30 minutes, then launder. Test this on a non-visible area first to check for color fastness in your pants. I would recommend washing the pants in cold or warm water, as hot water will cause them to fade and wear faster.

94.Satin Care and Cleaning

Before attempting to wash satin items, check the label for cleaning instructions. Most satin is dry-clean only. Silk satin can be handwashed in ice-cold water with mild soap. Satin made from acetate should be washed in warm water with liquid detergent or mild soap flakes. Dunk the garment in the water until the stain is gone. Rinse twice, then drip-dry. Crepe satin should be washed in warm water with mild liquid detergent using the same method.

95.Brightening White Clothing

You should be able to restore dingy clothes to white (and not damage the fibres of the fabric) by soaking them them in lukewarm water and color safe or oxygen bleach for 24 hours, then rinse them with vinegar and water. Use one tablespoon of vinegar to one quart of water. Your clothes may be turning gray because you have hard water, and this diminishes the effectiveness of detergents, and often leaves a residue on clothing. If you think this is the case, you may want to add a powdered water softener to your wash, particularly when washing white clothes.

96.Salad Dressing Removal from Clothes

To remove salad dressing from your clothes, you can try rubbing the stain with a liquid enzyme detergent, such as Era, then soak in cold water for up to 30 minutes or unitl the stain is removed, rubbing the stain lightly with your fingers periodically during soaking. If the stain persists, try saturating the stain with a laundry presoak and let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse.

97.Baby Wipe Magic

As silly as it sounds, baby wipes are a great way of removing stains and are also great for cleaning in general. They pretty much can remove anything!

98.Smoke Odor from a Fire Removal from Clothing or Drapes

To remove the smoke odor left in clothing from a fire, add 1 cup of washing soda, 1/4 cup ammonia and 1/2 cup of vinegar to the washload. Be sure not to add bleach, as it will react with the ammonia. You can also add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse to remove any lingering odor.

99.Ink Stain Removal from Suede Clothing

The best way to remove ink stains from suede clothing is to take the article to a reputable dry cleaners. It is very risky to try cleaning suede at home, particularly a difficult stain such as ink. If you decide that you would like to try a home fix, you can try hair spray on the stain. Saturate it well, and wipe with a clean white rag. You will likely need to repeat this procedure several times. Armor All may also work. Or, here is one more trick you may want to try: try rubbing the spot lightly with an emery board, then steam over a boiling kettle.

100.Down Filled Items Cleaning

Down filled jackets, coats and comforters are machine washable, as long as the outer shell fabric is, so it is important to check the label first. If the label recommends dry-cleaning, this might be a good idea. If it is okay to wash, be sure to mend any rips and tears first, as the down will push through even the tiniest of holes. Wash in warm water, distributing the bulk around the agitator, and balance the load with bath towels if necessary. To dry your garment, tumble at a low setting with tennis balls or a clean shoe in your dryer to help fluff up the down. Never air dry, as the down will flatten and lump.

101.Mud Stain Removal from Clothing

You can remove mud by first letting it dry thoroughly and brushing off as much as possible. Then you can rub the stain with Murphy’s Oil Soap, leave for 15 minutes, and rinse with cold water. Or, instead of the Murphy’s Oil Soap, you could use a solution of 1 tablespoon borax in a cup of water. If the spot persists, use an enzyme presoak, or soak the item in a gallon of water to which you’ve added a cup of ammonia (or use bleach if the items are white).

Another option to try is to slice a raw potato in half and rub the mud stain. Soak the item in cool water for a while, then launder as usual.

102.Fruit Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove a fruit stain, sprinkle some salt on the garment, and then rinse in cold water. Wash it in warm water with liquid detergent. If the stain persists, try applying a little hydrogen peroxide.

103.Gasoline Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove gasoline from clothing, first place the stained area face down on paper towels. Apply dry-cleaning solvent to the back side of stain, replacing the paper towels frequently. Allow to dry, then rub in liquid detergent or dampen the stained area with water and rub with bar soap or detergent paste. Rinse then launder. If any odor remains, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of you washer, as this should take out any remaining smell.

104.Mayonnaise Stain Removal from Silk

First check your garment’s label to ensure that it is washable. If it is dry-clean only, you will need to have it professionally cleaned. If it is washable, you should be able to remove the mayonnaise stain by rubbing the stain with liquid dishwashing detergent designed to cut grease, or with waterless mechanic’s soap from an auto parts store, then launder as usual.

105.Baby Food Stain Removal from Clothing

If the clothing has already been washed and machine dried, it is possible that baby food stains may never come out, but not definite. Separate the clothes into whites, light colors and dark colors. Try soaking clothes, one color at a time, in a liquid enzyme laundry detergent, such as Era, overnight, applying the detergent directly on each spot and also putting some in the soaking water. Launder as usual, but don’t put the clothes in the dryer until you’re sure the stains are gone.

106.C106.offee / Tea Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove a fresh coffee or tea stain, immediately pour boiling water over the stain until it disappears. Or, soak the stain with borax and water, then wash as usual. On old stains, make a paste of borax and water, leave on for 15 minutes, then wash.

107.Permanent Marker Stain Removal from Clothing

You can try to remove permanent marker stains by rinsing the stains with cold water until the water runs clear. Place the fabric on a paper towel, then saturate the stains with rubbing alcohol, using a cotton ball as a blotter. Change paper towels as necessary as it absorbs the color. Wash the garment in the hottest water possible for the fabric, adding bleach (color-safe for colored fabrics), then rinse in warm water. Unfortunately, permanent marker is called permanent for a reason and cannot always be removed.

108.Whiten Yellowed Silk

First, check the label on your fabric to ensure that it is washable. If it is, you should by able to remove the yellow stains by soaking the article in warm water with a few denture tablets overnight, then launder as usual. Or, combine a tablespoon each of white vinegar, salt, and water softener with one pint of water, dip area up and down in solution, rinse well and launder. Or, rub white non-gel toothpaste into the spot and wash in cold water. If the fabric is unwashable, you will need to have it dry-cleaned.

109.Detergent Stains on Clothing

To remove undiluted detergent or fabric softener stains, try rubbing them with a bar of soap, and washing again, or soaking them in undiluted white vinegar until the spots disappear, at least 15 minutes but no more than 30. (Vinegar is excellent at dissolving soap residue). Launder as usual, and don’t worry, any vinegar smell will wash right out. If this doesn’t work, you could try wetting the stains, and rubbing them with a liquid dish detergent designed to remove grease. To prevent this from happening in the future, try adding the detergent as the machine is filling, and do not add the clothes until after the machine is filled and starts to agitate.

110.Soften Stiff Clothing

If your clothes feel stiff after washing, usually this means that too much detergent is left in the clothing. To prevent this from happening, try using less detergent, adding a commercial rinse agent or 1 cup of white vinegar to the first rinse, or add an extra rinse cycle.

111.Latex Paint Removal from Clothing

Rubbing alcohol dissolves latex paint. Just wipe it away. For dried latex paint, let it soak in alcohol a little, or rub with an alcohol-soaked Q-Tip, then wipe the paint away.

In the laundry, wet the spot with alcohol, lift the paint spot manually or put it in the washer when it has dissolved.

112School Jackets with Vinyl Sleeves

You should be able to wash the jacket in the washing machine (check the labels to make sure). I would recommend turning it inside out first, and using cold water. I would not recommend drying it in the dryer however, as the heat may cause the vinyl to melt. If your dryer has an "Air Dry" or "Fluff" setting, this should be OK, since these settings don’t use heat, but I would suggest hanging it to dry, just to be on the safe side.

113.White Rubber Soles on Shoes

To get your white rubber soles, white again, I would recommend using white-wall cleaner (designed for tires). Follow the package directions for cleaning tires. You could also try ice skate cleaner that you can purchase from a sporting goods shop.

114.Get Rid Of Mothball Odor On Your Clothing

To remove mothball odor from clothing that has been store, you should first hang them outside in the fresh air for at least two days. After two days, place the clothing into the washing machine and add one or two cups of white vinegar (depending on how large a load of clothes you have) to the soapy water. Lastly, hang the clothes outside to air dry and do not place them into a clothes dryer until you are certain the mothball smell has been removed.

115.Egg Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove an egg stain, cover the area with salt and let sit an hour before washing.

116.Mustard Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove mustard stains, first rinse in cold water. Then you can either wash the item in cold water while rubbing with laundry bar soap or rub a liquid enzyme detergent into the stain and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Soak 12 hours in soapy water. If necessary, you can try a bleach solution on white garments. Glycerin applied to the stains and allowed to sit for about an hour may remove stubborn mustard stains.

117.Oil Based Paint Removal from Clothing

To remove oil based paint from clothing, mineral spirits should remove the paint from most fabrics. Rub the stain with a clean white cloth dipped in mineral spirits until the paint is removed. Launder as usual. Do not use mineral spirits on delicate fabrics such as rayon or acetate.

118.Perfume Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove a perfume stain, sponge or soak the stain in cool water. If stain remains, soak 15 minutes in a solution of 1 quart lukewarm water, 1/2 teaspoon liquid dish detergent and 1 tablespoon white vinegar. Launder as usual.

119.Fast Drying Canvas Shoes

You should be able to dry your shoes in the dryer, but I would recommend stuffing them with tissue paper, or something similar, to keep their shape. You might want to try sticking tea towels or old rags inside them. If you can control the heat level on your dryer, set it to low, so as not to overheat the rubber on your shoes.

120.Spot Cleaning Leather Shoes

You can spot clean your leather shoes by carefully rubbing the soiled area with an artist’s eraser. A stain on leather that won’t brush or wipe off should be taken to a leather cleaner as quickly as possible. Though you can try cleaning it yourself with a leather-cleaning product, you may end up doing more harm than good. You can protect leather articles by spraying them with a silicone spray that you can purchase at most shoe stores.

121.Rayon Tie Cleaning

To clean a rayon tie, use Woolite and cold water. Pre-treat any stains by saturating them with full-strength Woolite and brush lightly with an old soft toothbrush. Add approximately 2 teaspoons of Woolite to 1 quart of cold water and stir. Depending upon the severity of the stain, soak the tie in the Woolite solution for anywhere from 3-30 minutes. Rinse the tie thoroughly with warm water. Roll the tie into a flat square and squeeze the excess water out carefully. Roll the tie back out and hang it to dry. Blot any remaining water from the tie with a clean white cloth. Shape the tie back into its proper shape and continue to shape, if necessary, while the tie is drying. Let the tie dry completely, preferably overnight. When the tie is thoroghly dry, iron it on a warm setting, trying not to iron it too flat. These directions are only for washing rayon, crepe and satin ties. Do not use this cleaning procedure on silk ties.

122.Grape Juice Stain Removal from Clothing

Remove grape juice stains by mixing equal parts vinegar, water and dishwashing soap in a squeeze bottle. Shake, and work it into the spot. Let stand for a few minutes and flush with water.

123.Dies0el Fuel Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove diesel fuel from clothing, first, place the stained areas facedown on paper towels. Apply dry-cleaning solvent to the back side of stain, replacing the paper towels frequently. Allow to dry, then rub in liquid detergent or dampen stain area with water and rub with bar soap or detergent paste. Rinse and launder. If any odor remains, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of you washer, as this should take out any remaining smell.

124.Baby Formula Stain Removal

To remove baby formula, try an enzyme presoak (such as Biz or Axion). The enzymes actually digest the stain. You can also try putting unseasoned meat tenderizer on the area before you wash it.

Unfortunately, for items that have been in storage, the stains may have been there for some time and this may not work. You could also try a color-safe bleach to remove the stains.

125.Glue Removal from Clothing

To remove glue from clothing wet a cotton swab with lighter fluid and rub it lightly over the glue until it is loosened and comes off. Be sure to try this on a non-visible area first to ensure the color fastness of your garment.

126.Cayenne Pepper Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove your cayenne pepper stain, it is very important to use cold water, as heat will set the stain. You should be able to remove the stain by soaking the item in cold water with one cup of dishwasher detergent (powder for your machine) dissolved in it. Allow to soak for a few hours, then launder as usual, rinsing in cold water with 1/2 cup of white vinegar added.

R127.ed Clay Stain Removal from Clothing

You can remove red clay by first letting it dry thoroughly and brushing off as much as possible. Then you can rub the stain with Murphy’s Oil Soap, leave for 15 minutes, and rinse with cold water. Or, instead of the Murphy’s Oil Soap, you could use a solution of 1 tablespoon borax in a cup of water. If the spot persists, use an enzyme presoak, or soak the item in a gallon of water to which you’ve added a cup of ammonia (or use bleach if the items are white).

128.Nail Polish Stain Removal from Suede

To remove nail polish from suede, try either dry cleaner fluid or nail polish remover. Be sure to try the product on a non-visible area first, to make sure that it does not cause the color to run in the fabric. Try to use the most mild nail polish remover possible. Work from the outside of the stain toward the center so as not to spread the stain. Let the treated area dry, then buff with a soft cloth to restore the nap.

I129.tchy Sweater Cure

To get your sweater wearable, first you will need to figure out what is making it itchy. Likely, it is a wool sweater, and if this is the case, there is not much you can do, except maybe wear a T-shirt underneath. If the sweater is machine washable, you can try adding a powdered water softener to the wash. If you need to hand wash it, try washing it with a protein hair shampoo. If the scratchiness is caused from detergent residue, try adding white vinegar (1/2 cup) to the rinse cycle.

130.Blood Stain Removal from Leather Shoes

You can spot clean leather by carefully rubbing the soiled area with an artist’s eraser. A stain on leather that won’t brush or wipe off should be taken to a leather cleaner as quickly as possible. Though you can try cleaning it yourself with a leather-cleaning product, you may end up doing more harm than good. You can protect both leather and suede articles by spraying them with a silicone spray that you can purchase at most shoe stores. If you are willing to take a chance, risking irreparable damage to the shoes, you can try to remove the blood stains with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution or by covering the stains with a paste made of either salt or meat tenderizer and cold water. Let sit for 30 minutes, then sponge with cool water.

131.Silk Stain Removal

To spot treat oil stains from silk items, sprinkle cornstarch or baby powder containing cornstarch on item, let sit a few minutes then shake off excess and brush with a soft brush or cloth.

To spot treat water stains on silk, use color-safe bleach or a mix of one part hydrogen peroxide and eight parts water. After treating the stain, hand wash using a protein hair shampoo and don’t twist or pull. Handle the silk gently and hang it to dry.

132.Crayon Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove crayon stains from clothing, first you need to scrape the stain with a butter knife to ensure that as much crayon is removed as possible. Then, if you scrub it with a non-gel toothpaste it should remove the stain. Wash as usual after the treatment. You could also try soaking it with a purchased pre-treatment solution before washing if the toothpaste doesn’t do the trick.

133.Weight Lifting Gloves Care and Cleaning

You can wash your gloves with cold water and a mild soap, then air dry them while they are laying flat. Saddle soap or Murphy’s Oil Soap are also very effective at cleaning leather, and can be used to remain any stains or odors. To keep your gloves soft and pliable, and prevent cracking, you can use a leather conditioner such as Lexol.

134.Shoe Polish Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove shoe polish from clothing, try applying a waterless mechanic’s soap (available at auto supply stores). Rub into the stain, let sit, and launder as usual. If any stain remains, try scrubbing with a liquid dish detergent designed to cut grease.

135.Desitin Ointment / Zinc Oxide Stain Removal from Clothing

You should be able to remove Desitin ointment (zinc oxide diaper rash ointment) from clothing by first scraping off as much of the ointment as possible with a dull knife. Then, pour some baking powder on the spot, give it time to absorb the grease, then brush off. Saturate the stain with liquid laundry detergent or a laundry stain remover. Wash as usual.

136.Dye Stain Removal from Clothing

You should be able to remove the dye stain by either using a commercial color remover, such as Rit Color remover - which is sold wherever you purchase Rit fabric dye, or by using a color safe bleach. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions on the package of either product. Treat the stain as soon as possible, and do not place the stained article into the dryer until after the stain is removed, as the heat from the dryer will make the stain more difficult to remove.

137.Silk Tie Stain Removal

You can remove food stains on your silk ties by first gently wiping off as much residue as possible with a soft cloth. You can then treat the spot with either a commercial product called Energine or with dry-cleaning solvent. If a ring forms around the area where the stain was, you can remove it by holding the tie over steam from a kettle until it disappears.

138.White Canvas Sneakers Care and Cleaning

The best way to clean white sneakers is with an old toothbrush and some form of a cleanser. Murphy’s Oil Soap, liquid laundry detergent, Comet, etc. are all good choices. Air dry. Most sneakers can be washed in the washing machine, but it will shorten their lifespan, and may cause some of the glue to come loose. If any stains remain after cleaning, they can be covered up with white shoe polish.

139.Moth Removal

Unfortunately, the only truly effective ways to kill moths once they have already moved in is using moth balls or crystals. However, there are a few other things you can do to get rid of them. If your closet is carpeted, remove the carpet, as moths love to breed in dark areas, such as closet carpets. Remove all affected clothes from the closet, and take any salvagable clothing to be dry-cleaned, alerting the staff about your moth problem, so that they can remove any larvae. Thoroughly clean out your closet, as even mothballs won’t kill moth eggs on your clothing. Moths are more attracted to dirty clothing, so ensure that everything is clean before you store it in your closet. You will need to either have your closet professionally exterminated or use commercial moth killing products to remove them. Once you have eliminated them, you can use cedar, lavender or dried orange peel to deter them from returning. Don’t allow these products to come in direct contact with your clothing, as the oils may damage the fibers over time.

140.Gasoline Stain Removal from Shoes

To remove gasoline from your shoes, first place the stained areas facedown on paper towels. Apply dry-cleaning solvent to the back side of stain, replacing the paper towels frequently. Allow to dry, then rub in liquid detergent or dampen stain area with water and rub with bar soap or detergent paste. Rinse and launder (if washable). If any odor remains, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of you washer, as this should take out any remaining smell. Air dry, stuffed with paper towels or newspaper to help the shoes retain their shape.

141.Color Bleeding Stain Removal

To remove stains caused from dyes leeching from one article of clothing to another, you can purchase a product that is designed specifically for this purpose. It is called Rit Dye Fabric Treatment - Powder Color Remover and is available everywhere that you can buy fabric dyes. Soak in the color remover, then launder as usual.

142.Tomato Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove a tomato stain, try using an enzyme pre-soak spray. An enzyme pre-soak product is a stain remover that contains an enzyme which digest the stain in the same way that your body digests food. Two commercial brand names of this type of product are Biz and Axion, although others are also available. When purchasing one, make sure it says enzyme on the label, and follow the directions.

143.Cranberry Juice Stain Removal from Clothing

To remove cranberry juice, apply a mixture of dishwashing liquid and vinegar, let sit, then wash as normal.

144.Leather and Suede Stain Removal

You can spot clean leather or suede by carefully rubbing the soiled area with an artist’s eraser. A stain on leather that won’t brush or wipe off should be taken to a leather cleaner as quickly as possible. Though you can try cleaning it yourself with a leather-cleaning product, you may end up doing more harm than good. You can protect both leather and suede articles by spraying them with a silicone spray that you can purchase at most shoe stores.

145.Pilling

The only truly effective way to remove pills from a garment is to shave it. I would recommend using the cheapest disposable razor you can find and simply shave the entire garment. It is time-consuming, but effective. Depending on the size of the article, you may need more than one razor to do a good job. You can also try using a pumice stone, or a commercial product called a Sweater Stone that is made specifically for this purpose.

146.Rayon Cleaning

Rayon garments generally need to be either dry-cleaned or washed by hand. If you chose to hand wash, use lukewarm water and gentle detergent. If the item is labeled "Machine Washable" use warm water, the gentle cycle, and a gentle detergent. Drip dry. Iron rayon on the medium setting while the fabric is damp.

