Cleaning and Disinfecting Hints

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CLEANING HINTS

 

Buy the cheapest liquid dish washing detergent that you can find,

add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the dish water first. The

vinegar cuts the grease and leaves the dishes sparkling clean. When

you empty all of liquid laundry detergent, place the container in

the bathroom. Then when you need to do hand washing like hose or

lingerie, run hot water in the detergent container to use whatever

soap is left inside the container, VERY HANDY!

 

Soap. Regular cleaning with plain soap and hot water will kill some

bacteria. Keep things dry. Mold, mildew, and bacteria cannot live

without moisture. Borax has long been recognized for its

disinfectant and deodorizing properties. Mix 1/2 cup Borax into 1

gallon hot water and clean with this solution. Isopropyl Alcohol.

This is an excellent disinfectant. Sponge and allow to dry. (It must

dry to do its job.) Use in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves.

 

Decal and Gummed Label Remover: Vinegar. To remove non slip

appliques and strips from bathtubs, saturate a cloth or sponge and

squeeze hot vinegar over decals. Vinegar also removes stick-on hooks

from painted walls. Saturate a cloth or sponge with vinegar and

squeeze the liquid behind the hook so that the vinegar comes in

contact with the adhesive. In addition, vinegar can be used to

remove price labels and other decals from glass, wood, and china.

Paint the label or decal with several coats of white vinegar. Give

the vinegar time to soak in and after several minutes the decal can

be rubbed off.

 

Concrete Grease Spot Remover: To remove grease from concrete

flooring sprinkle dry cement over grease. Allow it to absorb the

grease, then sweep up.

 

Coffee Stains: To remove coffee stains from cups or counters, rub

with baking soda paste. For stubborn stains, rub a drop of chlorine

bleach into the affected area until the stain disappears, then wash

immediately with hot soapy water to prevent fading, and rinse well.

 

Cobwebs: For hard to reach spots, slip a sock over the end of a

yardstick and secure with a rubber band, then sweep the area. This

method works well for cleaning under radiators and refrigerators

also.

 

Ceramic Tub And Tile Cleaners: Baking Soda. Sprinkle baking soda

like you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge. Rinse

thoroughly.

 

Vinegar and Baking Soda. To remove film buildup on bathtubs, apply

vinegar full-strength to a sponge and wipe with vinegar first. Next,

use baking soda as you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge

and rinse thoroughly with clean water.

 

Vinegar. Vinegar removes most dirt without scrubbing and doesn't

leave a film. Use 1/4 cup (or more) vinegar to 1 gallon water.

 

Baking Soda. To clean grout, put 3 cups baking soda into a medium-

sized bowl and add 1 cup warm water. Mix into a smooth paste and

scrub into grout with a sponge or toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and

dispose of leftover paste when finished.

 

Bathroom Bowl Cleaners:

 

Toilet Bowl Cleaner - IF YOU DO USE BLEACH TO CLEAN YOUR TOILET

BOWL, NEVER MIX BLEACH WITH VINEGAR, TOILET BOWL CLEANER, OR

AMMONIA.The combination of bleach with any of these substances

produces a toxic gas which can be hazardous. Baking Soda and

Vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl, then drizzle with

vinegar and scour with a toilet brush. This combination both cleans

and deodorizes.

 

Borax and Lemon Juice. For removing a stubborn stain, like toilet

bowl ring, mix enough borax and lemon juice into a paste which can

cover the entire ring. Flush toilet to wet the sides, then rub on

paste. Let sit for 2 hours and scrub thoroughly. For less stubborn

toilet bowl rings, sprinkle baking soda around the rim and scrub

with a toilet brush.

 

Baking Dishes - Enamel, Ceramic or Glass: Soak in hot soapy water,

then scour with salt or baking soda and rinse thoroughly.

 

All Purpose Cleaner: Vinegar and Salt. Mix together for a good

surface cleaner. Baking Soda. Dissolve 4 tablespoons baking soda in

1 quart warm water for a general cleaner. Or use baking soda on a

damp sponge. Baking soda will clean and deodorize all kitchen and

bathroom surfaces.

 

Candles: Sponge with a piece of cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol.

 

Club soda--removes stains, cleans sinks.

 

Dirty Microwave? Dissolve a spoonful of baking soda in a glass

measuring cup filled with water, then place the cup in your

microwave and heat on full pwer for two minutes. The steam it

creates will loosen any spills inside your oven. Remove the cup and

wipe the oven.

 

Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Pour 1/4 cup full strength chlorine bleach OR

1/2 cup full strength ammonia into bowl. DO NOT USE BOTH. Swish with

a bowl brush and flush.

 

Tea Stains: To remove tea stains from cups or counters, rub with

baking soda paste. For stubborn stains, rub a drop of chlorine

bleach into the affected area until the stain disappears, then wash

immediately with hot soapy water to prevent fading, and rinse well.

 

Soap Scum Remover: Apply baking soda dry or as a thick paste, rub

vigorously with a wet sponge, then rinse.

