Ideas, Hits and Tips
Cleaning Fireplaces
Unless the fireplace requires special treatment, here are a
few cleaning suggestions: spread newspaper by the hearth; remove chunks of
logs and ashes. For cleaning using products found around the house, scrub
the brick or stone with thick suds of liquid dish washing
detergent and water applied with a stiff brush, then rinse. If the fireplace
needs "extra special" cleaning, it can be washed with a solution of warm
water and washing power. If a stronger treatment is needed, buy a commercial
product designed for cleaning fireplaces. These commercial products are
designed to remove grime, grease, smoke, soot, and discolourations. Be sure
to follow manufacturers' directions. When cleaning large areas, clean in
small sections. Never allow cleaning solutions to remain on tile or chrome
surfaces. Wear rubber gloves. Handle the solution carefully, the acid can
damage fabric, carpet, and wood surfaces.
Polishing wooden furniture
Dust (your wooden furniture) several times a week in order to maintain a
clean surface and protect the finish from soil build up. Use a clean,
lint-free, absorbent cloth for general dusting.
Protect all wooden furniture from direct sunlight. Exposure to the sun's
rays can dry out the wood and actually bleach out the color.
Wood breathes almost like we do, and therefore, both extremely moist or
dry air should be avoided. Use a humidifier or dehumidifier when needed to
help keep wood from drying out or warping. Also, don't place your wood
furniture near air vents; the forced air will adversely affect the wood.
Cover the bottoms of accessories and other tabletop items with felt to
prevent scratching. Use coasters under glasses to prevent water marks.
Never let water stand on a wood surface, and always use a protective
plate under flower vases filled with water to keep moisture from drawing
into the wood.
Wash your wood furniture surfaces once a year with a sudsy solution of
mild soap and water. Using a clean, soft cloth from which most of the water
has been wrung, work on a small area at a time, overlapping areas as you
work. Clean with the sudsy solution, then rinse with a soap-free dampened
cloth, and dry immediately with a soft, lint-free cloth.
(Source:
Dorman,
D. (1997). University of Georgia)
Cleaning Windows
Chamois leather gives good results when cleaning windows,
but avoid using it with detergents. You can use methylated spirits or white
wine vinegar in tepid water to give your windows a sparkle. If you do not
have chamois leather you can simply use scrunched up old newspapers which
are great for adding a gleam to windows.
One good tip if using a commercial window cleaner and
scraper is to use vertical strokes on one side and horizontal strokes on the
other so that you can see which side any streaks are on.
Cleaning window panes is best done with a paste of some
sort. You can use either a commercial paste or for aluminium, you can make
one of your own using Borax and water. All that painted or varnished frames
require however, is a rub down with a cloth wrung out in soapy water.
Cleaning your lampshades
Use a clean soft cloth or a vacuum
brush to dust the lampshade inside and outside. Take off any non-washable
trim. If the cloth is glued to the frame, sew it on with thread of the same
color. Then you will be able to wash it over and over again without any
trouble.
Fabric Shades
Fill a deep washtub or bathtub with enough warm water to cover the shade.
Add detergent and swish up thick suds. Use a mild detergent, as a hand
dishwashing liquid. Use suds on a soft brush to rub any spots lightly. Then
dip the shade up and down. When the water gets dirty, change to clean sudsy
water. Wash the shade a second time.
To rinse the shade, dip it up and down through two or three changes of clean
water. Don't worry if the cloth stretches and sags while it is wet. It will
tighten up for a snug fit when it gets dry.
To dry a fabric shade, tie a string to the middle of the frame. Then hang it
over the bathtub or hang it from a clothesline outdoors to drip dry. OR you
can wipe the shade with a bath towel until it is almost dry. Then put it
back on the lamp and turn on the light so the heat
from the bulb will help it to finish drying.
Plastic, Plastic Coated, Laminated, Parchment or Fiberglass
Put 1/4 cup mild detergent into a bowl. Add just enough warm water to make
it wet. Whip this mixture with an egg beater or an electric mixer to make
stiff "dry" suds that look like whipped cream. Put some of the thick suds on
a cloth or sponge. Use this to wash the shade, inside and outside. If the
binding around the edge is glued on, don't rub it or let it get very wet.
Rinse the shade right away by going over it with a clean damp cloth. Then
wipe it dry. If the lamp has a reflector bowl, take this out and wash it
like a dish. Use warm suds and warm rinse water. Then wipe it dry.
(Source: MSU Extension)
Whilst sorting out your clutter you may as well do a bit of spring cleaning.
All the dirt and dust that accumulated in the winter will look worse in the
sunnier days of summer. You may even want to change your fabrics, lighter,
perhaps paler shades of curtains will look clean and fresh. Here are some
tips to make cleaning and tidying up less of a chore.Painting made easy
You know what they say, it's all in the preparation. When it comes to
painting we all know about masking tape and decorator's cloth, but what
about awkward fixtures and fittings such as door knobs and window latches.
Try smearing them with petroleum jelly, this should make the paint easier to
remove.
Don't load your brush too much, if necessary, decant paint into smaller
cans to prevent drying out as you are working.
When you've finished painting and are cleaning your brushes in white
spirit, let the paint settle to the bottom and reuse the white spirit.
Sort your bills and
correspondence as soon as they arrive - sort your post daily. Its a good
idea to have a small station in the form of a desk or bureau in the hall,
preferably with a drawer to put some of your to-do
lists so they're out of site. You must remember to clear these weekly. If
space is limited, a small console table on which you can have an in/out try
and pen holder will suffice.
Bureaus are great for a small office too. Ikea do some great ones or try
for great 'computer wardrobes'
Different types of baskets and boxes are useful for containing clutter
and suit different decorating schemes. Try making your own decorative boxes
that fit in with your scheme by covering shoe boxes with fabric or wallpaper
remnants. The simplest way of doing this is to glue on your fabric or
wallpaper to the box and lid. You can label the boxes with contents or colour co-ordinate them according to contents. Some people use photographs of
the contents as labels.
With our busy lives, there's no time for slaving over housework, so
here's some cleaning tips:
- Wipe a little washing up liquid on your bathroom mirror to stop it
misting
- Use an old toothbrush to remove the limescale behind the taps
- Add a little liquid detergent to bath water as it drains to remove scum
- For stale smelling carpets, sprinkle herbs or lavender and leave for
an hour before vacuuming
- Treat your upholstery with Scotchgard if possible as it offers
protection against dust and dirt
- Use damp fabric gloves to clean slatted blinds
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