147.Blueberry Stain Removal from Clothing or Tablecloth

This solution to removing your blueberry stains sounds crazy, but it does work. Stretch the stained areas over a bowl or a sink, then pour boiling water from a height of several feet above the cloth through the stain. Or, you can try using a commercial enzyme stain remover, or mix equal parts vinegar, water, and liquid dishwashing soap in a squeeze bottle, shake, and work into the spots. Let stand a few minutes, then launder.

148.Baseball Clay Removal from Clothing

You can remove baseball clay by first letting it dry thoroughly and brushing off as much as possible. Then you can rub the stain with Murphy’s Oil Soap, leave for 15 minutes, and rinse with cold water. Or, instead of the Murphy’s Oil Soap, you could use a solution of 1 tablespoon borax in a cup of water. If the spot persists, use an enzyme presoak, or soak the item in a gallon of water to which you’ve added a cup of ammonia (or use bleach if the items are white).

148.Washing Soda

Washing soda used to be used for washing clothes in the old days. It is a form of bicarbonate of soda. It is most commonly found in a blue box by Arm and Hammer. You can buy it at any grocery store in the detergent section next to the boxes of water softener.

149.Wedding Dress Cleaning

Wedding dress manufacturer’s recommend that wedding dresses be dry cleaned. You may be able to clean it yourself, but you would likely lose some of the lustre. It’s worth the extra money to have the dress professionally cleaned and have wonderful memories for years to come. Also, the cost of cleaning is much cheaper than replacing a ruined dress. Check at

local bridal shops in your area to see if they can recommend a cleaner who specializes in bridal gowns. However, if you are willing to take a chance you can gently wash your dress in Woolite in the bathtub then let it air dry. Stuff it with acid-free tissue paper and store it in a 100% cotton garment bag or wrapped in 100% cotton sheets that have been rinsed with distilled water. If you choose to store it in an acid-free cardboard box, you'll need to change the box every three to five years since cardboard is absorbent and even acid-free boxes can re-acidify over time. Store it in a cool, dry place (so no hot attics or damp basements).

150.Leather Shoe Insoles Cleaning

You can clean leather shoe insoles by scrubbing them with a nail brush or similar small brush and either a commercial leather cleaner that you can purchase at a shoe repair shop or saddle soap. Murphy’s Oil Soap also works well. Allow them to dry in the sun, and do not wear them until they are thoroughly dry.

151.Spaghetti or Tomato Sauce Stain Removal from Clothing

Unfortunately, heat sets in spaghetti stains, so if you have put them in the dryer they are going to be difficult to get out. Although it is tempting to wash them in hot water, cold will work better. The only other stain treatment that you haven’t already tried would be dry cleaning solvent. You could also try placing the stained item in the sink with cold water dripping on the stain. Leave overnight, with the drips falling directly on the stain. This should loosen the stain.

152.Silk Care and Cleaning

Before washing silk, be sure to check the label for manufacturer’s recommendations. Many silks are machine washable in cold water. Be sure to check for colorfastness before washing, to prevent fading. If it is not colorfast, you will need to have it dry cleaned. If the label says to hand wash, use a protein hair shampoo and don’t twist or pull. Handle the silk gently and hang it to dry. To spot treat stains, use color-safe bleach or a mix of one part hydrogen peroxide and eight parts water.

153.Rubber Cement Removal from Clothing

To remove rubber cement, you can use mineral spirits, laquer thinner, or a product called Goo Gone - or similar products such as Goof Off. Any of the above should remove the rubber cement for you without harming the fabric or the dye of your clothing.

154.Milk Stain Removal from Clothing

You can remove a milk stain by soaking the stained article in cold water. Launder in hot water using chlorine bleach, if safe for the fabric. If a grease stain remains, sponge with dry cleaning fluid then rinse.

155.0Tree Sap Removal from Clothing

To get tree sap off clothing try Goof Off (or a product similar to that), or WD40. Spray the product on the stain, rub in, then launder as usual. For a homemade treatment, try using mayonnaise in a similar fashion.

156.Mustard Stain Removal from Silk

To remove a mustard stain from a silk garment, if the garment is washable silk, first rinse in cold water. Then gently rub a protein hair shampoo or a liquid enzyme detergent, such as Era, into the stain and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Soak 12 hours in soapy water. Rinse well. Don’t twist or pull. Handle the silk gently and hang it to dry. If the silk is not washable, have the garment dry cleaned.

157.Suede Clothing Care and Cleaning

To clean suede clothing, if ordinary brushing doesn’t do the trick, try rubbing the spot lightly with an an artist’s eraser or an emery board, then steam over a boiling kettle. A stain on suede that won’t brush or wipe off should be treated by a professional suede cleaner as quickly as possible. Though you can try cleaning it yourself with a suede-cleaning product, you

may end up doing more harm than good. You can protect suede by spraying it with a silicone spray that you can purchase at most shoe stores.

158.Red Wine Stain Removal from Clothing

There are a few things you can try to remove red wine from clothing. If the stains are fresh, you can saturate them with club soda, then wash. Or, you can apply a mixture of dishwashing liquid and vinegar. This is safe on all washable fabrics. Or, if your fabric is shrinkproof, place it in a pot containing enough milk to cover the stain, bring to a boil, remove from heat, and let sit until the stain has disappeared.

159.Wood Pitch Removal from Clothing

To remove wood pitch, use mineral spirits (paint thinner). It’s safe to use on most everything, but you should test it to make sure it won’t leave a mark. The easiest way is to put some paint thinner in a spray bottle and spray it on the pants. It should soften up the pitch and allow you to wash it out.(You might need to retreat the area until the pitch thins enough to remove.)

Before you put the clothes in your washing machine, wash out the thinner with plenty of soap and water. It’s greasy, but it will wash out. Once all the thinner is gone, you can wash it in your machine like you normally do.

160.Baseball Cap Cleaning

To clean a baseball cap, you can purchase a commercial product designed specifically for this purpose. It is a basket shaped to hold the cap and you wash it in the dishwasher. Or, you can scrub the cap with hair shampoo using a small brush to remove stains. If the cap is dirty all over, you can wash them in a washing machine. Spray any dirty areas with a prewash spray, wash in cold water, and hang over a large jar or similar object to dry to allow them to retain their shape.

161.Buckskin and Deerskin Care

To clean buckskin or deerskin garments, wash them with a damp cloth and mild dishwashing soap, using gentle strokes. Rinse thoroughly, air dry away from heat or direct sunlight. If you need more abrasion, scrub the garment with damp sand or salt, very fine sandpaper or commercial buckskin cleaner. Never twist or wring the article.

162.Feather Trim Cleaning

To clean feather trim, you will not be able to get the feathers wet, as this will damage them. First, I would recommend checking the label, and it likely recommends dry clean only. You should be able to spot clean the rest of the shirt by hand being careful not to get the feathers wet. You could also try the at-home dry cleaning products now available, although they are usually best only for freshening rather than actually cleaning. Or, if you are handy with a needle and thread, you could try removing the feathers, washing the shirt and reattaching the feathers, although this would be a lot more work than taking it to the dry cleaners.

163.Whitening Rubber Shoe Soles

To get your white rubber soles white again, try using white-wall cleaner (designed for tires). Follow the package directions for cleaning tires. You could also try ice skate cleaner that you can purchase from a sporting goods shop.

I164.ron On Patch Removal

You should be able to remove an iron on patch by reheating the patch with an iron to warm and loosen the glue. Working from the edges, slowly peel off the patch. You will likely need to re-heat the patch a few times. If any glue residue remains after you get the patch off, you can try rubbing the area with lighter fluid.

165.Liquid or Powder Laundry Detergent?

The type of laundry detergent you use is a fairly personal choice. Most detergents are very effective, and most of us end up using what is on sale, or what we are used to. The only things to consider are whether or not you have hard water, or if you

are regularly laundering particularly dirty clothing, or if any one in your family suffers from allergies due to fragrances and perfumes. Finding the detergent that works best for you is usually a case of trial and error of the products that are in your price range. Detergents that are highly inexpensive are usually of a lesser quality, however, and you may not end up saving any money by purchasing them, as you will need to use more with each load.

166.Scorch Marks Removal from Clothing

Scorch marks are rarely fixable. Try rinsing the item in cold water. Work detergent into stain. Rinse. Bleach might remove the stain, but assuming the fabric is not white, would likely ruin your clothes. You may also want to try cleaning the stain with dry-cleaning solvent or sponging the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Unfortunately, this stain may be impossible to remove. If the fabric is delicate, such as rayon or acetate and the iron was set too high, you may have melted the fibers, in which case it can not be fixed.

167.Fur Cleaning

To freshen up your real fur items, rub in cornmeal, then brush it out to remove grime. Unless you wear it daily, you should not have your fur cleaned more than once every two years. The process can be very damaging on the fur.

168.Faux Fur Cleaning

To clean faux fur, first check the label, but you should be able to hand wash and lay flat to dry. Most faux fur is hand washable, but it depends on the lining used, and it might be dry clean only. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Your faux fur items can usually be cleaned simply by brushing and shaking to fluff up like new. Drying in the dryer, as the heat would likely alter the fur’s size and shape. Unlike real fur, no special care is needed. Most can be dry-cleaned, but be sure to check the label. If it has particularly long pile, it may need to be cleaned by a furrier.

169.Wax Removal from Clothing

To remove wax from your clothing, first chip off as much of the surface wax as possible, using a butterknife or credit card. Then, place several layers of paper towel over remaining wax, and apply a warm iron to draw wax into the paper towels. Replace the paper towels if they become saturated. You could also try using an acetone-based nail polish remover, or a spot dry-cleaning solution with acetone, but remember to always test in an inconspicuos spot first. Do not use acetone on delicate fabrics such as rayon and acetate.

170.Pancake Syrup Removal from Bottom of Shoes

To remove pancake syrup from the bottom of your shoes, treat it with a mix of 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent with 1 cup lukewarm water. Rinse thoroughly, then follow up with 1 tablespoon of ammonia in 1/2 cup of water.

171.Sticker Adhesive Removal from Clothing

To remove adhesive residue from clothing, first rub an ice cube on the adhesive to freeze it, then use a dull knife to scrape away any excess adhesive. Next, apply vegetable oil to the adhesive until the adhesive begins to loosen. Use a dull knife again to scrape away any excess adhesive. Rinse well with a grease cutting detergent (such as dish detergent) and cold water. Continue to apply vegetable oil and rinsing with detergent and water until you’ve removed as much adhesive as possible.

Apply a laundry pre-soak, then launder as usual, but do not dry until all the adhesive and stains are gone, as heat sets stains. If any adhesive remains, place the clothing face down on an absorbent cloth and apply dry-cleaning fluid to the back of the stain/adhesive. Let the stain dry, then rinse thoroughly and launder as usual.

A commercial adhesive remover such as Goo Gone or Goof Off would also do the job.

172.Suede Shoes Care and Cleaning

Suede is a very difficult material to clean. New suede shoes can be treated with a protective suede spray. Never use water to clean suede. To restore its nap, rub suede with a bath towel, nail brush or suede brush. Dry stains and marks can be removed

by gently rubbing with a pencil eraser or fine grit sandpaper on the affected area. If the suede has an oil stain, try using talcum powder to absorb it. Leave the powder on overnight, then use the suede brush to lift the nap. You can apply a small amount of white vinegar to a damp cloth as a last resort for cleaning suede shoes, but be aware that this may leave a vinegar smell; gently rub the surface of the shoe with the cloth, then allow it to air dry. All other stains on suede should be professionally treated.

173.Fruit Juice Stain Removal from Clothing

You can remove a fruit juice stain by applying an enzyme stain remover to the area. Allow to soak, then launder as usual.

174.Gum Removal from Clothing

To take chewing gum off clothes, place the item of clothing in a plastic bag, then freeze it for about an hour. Take the clothing out of the freezer, then bend the fabric across the stain to crack the gum. Chip off the pieces with a dull knife.

If that doesn’t work, let the gum return to room temperature then dampen a cloth with dry-cleaning solution, lighter fluid, salad oil or peanut butter and rub on the gum, then work it off with a dull knife. Launder as usual.

175.Crayon Melted on Clothing in Dryer

To remove crayon stains that have been melted onto clothing in the dryer, place the stained surface down on pad of paper towels, spray with WD-40, let stand a few minutes, turn fabric over and spray the other side. Apply liquid dishwashing detergent and work into the stained area, replacing towelling as it absorbs the stain. Wash in hottest water possible with laundry detergent and bleach for about 12 minutes (use heavy soiled setting if there is no minute timer on your machine) and rinse in warm water. Special Note:Heat sets stains so clean the drum of your dryer to remove any remaining wax residue by spraying a soft cloth with WD-40, and wiping the drum. Run a load of dry rags through a drying cycle to ensure that your drum is clean.

Si176.lly Putty Removal from Clothing

You should be able to remove Silly Putty from clothing by placing the stain over a bowl and allowing gravity to pull out the Silly Putty. If it is more ground in, try freezing it by placing an ice cube in a bag and holding the bag over the stain, then chipping it off with a bread knife. If this doesn’t work, try spraying the stain with WD-40 to loosen the Silly Putty and pull off the stain. Launder as usual.

177.Enzyme Pre-Soak Product

An enzyme pre-soak product is a stain remover that contains an enzyme which digests the stain in the same way that your body digests food. It works best on food, milk, tea, coffee, baby formula, juice, blood, body fluids and grass stains.

178..Mothball Odor Removal

To remove mothball odors from clothing that has been in storage, put the clothing in a garbage bag with a few fabric softener sheets, close the bag tightly, and the odor will be gone in a few days. If you want to wear the clothes right away, try putting them in the dryer with a dryer sheet and turn it on to "Air Dry" for about 20 minutes.

179..Viscose Care and Cleaning

Viscose is generally a dry-clean only fabric, but check the label to be sure. If the label says that you can hand wash, be sure to use gEntle detergent, and lukewarm water, and do not dry in the dryer, but hang to dry and iron when it is still damp.

180.Yellowed White Canvas Shoes

The yellow you see on your white canvas shoes after washing them is likely caused from the glue holding your shoes together. The only way to prevent this is to have your shoes dry cleaned rather than washing in water. You cannot really remove the stains that are there, but you can cover them up with a white shoe polish.

181.Nail Polish Stain Removal from Clothing

You should be able to remove the nail polish with either dry cleaner fluid or nail polish remover. I would recommend trying the product on a non-visible area first, to make sure that it does not cause the color to run in the fabric. Try to use the most mild nail polish remover possible.

I182.nk Stain Removal from Leather

An effective way to remove the ink stains on leather items is by using either hair spray or Armor All. Just spray the stain, then wipe it with a soft cloth. To be sure that this will not effect the dyes in your leather, be sure to try this in a non-visible area first.

183.Dyeable White Fabric Shoes Cleaning

The best way to clean white fabric shoes is with an old toothbrush and some form of a cleanser. Murphy’s Oil Soap, liquid laundry detergent, Comet, etc. are all good choices. Air dry. Most shoes can be washed in the washing machine, but it will shorten their lifespan, and may cause some of the glue to come loose. If any stains remain after cleaning, the dye will not likely evenly cover the shoes, so you will want to do as thorough of a cleaning as possible.

184.Acrylic Paint Removal from Clothing

If the paint stain is fresh, you should treat it immediately with soap and water. Check your pants for colorfastness, and if the color doesn’t run, rub the stain with automatic dishwashing detergent, let stand briefly, then wash. Or, if your pants are colorfast, spray the stain with Easy-Off oven cleaner, let set for 30 minutes, then launder.

185.Choosing a Laundry Detergent

The type of laundry detergent you use is a fairly personal choice. Most detergents are very effective, and most of us end up using what is on sale, or what we are used to. The only things to consider are whether or not you have hard water, or if you are regularly laundering particularly dirty clothing, or if any one in your family suffers from allergies due to fragrances and perfumes. Finding the detergent that works best for you is usually a case of trial and error of the products that are in your price range. However, detergents that are highly inexpensive are usually of a lesser quality and you may not end up saving any money by purchasing them, as you will need to use more with each load.

186.Satin Shoes Care and Cleaning

It’s risky to wash satin shoes, as there may be dyes underneath the fabric that would leach through, and the shape of the shoes may be lost. Have them professionally dry cleaned.

187.Wite Out Correction Fluid Stain Removal from Clothing

You should be able to remove a White Out stain by using paint thinner or isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Be sure to test on the item in a non-visible area before using.

188.Tar Removal from Clothing

To remove tar from clothing, the best remedies are prewash sprays, mineral spirits or turpentine. Be sure to test on a non-visible are first, to check colorfastness in the fabric. Treat the area, scrub with a soft brush, rubbing the spot until it’s out, then wash with detergent and water.

189.Bidding Adieu to Sweat and Odor in Gym and Workout Clothes

Our poor workout clothes! They take a beating don't they? We sweat in them then wash them and wash them and wash them until one day we notice- (sniff, sniff) washing ain't doin' the trick anymore!

You first have to understand that it's not the sweat that smells but the bacteria on our bodies that eat the sweat. (Don't panic- that bacteria is supposed to be there.) Clothing is made of many many fibers and the microscopic bacteria just loves to get up in those fibers and hide and multiply. These microscopic bacteria are tricky- and stubborn. All it takes is one little piece of bacteria to survive a washing and an entire culture can flourish all over again! You can try washing your clothes in the hottest of water and bleach but this just breaks down the fibers more, making your piece of clothing more susceptible to bacteria the next time you wear and sweat in it.

When you've had your workout clothes for a while and it seems that nothing seems to help and get rid of the odors, the best thing to do is to throw them out and get some new ones.

PET STAIN & ODOR

C190.leaning Pet Hair And Lint

A good start is to be sure that you are using a clean, lint-free rag or paper towel when you wipe the toilet. Spray the rag with your cleaner and allow it to penetrate for a moment or two before wiping away the dirt. You don't want the surface of the toilet or your rag to be too wet as that causes things to stick to the porcelain rather than come off onto your rag. Also wipe, then refold your cloth so that ever swipe you are using a clean side of the rag.

For floors, invest in a good Swiffer style duster mop with dry cloths or invest in a good vacuum with bare floor settings. For wet mopping I recommend getting a mop with a removable terry cloth cover. These are excellent and trapping leftover hair/lint. After mopping the cover pops right off and can be washed with your regular laundry ensuring a clean mop head every time. Regular mops tend to hold onto hair and other assorted icky things from previous cleanings. With the terry cloth covers you ensure a very clean mop and therefore a clean floor each time.

191.Pet Vomit Stain and Odor Removal from Carpet

To remove a pet vomit stain or odor from your carpet, the newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area for pet stain removal and odor deactivation. Simply spray a product such as PAWS - Pet Accident Washup Solution on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the pet stain or odor persists, repeat the process. You can also try saturating the area with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then, using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the pet stain or odor persists, repeat the process. Another option is baking soda, which can be used to eliminate surface (but not deeply penetrated) odors. Dampen the area with clean water and then sprinkle baking soda over it. Rub the baking soda into the soiled area and let dry; brush or vacuum to remove the dry material.

192.Removing Pet Stains From Carpet

Removal of pet urine stains from carpet is not always an easy task. The first tip to make it easier is to try to clean it while it is still new (still wet and right after it happens).

If the stain is still wet, soak up as much of it as you possibly can with paper towels and newspapers. If you wait too long, not only is the stain going to be more difficult to remove, but if your pet notices the smell at that spot, they are going to use the same spot again and that's the last thing you want to happen.

Blot the wetness with the newspaper and paper towel, do not "scrub" it. If possible, put newspapers underneath the wetness, too, so it can soak some up from the bottom.

As a side note, the Humane Society suggests putting the paper towels that you used to soak up urine near the litter box so the pet will be reminded where the proper place is for that activity.