 

Stained No-Stick Cookware: To remove stains from no-stick surfaces,

pour a solution of 1 cup water, 2 tbs. baking soda and 1/2 cup

chlorine bleach into the pan and simmer 5 to 10 minutes. Do not

allow mixture to boil or to boil over the side of the pan. Wash in

hot soapy water, rinse and dry. Apply a light coating of cooking

oil. (Note: This formula may fade dark-colored surfaces.)

 

Sticky Labels: Cover label with a cloth or sponge saturated with

warm vinegar and let stand. When the label is saturated, it should

peel off without scraping or causing damage. Rinse. (Note: Use this

method only on washable surfaces and washable paint.) To remove

labels from plastic, dab with dry-cleaning fluid, then rub. Wipe

away any excess fluid and wash plastic immediately in hot soapy

water (dry-cleaning fluid may dull the finish of plastic). If labels

on plastic have been wet or the article has been stored in a hot,

damp area, the label will be more difficult to remove.

 

Telephone Cleaner: Sponge with a piece of cotton dipped in rubbing

alcohol.

 

Rust Stain and Hard Water Deposit Remover: Apply full-strength

vinegar or lemon juice and let stand until spot disappears, then

rinse. Repeat if necessary.

 

Scouring Powder: The amount of chlorine in scouring powder is

usually not significant enough to cause harm. If you want to totally

avoid chlorine or are sensitive to it follow this recipe. Non-

Chlorine Scouring Powder Baking Soda or Dry Table Salt. Both of

these substances are mild abrasives and can be used as an

alternative to chlorine scouring powders. Simply put either baking

soda or salt on a sponge or the surface you wish to clean and then

scour and rinse.

 

Refrigerators: To clean exterior and interior walls, dissolve 2 tbs.

baking soda in 1 qt warm water and wipe all surfaces. For stubborn

spots, rub with baking soda paste. Be sure to rinse with a clean,

wet cloth. (This works well on other enamel- finished appliances as

well.) To clean interior fixtures, such as vegetable bins and

shelves, wash in hot soapy water, rinse well and dry.

 

Rust Remover: Peeled Potatoes and Baking Soda or Salt. To remove

rust from tin-ware, rub with a peeled potato dipped in a mild

abrasive such as baking soda or salt.

 

Aluminum Foil. Briskly scrub rust spots on car bumpers with a piece

of crumpled aluminum foil, shiny side up. Also works well on the

chrome shafts of golf clubs.

 

Plumbing Fixtures: To clean stainless steel, chrome, fiberglass,

ceramic, porcelain or enamel fixtures, dissolve 2 tbsp baking soda

in 1 qt of water

 

Porcelain Cleaner: Cream of Tartar. To clean porcelain surfaces, rub

with cream of tartar sprinkled on a damp cloth. Works well on light

stains.

 

Pots and Pans: Burned, and Crusted on Foods Soak or boil a solution

of 2 tbs. baking soda per qt of water in each pan. Let stand until

particles are loosened, then wash as usual. Use a mild or moderate

abrasive if necessary.

 

Grease: Rub greasy spots with a mild or moderate abrasive, such as

fine steel wool, and a dish detergent until they disappear.

 

Lime And Mineral Deposit Remover: Vinegar and Paper Towels. Hard

lime deposits around faucets can be softened for easy removal by

covering the deposits with vinegar-soaked paper towels. Leave the

paper towels on for about one hour before cleaning. Leaves chrome

clean and shiny. For Plastic and Metal Shower Heads: Vinegar. To

remove deposits which may be clogging your metal shower head,

combine 1/2 cup white vinegar and one quart water. Then completely

submerge the shower head and boil 15 minutes. If you have a plastic

shower head, combine 1 pint white vinegar and 1 pint hot water. Then

completely submerge the shower head and soak for about one hour.

 

Mildew Remover: Dilute 3/4 cup chlorine bleach in 1 gal of water.

Apply to tile and grout and scrub; wipe shower stall and curtain;

rinse thoroughly.

 

To get nasty soap scum and dirt off your tub or shower, put a little

baby oil in a spray bottle and mix with water (1 part baby oil to 4

parts water). Spray mixture on a section and wipe off with a sponge.

When you're done, spray with a disinfectant cleaner to make sure all

germs are killed.

 

Keep a bottle of vinegar within easy reach. When your stove, counter

tops, walls or anything else becomes spattered with grease, spray

and wipe clean dry rag. Vinegar cuts the grease and leaves a nice

shine. Instead of buying expensive lime removers for the toilet and

other bathroom fixtures try hydrogen peroxide first, it can do the

job for a fraction of the price .

 

When cleaning stainless steel counter tops, ranges or sinks, use

club soda.You can buy a small bottle of generic or store brand club

soda for about 50cents and it cleans like a charm and dries to a

gleam without streaks or spots. Don't throw away flat club soda;

even flat, it still works to clean stainless steel or spots spilled

on the carpet.

 

Always spray your grill with non-stick cooking spray before grilling

to avoid sticking!

 

To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop

or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and

bring to a boil on stove-top~skillet will be much easier to clean

now!

 

To aid in washing dishes, add a tablespoon of baking soda to your

soapy water - it softens hands while cutting through grease!