How To Clean Anything

September 21, 2010July 7, 2023

Perspiration

Sweat stains can certainly damage fabrics, so staining maybe beyond cleaning if damage has occurred. Perspiration contains chloride salts.

To remove the stains, soak the clothes in warm water with an enzyme pre-soak product (Spectra or Fade Away are two popular brands) or rub 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.

Always try a small area to test for colorfastness first.

September 9, 2010July 7, 2023

Grey Laundry

Had a question recently submitted asking about grey or dull clothes after washing.

Besides just having old or worn out items of clothes that you just can’™t bear to part with here are some ideas to address grey or yellowing in your laundry:

Try increasing the amount of detergent, depending on the hardness of your water you would need more or less detergent.
Increase the temperature or use bleach for whites.
Use a color safe bleach for colors.
Try using a bluing agent to brighten up laundry too. Some popular bluing agents are Mrs. Stewart, Bluette, and Reckitts blue.

Natural Laundry Whitening Tips

Baking Soda

To whiten clothing with baking soda, add about ½ cup into the wash plus your regular detergent. Clothes will come out whiter and brighter without chemicals.

Vinegar

Vinegar is another wonder ingredient you can use to whiten clothes naturally without bleach. If the smell scares you, don’t worry, your clothes won’t smell like vinegar. The smell may linger in your washing machine for a bit but your clothes won’t smell.

Simply add about ¾ cup of vinegar to your wash along with your regular detergent to whiten clothes naturally without bleach.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide is an excellent alternative to bleach and can be used successfully to whiten clothes naturally without bleach.

Add about ½ cup to your wash with regular detergent and your clothes will come out as whiter than ever.

Borax

Borax is often advertised as a laundry brightener and can be found in your grocery store’s laundry aisle. It’s a naturally occurring mineral that has long been valued for its whitening properties. Borax is used in all sorts of natural cleaning products. I use it to clean anything from toilets to dishes. But most of all, it will whiten clothes naturally without bleach.

Add about ½ cup of Borax to a regular load of laundry, along with your regular detergent for whiter, brighter clothes instantly.

Sunlight

That’s right! Sunlight is one of the best tools we have available to whiten clothes naturally without bleach. If you have a clothes line, simply hang your clothing out to dry in the warm sun. The sun will whiten and refresh your clothes like nothing else.

For the best whitening results, wash your clothes with regular detergent plus one of the above mentioned natural laundry whiteners. Then, hang the clothes out to dry in the sun. You’ll be amazed at how much whiter they are and it was all done without bleach or harsh chemicals.

September 5, 2010July 7, 2023

Problem Stains to Avoid…

Here are the top 5 stains that you want avoid, prevention here is key. Spilling and resulting stains can or will damage as well stain surfaces.

1. Bleach (includes automatic dishwasher liquid)

2. Acids (tile or toilet bowl cleaners, urine or vomit are acidic as well)

3. Hair dyes (dyes…)

4. Alkaline based cleaners (like drain cleaner, or oven cleaner)

5. Kool Aid or other fruity drinks or teas (if its red or pink look out)

Use prevention as the best cleaning technique spills any of these items will present extreme to impossible stain busting challenges.

September 5, 2010July 7, 2023

Carpet cleaning general tips

Really the number one best remedy is to act very quickly. This is the best way to treat any stain. In fact this weekend I was painting my daughters room when I carelessly rolled the paint roller onto the carpet, not just a little drop of paint either. I left at least a 3 by 2 inch blotch of paint on the carpet. So immediately I grab several terry towels and cleaning cloths and a cup of water (thankfully the paint was water based). I blot up with the dry terry cleaning towel, and then apply water to the stain and blot using a dry towel until the stain was completely removed. This took several applications of a little water and blotting action with the dry towels. Leaving this stain for any amount of time would have left the carpet with a permanent purple stain. However the quick action left no evidence of my carelessness.

Here are some other general carpet cleaning tips:

Blot or scrape up if the spill is thicker than a regular liquid (cat vomit etc.), remove as much as you can this first.

Never scrub or rub a spill, you will end up spreading and pushing the stain deeper.

Apply water or stain remover from the outside in on the stain and blot up…

If you use a stain remover test a small spot first in an unseen area to be sure its safe on your carpet. However if you act right away most stains can be cleaning with water and a small amount of dish detergent mixed in, then rinse with plain water.

August 24, 2010July 7, 2023

Cleaning Spa Filters

The pleated spa filter should be chemically cleaned about once every two months, and should be inspected and rinsed every month. This removes oils, dirt and scale residue and reduces the strain on the spa pump motor. Use a powdered filter cleaner, submerge filter in bucket and add chemical according the label instructions. Let sit overnight and then rinse filter. Using a filter cleaning attachment for your hose is a good idea, it shoots the water with higher pressure and you are able to direct it into the pleats better. Pleated spa filters should last a long time a few years or more with regular maintenance, but once the material begins to visably degrade you should replace the filter.

August 23, 2010July 7, 2023

Soapstone Countertops

Immediately wipe the spill using fresh cleaning cloths and a neutral cleaner. Soapstone stains easily. Avoid abrasive cleaners, bleach, oil, vinegar or acidic cleaners, ammonia. Always rinse with clean water to avoid residue.

August 17, 2010July 7, 2023

Light Switchplates

Light switch plates are an excellent place for germs to spread from family member to family member. Take the time to wipe these down with the regular cleaning chores. Spray a general purpose cleaner on a cleaning cloth and wipe. Don’t ever spray the switch plate directly or use too much water since you are close to a power source. For heavy restorative cleaning, I have taken switch plates off the wall, washed them in the dishwasher and then put them back. Door jams are also often over looked for cleaning and they are often touched by people, mostly children going in and out of rooms.

August 17, 2010July 7, 2023

Butcher block quick tips…

Butcher Block

Using a mild soap and water Wipe the butcher block and wipe dry immediately. Don’t allow moisture to sit on butcher block it give bacteria etc. a breeding ground to grow.

August 12, 2010July 7, 2023

Pet hair driving you crazy?

I recently received an email asking how to control out of control pet hair…

Here are some ideas to help reduce the amount of hair in the house. Unfortunately they all involve extra work. I love my pets but hate all the extra hair in the house. The first step is to groom or brush the pet outdoors, a simple but effective way yo reduce pet hair. Cover pillows and mattresses with dustmite covers, which are also resistant to hairs getting stuck to them. Use a HEPA filter in your living areas (family room etc) and use a vacuum with HEPA or a high level of filtration, cheap vacuums don’t pick up the finer particles of dust and or hair as well.

When dusting use a slightly damp cloth to more effectively remove the hairs. Also a big help is the removal of carpets and installation of hard floors. Its far easier to see the hair, although you will end up vacuuming more (seems like I have to vacuum almost everyday or every other day). But you will have a cleaner and more dust and hair free home.

August 11, 2010September 16, 2010

Glass cooktops

Here is a excellent tip submitted by Lisa, I have never seen the name brand of cooktop cleaner in my area but I will definitely look for it based on Lisa recommendation.

I clean houses for a living, and the best way to clean a glass cooktop is to purchase a bottle of Weiman Glass Cooktop Cleaner. Squirt a generous amount onto the cooktop and spread around with a wet paper towel then wipe off with a dry paper towel until the cooktop shines. For cooked on stains, VERY CAREFULLY use a paring knife or other knife with a sharp, straight edge held almost parallel to the surface to scrape the residue from the surface before removing the cleaner with the dry paper towel. You may have to use more cleaner or wipe it away and reapply it to get everything. This works extremely well, and I have had clients ask me how I get their cooktop so clean.