Household Hints

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Want to know how to make a dust less duster? These dusters work great and protect your furniture! You will need 1 pint of very hot water and 1/4 cup of lemon oil. Stir the oil into the hot water.  Take 4 or 5 pieces of cheesecloth

and soak with the oil and water mixture.  Squeeze the excess water out and hang on line to dry. The cloths will last longer if you hem them. (If you wash the cloths, you will need to treat them with the oil and water mixture again)

Oops, did you drop a glass on your kitchen floor? Did it break? An easy way to clean up the shards is to take a damp piece of absorbant cotton.  This will help you from getting cut.

IVORY CARE

To clean and preserve the color of ivory:  Place the article in a basin of cold

water. Allow to set for 24 hours.  Remove from water and lay the item on a

clean, dry towel. Do not wipe!  Air Dry only. If any water remains , plea

blow the water out.  If any water is remaining, the ivory color will become

destroyed. Be careful!

PICTURE FRAMES

Dingy or rusty gilt picture frames may be cleaned by simply washing them with a small sponge moistened with oil of turpentine or spirits of wine!  Take care that the sponge does not become saturated.  The sponge should be damp, not soaking. Gently wipe off the dirt and rust.   DO NOT WIPE DRY...Let the frames dry themselves.

Another method to clean gilt frames: Carefully dust the frame. Make a mixture of 1 ounce of baking soda and 3 egg whites.  Beat well.  Wash the frames with  this mix.

Touch up scrapes with gold paint.

Do you have discolored wooden bread boards or rolling pins?  Try rubbing with 1/2 a lemon and then rinse with clear water.

Cleaning Vases

Do you have a white film on the inside of your vases? Fill the vase with

vinegar and let set for a couple of hours.

If you have bottles of perfume or cologne which you do not care for, don't

throw them out.  Try putting some in your bath water.  The ratio of water to

perfume will make for a nice smelling bath!

Lemon Juice will remove adhesive tape and gum from hands and clothes!

Need a good toilet bowl cleaner? Inexpensive, too? Try this!  Get a a bucket or pail and add 2 quarts of water, 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of household ammonia.  Mix well.  Pour this entire mixture into the toilet and put the toilet lid down. Let the solution set for 30 minutes. Open the lid, scrub with brush and flush!  Easy and makes your toilet bowl sparkle!

Need to clean up your glass topped outdoor furniture? Rub in a little lemon

juice (can be from a bottle)  Dry with paper towels and make it shine by

rubbing with a newspaper!  If you have any scratches on the glass top, try

rubbing in some toothepaste and this should remove the scratches.

Oven Cleaning 

To remove grease from inside ovens and broilers, put small pan of ammonia in oven at night and close the oven door.  In the morning, remove the pan of ammonia.The grease inside the oven will wipe off easily!

Ammonia Clean Up 

For quick and easy cleanups, get a spray bottle and fill 1/2 with water and 1/2 with ammonia.  Why pay a fortune for other cleaners, when this works just as well (and kills germs)  I use this for cleaning counters, and wiping down appliances.  Spray on, wipe off!  Also good for cleaning wastebaskets and garbage cans.

Cleaning Copper Bottom Cookware 

Do you use RevereWare Cookware? Or cookware with copper bottoms?  I do, and try this easy copper cleaner solution!  Rub the copper with Worcestershire Sauce,  let set for a minute and rinse off!  You can also try rubbing with catsup, but I like the sauce method better.

Cleaning Pots and Pans 

Do you have pans and pots with stubborn burnt on food?  

Sprinkle baking soda and add a little water. Let sit for about 1/2 hour. Now,

wash with dishwashing liquid. Makes it much easier to clean!

Got ink on your nice carpet?  

Don't panic.  Blot up the ink with a cloth or blotter. Next, take a sponge and

wet it with a solution of Lysol and Water (ratio 1 teaspoon Lysol to 1 Quart

water) Gently sponge area till ink is gone.  Get clean spong and rinse with

water and then dry.

Did puppy have an accident? Sponge the area with a solution of 1/2 cup of white vinegar in a quart of warm water.  May need repeat application.

Chewing gum stuck on carpet? Rub the area with ice cubes till gum is ice cold. Scrape up with a spatula. If stain is still there, you can try using a dry

cleaning fluid.

Nail Polish spill? Use nail polish remover, but apply withan eye dropper. Wait  a few minutes, and wip with a clean, dry cloth.

Kids leave a red lollipop to melt on your carpet? Or a popsicle? Remove the

food item, then sponge with warm water.  If this doesn't work, take a

teaspoon of very mild detergent (like ivory snow or dreft) and mix in a 1/2

pint of water.  Sponge this on with lukewarm water.

Cigarette burns:  

Clip the ends of the blackened tufts. Rub the spot with water and a soapless cleaner.



Vinegar Shower Cleaner


Are chemical-filled bath and shower cleaners making you sick? Try this easy, natural alternative. (It's cheap too!!)


1 cup white vinegar
3 cups water


Add to a large spray bottle and shake well before each use. Use to clean your bathroom - allowing the mixture to sit longer on more stubborn stains. The acidity in the vinegar will help remove grout and grime.
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You see much more of your children once they leave home. 
Lucille Ball 
Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait few minutes, then run the hot water