After you have soaked up as much of the pet urine as you can, rinse the spot completely with cool water and then once again blot the wetness out of the carpet.

If you were not home or did not see the "accident" right away and a stain has already set in, there is a different way to clean it. If at all possible, rent or borrow an extractor vac for the best job at removal or if you have a "collection" of pet stains.

There are products that work on breaking down the urine proteins for easier removal and a pet store should be able to suggest which product will be best.

After you have cleaned the area thoroughly with cool water, use a pet odor neutralizer. Often when we think all traces are gone, the pet can still smell it and may decide to use the area again.

Ask your pet store or even vet for a recommendation for an enzymatic cleaning product.

If the pet urine has soaked through to carpet padding, you may want to consider replacing that portion of the padding.

Those are some things to do. What should you NOT do? First of all, do not use a carpet steam cleaner although it may be your first thought. The heat will set the stain and even the odor making it much more difficult or impossible to remove at some point.

Do not use cleaning products that have strong chemicals.

193.Pet Feces Stain and Odor Removal

If your pet has messed on the floor, you'll need to tend to it immediately. First clean up any solid material. Next you'll want to remove pet stain as well as odors. To remove pet feces odor from most water-safe surfaces, the newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area to remove the stain and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product such as PAWS - Pet Accident Washup Solution on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor persists, repeat the process. PAWS will do an excellent job on old pet stains and odors too. You can also try saturating the area with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, this also works for pet urine stain removal. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then, using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor or stain persists, repeat the process.

194.Cat Urine Odor

If your home has a cat urine odor, it may be coming from stained areas on the carpet or furniture. To remove cat urine and cat urine odor, you may need to give the stained area a good cleaning. Use vinegar to spot clean pet stains and remove the odor. In addition you can try a professional product such as PAWS - Pet Accident Washup Solution or Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor persists, repeat the process. PAWS will do an excellent job on old pet stain and odors too. You can also try saturating the area with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then, using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor or stain persists, repeat the process. Another option is baking soda, which can be used to eliminate surface (but not deeply penetrated) odors. Dampen the area with clean water and then sprinkle baking soda over it. Rub the baking soda into the soiled area and let dry; brush or vacuum to remove the dry material.

195.Remove Pet Odors from Furniture

Man's best friend certainly likes to rest up on man's best pieces of furniture. While we usually don't mind sharing our comfy chairs with our pets, we do mind removing pet odors. If your furniture is starting to pick up the smell of your pets, try these pet odor removal hints: If your furniture is slip coverd, remove the cover and wash at least once a month to remove pet odors.

Laying a dryer sheet on top of the furniture will keep it smelling fresh and clean and mask any dog smells. If your slip cover is not removable, freshen the furniture by sprinkling baking soda, corn starch or talcum powder. Vacuum after a few hoursThe powder will absorb the smells and leave your furniture with a fresh scent.

196.Dog Urine Odor

It's unlikely your dog will urinate on his own bed, but it does happen. Especially in the case of illness. If this has happened to you, of course you'll want to remove dog urine odor as well as the stain. To do so, first remove the cover to the dog bed and wash in the washing machine. If the stain has penetrated the mattress, you'll need a dog urine remover. There are professional products you can use such as PAWS -Pet Accident Washup Solution, or you can try something else such as vinegar. Blot the stain with vinegar until the stain is removed and the smell of dog urine is gone. If the dog urine smell remains, cover the stain with baking soda and leave overnight.

197.Litter Box Cleaning

Anyone with a cat knows all about pet urine stain removal. Even the bottom of a litter pan requires special attention. Clean out your cat's litter box with a liquid peroxide cleaner such as PAWS - Pet Accident Washup Solution. Spray PAWS in the empty litter box. Let it sit for a few minutes then wipe clean with a cloth or paper towel. No rinsing necessary. This should eliminate any lingering odors. For a homemade solution, you can try white vinegar, which also works well for pet stain removal.

198.Cat Urine Odor

If your cat has had an accident on the carpet, you're going to need to remove urine odor in addition to the stain. To do so, first clean the stain with a soapy solution made of dishwashing detergent and water. Blot until the entire stain is lifted, and blot again with a damp spong. In order to remove the cat urine odor, cover the cleaned stain with baking soda and leave overnight to neutralize.

199.Remove Pet Odors from Car

If your pet lkes to go for a ride in the car on a regular basis, you're probably in need of some pet odor removal in your car, one that does more than the pine tree air freshener hanging from your rear view mirror! To neutralize odors, first clean the intereior with your favorite car upholstery cleaner. When the interior of your car is clean, leave a pan of vinegar in the car overnight to absorb and neutralize and lingering pet odors.

200.Cat Urine Odor

Cat urine odor is the worst! Unfortunately, this is something one must contend with as the owner of one of these wonderful pets. To keep your cat's litter pan smelling fresh and free of cat urine odor, all you need is to follow a few simple steps. Be sure to remove solid waste and clumped urine twice a day. In addition to this, sprinkle baking soda or pet odor removal powder (found in the supermarket aisle with carpet cleaning products ) on top of the litter box once a day to absorb odors.For maximum pet odor removal, make sure the litter pan is thoroughly cleaned and washed at least oncea week.

201.Aquarium Algae Stain Removal

If your aquariam plants and plastic scuba divers have become covered with algae, take heart, this type of pet stain is easy to remove.To bleach green algae stains from coral, shells, and other aquarium decorations, soak in a mild chlorine bleach solution until white. Rinse well under running water, and then soak at least 24 hours in a plastic container filled with water and a small bottle of aquarium water chlorine remover.

202.Easier Bird Cage Cleaning

For easier pet stain removal, stack seven or eight pages of old newspaper in the bottom of your bird cage, and remove them one at a time as they become soiled. This will not only save you from having to deal with a pet stain directly on the bottom of the cage, but it will also save time since you won't have to keep lining the cage with clean newspaper.

PEN & MARKER REMOVAL

203.1 Melted Crayon + 1 Load of Laundry = 1Big Uh-Oh!

There's tons of advice on how to get crayon out of clothing but so far the most recommended is: 20 Mule Team Borax and hot water.

Soak the clothing in the hottest water possible with the Borax. Follow measurement directions for your load size to the tee- Borax has a tendency to be hard on fabrics. Wash your clothes and check the results. Depending on the amount of damage done by the crayon, you may need to wash more than once.

204.Removing Inkpen from Oil Base Paint

Stains result when any foreign agent- be it ink, rust or chocolate pudding- land on a porous surface. (A 'porous surface' is a surface that has microscopic pits or holes that can't be seen with the naked eye.) When these pits or holes fill with ink, the object of the game is to get it back out before it has time to settle in- that's why it's important to attack a stain while it is fresh. The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to get it out.

With ink, you'll want to use a cottonball (or soft rag) dipped in rubbing alcohol. However, take extreme care to test for colorfastness first! The problem that comes with getting any stain out of any surface is the increased potential for damaging the finish of a stained surface.

If you are not particularly concerned about the finish, try the rubbing alcohol and see if the stain will come out that way. If it does not- or if you are concerned about hurting the surface, then it is time for a new coat of paint!

205.Permanent Marker Stain Removal from Refridgerator

Be careful when wielding a permanant marker or you may be tackling a kitchen cleaning task you didn't count on.Try using rubbing alcohol to try and remove the permanent marker from your fridge. You could also try using a fabric pre-wash spray or a color-safe bleach. Trying them on a non-visible area first to ensure that they do not damage the finish on your fridge. Saturating the stain with hair spray might also remove it.

206.Crayon Removal from Appliances

To get crayon off your fridge or stove, try this handy kitchen cleaning tip: use either a non-gel toothpaste or some WD-40. Both work well at eliminating crayon from appliances.

KITCHEN CLEANING

207..Garbage Disposal Cleaning

When going about your regular kitchen cleaning, you don't want to overlook your garbage disposal. Especially if food is scraped into the disposal when regularly washing the dishes. To clean grease and leftover food from your disposal and sharpen the blades at the same time, sprinkle liberally with baking soda and pour white vinegar over until it bubbles. Let set ten minutes. Rinse with hot water. Put two or three ice cubes in the disposal and grind. Rinse again with hot water. Now your disposal is clean and odor free.

208.Microwave Oven Cleaning and Deodorizing

During the course of your kitchen cleaning, you'll want to clean the exterior of your microwave oven. You can do this using baking soda and wate which should remove any residue without harming the finish. You may also want to wipe down the outside with vinegar after scrubbing. To thoroughly clean the inside of your microwave oven, add two tablespoons of lemon juice to a cup of water in a microwave safe bowl. Heat the mixture and allow to boil for approximately five minutes. Wipe out the inside with a sponge. For a quick and simple method of cleaning, wet a dishcloth and place in the center of your microwave. Turn on high and allow the cloth to heat for about 30 seconds. The steam that this creates will help loosen any hardened spills and you can use the heated cloth to wipe the inside clean. Be careful, the cloth will be really hot! If you have some difficult stains inside your microwave oven, there are two things you can try to remove them. First, you can cover the sides of your microwave with a cream cleanser, something like VIM. Put a microwave safe container with water in it on the turntable. Microwave it and make plenty of steam. Wipe out the interior with paper towel, and be sure to rinse thoroughly. If this doesn't work, you can take a three cup glass microwavable container, fill with one cup water and one cup white vinegar. Microwave for five minutes uncoverd. Then wipe down with warm sponge. To freshen up and deodorize your microwave, place a bowl of water in the oven and add three or four slices of lemon. Cook on high for thirty seconds. You can also try putting a little vanilla in a bowl, place it in your microwave and turn your oven on High for one minute. Repeat if this doesn't remove the smell after one try.

209.Homemade Remedy For Clogged Drains

If you have a clogged drain and cannot run out to the store to get a commercial drain product, try this remedy.

1) Remove all water from the sink. You may have to dip it out of the sink with a cup and place it in a bucket.

2) Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain.

3) Follow that with one cup of table salt.

4) Next, pour one half cup of white vinegar down the drain.

5) Allow the drain to set for ten minutes than flush it with two quarts of boiling water.

210.Do Away With Nasty, Cupboard Odors

The first method you should try to remove odor from your cupboards is to place a box of baking soda inside each cabinet. Baking soda will take care of most odor problems. However, if the baking soda does not alleviate the problem, take everything out of your cabinets and wipe down the inside of your cupboards with a heavy mixture of white vinegar and water.

The vinegar odor will be strong when you are applying it, but when it is dry it will not be noticeable.

211.Clogged Sink

If you're not careful when washing the dishes, food particles can get caught in the drain, creating a clog. To clear a clogged sink, pour one half cup of baking soda follwed by one cup of vinegar down the drain. Wait one hour and then chase it with a kettle of boiling water. You can also try putting three Alka Seltzer tablets down your clogged drain, followed buy a cup of white vinegar. Wait a few minutes and then run hot water. If the sink is clogged with grease, pour a cup of salt water and a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by a kettle of boiling water. The grease will usually dissolve immediately and open the drain.

212.Coffee Maker Cleaning

Drip type coffee makers should be made a party of your regular kitchen cleaning routine (at least once a month). Dried coffee oils can ruin the taste of even the best blend. In addition, if you have what's considered "hard water", minerals can build up inside your coffee maker. An alternative to commercial coffee cleaners is to run a solution of half white vinegar and half water through the coffee maker to dissolve scale. The heated solution may have to be run through the unit one or more times if buildup is heavy. Thoroughly rinse all parts of the unit. Run plain cold water through a cycle to remove all traces. If you

still have your owner's manual, check it as well for instructions specific to your model. The glass pot, filter container and other removeable components can be cleaned when you're washing the dishes.

213.Natural All-Purpose Homemade Cleaner

For an all-purpose non-polluting kitchen cleaning product, add two tablespoons baking soda to one quart of warm water. This mixture should clean almost any surface safely and without any fumes. If some areas are more difficult, simply use plain baking soda in place of a scouring powder, it works just as well, does not contain any chemicals, removes any odors and is far more economical. This mixture can also be used when washing the dishes, causing your plates to shine!

214.The Heinz Solution for Copper Pots

There are plenty of cleaners on the market for cleaning up your copper cookwear- but if you want to save a few bucks, be kind to the environment and don't mind a little elbow grease, then head for the fridge and grab the ketchup! The acids in ketchup will eat tarnish up!

Give your cookware a light coating and wait. (Depending on how tarnished we're talking here, you're looking at 5 minutes all the way up to 30 minutes.) Then rinse and dry!

If you can't wait, add a little salt to the mixture and lightly go over the surface- as not to scratch- with a soft rag. Rinse and dry.

215.Metal Range Hood Filter Screen Cleaning

Even though we put it off, we'll probably end up cleaning the range hood during the course of our kitchen cleaning. To clean accUmulated dust, grease and grime from the metal filters or screens of your range hood, simply spray with oven cleaner, let sit 15 minutes and put them through a normal wash cycle of your automatic dishwasher. For best results use a soap recommended for washing dishes that are greasy.

216.Getting Grease Build-Up Off of a Tiled Kitchen Floor

Stuck on grease is usually a sticky goo-ish type substance that is best dealt with by using a soapy kind of cleanser- namely a degreaser along the lines of 409- and a heavy duty nylon scrubbing pad.

A warning however: Depending on how heavy the build-up is, it usually requires a little bit of elbow grease to get rid of it. The problem with that is you have to be careful not to ruin the finish of whatever that build-up has latched itself onto. If you're not concerned about the surface, scrub away with a heavy duty nylon pad and degreaser. If the surface is a concern, forgo the scrubbing pad. Spray the area with degreaser (testing a small patch for colorfastness first) and clean with a rag dipped in the hottest water possible. (Gloves may be a good idea here.) Wring out your rag in fresh hot water often- and change rags when necessary.

If the build up is really, really heavy, soak the area in degreaser and scrape off the build-up with a putty knife. Then use the heavy duty scrubbing pad and/or the 'hot rag' method.

217.Pots and Pans Stain Removal

Every now and then you come across a pot or a pan with a stain that can't be removed by routinely washing the dishes. These stains take a little time to remove. Stubborn stains can be removed from non-stick cookware by boiling 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 1 cup of water for ten minutes. Before using the pan again, season it with vegetable oil.

218.Making Brass Handles Shiny

Remove your brass handles from your kitchen cabinets and put them in a small saucepan of ketchup- just enough to cover the

handles will do. Bring the temperature to a boil and immediately turn down the heat. When the handles are nice and shiny, take them out and give them a gool polishing!

The acids in ketchup work wonders when it comest to removing tarnish and buildup from metals such as brass and copper!

219.Fresh Smelling Dishwasher

When washing the dishes, you want them to look and smell fresh. For a fresh smelling dishwasher, try placing a lemon half in the utensil container. Run your machine through a normal cycle, and your dishes and dishwasher will come out smelling fresh and lemony. Lemon is great for all kinds of ktichen cleaning as it leaves everything smelling wonderful!

220.Removing Build-up From Salt and Pepper Shakers

Removing the build-up from wooden salt and pepper shakers is done in much the same way as you would clean glass shakers. Be sure to empty the shakers out and then submerge them in warm soapy water for three to five minutes.

After the salt and pepper shakers have soaked, scrub them gently with a coarse sponge until you've removed all the grime and build-up. Then rinse the shakers and place them in the dish drain to dry.

Once the shakers have dried thoroughly, you can put fresh salt and pepper into the shakers and use them as you normally would!

221.Baked On Food Removal

No doubt, the person in your home who handles washing the dishes knows a thing or two about removing baked on food from pans and casserole dishes. Still, this kitchen cleaning tip might be appreciated. If, when washing dishes, one encounters a pot or pan with burned on food, one should put the scrubbing brush away. Instead, place a dryer sheet in the pan, fill it with hot water and let it sit overnight. In the morning it will just need to be sponged clean. Apparantly, the anti-static agents loosen the bond between the food and the pan while the fabric agents soften the baked-on food.

222.Water Spot Removal from Stainless Steel

If after washing dishes you find little marks on your stainless steel sink, don't panic for this is simple to clean.To remove water spots from a stainless steel sink, rub it with a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol.

223.Stove Burner Cleaning

The best way to clean stove burners is to gently pull them out of the stove top, and wash with warm, soapy water. Use a gentle detergent such as that used to wash dishes. Do not submerse them or allow the electrical connection to get wet. If there is food or burnt particles stuck to them, use baking soda as a cleanser. Use it as you would a cleansing scrub, or if you have stubborn stains you can make a paste with baking soda and water and let it sit for 30 minutes, then scrub. Be sure to rinse them thoroughly with clear water. Depending on the condition of the burners you may not get them just like new (if they are scratched, worn, etc.), but you should be able to get them thoroughly clean. To prevent buildup and burned on food, wipe burners thoroughly during your regular kitchen cleaning ritual.

224.Dishwasher Stain Removal

You may think that since your dishwasher uses soap for washing dishes, its inside is spotless. This isn't always the case however, as dishwashers can take on yellow stains. to quickly remove these, first allow your empty machine to fill for a wash. Then add a package of flavored orange crystals (the kind that make instant orange beverages) and allow the wash and rinse cycle to complete. How's that for a kitchen cleaning tip!

225.Plastic Container Stain Removal

If you stored a tomato based product, such as pasta, in a plastic container, chances are your Tupperware is stained. If you heated the pasta in the microwave using the same container, chances are your plasticware is stained permanantly. Washing the dishes will help, but your containers may be stained beyond repair. To avoid this, spray your bowls or containers with a no stick cooking spray before each use to keep your plastic containers from getting stained from red sauces.In addition, one should never place a tomato based product in the microwave if one is using a plastic container. Because the plastic is so pourous, the tomato gets embedded in the pores. If a container is already stained, you have to get a little creative when washing the dishes. Your first option is to fill the bowl with hot water and drop in a couple of denture tablets. Leave for a couple of hours and when you come back the stains will hopefully be removed. You can also try soaking the container in one part bleach to two parts of water. Make sure you give the bowls a thorough rinse, maybe even a run through in the microwave, before using again.

226.Grease Removal from Kitchen Cabinets

When cleaning kitchen cabinets of touch cooking grease,, there are a few commercial products that are very effective Be sure to read the back label to find the kitchen cleaning product that best suits your needs. You can also try using baking soda for a more environmentally friendly alternative or a mild detergent, such as that you would use to wash your dishes, to cut through grease. You can also try cleaning kitchen cabinet doors by combining a half cup borax, two tablespoons laudry detergent soap flakes, one tablespoon ammonia, and one gallon of warm water. Use full strength in spray bottle or add two cups to a pail of warm water. If any stickiness remains, try using baking soda as a scrub agent. Apply it directly to the area - it should remove any residue without harming the finish.

227. Household Odor Removal

Kitchen cleaning also means having to remove cooking or generally unpleasant odors in your home, you could try : 1) Simmering a potful of stick cinammon, orange peel, whole cloves and water on your stove. 2) Place small bowls of vinegar around the room, as it absorbs any lingering odors. 3) Sprinkle some cinammon on a cookie sheet and warm it in the oven.

227. Soap Film Removal from Glasses in Dishwasher

You can remove a soap film left on glassware in a dishwasher by rinsing them with vinegar. If this is a continuous problem for you, you may want to add a half cup of vinegar the next time you wash the dishes. This will remove soap scum from both the dishes and the inside of your dishwasher. You may also want to try using less detergent than recommended if your water is soft, which is often the cause of soap residue.

228. Preventive Plumbing

Before washing dishes, scrape off any leftover food particles into the garbage. If we don't do this, we risk getting these particles into our drain which will cause the food to rot and clog the drain. Pouring a solution of water and salt (1/2 cup salt per quart of water) into sink drains every other week, removes grease and prevents odors.

