Use liquid soap instead of bars. You won't have a soap buildup in your tub and shower.
Don't keep pets (from a person with 2 hairy dogs) or small children (lol).

For any grease/oil stains on clothing - use lighter fluid. Just saturate the stain and then wash as usual. I've used this for mustard, mayo, salad dressing and car oil stains - works great!

A straight edge razor blade is great tool for removing stuck-on goo spots from counters, glass, tabletops, appliances, anything with a flat hard surface. A few passes with a razor will remove just about anything. I keep one on my kitchen wiondow sill.

Use peroxide on blood stains before washing.
Leslie

Hairspray will get out ball point pen marks on your clothes. Spray the stain and launder as usual.

The last few times I had oil based stains on my clothes, I put vinegar on them, figuring vinegar is added to dishwater to cut grease, so it would be worth a try on clothes. I don't know if I just got lucky or not...but it worked.

A good antidepressant and a bunch of trash bags.......LOL

(I read that in an article on organizing and I think it's probably true!)

Hand your DH a toilet brush.
Okay, okay, I can't think of one off the top of my head.
Kathy G in MI

Clean windows and mirrors with newspaper.I use to clean houses and businesses and that is what I used.Crumple them up and wipe off whatever cleaning agent you use.My favorite was 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water.Works like a charm and no streaks!

Why use newspapers? Just get a squeegie. Faster, cleaner and easier. One of the car scrubber type will scrub the window better too. Wipe, wipe, squeegie, squeegie and yer dun!

And my tip is Swiffer dusters! They work great. And don't worry about the disposeable issue. You CAN wash them after a lot of uses. They can be washed a number of times.

Did someone put permanent marker on an eraseable board? Just run an eraseable one over it and wipe it off. I haven't tried it but have seen in a number of reputable places that it works.

Also, a leaf blower is a VERY effective duster!

Dusting with a leaf blower?! What a great idea!
Kathy G in MI LOL!

WD40 is great for cleaning stainless steel appliances. A chef told me that at the restaurant supply store one day. Works like a charm.

Thanks for the lighter fluid on grease tip. I'll be using it.

Do you have a stainless steel coffee carafe on your coffee maker? Clean it with a paste of salt and baking soda...all of that coffee stain will be gone. A denture cleaning tablet may work too. It will in a vase.

Bring a cup of water to a boil in the microwave and let it sit with the door closed for a few minutes. The steam will loosen any of the food that splattered because someone didn't cover their plate.

Someone left a large, long black heel mark on the hardwood floor. I couldn't get it off and was afraid to try anything harsh. A lady was here and I asked what she advised and she told me to get her some peanut butter. It came right off, didn't effect the shine at all. Was I ever thrilled.

Thank you cynic. I've used the swiffer dusters before and they worked great. I thought they were too expensive to use regularly though. It never occurred to me to wash them. I'll be using some today and definitely will wash them afterwards.
I haven't had a glass of orange juice yet today so my mind doesn't know I'm awake yet. I cannot think of a thing to add right now that hasn't already been said.
Linda

I just remembered the way to remove black sole marks from vinyl.....rub it with your white tennis shoe sole. Our pastor showed that to us, and it truly works.

Save old credit cards and use them for scraping gunk off your kitchen counters, bathtub, mirrors, etc. Much less dangerous than razor blades, unless of course the card hasn't expired. LOL

This is more like a "non"-cleaning tip: buy a cheap plastic table cloth from Big Lots, Dollar Tree, whatever. The kind with a soft backing. Place it on your bathroom floor soft side up when coloring your hair. The backing will absorb any spilled, dripped and otherwise errant dye. The plastic side will protect your floor.

Jodi-

Wow-lots of interesting tips here!

Did tomato based stains remain after laundering? Lay the item out in the sun for a couple of hours and-poof-its gone! I've done that with some plastic items also.

Your vacuum can help you with cleaning the kitchen. Use it (with the hose attachment)to vacuum those crumbs that collect in the silverware drawer. Also I scrape anything burnt off my oven, then vacuum up the black carbon bits.

This is my second week into this, but...I'm filling a BIG garbage bag with stuff I don't use or want any more...downsizing...and taking it to Goodwill. I have a large bag almost filled for next week...good stuff, but just taking up space here....

If you have a stainless steel kitchen sink (or appliances), after cleaning wipe dry and apply a thin coat of cooking oil (not olive oil) with a paper towel.Buff with a soft cloth.The sink will be nice and shiny,will repel water and eliminate hard water spots,and will stay clean longer.
Place a microwavable container (I use my 4 C. Pyrex measuring cup) with 1 C. water and 4 Tbsp. white vinegar in your microwave.Set on high to boil the water.Let the water sit for a few minutes in the microwave before opening the door. Remove it and wipe the insides down with a sponge or dishcloth.All the gunk will disappear.Even dried on stuck on cheese and the microwave will smell clean and fresh.

