Cleaning Tips

House Cleaning Tips from the Past:

Grandma knows all the best cleaning tips and tricks to save you time, money and effort. You'll want to stock up on vinegar and lemon juice.

No more moths

There are plenty of ways to keep moths away from your clothes without introducing potentially toxic chemicals into your home. Reader Mrs. T. Peterson of Knife River, Minnesota says, “Make your own mothballs by mixing oil of cloves and oil of cinnamon, then soaking cotton balls in this mixture. Place the cotton balls in muslin bags and hang them in your closets.”

Minty fresh

It’s easy to forget after a long, cold winter, but the warmer temperatures in spring and summer can sometimes cause garbage cans to give off an unpleasant odour. Reader Michael Sienkowski of Norwich, Connecticut, says, “If you grow mint, cut a fresh sprig and place it in the garbage can every day. It keeps the can smelling fresh all season long.”

Minty fresh

It’s easy to forget after a long, cold winter, but the warmer temperatures in spring and summer can sometimes cause garbage cans to give off an unpleasant odour. Reader Michael Sienkowski of Norwich, Connecticut, says, “If you grow mint, cut a fresh sprig and place it in the garbage can every day. It keeps the can smelling fresh all season long.”

Homemade humidifier

If you use a wood-burning stove, you can make your own humidifier. Therese DeVlieger of Davis Junction, Illinois, says, “Fill an old coffee can two-thirds full of water. Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel and place it on the stove. When the water gets hot, it gives off a pleasant scent and gives the home extra moisture.”

Homemade humidifier

If you use a wood-burning stove, you can make your own humidifier. Therese DeVlieger of Davis Junction, Illinois, says, “Fill an old coffee can two-thirds full of water. Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel and place it on the stove. When the water gets hot, it gives off a pleasant scent and gives the home extra moisture.”

DIY glass cleaner

Mildred Zuercher of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, says this homemade solution cleans windows, glass and mirrors. “Mix 2 ounces rubbing alcohol, 2 ounces of ammonia and 12 ounces of water. Add a drop of blue food colouring and mark it clearly to distinguish it from other cleaners. Pour into a spray bottle and use as you would a store-bought cleaner.”

Stop sticking

Tired of scraping stickers off of your new stuff? Herman Ensey of Scottsbluff, Nebraska says, “Remove sticky price tags from glass by spraying with WD-40. It works well.”

Polish your silver

Banish the tarnish with this simple solution from reader Lois Kreider of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. “Place silver in an aluminum pan or in your kitchen sink lined with aluminum foil. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of baking soda and cover with boiling water. Let stand for 10 to 12 minutes.

Soak your shower head

To remove hard water buildup on your shower head, reader Jennie Krell, El Cajon, California says, “Pour some white distilled vinegar in a plastic bag and place it around the showerhead so the head is completely submerged. Tie the bag around the pipe and leave it overnight. You’ll find the showerhead will spray like new again in the morning.”

Open secret

When her handheld can opener gets grungy, Ruth Brennan of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, says she uses a toothbrush, hot water, and dishwashing detergent to clean it. “After cleaning, lubricate the opener with vegetable oil and set it aside for a while. Wipe off the excess oil and it will work like new.”

A nutty solution

To colour in nicks or scratches in furniture, cabinets, wood trim, etc., reader C. Clingingsmith of St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, says, “Rub them with a pecan nut. The oil of the nut will ‘re-stain’ the wood.”

Get rid of glue

Reader Mary Yoder, Montezuma, Georgia, has a solution for sticky situations. “When you must remove a spot of glue, use vinegar. It’s a good glue thinner or remover.”

Fizzy flatware

Stainless steel lost its lustre? Pat Peters of Matteson, Illinois, says, “Place your flatware in a pan with bubbly carbonated water, soda water, club soda, or seltzer. Let set until the fizz has fizzled. Your stainless will shine like new!”

Brush away dirt

Do you have a tough time cleaning wicker items? Reader Sherry Hearn of Trego Montana, says, “Just spray your favourite furniture polish onto an inexpensive paintbrush. It makes getting to the hard-to-reach spots easier and takes a lot less time.”

Invisible ink

Don’t freak out when the kids’ artwork goes beyond the colouring book. Reader Claire Utt of Winfield, Kansas says, “Rubbing alcohol easily removes ink from clothing and crayon marks from woodwork and wallpaper.”

Gum be gone

To remove gum from fingers or hair, reader Mrs. V. Walston of Bedford, Iowa, says “Rub creamy peanut butter or vegetable oil into the gum. Wait a few minutes. The gum will come right off. Then wash your hands or hair as normal.”

Handy soap

When your hands are dirty from yard work, reader Marjorie Little, Sarasota, Florida, has a great tip. “Tuck a bar of soap in the toe of a nylon stocking and tie it to your outdoor water faucet for fast garden cleanup.”

Clean up concrete

Perk up your patio with this suggestion from reader Ann Norstram of Clinton, Iowa. “Rust stains from outdoor furniture can be removed from concrete by using lemon juice and rubbing with a soft linen cloth.”

Grease-free grill

Keep your grill looking great. Nancy Merica of Ripley, West Virginia, says, “Lay a barbecue grill rack on the lawn overnight. The dew will combine with enzymes on the grass to loosen any burned-on grease. Try it with messy oven racks, too!”

Sock duster

For dusting under furniture and hard-to-reach places, Deanna Thomas of Hollister, Missouri says, “I slip an old sock onto a fly swatter and sew it securely into place. It’s very handy.”

Wash those walls

Reader Milton Olson of Klaten, North Dakota, says, “Fill a paint roller with your favourite wall washing solution and use a clean paint roller to wash your walls. Rinse with clear water. It goes much more quickly than sponging.”