229. Water Spot Removal from Dishes

When washing dishes, add a little vinegar to the water. The vinegar prevents water spots from forming on the dishes.

230. Stainless Steel Appliance Cleaning

Stainless steel kitchen appliances look best when they're clean and shiny. To clean tough stains and cooking grease, and give them a dazzling shine, try the same detergent you would use when washing the dishes. One formulated to cut grease works especially well.This also works well for general kitchen cleaning.Waterless hand soap also works great as a polish, simply rub on, and polish - no rinsing.

231. Stainless Steel Pots and Pans Cleaning

A very effective kitchen cleaning product for stainless steel is baking soda. If you have burnt on spots, cover the stain with baking soda, cover with water and bring to a boil. Let it cool, then wash and the stain should come off easily. You can also make a paste of baking soda and water and let is sit on stains overnight. To polish and shine the outsides of your pans, you can use rubbing alcohol, but be sure to thoroughly dry them before using or heating them.

232. Strong Odor Removal from Chest Freezer

Vinegar is not only a great product to use for general kitchen cleaning. It will also work to remove strong odors in your chest freezer by washing it out with vinegar. If any odor remains, fill shallow pans with either ground coffee, activated charcoal or baking soda and place on the bottom of freezer. Close the lid, and let sit for 2 to 3 days.

233. Whiter Sinks

When going about your kitchen cleaning, you want your white kitchen sink to shine when you're through. To get it to sparkle, place paper towels across the bottom of the sink and saturate it with bleach. Let it stand for 1/2 hour then rinse.

234. Chrome Kettle Cleaning

A chrome tea kettle doesn't look good unless it's bright and shiny. It's not as simple as washing the dishes, however. There are several effective options for cleaning chrome. For simple shining, rub the kettle with dry baking soda or flour. For more thorough cleaning, use rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth. This will remove drips and grease. Then dry thoroughly. You can also clean chrome by rubbing it with a ball made from crumpled aluminum foil, or by using Murphy's Oil Soap (2 tablespoons in a gallon of water).

235. Non-Streaky White Cabinets

Try cleaning kitchen cabinets using baking soda and water. Baking soda is a very effective, yet gentle cleaner and it will remove and grease, food, and other materials without scratching the surface. The streaks on your cabinets are likely caused by detergent build-up from regular kitchen cabinet cleaning. If they're thoroughly rinsed, the streaks should disappear. If not, try using a vinegar/water solution, as vinegar very effectively removes streaks and soap residue. You could also try using window cleaner.

236. Rust Stain Removal from Dishes

You would likely have success in removing the rust by using a commercial cleaner such as CLR, or an equivalent that is available in your area and states on the label that it is designed to remove rust. However, if you would prefer a more natural alternative, especially since you are washing dishes which you will need to eat off of, you might want to try using lemon juice. Lemons are usually a very effective yet gentle treatment for rust stains. If you do not have any fresh lemons on hand, lemon juice from the bottle works just as well. Try applying lemon juice to the stains, then cover the the lemon juice with salt and let dry for an hour. Rinse off, and wash. If this doesn't work, you may be stuck using the commercial cleaner for washing the dishes.

237. Teapot, Thermos and Coffee Pot Stain Removal

To get stubborn tea stains off the inside of the pot (this works great for stainless steel and glass-lined thermoses and coffee pots too) , simply put a cup of bleach in the pot, and swirl around. You will see the stains disappear immediately. Wonderfully effortless, and leaves the pot sparkling clean - like new! Don't forget to wash the pot before using! You can also try washing the dishes with white vinegar to get the stains out.

238. Washing Dishes by Hand

Washing dishes by hand is not really a very complex task, just slightly tedious. As with the rest of your kitchen cleaning tasks, the job will be much easier and and quicker if you wear rubber gloves. This will be especially helpful because you will be able to use hotter water, and the dishes will clean easier.Always start with the least greasy items first - glasses, then cutlery, then plates, and save pots and pans for last. If you have a two-part sink, wash in one section and fill the other with hot water for rinsing. If you have a single sink, fill a container with hot water and pour over the freshly washed dishes to

rinse. Good quality dish detergent is much more effective than the less expensive brands, and usually ends up costing less, since you can use less with each wash. It is also best to go about washing the dishes as soon as possible after using them, so that the food does not have a chance to dry on.

239. Tips For Cleaning A Dirty Oven Window

To clean your oven window, you will have to pull your oven door off of its hinge posts. You should consult the owner's manual that came with your oven to see if your oven's door is screwed into the hinge posts – or if it will simply pull off of the hinge posts. If there are screws, simply unscrew them and lift the door free.

•Lay the oven door on newspapers or an old towel.

•Look for the screws around the door's perimeter and remove them. This will separate your oven door into two halves. Be sure you label or mark which half is the front and which half is the back. This will save confusion when it comes time to reassemble the door.

•Next, clean the glass panels with dish liquid and very warm water. If you have spots that are very tough to remove, you may want to use a nonabrasive cleaner on them.

•When your glass is clean and dry, reassemble the door. Make sure all parts are placed back into their original position.

240. Slow Drain Fix

If food isn't scraped from your plate before washing the dishes, there's a good chance it will go down the drain and cause it to run a little slow. Run hot water through the slow drain and chase it with a couple of cups of vinegar. Dump about a quarter cup of baking soda into the drain, follow with another cup or so of vinegar. Let sit at least 10 minutes and flush with hot water.

241. Super Glue Removal from Countertop

You probably didn't count on cleaning superglue from your countertops when going about your regular kitchen cleaning. What to do? Nail polish remover with acetone should remove super glue from most kitchen countertops without harming the surface, as should WD-40. If neither of these products work, you'll want to ask the advice of a countertop installation professional.

242. Sponge Suggestions

The best brand of sponge to use for washing the dishes and general kitchen cleaning depends on you, and may take a little trial and error. Most brands vary little, except in price. I would recommend using a cellulose sponge, as they rinse easily as you work, and can be washed in the dishwasher (place them in the silverware caddy so they don't fly around during the cycle). Another helpful hint with sponges is to "color-code" your sponges, and use one color for the floors, another color for the toilet, and a third for washing dishes, so the sponges will not get mixed up, and you accidentally use the toilet sponge in the sink.

243. Broiler Pan Cleaning

The best part of a large family gathering is the food. The hostess may not feel the same way however, especially if she will be stuck with washing the dishes. Anyone who has ever had to contend with a messy broiler pan, might reconsider future entertaining. Or, at the very least, a menu change. Not to worry, kitchen cleaning help is on the way. To remove the cooked on food from your broiler pans put them in your self-cleaning oven. If your oven is not self-cleaning, you can saturate the pans with oven cleaner and put them into garbage bags overnight. In the morning the food should slide right off. Repeat the process as often as necessary. You can also try dipping a piece of raw potato in baking soda and use it to scrub your pan clean.

244. Mineral Deposit Removal from Dishes and Glasses

If your home uses hard water, your dishes can incur a mineral deposit buildup. You can remove mineral deposits by washing the dishes with white vinegar. Make a paste using baking soda and water, apply to the glasses, let sit for a few hours, then scrub lightly using the baking soda.

245. Aluminum Cookware Stain Removal

When washing the dishes, you'll want to remove stains from aluminum cookware. To do this, boil a quart of water with three tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice inside the cookware. Follow this with a light rubbing using a soap filled scouring pad.

246. Grater Cleaning

Certain items present a challenge when washing dishes. Consider the grater, with all of it's holes and crevices, it can turn a sponge to shreds. Try this kitchen cleaning tip: To clean a grater, brush the wrong side with a toothbrus. You might also try grating a potato after grating cheese which will help to dislodge and cheese that is stuck in the tiny holes. Sharpen a grater by rubbing with sandpaper.

247. Scratch Removal from Porcelain Sink

General kitchen cleaning or even washing dishes on a regular basis can cause a porcelain sink to incur scratches. A pumice stone, available at most hardware stores, should remove surface scratches from your porcelain sink. Fill the sink with water, then scour the scratches with the wet pumice stone to smooth them and clean the porcelain. However, it will not help with deep scratches. The pumice stone should be soaking wet or it may scratch the porcelain, too. It will wear away rather quickly, but that is the nature of the stone.

248. China Care and Cleaning

Cleaning the good china can turn washing the dishes from a routine kitchen cleaning chore, to one that's more time consuming as we gingerly handle plates and teacups for fear of breakage. There's good news though. Most modern china can be washed in the dishwasher using a mild detergent that does not contain lemon or bleach. To prevent breakage, place pieces so that they do not touch each other. Turn your dishwasher on to the "china" or "gentle" setting. Once it's clean and dry, allow the china to cool completely before removing from the dishwasher. Certain types of china can become even more fragile when heated, so it's imperative the china cools before storing. For this reason, only warm soapy water should be used when handy washing fine china.Use a mild dishwashing liquid. Hand painted, metal trimmed, or antique china should always be hand washed. To protect china when washing the dishes, place a dishtowel or protective mat on the bottom of the sink before beginning to clean. If cups have stubborn coffee or tea stains,dip your sponge in some baking soda and rub gently to remove the stain. To protect china during storage, place a coffee filter or paper plate between each bowl or dish before stacking. China should be stored in temperature and humidity controlled areas to protect the glaze. Take your china out of storage at least once a year and wash the pieces to keep impurities from impregnating the glaze and keep the glaze strong.

249. Aluminum Pan Cleaning

Aluminum pans can't always be cleaned in the same manner as you would when regularly washing the dishes. You can clean aluminum pans by combining a auarter cup each of cream of tartar, baking soda, and vingar to make a paste, then stir in two tablespoons of powdered laundry detergent. Rub it into your pan and scour with a plastic scrubber. (Be sure to never use bleach or ammonia on aluminum as it will cause discoloration.) To restore color and shine to an aluminum pan, boil some apple peels for a few minutes, then rinse and dry.

250. Melted Plastic Removal from Glass Electric Cooktop

Be careful when placing your plastic containers on or near a glass electric cooktop or you may end up with a kitchen cleaning nightmare. Acetate will remove melted plastic from a glass electric cooktop. If it doesn't work on the hardened plastic, try reheating the area to soften the plastic if possible. Reheating should make it much easier to scrape off and you should be able to remove the residue left behind with the acetate. Use extreme caution, however, as acetate is highly flammable. Scrubbing with baking soda may also work and is not flammable.

251. Chest Freezer Cleaning

If defrosting a chest type freezer factors into your kitchen cleaning, try this tip. Use a clean mop to swab the hard to reach bottom of the freezer. After all the water has been mopped up, mop the bottom again - but this time with a solution of baking soda and water. This will help keep the freezer smelling fresh.

252. Range Hood Cleaning Schedule

While it's always a good idea to wipe the outside of your range hood while doing your regular kitchen cleaning, the inside doesn't require your attention as often. Clean or replace your range hood filter every six months. Try running the filter through your dishwasher for a few cycles, but always check your manufacturer's care instructions first.

253. Black Refridgerator Door Care and Cleaning

You should be able to keep your black refrigerator looking like new by cleaning it with the same detergent you use for washing the dishes. Add it to some water and clean using a sponge. Rinse the fridge with vinegar to remove any residue and keep the shine. Dishwashing liquid actually makes a great all-purpose kitchen cleaner.

254. Marble Countertop Care and Cleaning

There aren't too many kitchen cleaning products on the market for cleaning marble. Especially since the newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate soiled areas. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the marble countertop, allow it to penetrate for a few minutes, and wipe clean. Baking soda can be sprinkled on for a more abrasive kitchen cleaning action. Repeat if necessary. Marble can also be cleaned using warm, sudsy water (a mild detergent such as a grease cutting dish detergent or laundry detergent is fine) or a solution of borax and water. Thoroughly rinse and buff dry. To remove stains from marble, make a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide or baking soda and Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate and cover the stain with the paste. Cover the paste with a damp cloth, leave overnight, then wet down and scrub with a nonmetallic scrubbing pad. Rinse thoroughly. Wipe up any spills as they happen so they don't soak in. If this occurs, you'll need to have your counters professionally rebuffed. Always use a cutting board with a towel underneath it, when working with acidic foods such as lemons, vinegar or alcohol (which can damage the natural shine of marble in a matter of seconds) and foods such as beets or red wine (which can discolor the surface). The marble can be sealed with a commercial sealant or carnuba wax. You'll need to test the seal after a few years of use. Simply apply a few droplets of water to the surface. If the water beads, your countertop is maintaining its seal. If the water soaks into the countertop, consider reapplying the sealant. Always dry the counter thoroughly after washing the dishes to prevent water damage to the marble.

255. Defrosting a Manual Freezer

When kitchen cleaning, don't forget to defrost your freezer! Place a pan of hot water inside a manual freezer to speed defrosting. Soak up water with an old bath towel. Wipe with a baking soda and water solution to help deodorize. After defrosting, you can wipe the inside of the freezer compartment with a cloth dampened with glycerin. When it is time to defrost again, the chunks of ice will drop right off.

256. Make Sure Your Glassware Shines

Hard water can leave ugly spots on your pretty glassware. A dishwasher rinse aid should shine things up. Your dishwasher probably has a special receptacle for liquid rinse aid. Otherwise, get rinse aid that comes in a little basket. You attach this to an upper rack. If you're still getting spots, turn up the water temperature and be sure to use the heated drying cycle. Use a dishwasher detergent formulated to reduce spotting. Be sure not to spill detergent on your glassware. This can cause dark spots.

257. Bleach Stain Removal from Countertop

Kitchen cleaning is more than washing dishes. One also must also consider cleaning kitchen cabinets and counters, which can become stained if not properly maintained. To remove a yellow bleach stain from your countertop, \ try using a paste made from baking soda and water. Let it sit for half an hour, then scrub the area with a damp nylon sponge. Bleach causes a permanant reaction however, so your efforts may be futile.

258. Marble Stains

Chances are, your favorite kitchen cleaning product isn't formulated to clean marble counter tops. Marble can be cleaned using warm, sudsy water or a solution of borax and water. Thoroughly rinse and buff dry. To remove stains from marble, make a paste of baking soda and bleach and cover the stain with the paste. Cover the paste with a damp cloth, leave overnight, then wet down and scrape off residue. Rinse thoroughly. You could also try a paste made from 20% hydrogen peroxide and powdered whitening from the paint store, using the same method. A commercial marble cleaner is another alternative. You may want to seal the marble to make future cleanings easier either with a commercial sealant or a coat of high quality automotive polish.

259. Oil Fire Damage to Non-stick Pan

Whether or not you can salvage a non-stick pan after an oil fire depends on the amount of damage. Sometimes, no amount of kitchen cleaning will remove burns and scorches. You can make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the pot and allow to sit overnight. Use the paste to scrub it in the morning, and if it seems to be working repeat the process as many times as necessary. You may also want to try soaking the pot with hot water and dishwasher detergent (powder). If neither of these work, you may need to get a new pot.

260. Storing Silver to Prevent Tarnish

After you're done washing the dishes, take the silver items and dry them thoroughly. To prevent them from tarnishing, you can store them in specially treated cloth bags or chests lined with special fabrics sold in jewelry shops, the silver department of a department store and sometimes even in hardware stores. Fabric stores also sell specially treated cloth which you can use to wrap up your silver. You can also buy anti-tarnish strips or camphor squares that can be stored with - but not touching - your silver. Some people recommend wrapping your silver in plastic wrap, but over time this may trap moisture and cause spots on the silver.

261. Formica Cabinet Cleaning

If you're not cleaning your kitchen cabinets regularly, those made with material such as formica can turn yellow. If this has happened, of course you'll want to restore them to their original white color. Formica counters and cabinets can be cleaned with mild liquid scouring cleaner, a light duty cleaner, baking soda, or a glass cleaner. Wipe them with a damp sponge, rinse and wipe dry. For stubborn spots, try a shot of laundry pre-wash spray or a paste of baking soda and water. Let it sit for half an hour, then rub with a nonmetallic scrubber. For a greasy stain, you can use a little rubbing alcohol for your kitchen cabinet cleaning.. If the Formica has yellowed, it is likely the discoloration is caused by prolonged exposure to the sun. A bleach based kitchen cleaning product used with a soft nylon scrubbing pad or a soft toothbrush might turn your cabinets back to white. If that doesn't work, you can try sponging on a bleach and water solution, but don't leave it on there too long, just a minute or so, then rinse well with clean water. (Make sure to wear rubber gloves and old clothing when working with bleach and be sure to protect surrounding surfaces from bleach drips.

262. Mold and Mildew Removal from Dishwasher

Washing dishes creates moistures and moisture creates mildew. This only makes your kitchen cleaning more unpleasant. To remove mold and mildew from your dishwasher, try using a solution of one part bleach to three parts water, increasing the bleach content as necessary.

263. Granite Countertop Cleaning

Don't use an ordinary kitchen cleaning product to clean granite. The newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate soiled areas. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, allow it to penetrate for a few minutes, then wipe clean. Baking soda can be sprinkled on for a more abrasive cleaning action. Repeat if necessary. Granite can also be cleaned using warm, sudsy water (a mild detergent such as a grease cutting dish detergent or laundry detergent is fine) or a solution of borax and water. Thoroughly rinse and buff dry. To remove stains from granite, make a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide or baking soda and Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate and cover the stain with the paste. Cover the paste with a damp cloth, leave overnight, then wet down and scrub with a nonmetallic scrubbing pad. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Wipe up any spills as they happen so they don't soak in, and always dry coutertops after washing the dishes.

264. Burned Milk Removal from Stainless Steel

Wam milk is wonderful for relaxing before bed. Heating it up in the microwave doesn't have the same comfort level as that which is warmed over the stove, however. The problem with warming up a little bedtime milk is the clean up. Milk scorches easily and no one wants to spend their down time washing the dishes. Especially if the task is going to take a while. If your stainless stell pan has become a victim of milk scorching, try this time saving kitchen cleaning tip. Add about a cup of cold water while heating the scorched pan over a low flame. Start with a flat edged metal or wooden scraper or spatula to loosen the burned food as it heats. Add a few drops of dish washing liquid.The scalded milk should loosen in no time. Adding some salt to the water will remove the smell of the scorched milk from the pot. If the scorched milk is being uncooperative, turn off the heat and leave to soak overnight so you're not spending the entire night washing dishes.

265. Dishwasher Soap Film Removal

The soap you use for washing dishes may clean your cups and plates, but it may also leave a film on the inside of your dishwasher. Try this kitchen cleaning tip for a film free dishwasher: Fill washer with dirty dishes but make sure you have not included any silver or other metals. Place a bowl with 1/2 cup of bleach on the bottom rack and allow the machine to run through the wash cycle only. Fill the same bowl with 1/2 cup of vinegar and this time allow the machine to run through a full cycle.

266. Straw Placemat Cleaning

Straw placemats are an attractive addition to any place setting. If not cleaned properly however, they can turn a festive table into one that looks dull or messy. A sponge dipped in mild detergent, such as the type you use for washing the dishes, will keep the placements clean and fresh. Another solution is to fill a quart jar with warm water and a cup of salt. Dip a sponge or cloth in the liquid and wipe the placemat clean.

267. Fish Board

Preparing fish can be a kitchen cleaning challenge. It's easy enough to clean, but the smell permeates into the cutting board creating a stink that's hard to get out. To keep a fish board fresh and odor free, clean it first with soapy water and then scrub it with mustard powder. Leave for a few minutes and then rinse. In addition, you can rub the board with baking soda, which will neutralize the odor. Leave overnight and sponge off in the morning.

268. Copper Tarnish Removal

Washing the dishes isn't one of the more favorable kitchen cleaning tasks. Cleaning pots and pans makes washing dishes even less attractive. Still, if they're not properly maintained, pots and pans, especially those made of copper, can tarnish. If this has happened to you, you can rest easy knowing there are options.The simplest option is to rub the copper with a lemon dipped in salt. You can also fill a spray bottle with a solution of vinegar plus three tablespoons of salt and spray that onto the tarnished area. Let sit for a little while and rub clean.

