SOME QUICK CLEANING TIPS FOR YOUR HOME
Removing Hard Water Stains
Remove hard-water stains from glasses and bottles by rubbing them with steel wool dipped in vinegar. Cover hard-water stains on bathroom fixtures with a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Then drape with a terry clot towel and let stand for about an hour. Wipe off, rinse and dry.
Cleaning Blinds
Slip your hands into a pair of socks for cleaning the miniblinds. Dip one of the hands into a bucket of warm, soapy water. Rub back and forth until you've cleaned the whole surface. Then use the reverse side the socks to dry the blinds.
You can also wipe the blinds with damp fabric softener sheets to eliminate static that collects dust. The same trick works for your T.V. screen.
Dusting Tip
Spray your broom or dust mop with your favorite furniture polish and the dust and dirt will be easier to collect when you sweep.
Neutralizing Smoke & Musty Odors
To remove recent smoke odors, place a bowl of vinegar in the room. This helps to neutralize the odor. You may also want to dip a rag in the vinegar and wave it about. Another option is to use activated charcoal to neutralize the odor in your home. Place a small amount of pure activated charcoal on moist saucers and leave them inside a room overnight. If there's a very rank smell of smoke in a room in your house buy some bags of ordinary charcoal. Lightly crush the lumps of coal and store the bags at the corners of the room to adsorb the odor.
To get rid of the smell of smoke in your furniture or carpets, sprinkle generously with baking soda and allow to sit overnight. Vacuum away in the morning.