269. Arborite Counter Cleaning and Stain Removal

When cleaning kitchen cabinet counter tops made from arborite, almost any kitchen cleaning product will do. In addition one can use vinegar or a mixture of baking soda and water. For stubborn stains, you can make a paste from baking soda and water, apply it to the stains and let sit for thirty minutes before washing. If, during the course of your kitchen cleaning, you encounter a scorch mark, try lightening it with peroxide, or a peroxide based cleaner such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate

270. Wax Removal from Kitchen Pots

To remove the wax from a kitchen pot, you will need to either heat the wax or freeze it. If you heat it, you should be able to use paper towels to absorb the majority of it. If you freeze it, you should be able to chip out most of it with a plastic spatula. In either case, you may need to repeat the procedure several times. To remove any residue, wash in hot water with a detergent for washing the dishes designed to cut grease.

271. Kitchen Cabinet Odor Removal

When you're going about your kitchen cabinet cleaning, you may notice odors from food or cooking. You'll want to neutralize these odors before they're passed on to the food and dishes that reside in those cabinets. To do so, begin by removing everything from the cupboards and carefully place open bowls of household bleach or white vinegar throughout the cabinet. Leave them there for about a week, then carefully remove. This should leave them smelling fresh. If your cupboards are porous, such as those that are unpainted wood on the insides, the musty smell may be coming from inside the wood, and will likely continue to return, unless you replace the wood.

272. Avoiding Oven Spills

The oven has to be on the top of every home maker's list of undesireable kitchen cleaning chores. The best way to keep one's oven clean is to avoid getting it dirty in the first place! To do this, make sure casserole dishes aren't overfilled, or put them on a cookie sheet. Put pies inside a large cake pan or on a cookie sheet, and make a foil tent over roasting meat. This should lessen the frequency of oven cleaning in your home. In addition, not filling your casseroles as high, will make washing the dishes easier because food isn't spilled over the top and burned onto the side of your dishes.

273. Cast Iron Waffle Iron Cleaning

Here's an important kitchen cleaning tip for those who are thinking of purchasing a waffle iron. The cast iron on a waffle iron needs to be seasoned to make it non-stick. Coat it liberally with oil or lard and bake it in a slow oven. Never ever clean it again with anything resembling soap. Even the soap you would use for washing dishes. Wipe it clean after each use, after it is seasoned nothing should stick. When you make waffles you will add amounts of oil to the recipe which will keep your irons seasoned. Meanwhile, scrape off the mess as best you can without using soap or cleansers. Using salt as a cleanser should help remove any waffle residue without removing the seasoning on the finish.

274. Adhesive Residue Removal from Marble

Kitchen cleaning is when you find the most interesting household clean up projects. Take for example, adhesive on marble. While it may be an ususual stain, it's not one that's difficult to clean. To remove adhesive from just about any surface, spray it with WD-40. Let it sit for a minute and wipe clean

275. Dried on Dish Detergent Removal

Sometimes while washing dishes, we're called away from the sink. When this happens, any undissolved detergent can dry on plates and cups. When you resume washing the dishes, remove the dried on detergent by soaking for a few minutes in warm water. If this doesn't work, try soaking the dishes in hot water with a half cup of white vinegar which works well to cut through dried detergent.

276. Garlic Removal from Hands

Chores such as cooking, kitchen cleaning and washing the dishes can leave odors behind on our hands. Nothing is worse than garlic, however. When it comes to removing garlic from your hands, prevention is key. A good way to eliminate this problem is to wear disposable rubber gloves, like surgical gloves, keeping a stock in the kitchen. If you choose not to wear gloves, wash your hands in cold soapy water, since hot water tends to seal in the odor. Rub your hands with either a cut lemon, baking soda or table salt, then wash them again with cold soapy water.Rubbing your hands over a stainless steel bowl or utensil under cold running water or rubbing your hands on the stainless steel faucet of the sink will also help. Washing dishes in a lemon-scented dish soap and warm water also helps to remove unpleasant odors from hands.

277. Wax Removal from Anodized Aluminum

If you're doing your kitchen cleaning and have noticed melted wax on aluminum, gently scrape with a spatula or straight edge such as a credit card. After you have removed as much wax as possible, clean the area with whitewall tire cleaner or aluminum jelly. Rub in with a soft damp rag, rinse rag and wipe again.

HOW TO CLEAN A MATTRESS

278. Washing Pillows

When cleaning mattresses and bedding, always check the manufacturer's care label first. In the case of pilows, chances are it can be thrown in the washing machine. Place two or three pillows in the machine, making sure to distribute evenly around the agitator. Use a gentle cycle and a mild detergent. To dry, place in the dryer along with a clean pair of sneakers to keep them from bunching up. To give them a fresh scent, use a couple of fabric softener sheets.

279. Closet Dampness Removal

A damp closet may highlight a more underlying problem and may be something you'll need to have looked into by a professional. In most cases it signals poor ventilation. Try using a dehumidifier to dry out the closet. If you don't already have one installed, employ the use of a lightbult to add a little heat to the situation. (Keep well away from clothes, however.) Chalk, silica gel, and activated alumina can all be placed in a container and put on a closet shelf to absorb the moisture. None of these will harm clothes. To remove musty smells, hang a dryer sheet in the back of your closet or lay one on a shelf.

280. Fresh Smelling Guest Beds

Guest beds that are not often used can end up smelling musty. If you like to keep your guest beds made up, keep the sheets smelling fresh by placing a fabric softener sheet under the blanket or bedspread until the bed is needed. When you do your periodic mattress cleaning, exchange the old sheet for a fresh one.

281. Washing Down Comforter

When it's time for cleaning mattresses and bedding, always remember to check manufacturer's care labels first. In many cases, the label on a comforter will recommend dry cleaning. If this is the case, don't throw the comforter into the washing machine. If your comforter can be washed in the machine, use a gentle cycle, a mild detergent and distribute the comforter evenly around the agitator. Dry the comforter in the dryer using a clean pair of sneakers and a couple of dryer sheets to keep it smelling fresh.

FURNITURE CLEANING

282. Water Ring Removal from Wood Furniture

If possible, remove water rings from wood furniture while they’re fresh by rubbing with a soft cloth. If water rings are set, you can apply an oil-based furniture polish. There are several other techniques you can try. You can apply mayonnaise liberally over the water ring and leave overnight, then wipe off with a soft dry cloth the next day. You can also try appling a small amount of non-gel toothpaste and baking soda to a damp cloth, then rub the stain lightly. Another technique is to apply a paste of cooking oil and salt, wait 15 minutes, then wipe off and polish as usual.

283. How To Remove White Spots From Furniture

If you have white spots on your wooden furniture, you should work hard to remove the white, cloudy film or your wood can be permanently damaged.

*Rub the surface of the wood with a soft cloth that has been dipped in one half cup of ammonia and water.

*Wipe the furniture dry immediately and polish.

*If the white spots are still visible, use 3/0 steel wool and olive oil and rub lightly with the grain of the wood, then wax.

*For very deep spots, rub cigarette ashes into the wood.

*If the white spots still remain, you will have to strip off the old finish.

284. Odor Removal from Drawer or Cabinet

To remove odors from a drawer or cabinet, you can either fill the drawer with ground coffee and leave it overnight, use baking soda and leaving it in for several days, use cat litter and leave it in for several days or place the drawer outside in a shady spot on a breezy day. If the odor persists, you can carefully place a bowl of bleach in the empty drawer or cabinet, close the drawer or cabinet and let it sit for a few days, then carefully remove the bowl of bleach.

285. Hiding Scratches in Wood Furniture

To conceal scratches in your wooden furniture, try using your child’s crayons. Select the right color and melt a small amount. Work the melted wax into the scratch or nick until concealed. Or break the meat of a brazil nut, black walnut, or pecan in half and rub it into the scratch.

286. Cleaning Antique Furniture

If we're not careful with our beverages, we can cause damage to those things that mean the most to us. Before you put a beverage down on an antique table, be sure to use a coaster or you risk leaving a water mark behind on the wood. If this has happened to you, cleaning antique furniture of these marks if you act quickly. You have several options for removing water marks from wood. Mayonnaise left on the stain over night is usually enough to remove the stain as is a white, non-gel toothpaste. If you can get to the mark immediately, try to dry it with a hair dryer first. If you're unsure about using any of these products on your wood, test it on a hidden area before you go about this type of house cleaning.

287. How To Clean Dirt and Stains From Raw Pine Furniture

Raw pine is soft and if it has not been sealed, it will get dirty very fast. If you have dirt and stains on your raw pine, you can use most any liquid cleanser to rid the wood of the dirty buildup. However, you should use the liquid cleaners sparingly. They can soak into the raw wood and stain it.

Another outlet is to purchase something known as a crumbly cleaner. This is a dry cleanser that feels much like putty. You can rub it on your raw pine without harming the color or condition of the wood.

The only other outlet you have to remove stains from raw pine is to sand it.

288. Shining Wood Furniture

To add shine to wooden furniture, rub it with vinegar before polishing.

289. Cigarette Burn Removal from Wood Furniture

For a cigarette burn that hasn’t penetrated the wood finish, make a thin paste of pumice and boiled linseed oil and apply it to the burned area. Wax or polish, working with the grain of the wood.

290. Heat Ring Removal from Wood Furniture

To remove heat rings from wood furniture, massage mayonnaise into the marks and leave it on overnight. The next morning, wipe off the mayo and the marks should be gone. You can also use petroleum jelly, butter or margarine. If you have a really stubborn spot, mix cigarette ashes or rottenstone (available at the hardware store) with the mayo and repeat the above procedure.

291. Perspiration Stain Removal from Upholstery

Sofa cushions are very absorbent so you will most likely not be able to remove all of the perspiration from inside the sofa. However, assuming your sofa can be cleaned with water (check the tag), you can try to remove the outer stain using white vinegar and a clean, dry, white cloth. Blot (do not rub) the stain, working from the outside of the stain to the center, so as not to spread the stain. Follow the vinegar with either upholstery cleaner or mix 1/2 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent in a quart of warm water. Beat with a mixer, and clean the furniture using only the suds. Work on a small area at a time,

overlapping areas to avoid spotting. Change the rinse water frequently to keep it clean. Use a fan to thoroughly dry the furniture.

292. Water Stain Removal from Leather Upholstery

condensation from a glass, can easily be treated with clean water. In this case, a stain results because water has dried in the middle of a piece of leather, leaving a clear line of separation. Wet the entire area out to a seam or edge. Soak a new sponge in a bowl of room temperature water. Wring it as dry as possible. Start at the spot of the water stain, dampening the leather until you reach the edges of the cushion. Wet the leather less and less as you get further from the water spot. Do not scrub, just wipe. Condition the leather after it has dried. Other liquid stains can be treated in the same manner, but may require professional treatment.

293. Polish Build Up Removal from Wood Furniture

To remove polish build-up, mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup water. Rub furniture with a soft cloth that has been moistened with the solution. Dry immediately with a clean cloth.

294. Odor Removal from Wood Furniture

Some ways to remove odors from wood furniture are: filling the drawers with ground coffee and leaving it over night, using baking soda and leaving it in for several days, using cat litter and leaving it in for several days or placing the item outside in a shady spot on a breezy day.

Recipe for a homemade wood furniture cleaner: In a pump spray bottle, place 1 teaspoon of light olive oil and half a cup of white vinegar. Shake well. This is as effective as any store bought product, yet is far more economical.

295. Fingerprint Removal from Wood Furniture

To remove fingerprints from wood furniture, I would recommend first polishing the furniture with either your favorite wood polish or 1 cup mineral oil and 3 drops lemon extract. Then, sprinkle cornstarch on the just-polished furniture and buff with a soft cloth. The cornstarch will make the fingerprints disappear as well as absorb excess polish.

296. Cigarette Smoke Odor Removal

Since the smell of smoke lingers in carpets, upholstery and curtains, you will need to tackle these areas to eliminate the smell of cigarette smoke. You will need to either wash these items, or if you would like a quicker fix, you can try a commercial odor remover. Once the odor is removed, you can try leaving a small container of vinegar in each room to keep it smelling fresh. If you have smokers in your house, you can keep several candles burning while they are smoking, and covering the bottom of ashtrays with baking soda also helps. Nothing replaces fresh air, so whenever possible, open up the windows.

297. Crayon Mark Removal from Wood Furniture

There are a few things to try when attempting to remove crayon marks from woos furniture. First, try cleaning with Murphy’s Oil Soap. This should remove the crayon without harming the finish. If not, try mineral spirits, which should also be safe on the finish. WD-40 or Avon Skin-So-Soft should also work, but test on a non-visible area first. Non-gel toothpaste should also be a safe alternative. If all else fails, try applying a little heat from a hair dryer to soften the crayon, then blot with paper towels.

298. Wicker Care and Cleaning

To remove dirt and grime from wicker furniture wash with a solution of 2 tablespoons of ammonia in 1 gallon of water. Use a toothbrush in hard to reach places. Rinse well. Air dry.

To prevent yellowing, wash wicker furniture with a warm salt water solution.

299. Alcohol Stain Removal from Wood Furniture

Alcohol has a tendency to dissolve most finishes, so blot the spot immediately, then put a few drops of ammonia on a damp cloth and wipe the area. If the spot still remains, make a thin paste of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone, and rub it into the stain with your finger. Wax or polish.

300. Permanent Marker Stain Removal from Wood Furniture

To remove a permanent marker stain from wood furniture, there are a few options available. You could try WD-40, non-gel toothpaste, or possibly baby wipes. Also, I’d suggest a bit of alcohol on a white cloth or paper towel, or visiting an office supply store to get a commercial felt pen ink remover. I would also recommend trying the method you choose on an inconspicuous area of the wood first to ensure that it doesn’t damage the finish.

301. Paint Stain Removal from Leather Upholstery

To remove paint from leather furniture, try wiping the area with rubbing alcohol or turpentine. Try both of these in a non-visible area on the leather first, to ensure that they will not remove the dyes or harm the leather. You can also try cleaning the area with saddle soap, which will not harm the leather, or spray the stains with Armor All, which is also safe on leather.

302. Sticker Removal from Wood Furniture

To remove the stickers from wood furniture, use rubbing alcohol. This should not harm the finish, but to be sure, test it on a non-visible area of your furniture first. Vegetable oil is also all very effective, but test first to make sure it doesn’t harm the finish. Some stickers may also be removed by heating with a hair dryer and then peeling them off.

303. Red Wine Stain Removal from Upholstery

To get the red wine out of upholstery, you can try sponging the stain with white wine, or club soda. You can also try shaving cream from an aerosol can, then sponge with water. Be careful not the let the fabric get too wet.

304. Mold and Mildew Removal from Wood Furniture

Cleaning wood furniture can cause irreparable damage to the furniture's finish if the wrong methods are used, so start with gentle cleaners, working up to stronger solutions as necessary. Always test cleaners first in an inconspicuous area, such as the back or bottom or the furniture, before applying to a larger area. To remove mold and mildew from wood furniture, first try wiping the wood with a soft cloth and a solution of water and a mild dish detergent, using circular strokes. Keep the cloth barely damp, being careful not to saturate the wood. Rinse the cloth frequently. You can also use a commercial wood cleaner, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap, instead. If the piece still looks dirty, try using mineral spirits. If the wood still looks dirty after using mineral spirits, the wood furniture will require professional treatment. Once the wood has been cleaned, the wood must be protected with wood furniture wax.

305. Wax Removal from Wood Furniture

When you get a candle wax drip on your wood furniture, first harden the wax by rubbing an ice cube wrapped in plastic over the spill. Then, scrape the hardened wax off with a nonstick spatula or an expired credit card.

306. Leather Upholstery Care and Stain Removal

To protect the finish of your leather furniture, clean it with real soap products only. Clean with saddle soap, which comes in aerosol or paste form, or mix and shake Ivory Snow and water and apply just the suds with a soft brush. You can also use Armor All, particularly if your leather has any hard-to-remove stains.

Keep leather furniture supple by polishing every month with a solution of 2 parts linseed oil and 1 part vinegar.

Although leather is durable, it tends to stain easily. To remove stains from leather, try a specifically made leather cleaner, following the directions on the package. Remember to always test on an inconspicuous area first.

If the leather has become discolored, you may be able to use a leather dye to restore the color by matching the color as closely as possible to the original.

Don't try solvents or other common cleaning solutions on leather as they may cause irreparable damage.

307. Velour Care and Cleaning

You can vacuum your velour furniture regularly with upholstery attachment tools, but other than that, I would recommend that you get your chair professionally cleaned if it requires more than that. Velour will change its appearance and shape if you wet it down with washing, and the dye may leach. Most professionals will either steam-clean, dry-clean or foam-clean it - be sure to ask them what they recommend. I would also recommend that you get them to apply a stain-resistant guard on the chair after it is cleaned.

308. Gum Removal from Leather Upholstery

To remove the gum from leather upholstery, you can rub an ice cube (placed in a plastic bag) over the gum, and freeze the gum until it hardens, then chip it off. Another option is to spread peanut butter over the gum. Let sit a few hours to dissolve the gum then wipe away. Make sure to try the peanut butter on a non-visible area first to ensure that it doesn’t damage the finish on the leather.

309. Cleaning Leather Furniture

Leather furniture adds a rich, luxurious feel to any room. Many people are choose to have their couches and chairs in different fabrics because they don't know how to go about cleaning leather furniture. It's acutually quite simple. In fact, most leather furniture can just be wiped clean with a damp sponge. Every now and then a common household cleaner can be sprayed on giving it an extra shine. When you consider what you have to go through when removing spots and stains from upholstered couches, leather furniture cleaning is clearly a more convenient option.

310. Protect Upholstery From Sun Damage

Always protect your furniture, rugs, carpets, etc. from the harsh midday sun which can fade and damage fiber. Be sure to close curtains or blinds or hang sheer drapes.

311. Permanent Marker Stain Removal from Leather Upholstery

An effective way to remove the ink stains on leather furniture is by using either hair spray or Armor All. Just spray the stain, then wipe it with a soft cloth. Be sure to test in an inconspicuous area first.

Unfortunately, it is not called "permanent" marker for no reason, and depending on how fresh the stain is, this may not remove the stain completely and you may be stuck with the stain.

312. Urine Stain and Odor Removal from Leather Upholstery

To remove urine stains and odor from leather, use a mild dish detergent and water. If you can, first remove the cushion and the stuffing. Using a clean, absorbent cloth, blot up any excess urine. Mix 1/2 teaspoon liquid dish detergent in a quart of warm water. Beat with a mixer. Clean the furniture using only the suds. Do not overwet the leather. Using a new sponge, soak the sponge and wring it out as much as you can. Then using only the suds, wash the entire area. Wipe, do not scrub. If you were able to remove the stuffing, you can scrub the underside of the leather and then use a towel to help dry the area. Using another new sponge and clean water, wipe the entire surface of the leather while it is still damp to remove as much of the detergent as possible. Wash the stuffing if you can, then place it back in the cushion, leaving a dry towel between the stuffing and the leather until it is all thoroughly dry.

313. Tree Sap Removal from Wood Furniture

To get tree sap off of indoor wood furniture, try using a commercial product such as Goo Gone, Goof Off or WD-40. For a homemade solution, you can try using vegetable oil or mayonnaise. Rub the cleaning product gently into the stain to loosen

it, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe off (or follow the manufacturer’s directions). If this doesn’t work, you can try using mineral spirits. Remember to always test a cleaning product in an inconspicuous are first.

314. Suede Furniture Cleaning

You can spot clean suede by carefully rubbing the soiled area with an artist’s eraser. A stain on suede that won’t brush or wipe off should be treated by a professional suede cleaner as quickly as possible. Though you can try cleaning it yourself with a suede-cleaning product, you may end up doing more harm than good. You can protect suede by spraying it with a silicone spray that you can purchase at most shoe stores.

315. A&D Ointment Removal from Upholstery

To remove A&D Ointment from your upholstery, first, using a dull knife, scrape off as much A&D Ointment as possible. Then, sprinkle the soiled area with either cornstarch, talcum powder or salt; rub well and leave until the grease from the ointment is absorbed. Brush off the powder/grease with a soft scrub brush then wipe with a damp cloth. If any residue remains, you can use either upholstery cleaner or mix 1/2 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent in a quart of warm water. Beat with a mixer, and clean the furniture using only the suds. Work on a small area at a time, overlapping areas to avoid spotting. Change the rinse water frequently to keep it clean.

316. Smoke Odor Removal from Wood Furniture

Some ways to remove smoke odors from wood furniture are: filling the drawers with ground coffee and leaving it over night. Using baking soda and leaving it for several days, using cat litter and leaving it in for several days or placing the item outside in a shady spot on a breezy day. Another option is to apply a thin coating of shellac to the entire piece to seal in the smell.

317. Permanent Marker Removal from Unfinished Wood

You can try using a non-oily liquid hairspray which works very well at removing ink. You can also try sanding it down with a fine grit sandpaper. Unfortunately, it is not called "permanent" marker for no reason, and depending on how fresh the stain is, this may not remove the stain completely and you may be stuck with the stain.

318. Oil Stain Removal from Leather Upholstery

To remove small oil stains from leather upholstery, rub corn starch briskly into the stain with your fingers until the heat from the friction is felt. That heat loosens the oil and allows the corn starch to absorb the oil before the leather can. Vacuum or brush the powder off. Repeat until the stain is gone. Larger stains will require professional treatment.

319. Permanent Marker Stain Removal from Upholstery

To remove marker from upholstery, first, thoroughly vacuum the area to remove any loose dirt or dust from the stain. Try using either rubbing alcohol or a non-oily hairspray as your stain removing agent. Since you are working on upholstery, you must be careful not to soak the fabric, or the stuffing will become saturated and you will end up with both a stain and mildew. Apply a small amount at a time and blot between applications.

Unfortunately, it is not called "permanent" marker for no reason, and depending on how fresh the stain is, this may not remove the stain completely and you may be stuck with the stain.

320. Red Wine Stain Removal from Wood Furniture

To remove the wine stain, rub the area with paste wax, silver polish or a cloth barely dampened with ammonia. If the spot still remains, make a thin paste of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone, and rub it into the stain with your finger. Wax or polish.

321. Ink Stain Removal from Leather Upholstery

Most cleaning products that remove ink will also remove the color from leather. However, if the ink is fresh, you may be able to remove it with either a non-oily, liquid hair spray or Armor All. Just spray the stain, then wipe it with a soft cloth, but be

sure that this will not effect the dyes in your leather by trying this in an inconspicuous area first. Othewise, have the leather professionally treated.

322. Velvet Care and Cleaning

The most effective and safest way to clean velvet furniture is to have it professionally cleaned. However, if you do want to try it yourself, you can try mixing 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent with water, shake it up well, and apply the suds only. Apply only a small amount, and blot between applications. Be careful not to get the fabric very wet. If this is not effectively removing the stains, try using dry cleaning solvent. Be sure to keep everyone off the furniture for at least 24 hours after cleaning. Once it is clean, I would recommend treating it with Scotch Gard, or another fabric protector to make future cleanings much easier.

FLOOR CLEANING

323. How to Clean Oiled Wood Floors

Use only cleaning, buffing and oiling products that are recommended by your oiled floor manufacturer. Sweep an oiled floor with a soft broom frequently because any dirt can actually get ground into a wooden floor. Wipe up spills and any mess right away. Mop either dry or damp everyday. Avoid scratching with a vacuum by using the brush accessory.

For wet cleaning of an oiled floor plain water. If you want a little extra cleaning power, use only a capful of liquid oil soap per eight cups of water. Dip and wring the mop. Take care not to leave too much water on the floor. A soapy mixture can strip oils from the wood.

Your floor will appear dull after a damp or wet cleaning. You can buff after a damp cleaning. Wait for the floor to dry sufficiently after a wet cleaning before buffing. Use rotary buffing equipment or do the buffing by hand. When buffing or re-oiling by hand,

324. Wood Floor Maintenance

Most wood floors can be kept clean by first sweeping or vacuuming with a floor nozzle to remove most of the surface dust and dirt, then damp mopping with clear water (dip a sponge in clear water, squeezing it out so that the mop is barely damp, almost dry). Use very little water and rinse your mop thoroughly after each use since excess water can dissolve protective coatings, alter the color of the wood and raise the grain to roughen the surface.

If your floors are not dirty enough to need mopping every week, then you should not do it, as it will wear the floors faster, not to mention waste your time. Simply sweeping is often all they need.

If need to restore the shine to your wood floor after you get it clean, try damp mopping it with 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 tablespoons furniture polish in a gallon of warm water. Vinegar is also useful for removing any soap residue or build-up, but should not be necessary every week.

325. Ground-in Dirt in Linoleum

To remove ground-in dirt from linoleum, Armstrong makes a great product called New Beginning. It’s a floor stripper and cleaner and is great for removing tough ground-in dirt, especially if left to sit on the soiled area for a while to penetrate the dirt. Also, when cleaning that area, make sure to use a soft bristle scrub brush, not just a cloth or a mop. You may want to follow New Beginning with Armstrong’s Shinekeeper Floor Polish to keep the finish looking new after using the floor stripper.

326. Removing Rust Stains from Linoleum Floors

Although there are many products on the market that claim to remove rust stains, they are often for non-porous enameled surfaces and the formulas themselves are quite caustic and/or abrasive. This is a problem when you're dealing with porous surface like linoleum.

A 'porous surface' is a surface that has microscopic holes or pits in it- despite the appearance of a smooth surface to the naked eye. When rust, or any other kind of agent, settles into these pits and holes, it can be nearly impossible to get it back out- without ruining the finish of the surface.

If you're not particularly concerned with ruining the finish, you can try an abrasive, such as Comet and a heavy duty nylon scrubbing pad, to loosen up/break down as much of the rust deposit as you can. With repeated and regular scrubbings over a period of time, the stain may begin to fade or lessen.

If you are concerned about the finish, some will recommend everything from vinegar and a toothbrush to a paste of baking soda and a soft wet rag as non-abrasive ways to save the finish and get the stain out. If these methods do not work for you, it may come down to replacing the number of tiles affected.

327. Revitalize Wood Floors

For a revitalizing shine on your wood floors, first dust mop the room thoroughly, making sure to remove all dust and dirt. Place waxed paper under a sponge mop, and work your way around the room, changing the paper as often as necessary.

328. Urine Stain and Odor Removal from Wood Floor

The ideal solution for removing a urine stain from a wood floor is to sand and refinish it, since it is very difficult to match up the floor finish once you have treated a urine stain in the wood. However, you can still try. To remove urine stains and odors from your wood floor, first blot the area with an absorbent cloth to remove any excess urine. The newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area to remove the stain and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product such as PAWS - Pet Accident Washup Solution on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Wipe clean. Another option to try is to wipe the stained area with cool water; blot dry. Next, blot the stained area with undiluted white vinegar. Wipe again with cool water and blot dry. With either of the above methods, do not saturate the wood or allow any liquid to stand on the surface for any length of time. Wipe with cool water and blot dry.

If the stain remains, you can buff with super fine 000 grade steel wool and floor wax. Rub with the grain of the wood. If the spot begins to blend with the finish, continue the wax and steel wool treatment until the appearance of the wood is restored. If the stain persists, place a paste of either pumice powder or rottenstone and vegetable oil on the spot. Using a clean, soft, absorbent cloth, gently rub the paste into the spot, following the grain of the wood. When the stain is removed, rub the surrounding area of the wood gently with the abrasive and oil paste to prevent spotting.

If the stain is still visible, the urine has probably penetrated the finish and marred the wood, in which case it is necessary to remove the finish and refinish the surface. You may be able to use super fine 000 grade steel wool and a small amount of mineral spirits to remove urine stains, but afterwards you will have to refinish the area by waxing and buffing and even then it will be difficult to match the treated area with the rest of the floor.

329. Kool-Aid Stain Removal from Linoleum

You should be able to remove the Kool-Aid stains on linoleum by applying equal parts vinegar and water, leave it on for several minutes, then wet with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Rinse again with the vinegar solution, then rinse again with plain water. If the stain remains, try cleaning with a liquid abrasive cleaner.

330. Varnish Stain Removal from Linoleum

You should be able to remove the varnish from linoleum with paint thinner or turpentine. You may find the finish altered somewhat, and may need to apply wax on the area of the floor to restore shine after. To be safe, test it on a non-visible area to ensure that you do not cause more damage.

331. Wax on, wax off!

To get old wax off of a hardwood floor, one must first determine what kind of finish is on the hardwood floor. To do this, rub your finger across the floor.

Smudge or no smudge?

If there is no smudge, it is a sealed surface. If it does smudge, the floor has been sealed with a penetrating seal like an oil finish or a lacquer/varnish and then waxed.

There are plenty of floor wax removers on the market for either case. Go with the most gentle product you can find.

332. Urine Stain and Odor Removal from Wood Floor

To remove pet urine stains and odors from wood floors, you can use a product such as PAWS Pet Accident Washup Solution. Spray PAWS on the stain and let PAWS sit for a few minutes. Blot the area with a clean absorbent cloth to remove as much moisture as possible. Cover the area with baking soda and let the baking soda sit overnight to absorb any remaining moisture. In the morning, sweep up the baking soda. However, if the urine has deeply penetrated the wood, there will be no choice but to sand it down and refinish. This may be best left to a professional.

333. Linoleum Floor Care and Cleaning

Linoleum floors should never be scrubbed with strong abrasive cleaners or cleaning tools. Simply wash with a wet mop that has been dipped in warm, soapy water. Wring well.

334. Cleaning Ceramic Tiles

When floor cleaning ceramic tile floors, use a simple solution of soap and water. The trick is to use a rubber scraper - the kind they use at gas stations to clean the windows on your car.

You can also find specialty cleaning products that whiten grout and tiles to give your bathroom that sparkling shine.

335. Carpet Tape Residue Removal from Wood Floor

If you have carpet tape or residue on your wood floors, try to remove as much of the carpet tape as you can before hand. You may find scraping with a dull edge, such as a plastic scraper helpful. Once you have removed as much as you can, you have a few options at to how to remove the remaining tape and glue. Several things should work, such as vegetable oil, WD-40, Goo Gone, De-Solv-It, Avon Skin So Soft, or a pre-soak laundry spray. Saturate the tape, and let sit for at least an hour. The tape should then slide right off, with a few areas possibly needing a second attempt.

336. Gum Removal from Floors

To make it easier to remove gum from a hard surfaced floor, use an ice cube to chill the gum. Simply rub it over the material to make it brittle and then using a plastic spatula, scrape and lift the gum from the floor.

337. Preventing Scratches on Wood Floors

When moving large furniture, slip a small scatter rug under heavy furniture to prevent scratching the floor and to make it easier to move. Also, try placing old socks on furniture legs when rearranging a room.

338. Newsprint Stain Removal from Linoleum

You should be able to remove the newsprint stains on your linoleum by making a paste out of baking soda and water, and applying to the stain. Let sit for 1/2 hour, then use the paste to scrub the floor. If that doesn’t work, try using a laundry pre-wash spray on the areas.

339. Oil Stain Removal from Wood Floors

To remove oil stains from wood floors, wash the stained area with mineral spirits. If that does not seem to be working, you could also try using Naptha. Depending on the finish on the wood, you could also use paint thinner, but I would recommend trying this on a non-visible area first to ensure that it would not damage the finish.

340. Tar Removal from Vinyl Floor

To remove tar from vinyl floors, rub some peanut butter on the spot. The peanut butter will dissolve the tar.

341. Wax Build-Up Removal from Linoleum Floor

The most effective way to remove a wax build-up on linoleum is to use ammonia. This is pretty strong smelling stuff- so have plenty of ventilation- also DO NOT mix ammonia with bleach - it creates a dangerous gas. Mix approximately 1/2 cup of ammonia in a bucket of warm water, and wash as you normally would. This should leave your floors looking like new.

342. Wax Removal from Linoleum Floor

To remove candle wax from linoleum, first chip off as much of the surface wax as possible, using a dull knife. Then, place several layers of paper towel over remaining wax, and apply a warm iron to draw wax into the paper towels. Replace the paper towels if they become saturated.

343. Removing Stain on Linoleum or Vinyl from Rubber Backing of Area Rug

The yellow stain on your kitchen floor is likely due to the rubber backing on the rug altering the finish on your flooring. You may not be able to remove the stain without stripping the wax and recoating the floor. Before getting that drastic, try making a baking soda paste, with baking soda and water, and applying it to the stain. Allow it to sit overnight, scrub and rinse. You could also try hydrogen peroxide on the stain, or a weak bleach solution.

344. Repairing a Burn in Linoleum or Vinyl

A burn mark cannot be fixed, but you may be able to remove the damaged section and replace it with a scrap piece from a less conspicuous area of the room. However, this sort of job should be left to a professional.

345. Marble Stain Removal

To remove stains from marble, make a paste of baking soda and bleach and cover the stain with the paste. Cover the paste with a damp cloth, leave overnight, then wet down and scrape off residue. Rinse thoroughly. Or, you could try a commercial marble cleaner.

346. Removing Yellow Stains from Vinyl and Linoleum Floors

White or light vinyl may turn yellow from soil trapped between layers of wax; in that case remove the wax and recoat clean floor. Too much sunlight can also yellow a white vinyl floor.

OUTDOOR CLEANING

347. Canvas Mold and Mildew Removal

To remove mold and mildew from your canvas tent, or awning, first vacuum or brush soilded areas to remove any excess dirt. Wash the affected area with a solution of 1/2 cup Lysol to a gallon of hot water. Rinse with a solution of 1 cup lemon juice and 1 cup salt to a gallon of hot water. Allow the canvas to air dry in the sun.

You can also try applying a cleaner such as IOSSO Tent & Camping Gear Cleaner. This cleaner is made to remove tough dirt and mildew stains. Afterwards, you may want to treat the canvas with a water-repellent compound such as Canvak.

348. Motor Oil Removal from Concrete

A fresh motor oil stain from concrete is easier to remove than an old stain. Squirt some liquid dish detergent (preferably one designed for cutting grease) onto the stain. Add water. Be sure to wet down the area surrounding the stain as well to prevent oil from spreading during the cleaning process and causing a secondary stain. Scrub the stain vigorously with a nylon scrub brush (not a wire brush which can erode or scratch the concrete), adding enough water to make a rich soapy lather. Rinse with clean water. The soap will emulsify the oil and lift it out of the concrete, but it may take several attempts to completely remove all of the oil. When rinsing the area, it is more environmentally responsible to blot the area with a towel to remove the soapy water, since rinsing the mixture with a hose will allow the motor oil in the water to seep into the ecosystem or sewer system. Another way to remove motor oil from concrete is to spread a thick layer of cat litter over the grease to absorb the excess motor oil on the surface. Allow the litter to sit for a day or two, then sweep it away. Pour dry concrete over the dried grease spot. Allow the concrete to sit for a day or two, then sweep away the dirty concrete. Be sure to gather both the cat litter and the dirty concrete in a bag and dispose of it properly so the motor oil doesn’t get into the ecosystem or sewer system. Contact your local waste collection service for more information.

349. Cement Floor Stain Removal

For a safe, chemical-free way to clean your cement floor, I would recommend scrubbing it with baking soda. Use a scrub brush and hot water. For stubborn stains, make a paste with baking soda and water and allow it to sit on the stains for a few hours. Once you have the stains removed, you may want to seal the concrete to prevent future staining.

350. Outdoor Furniture Mold and Mildew Removal

The only way to kill mold and mildew and their spores is to use bleach. You can dilute it in a spray bottle with water, and it should kill the mold without harming the fabric. Try using about 1/2 cup of bleach per gallon of water. Test this on a non-visible area first. If the color does run, you can use a color safe bleach.

351. Paint Removal from Concrete

You should be able to remove a paint stain from concrete by using a commercial product such as TSP which is a heavy duty cleaner. If the concrete is sealed the paint should come off with a minimal amount of scrubbing. If the concrete is not sealed you may need to use a paint stripper product to remove all of the residue.

352. Cleaning Unlaquered Brass Lights

To clean unlaquered brass, you can mix equal parts of salt and flour and add enough vinegar to make a paste. Spread a thick layer on the brass and let it dry, then rinse and remove. Or, dip the cut side of half a lemon in salt and rub it on, then rinse with cold water. Buff with a soft cloth, and coat with silicone car wax to keep it shiny.

353. Polishing Tarnished Aluminum Gutters

To clean your gutters, use a small broom to remove the leaves and debris from the gutters. Then use your hose to flush out any remaining debris. For tough jobs, TSP, hot water and a good brush should work. Always wear gloves when doing this chore to protect your hands from sharp edges. Proceed with caution when high pressure washing, as high pressure can dent the aluminum and/or remove the paint. Just give them a light scrubbing.

If any tarnish remains, try using a metal polish, such as MAAS Metal Polish, ZAP! or FLITZ.

354. Motor Oil Removal from Cement

A fresh motor oil stain from cement is easier to remove than an old stain. Squirt some liquid dish detergent (preferably one designed for cutting grease) onto the stain. Add water. Be sure to wet down the area surrounding the stain as well to prevent oil from spreading during the cleaning process and causing a secondary stain. Scrub the stain vigorously with a nylon scrub brush (not a wire brush which can erode or scratch the concrete), adding enough water to make a rich soapy lather. Rinse with clean water. The soap will emulsify the oil and lift it out of the cement, but it may take several attempts to completely remove all of the oil. When rinsing the area, it is more environmentally responsible to blot the area with a towel to remove the soapy water, since rinsing the mixture with a hose will allow the motor oil in the water to seep into the ecosystem or sewer system. Another way to remove motor oil from concrete is to spread a thick layer of cat litter over the grease to absorb the excess motor oil on the surface. Allow the litter to sit for a day or two, then sweep it away. Pour dry cement over the dried grease spot. Allow the cement to sit for a day or two, then sweep away the dirty cement. Be sure to gather both the cat litter and the dirty cement in a bag and dispose of it properly so the motor oil doesn’t get into the ecosystem or sewer system. Contact your local waste collection service for more information.

355. Rust Removal from Concrete

You should be able to remove the rust stains from your concrete driveway by using any of the commercial rust stain removers out there. Some are Zud or Whink, and they are available at most department stores. You can also try scrubbing the area with TSP.

356. Oil Stain Removal from Wood Deck

You should be able to remove vegetable oil stains from your wood deck by washing the stained area with mineral spirits. If that does not seem to be working, you could also try Naptha. Depending on the finish on the deck, you could also use paint thinner, but try this on a non-visible area first to ensure that it would damage the finish.

357. Permanent Marker Stain Removal from Sidewalk

Unfortunately, it is not called "permanent" marker for no reason, and depending on how fresh the stain is, this may not remove the stain completely and you may be stuck with the stain. Concrete is porous so you’ll need a cleaner that will penetrate the surface and you’ll need to allow the cleaner time to work on the stain. Try using a paint removing solvent designed for oil-based paints, such as turpentine. Saturate the stain and let it sit for an hour. Rinse with clean water; a bucket will do, but you may have better results with a pressure washer.

358. Gutter Washing

Use a small broom to remove the leaves and debris from the gutters. Then use your hose to flush out any remaining debris. For tough jobs, TSP, hot water and a good brush should work. Always wear gloves when doing this chore to protect your hands from sharp edges. Proceed with caution when high pressure washing, as high pressure can dent the aluminum and/or remove the paint. Just give them a light scrubbing.

359. Tar Removal from Concrete

To remove tar from concrete, you can try using mineral spirits and a nylon scrub brush, but removing tar from concrete is not going to be easy. You may also want to try a commercial product specifically designed for removing tar from concrete, available at your local hardware or home store.

360. Car Wax Removal from Brick Driveway

To remove car was from a brick driveway, squirt some liquid dish detergent (preferably one designed for cutting grease) onto the stain. Add water. Be sure to wet down the area surrounding the stain as well. Scrub the stain vigorously with a nylon scrub brush (not a wire brush which can erode or scratch the concrete), adding enough water to make a rich soapy lather. Rinse with clean water. It may take several attempts to completely remove all of the wax. Another way to remove the wax from the bricks is to spread a thick layer of cat litter over the grease to absorb the excess wax on the surface. Allow the litter to sit for a day or two, then sweep it away.

361. Tree Sap Removal from Outdoor PVC Furniture or Vinyl

To get tree sap off your PVC furniture or Vinyl, try Goof Off (or a product similar to that), or WD40. Spray the product on the stain, rub, and wash with soap and water. If any stain remains, try scrubbing with non-gel toothpaste.

362. Tree Sap Removal from Wood Deck

First, check your deck for any loose boards or nails that might need hammering back into place. Then clean the tree sap off using mineral spirits. Rinse very well, then follow with an all-purpose cleaner and water. Rinse well.

CLEANING CARPET

363. Use Club Soda to Remove Carpet Stains

The key to cleaning carpet stains is to act immediately. The longer you wait to remove carpet stains, the more time the stain has to set. Take a clean, dry cloth and blot until no more of the stain can be lifted. Next, pour club soda on the cloth and blot until the stain is completely removed. Always blot the stain. Vigorous rubbing can cause the stain to spread and that part of the carpet to become worn.

364. Urine Stain and Odor Removal from Carpet

Anyone who has ever owned a dog or a cat knows all about cleaning carpet pet stains. Unfortunately, urine can saturate absorbent materials such as carpet, well beyond the surface area that can effectively be cleaned. It is extremely difficult to remove all of the urine from the carpet fibers, carpet backing and padding underneath, thereby creating ideal conditions for bacteria and mold growth (and thus malodors). However, you might not be ready to replace your items just yet. When cleaning carpets stains such as urine, blot up as much as possible with an absorbent white cloth. The newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area to remove the stain and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product such as PAWS - Pet Accident Washup Solution or Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor persists, repeat the process. PAWS will do an excellent job on old pet stains and odors too. You can also try saturating the area with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then, using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor or stain persists, repeat the process. Another option to remove carpet stains made by urine is baking soda, which can be used to eliminate surface (but not deeply penetrated) odors. Dampen the area with clean water and then sprinkle baking soda over it. Rub the baking soda into the soiled area and let dry; brush or vacuum to remove the dry material.

365. Oil Stain Removal from Carpet

To remove carpet stains that contain oil, you'll first need to absorb the oil. Baking soda and corn starch work best, but talcum powders also can do the trick. First sprinkle the powder liberally onto the stain and leave overnight. The next day, vacuum the powder. If there's still some discoloration left behind, try blotting the stain with a mild dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent formulated to cut oil and grease. Once the stain is lifted, blot again with a clean damp sponge or cloth.

366. Wine Stain Removal from Carpet

Because wine contains tannins, it's sometimes difficult to remove. There are simple solutions to cleaning carpet stains made by both red and wine stains. For instance, if you spill red wine on the carpet, immediately pour a glass of white wine over the stain. The white wine will neutralize the red wine and the stain will disappear. To remove carpet stains caused by white wine, just dab with some vinegar. Both stain removal remedies take less than five minutes!

367. Syrup Removal from Carpet

If dropped on the floor, pancake syrup can make a sticky mess. It can be even messier if it gets embedded into your carpet fibers. When cleaning capert stains consisting of pancake syrup, make up a solution of one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to one teaspoon of warm water. Pour this into a spray bottle and blot to remove carpet stains. Blot again with clean water to remove any sticky, soapy residue from the carpet.

368. Homemade Vacuum Extension

Here's a cleaning carpet tip: If you need a little more reach on your vacuum cleaner hose attachment, try affixing a cardboard tube such as one that holds wrapping paper. The tube can even be smooshed down flat to get into tight spots.

369. Carpet Spot Removal

Cleaning a carpet is simple if you act quickly to remove stains. If you wait, you're giving the stain a chance to further embed itself into the fibers. When cleaning carpet stains, never rub at the spot. Not only will this cause the carpet fibers to weaken, and perhaps create a worn area, but it will also cause the stain to spread and penetrate deeper. If your stain disappears and comes back again, your carpet is a victim of "wicking." (Wicking is when liquid that has pooled around the bottom of a carpet works it's way back up the fibers to the top.) To prevent this, cover the stain with a thick towel and weigh down with a heavy object such as a book or a brick.

370. Coffee Stain Removal from Carpet

Coffee stains on carpet aren't difficult to remove if you act quickly. Here's a good rule of thumb: to remove carpet stains effectively, it's important you get to the task immeidately upon spilling, if you don't you're more likely to incur permanant damage. Dab at the stain with vinegar or club soda until it's removed. If you waited too long and the stain has set in, you should still be able to remove the stain by using dry-cleaning solvent. Blot until the stain is lifted.

371. Grease Stain Removal from Carpet

Try this tip when cleaning carpet stains: Apply a generous layer of baking soda or cornstarch to greasy spots and leave overnight. After vacuuming, the grease should be absorbed. If there is any residue or discoloration left behind, blot with vinegar until the stain is lifted. A dishwashing liquid or detergent specializing in removing grease will also remove carpet stains that are greasy. Make a solution of half detergent and half water and spray directly onto the stain. Blot until the stain is removed. Blot again with a damp sponge to rinse.

372. Wax Removal from Carpet

The last thing any of us need is wax dripped on the carpet. Once it hardens, it seems impossible to remove. All is not lost though. For cleaning carpet stains made by wax, first chip off as much of the surface wax as possible, using a dull knife or paint scraper. Once that is done, place a cloth or several layers of paper towels over the wax and apply a warm iron. Iron the towel for a few minutes and then lift. The wax should now be on the cloth instead of the carpet. Remove carpet stains left behind by blotting with a vinegar, or if it doesn't come up easily, nail polish remover.

373. Tomato or Spaghetti Sauce Stain Removal from Carpet

When cleaning carpet stains that are tomato based, such as spaghetti sauce or tomato soup, you can try using a liquid enzyme detergent, a solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide, or an oxygenated cleaner such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate. When working to remove carpet stains, remember to always test a cleaning product on an inconspicuous spot first. After applying the cleaner, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse with clean water. Always blot carpet stains; don't rub them, so as not to damage the carpet fibers. Work the stain from the outside in, so as not to spread the stain any further.

374. Gum Removal from Carpet

Gum on the carpet can leave behind a sticky, gooey mess! Don't panic if you have to remove carpet stains made by gum, however. It's quite easy. Spray the area with WD-40, or smear with peanut butter and the gum will come right out. There may be a spot left behind from the dye in the gum. Cleaning carpet stains such as this is easy too. All you have to do is blot with a little club soda. No one will ever have to know!

375. Permanent Marker Stain Removal from Carpet

Cleaning carpet stains left by permanent marker isn't difficult if you act swiftly before the stain has a chance to set in. First try hairspray or rubbing alcohol. Spray directly onto the stain to saturate and let sit for thirty to sixty minutes. Blot with a damp sponge or cloth until the stain is removed. If this didn't work, you can try a non-acetate nail polish remover. You may want to test this in a hidden area first however, to be sure you won't damage the carpet further.

376. Chocolate Stain Removal from Carpet

Anyone who has ever had to remove carpet stains will appreciate this tip. If you have chocolate or coffee stains on carpet, dab with straight vinegar. That's all it takes. Blot until the stain is removed and blot again with a damp sponge or cloth to rinse. If the smell of vinegar isn't for you, try a mild else that dishwashing liquid for cleaning carpet stains. Pour some onto a clean cloth and blot until the stain is lifted.

377. Soft Drink Stain Removal from Carpet

Anyone who has ever hosted a party has had to contend with careless guests. They don't spill because they're inconsiderate of course, they 're just having such a good time, they're not paying attention. That can mean only one thing. Spills on the carpet. If you're finding yourself having to remove carpet stains caused by soft drinks, you might be happy to find out this is an easy spot to remove. The last thing you want after a party is to spend a lot of time cleaning carpet stains caused by an overzealous party goer. Pour some vinegar onto a cloth and blot the stain until it's lifted. If you can't live with the smell of vinegar, blot again with a damp sponge.

378. Adhesive Residue Removal from Carpet

If adhesive removal is hindering your carpet cleaning efforts, try this quick tip: WD-40 will effortlessly remove adhesive residue from almost any surface. Rubbing alcohol will also remove this sticky residue, but more elbow grease might be needed. Before removing carpet stains,you'll probably want to test both of these products on a hidden area of your carpet first, but either of these should do the trick. If the adhesive residue isn't cooperating, you might want to try an over the counter product such as Goo Be Gone or Goof Off.

379. Nail Polish Stain Removal from Carpet

Don't cry over spilt nail polish! Manicure mishaps are easily remedied. To remove carpet stains caused by nail polish, just use nail polish remover! Pour onto a cotton ball or clean cloth and blot until the polish has disappeared. Blot again with clean water to remove all residue. Remember, when cleaning carpet stains, especially those made by nail polish, it's important to blot. Don't rub or the nail polish will spread.

380. Dirt Defense

No one likes to spend precious free time cleaning carpet. To save wear and tear as well as time spent cleaning carpet stains and dirt, have everyone remove their shoes upon entering your home. If you don't already have doormats and boot scrapers in place for your guests, it would be a good idea to do so. Try and keep walkways and entrances swept and free of dirt and debris that can be tracked in on one's shoes.

381. Repairing Burned or Melted Carpet Fibers

Unfortuately you can't employ the same techniques used for cleaning carpet stains as you would to repair burns in the carpet. In fact, one can pretty much consider a burn permanant damage. Before you toss your carpet in a dumpster hower, you might try one of these methods to remove carpet stains caused by burns. The first thing you can try is snipping the very top fibers of the carpet. If the burn is too far down in the fibers, you can cut out the burned spot with an exacto knife and cut out another piece exactly the same size and shape from a carpet remnant or hidden area of the carpet. Paint a little glue on the sides of the piece of carpet and glue into place. Hopefully no one will ever notice.

382. Grape Juice Stain Removal from Carpet

The tannins in grape juice can make it difficult to remove carpet stains made up of this dark purple liquid. Club soda can help with this. Pour some directly on the carpet and blot. You can also try cleaning carpet with a solution of vinegar and a mild dishwashing liquid. Again, dab until the stain is removed. Blot again with a damp cloth to remove any residue.

383. Ending Carpet Static

In addition to cleaning carpet stains, you might want to remove static electricity as well. To do this, put a dryer sheet on the bottom of a swiffer duster or dry sponge mop and run over the carpet. Replace the sheet as needed. If you prefer liquid fabric softener, this too will remove static from the carpet. Pour some fabric softener into a spray and dilute with water, about one part fabric softener to five parts of water. Spritz your carpet with this solution and static,and the shock that comes will it, will be eliminated.

384. Vomit Stain and Odor Removal from Carpet

To remove carpet stains and odor such as those made by vomit, the newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area to remove the stain and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the stain or odor persists, repeat the process. You can also try saturating the area with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then, using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the stain or odor persists, repeat the process. Another option for cleaning carpet stains is baking soda, which can be used to eliminate surface (but not deeply penetrated) odors. Dampen the area with clean water and then sprinkle baking soda over it. Rub the baking soda into the soiled area and let dry; brush or vacuum to remove the dry material.

385. Glue Removal from Carpet

Crafty people are usually meticulous with their work. Every now and then however, accidents happen. What do you do, for instance, if glue spills onto the carpet? Don't panic that's for sure. Cleaning carpet stains made from glue is simple and doesn't take long at all. Act quickly while the glue is still wet and blot with a warm sponge. When no more of the glue can be lifted in this manner, soak a rag in warm vinegar and lay it over the stain for thirty minutes. The glue should wipe clean after this time. If the glue has already dried, gently scrape away anything that's hardened using a butter or putty knife. When no more hardened glue can be removed, apply the vinegar soaked towel. If worse comes to worse and none of these methods for cleaning carpet stains work, use a dry cleaning solvent. Read the packaging to make sure it will work on your particular carpet and blot until the stain is lifted.

386. Milk Stain and Odor Removal from Carpet

You may have noticed a couple of days after cleaning carpet stains such as milk, the spots come back. This may be due to wicking. Wicking happens when the carpet becomes saturated and the liquid pools at the bottom. After a while, it starts to work it's way back up through the fibers making the stain reappear on your carpet. It is extremely difficult to remove all of the liquid from the carpet fibers, carpet backing and padding underneath, thereby creating ideal conditions for bacteria and mold growth (and thus malodors). However, you might not be ready to replace your carpet just yet, so here are a few things you can do to eliminate the carpet odor. When you first begin to remove carpet stains, blot up as much of the liquid as possible with an absorbent white cloth. Place another thick cloth on the carpet and weigh down with something heavy so all of the liquid is absorbed. When that's done, go ahead and sanitize the area. The newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, which will penetrate into the carpet. Allow Bio-OX to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the stain or odor persists, repeat the process. You can also use baking soda to eliminate surface (but not deeply penetrated) odors. Dampen the area with clean water and then sprinkle baking soda over it. Rub the baking soda into the soiled area and let dry; brush or vacuum to remove the dry material.

387. Crayon Mark Removal from Carpet

It used to be that to remove carpet stains caused by crayons, one would have to scrape off as much crayon as possible with a butter knife. After than a cloth or paper towel would be placed over the area, and it would be pressed with a warm (not hot)

iron. When the towel was lifted, the crayon would be removed. There's a new method for cleaning carpet stains that are wax based, however. WD-40! Just spray on, leave for a minute or two and wipe off! What could be easier than that?

388. Protecting Furniture During Carpet Cleaning

Here's a household hint. Before cleaning carpet stains with a steam cleaner, slip plastic baggies over your furniture legs. This will not only protect your furniture legs from the steam cleaner, it will also protect your carpet from stains caused by rusty metal chair legs.

389. Hair Dye Stain Removal from Carpet

An unfortunate accident with hair dye can make cleaning carpet a nightmare. In many cases, it may even mean the end of your carpet. Hopefully it won't come to this. There are a few things you can try to remove carpet stains of this nature. First of all, it should go without saying that if hair dye is spilled on the carpet one should act immediately. Dampen a sponge and apply dishwashing liquid. Blot the stain with the sponge until you've lifted as much of the dye as possible. You can also try doing the same thing with vinegar. If this doesn't work and the stain hasn't set into the carpet too deep, you might be able to snip the very top fibers of the carpet without anyone knowing. If none of this works, you'll have to call in a professional who makes cleaning carpet stains his business or rearrange your furniutre to hide the stain.

390. Oil Paint on Carpet

Before employing any chemicals for cleaning carpet stains caused by oil paint, first test in a hidden area such as inside a closet or under a piece of furniture. The last thing you want to do is incur further damage. To remove carpet stains such as these, first try a little paint thinner. Dab as gently as possible until all of the paint is removed. If this doesn't work or no paint thinner is available, try using some dry cleaning solvent. If the paint hasn't penetrated deep into the carpet fibers and it won't be noticebale, snip a little bit off the top of the carpet. If none of these will work, contact your carpet care professional.

391. Bleach Stain Removal from Carpet

A bleach stain doesn't have to be the end of your carpet. If it's not a huge spot, you can get away with repairing the spot and no one will be the wiser. It's not as simple as cleaning carpet stains, but it's cheaper than tossing your rug out to the curb. Cut a swatch from a hidden area of your carpet or leftover remnant. Take your swatch to your local crat store and see if you can find a fabric paint or dye that will match your carpet.If this isn't a viable option, a professional who can remove carpet stains may even be able to recommend a product to use to get the color back into your carpet.

392. Rust Stain Removal from Carpet

It's important to keep the area around metal furniture legs dry. If not, we might end up with rust stains on our carpets. These unsightly orange stains can set in and become a permant part of the décor if we don't act quickly enough. It's best to act immediately upon seeing the stain. To remove carpet stains caused by rust, it's best to use an acid-based cleaner. Vinegar and lemon juice work well for this task because they're both contain acids. A cleaner containing oxalic acid will also work at cleaning carpet stains such as rust.

393. Jell-o and other Gelatin Stain Removal from Carpet

The dyes in Kool-Aid, Gatorade and Jell-o generally result in a permanent stain. However, you can still try to remove carpet stains caused by these products. The newest technology uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area to remove the stain and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the soiled area, and then allow it to penetrate for approximately five minutes. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly (do not rub) for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the odor persists, repeat the process. Another option for cleaning carpet stains such as these is to use ordinary household and blot at the stain using a clean cloth. When cleaning carpet stains with ammonia, wear a mask or turn you head so you don't inhale the fumes.

394. Gasoline Stain Removal from Carpet

Spilled gasoline can certainly make cleaning carpet stains a challenge. Not only is it unsightly, but it smells. Fortunately there are simple ways to remove carpet stains caused by gasoline. If you're able to get to the stain immediately, blot until as much of the stain is lifted as possible. Once all of the gas has been blotted, cover the stain with kitty litter or baking soda. This will not only absorb the gas, but the smell as well. Leave for a couple of hours, or even over night. The next morning vacuum away all kitty litter and get to work on cleaning carpet stains. First try vinegar, which will also remove any lingering smell. Blot until the stain is lifted. A mild dishwashing liquid should work much in the same manner. Once the stain is lifted, blot again with a damp sponge.

395. Repairing Cigarette Burns in Carpet

If you come across a cigarette burn in your cleaning carpet ritual, you'll need to do some simple repair work. First snip away the singed edges with fine manicure scissors or a razor blade. Use tweezers to pull out the severely burned fibers and discard. Remove clean carpet strands from another, hidden area in the room. Apply glue to the burned area, and press the clean fibers into the spot. Press the area with a heavy object for several days before walking on it.

396. Dry Erase Marker Stain Removal from Carpet

Sometimes, when we're going through our carpet cleaning ritual, we come across stains that are a bit more unusual. Take for instance dry erase maker stains. While these aren't common, there are ways to remove carpet stains created by this product. Hairspray, the old tried and true remedy for removing ink stains is your best best. Spray an alcohol-based hair spray directly onto the carpet to saturate, let sit for about fifteen minutes and blot until the stain is removed. Don't forget this important tip for cleaning carpet stains: Always blot a stain, never rub. Rubbing the stain will only cause it to spread. It will also wear away the fibers. In additon to hairspray, alchohol will remove carpet stains caused by these markers. Apply the hairspray directly to the carpet and blot. Blot again with a damp sponge to clean away any residue left behind.

397. Road Salt Removal from Carpet

Rock or road salt works wonders for melting snow. The only problem is, we end up tracking it into our homes. This means we also end up having to remove carpet stains caused by this salt. It's only a minor inconvenience, however. If dealt with immediately, there's no need for road salt to cause permanant damage. For cleaning carpet stains caused by road salt, first vacuum completely. Next spray the stains with a solution of half vinegar and half water. Let this sit for fifteen or twenty minutes and blot with a damp sponge. Next time it snows, have everyone leave their shoes at the door.

398. Miracle Grow Stain Removal from Carpet

Miracle grow, the popular ferilizer is much better suited to a garden than a carpet. Although one would assume one would go through life without cleaning carpet stains left behind by fertilizer, accidents do happen. If for some reason you need to remove carpet stains made when Miracle Grow is spilled, you can probably clean it off if you act quickly. First vacuum or pick up any powder or soid material, be as gentle as possible however, so as not to grind the product further into your carpet. If spots still remain on your carpet, Spray the mark with shaving foam and let sit for about thirty minutes. After which, blot with a clean damp cloth.

399. Zinc Oxide (Desitin) Stain Removal from Carpet

When diapering a baby on a carpet, be sure to take the proper precautions and lay a towel or changing mat underneath the baby. Zinc Oxide, the active ingredient in most diaper rash ointments, can leave a spot behind. To remove carpet stains made by zinc oxide, wipe away as much as you can with a clean cloth. Cover the remaining stain with baking soda to absorb any grease and let sit for an hour or so. When time is up, continue cleaning carpet by blotting any residue left behind with a mild dish soap. Wipe clean with a damp cloth, and no one will ever know a baby's bottom touched your floor!

400. Tar Removal from Carpet

If tar has somehow found it's way onto your carpet, don't panic. There's a simple solution for cleaning carpet stains caused by tar, and it only takes minutes. Spray WD-40, the lubricant with thousands of uses, directly onto the tar. Leave it for about ten or fifteen minutes and wipe off with a clean cloth. You may have to repeat this a couple of times, but soon your carpet will look the same as it did before the tar was tracked in.

401. Hairspray Removal from Carpet

When hairspray spills on the carpet, it's imperative one acts quickly before the stain hardens. If you're not fast enough, all is not lost, it's really not difficult to remove carpet stains such as this. Ask yourself, what happens when hair spray builds up in my hair? You shampoo it, right? The same method will work here. For cleaning carpet of hardened hairspray, just blot with a little clarifying shampoo and water. In just about every case, this will be enough to do the trick. Just keep blotting until all of the hairspray and its stickiness is removed.

402. Drying Area Rugs

Cleaning area rugs can be done much in the same manner as cleaning carpet. If spot cleaning and vacuuming isn't enough however, your rug can either be laundered in the washing machine or hosed down outside. Check your manufacturers care instructions to see if the rug can be put in the clothes dryer. If this is not recommended, hang it to dry outside. If it's too thick for clothes pins, try pants or skirt hangers to afix the rug to the clothesline.

403. Removing Stuck on Carpet Padding

It's tough enough having to remove carpet stains. It's even worse if one removes carpet padding only to find part of it is still glued to your floor. If you are removing old carpet in your home and find that the under padding is stuck to the floor underneath, you should be able to removeit using a commercial glue remover. Two commercial products that may also help are called Foam Off, or CitriStrip. You can also try to soak the residue with hot water, and scrape it off. A paint removing product may also help.

404. Plaster Removal from Carpet

If you're cleaning carpet stains made up of plaster, in most cases all you'll need is a good vacuum. A shop vac is especially good for this task. Once all of the plaster and powder is removed, cover the stain in a thick cloth saturated with dishwashing liquid. Leave for an hour or so to loosen the remaining plaster and blot clean with a sponge.

CAR CLEANING

405. Cleaning Car Windshields

The best solution for cleaning windshields is 1/2 cup baking soda mixed with a quart of warm water. This will clean insects off the windshield and clean the wipers. Apply with a piece of mesh onion bag wrapped around a sponge.

406. Automobile Carpet Freshener

To freshen the carpet in your car, and deodorize, sprinkle the carpet with either commercial carpet deodorizer or baking soda. Let set for 30 minutes, then vacuum. This should leave your car smelling clean and fresh.

407. Tree Sap Removal from Car Exterior

To get tree sap off your car, you can try Goof Off (or a product similar to that), or WD40. Spray the product on the stain, rub, and rinse well. For a homemade treatment, try using mayonnaise in a similar fashion. You may want to test the product you choose in a hidden area to ensure that it won’t harm the finish on your car.

408. Skunk Odor Removal from Car Exterior

If you are unfortunate enough to encounter a skunk with your car, you can remove the odor by dissolving one cup of dry mustard in a bucket of water. Use this solution to wash your car. Use a mop to wipe the wheels and underbody, repeating if necessary.

409. Cleaning Car Ashtrays

To help eliminate odors and extinguish cigarettes, place either baking soda or kitty litter in your car’s ashtray. This will deodorize your car and help prevent it from smelling like cigarette smoke.

410. Gasoline Stain Removal from Car Interior

To remove a gasoline stain from your car’s interior, treat the stain with a mixture of one teaspoon each of vinegar (to remove the odor) and mild dish detergent (to clean the stain) in a quart of warm water. Let the area dry, and if any spot remains, you may need to repeat. If this does not seem to be working, try using dry-cleaning solvent.

411. Crayon on Upholstery

To get crayon marks off upholstery, first scrape excess crayon off with a dull-edge knife or metal spoon. Spray with WD-40 and let stand a few minutes. With a small, stiff bristle brush work crayon stain and wipe with paper towels. Respray with WD-40 and apply liquid dishwashing detergent on the sprayed area; work in with the brush and wipe stain away with a damp sponge. If stain remains, repeat the procedure.

412. Bumper Sticker Removal

You can remove bumper stickers by saturating them with hot vinegar, salad oil, or nail polish remover. Lighter fluid is also effective, but since it is flammable, use it with caution. If any residue remains, you can remove it with WD-40 and scrub with nylon netting or a stiff brush.

413. Battery Acid Stain Removal from Car Upholstery

To remove battery acid from your car upholstery, rub a paste of baking soda and water into the spot right away, leave for two hours, then wipe off with a damp cloth. Repeat if necessary. Any remaining residue can be cleaned off with a commercial upholstery cleaner, or mix 1/2 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent in a quart of warm water. Beat with a mixer, then clean the upholstery using only the suds. Work on a small area at a time, overlapping areas to avoid spotting. Change the rinse water frequently to keep it clean. Let dry thoroughly.

414. Rubber Removal from Car Exterior

To remove rubber from spinning tires off of the paint on your car there are a few things you can try: 1) Try mixing equal parts of ammonia and warm water and scrub with a sponge. 2) Try rinsing your car with white vinegar, using a solution of 3 parts soft water to 1 part white vinegar, increasing the vinegar content as needed. 3) Try Goo Be Gone, Goof Off or WD40. Spray the product on the stain, rub, and rinse well. You could also try mayonnaise in a similar fashion.

415. Permanent Marker Removal from Car Exterior

Permanent marker is not easy to get off a car’s exterior without damaging the paint. However, there is a product called Stoner Xenit Citrus Cleaner which claims it can do just that. I haven’t tried it, so I’d advise doing a little more research on it first.

416. Hard Water Stain Removal from Car Exterior

To remove hard water stains on your car, try rinsing your car with white vinegar, using a solution of 3 parts soft water to 1 part white vinegar, increasing the vinegar content as needed. Be careful to only wash your car in the shade, or in the evening, as the sun will dry the water quickly and cause more spots. You may also want to try using crumpled newspaper for polishing your car, as it will leave a nice shine and prevent spots. You may want to treat your car with a commercial product, such as Rain-X to stop the stains from returning.

BATHROOM CLEANING

417. Fast Toilet Cleanup

The least desireable bathroom cleaning task is probably washing the toilet. Unappealing? Yes, but completely necessary. Here are some bathroom cleaning tips to assist you in this endeavor. Drop a couple of denture cleaning tablets in and let them fizz for a while. You might also consider pouring two cups of vinegar into the bowl and letting it sit for an hour, Your scrubbing should be minimal. If you have difficult to remove hard water stains from the sides of the bowl, try rubbing them with a pumice stone or filling the bowl with vinegar and leaving it to sit over night.

418. Unclogging Drains

Hair and goo can build inside your sink causing your drains to empty slowly, giving you something else to contend with during your bathroom cleaning ritual. Drop a couple of alka seltzer tablets into a slow drain and follow with a vinegar chaser. After a few minutes, rinse with hot water. Your drain will be as good as new. Would you like another bathroom cleaning tip? Baking soda will not only clear up clogged drains, but it will also keep them smelling fresh. Try this: pour one half cup of salt and one cup of baking soda down the drain and let it sit overnight. In the morning chase it with a pot (two to three cups) of boiling water.

419. Grout Mold and Mildew Removal

When cleaning a bathroom, be sure to pay particular attention to grout which can harbor mold or mildew if not properly maintained. If mildew does start to creep up on you, try cleaning with a dilute solution of chlorine bleach in water (one cup bleach to three cups water, increasing the bleach as necessary). Spray or sponge it on, wait a few minutes, then rinse well with clean water. Commercial mildew remover sprays can also be used. When using chemicals for cleaning bathroom tiles, be sure to wear rubber gloves and rinse the area well after cleaning. A less hazardous method is to use a peroxide based cleaner, such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate. Wet the area, spray Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the mildew, wait a few minutes then scrub with an old toothbrush. If the stains are particularly stubborn, you may want to use a stronger dilution of Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate.

420. Toilet Bowl Stain Removal

It may be an unconventional bathroom cleaning product, but a can of Coca- Cola will remove stains from inside your toilet bowl. Just pop the top and pour it in. Let it sit for about an hour, giving the acid some time to work and then flush. Here's another unusual bathroom cleaning tip: drop a couple of Alka Seltzer tablets into your toilet. Let these dissolve and go to work and then flush. If you'd rather use a more conventional household item for bathroom cleaning, pour vinegar in the bowl and let it sit overnight.

421. Rust Removal from Sinks, Tubs, Toilets and Tile

Cleaning a bathroom shouldn't be a daunting task. The appearance of rust on sinks, tubs and bathroom tiles can be enough to put off even the most creative housekeeper. Cleaning bathroom rust isn't difficult however. It can accomplished with several items found in the kitchen. Lemon juice left to sit on the offending spot for at least 30 minutes should be enough to remove the rust. White vinegar works much in the same manner. It may take a couple of applications, but either of these household staples should be enough. If they're not, you may want to try something a little stronger such as ordinary household bleach or a cleaning product contain oxalic acid.

422. Lime and Other Mineral Deposits Removal

Hard water can cause lime and other minerals to build up on your bathroom fixtures and make bathroom cleaning a nightmare. The easiest way to remove lime or other mineral buildup from your bathroom is by using an acidic cleaner. You can also try common household staples such as white vinegar, lemon juice, or a cleaner containing oxcalic acid, which is best for rusty stains.

423. Quick Sink and Toilet Clean Up

For cleaning bathroom quickly, use baby wipes! These handy sheets aren't only great for wiping baby's bottom. They can also be used for efficiently wiping surfaes such as countertops and behind the toilet. If you liked that speedy bathroom cleaning tip, try this one: use a damp dryer sheet to remove soap scum from shower doors and walls. Not only does it remove this unsightly film, but it leaves the room smelling clean and fresh.

424. Cleaning Shower Heads

We don't usually consider our shower heads when cleaning a bathroom, but we should. Especially if we have what is considered "hard water." Lime and mineral deposits can clog the holes of the shower head giving us less water pressure, which means a less productive shower. Fortuanately there's a simple bathroom cleaning tip to hand this. Warm some vinegar in a microwave and pour into a ziplock bag large enough to place your shower fixture. Leave the shower head in the warm vinegar bath for about an hour. After that time, discard the vinegar and use a toothbrush to clean off any remaining mineral deposits. Rinse in warm water.

425. Cleaning Mirrors

Hurried morning grooming can mean a mess later if we're not careful. If your vanity mirror is dull from hairspray buildup try this bathroom cleaning tip: Washing the mirror with a solution of clairfying shampoo and water will eliminate the sticky haze caused by sprays. For a no-lint shine, wipe clean with a lint free cloth such as a cloth diaper or coffee filter. A cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol will not only help to remove hairspray buildup from the mirrors but will also assist in cleaning bathroom tiles of sticky hair care products.

426. Fiberglass Soap Scum Removal

If left to languish, soap scum will harden, giving you a bathroom cleaning nightmare. Acting quickly will prevent this from happening. Keep a cloth or squeegee in your shower to wipe down the walls as soon as you're finished bathing. It's best to tackle the problem while the shower walls and doors are still wet. If it's too late and the soap scum has hardened onto your wall, this bathroom cleaning tip will help. Dampen a dryer sheet and wipe the walls., The soap scum will come off easily.

427. Cleaning Grout

It's not enough to give tile a wipe down every now and then. If not cleaned properly, grout will turn gray and dingy. Try this safe home remedy for cleaning bathroom tiles. Make a paste of baking soda and peroxide, apply to your grout, rub in with an old toothbrush and let sit for at least 30 minutes. For more heavy duty bathroom cleaning, dip your toothbrush in some bleach and give the grout a good scrub. Rinse by cleaning with a damp sponge.

428. Brass Fixtures

Brass fixtures look beautiful in a bathroom, but with them come a certain responsibility. While polishing brass might not be one of the more pleasureable aspects of cleaning a bathroom, it doesn't have to be tedious. To get your brass to shine, cut a lemon in half and dip it in some salt. Rub this on the brass and wipe with a clean cloth. If you don't have a lemon handy, make a paste from vinegar, salt and flour. Rub this into the brass and dry with a thick cotton cloth. Remember this cautionary bathroom cleaning tip: Before using a commercial brass cleaning product, test in a hidden area. Sometimes cleaning products will leave behind a film.

429. Bathtub Stain Removal

It's a sad fact of life. Bathtubs can take on stains, mostly caused by mineral build up from hard water. No one who handles bathroom cleaning should have to contend with bathtub stains. If you do find yourself with this problem keep this bathroom cleaning tip in mind: Use Borax for removing hard water stains.Just sprinkle some onto the offending area, let sit for a few minutes, and wipe with a damp sponge.

430. Cleaning Shower Doors

Soap scum is made up of talc, body oils and minerals from hard water. If left to dry, soap scum removal can be one of the most difficult parts of cleaning a bathroom, but it doesn't have to be that way. To eliminate this problem, first try a little preventative maintenance. Keep a squeegee in your bathroom to wipe down shower doors and walls after every bath or shower. In addition, if you use a bar soap, you might want to consider switching to a liquid soap since it doesn't contain talc. Finally, here's a quick soap scum removal tip: use a dryer sheet! Just dampen and wipe along your shower door, soap scum will no longer be an issue. This also works for cleaning bathroom tiles of this unsightly film as well.

431. Chrome Fixtures

If not properly maintained, chrome fixtures can become dull and cloudy. After cleaning a bathroom, you want your chrome fixtures to sparkle! For blinding brilliance, make a paste of baking soda and dishwashing liquid. Apply this to your chrome fixtures and rub clean with a cloth. Warm vinegar will also make your bathroom shine. Here's an additional bathroom cleaning tip: To clean stains from your bathroom chrome and tile, use baby oil! Wipe off with a cloth diaper for a lint free shine.

432. Toilet Cleaning

Paper towels work really well for cleaning toilets. You can use a cleaning product first to wipe down the toilet and then use a dry paper towel to wipe up the remaining hair and dirt that is left on the toilet. Some materials, such as hair, wipe up better with a dry paper towel. By using one wet paper towel and one dry one you can capture all the material that is on the toilet.

433. Yellow Stain Removal from Tub

The downfall of having a white tub is that stains have no where to hide. Hard water and time can turn a bathtub yellow, no matter how much bathroom cleaning you do.If you'd liketo remove yellow stains from your tub, make a paste from cream of tarter and peroxide. Scrub with a brush and rinse thoroughly.

434. Urine Odor Removal from Tile and Grout

Cleaning a bathroom sometimes means removing urine odor from tile and grout. To do this in an efficient manner means getting to the root of the problem.. The newest technology for cleaning bathroom tiles uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product like PAWS - Pet Accident Washup Solution on the area, allow to sit for 10 minutes and then wipe clean. Baking soda will also neutralize the smell of urine from in between your bathroom tiles. Make a paste of baking soda and water and clean with a toothbrush. Let site for about 30 minutes and wipe with a damp sponge. If the odor persists, repeat until the odor is gone.

435. Whirlpool Bath Cleaning

Whirl pool tubs are great for soothing our aching bones and helping us to relax. In order for them to function properly however, a little preventative maintenance is in order. Once a month, when going about your normal bathroom cleaning, fill your tub with warm water and a half cup of bleach. Shut off the air induction and let your water jets run for a good half hour. Afterward rinse with clear water. Here's a bathroom cleaning tip just for whirlpool tubs: to keep things in working order, never use bubble or foam bath products. They can leave a residue on the tub's mechanisms and cause them to malfunction. If you're into bubbles, try a low foam bath salt.

437. Rubber Bath Mat Mold and Mildew Removal

If you'd rather not spend your bathroom cleaning time scrubbing mold and mildew from your bath mat, be sure to hang it after each use. If your bath mat has become a victim of mold and mildew, you have several recourses. You can wash it in the washing machine (cold or warm water please, and don't put it in the dryer!) or you can use Borax to clean and disinfect. Sprinkle it on and scrub it off. Keeping the mat as dry as possible between uses is the key to mold and mildew prevention.

438. Defogging Your Bathroom Mirror

No one wants to waste precious time in the morning defogging a bathroom mirror.Rather than spend time during your hurried morning shower, why not try this bathroom cleaning tip? Make mirror defogging part of your weekly bathroom cleaning ritual. To prevent your mirror from fogging after your shower, clean it once a week it with a solution of dishwashing liquid and water. For a more unconventional method, rub the mirror with shaving cream, and rub it off well with a soft cloth. If your mirror has already fogged, aim a hot air dryer towards it and it will clear in no time.

439. Acrylic Bathtub Care and Cleaning

Here's a bathroom cleaning caution: An acrylic tub takes a bit of care. Don't use heavy chemicals or abrasives as these will scratch or otherwise damage the tub. Instead follow these bathroom cleaning tips for acrylic tubs: Most everyday dirt and grime can be wiped away with a damp cloth or a mild dish detergent. If a heavier product is necessary, ammonia will clean without damaging the finish.

440. Decal Removal

The problem with applying decals to a bathtub is that they'll eventually need to be removed. This isn't easy. If you're undergoing a bathroom cleaning seach and destroy mission to eliminate decals, you'll appreciate the following advice: Warm vinegar will loosen decal adhesive. To give the offending decals the heave-ho, saturate a thick cloth with vinegar warmed in the microwave or on the stove. Place the cloth over the decals and let sit for an hour or two. You should be able to scrape the decals away with a paint scraper. (Be careful not to scratch your tub's finish.). If vinegar isn't your thing, here's another bathroom cleaning tip: try WD-40. This handy lubricant is a whiz at removing any kind of adhesive. Spray on, let sit and gently scrape away the decal. Remember, WD-40 is slippery, so be sure to prevent accidents by cleaning up with a grease fighting soap such as dishwashing liquid.

441. Bathroom Cleaning Tips

Cleaning properly means getting into all of those corners and crevices where dirt and bacteria can hide. To do this more efficiently, keep an old toothbrush with your bathroom cleaning supplies. This will help you get into hard to reach areas such as behind the faucet. Also great for those hard to reach places is an angled dish brush. This will easily assist you in cleaning bathroom tiles behind the toilet and other tight places.

442. Funky Towel, Towel Got the Funk!

After a bath or shower, water softens the top layer of our skin. Bath towels that we rub all over our bodies pick up these microscopic bits of skin and other flora and fauna and get trapped in the fibers. Eventually, after enough use, the fibers become overloaded with skin cells and give off a yucky smell. (The same thing will happen with dishcloths and bits of food.) This just won't go away, no matter how many times you wash them. You could try bleaching them but if they are dyed this will fade the color- and it's a temporary fix at best. Sometimes, you have to 'throw in the towel' and buy some new ones