After this last surgery i had some bleeding,and it came thru all over my new nightie,and my sheets.I took it off,and because i couldn't think of anything else to use,i sprayed it with Simple Green and it took out all the blood.So now i have a bottle hanging by my washer.
Kathi

What is Simple Green?

I actually have two tips, I knitted myself two swifter mop covers and I love them, they work really well when I mop my floors, and I throw them in the washer and dryer...I used cotton thread like you use to make the dishcloths with.

The other tip is kind of silly I guess but I tried it and it does work. Put about a jigger's worth of vinegar into a small bowl or cup or something, add about a teaspoon of salt and throw in a corroded penny, (the solution should cover the penny) set the timer for 2 minutes. When the time is up the penny should be pretty shiny. I take no credit for this tip I saw it on YouTube and I decided to try it and see if it works. ;o)

Have you ever heard of "AWESOME"? Nope, well it's time to check it out at the General Dollar store or the Dollar Tree...the small spray bottle is $1.00 and it is truly awesome! I use it to clean my stainless steel sink, the microwave, the fridge, the tub, the walls, the toilets, grease, blood, ink in the laundry, even removed paint left on my car door from an inconsiderate door bumper at the mall!

Originally this stuff sold for $33.00 a gallon....and in some situations even now....it would be worth it's weight in gold! they now have a one gallon refill bottle for $3.00...you have to check it out!

Here is a link that might be useful: This is a picture of the bottle...don't miss it!

Speaking of Awesome....put it on a magic cleaning cloth or a sponge, heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds or shorter and clean cabinets, walls, shower stalls or whatever. It works so much better heated. Wear rubber gloves.
Also, a tip I learned when my kids were little......I had a friend over,with her three kids. I had three kids, too.
I made something with rice and the very little ones got it all over the floor. I was trying to clean it up when my friend told me if I allowed it to dry on the floor for several days, I could just sweep it up.
(It worked.)

susan_on, Simple Green is an all-purpose cleaner that comes in different formulations. You can use it in laundry, general cleaning, etc. It's supposed to be a very safe cleaner. Generally it's very concentrated so you can dilute it a lot, like many cleaners. I really liked the Simple Green D (disinfectant) but don't see it anymore. All I see now is the antibacterial version. I'm still working on a 1.25 gallon size bottle of it that I bought at Scam's Club way back when I was a member! One thing about it. It has a very strange smell. Saspirilla is how many people describe it. That's on the original formula anyway.

Here is a link that might be useful: Simple Green

Sorry - I don't have a good suggestion.

What do you all recommend for cleaning up a dirty mind? Some folks here seem to think that mine needs such ... too sex-obsessed, by far, they feel.

cynic,

When you use a leaf blower as duster ...

... that's called, "redistribution", isn't it?

ole joyful

I use micro fiber cloths for EVERYTHING. They are so absorbent and wash up beautifully.

The swiffer sweeper cloths are expensive! My MIL was amazed that I was so cheap that I turned it over and used both sides.

Also on the swiffer subject....I purchased microfiber cloths and cut then to size, put elastic in them and
use them to dust or wet mop the vinyl or hardwood floor. Much more durable.

This is an old thread but the tips are still useful!

I'd like to add another tip to clean coffee makers. You probably heard, seen or have used Brew Rite and Dip It cleaners. It will save you alot of money if you just go to the laundry isle of Walmart or other stores and purchase a box of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. Washing Soda = Sodium Carbonate = Brew Rite. Sodium Carbonate is also in Dip It cleaner. They are all the same stuff but in different bottle and a whole lof of cost difference.

I believe at Walmart, an 8oz. bottle of Brew Rite is $4.98, but a box of 55oz. Arm & Hammer Washing Soda is only $3.24. If you do the math, you'd be saving at least $30 using washing soda.

I know there are many type of coffee makers out there. I'm going to give 2 methods, for percolators and for dripper. If you have another type, just use one of these methods.

For Percolators:
Use 1 tablespoon of Washing Soda for every 4 cups of Water. Pour into the carafe, stir these well to dissolve the washing soda. Assemble all components (stem, cup & lids), and brew/perk as usual according to your type of percolators (stovetop, electric, etc.). Turn off the heat or unplug, let it sit for an hour while the unit is cooling down. Discard the mixture and rinse each component with water thoroughly.

For Drippers:
Use 1 tablespoon per 4 cups of water. Mix the washing soda well to desolve before pouring the mixture into the water reservoir. (Do NOT put just washing soda powder into the water reservoir.) Then, brew as usual. Discard the mixture and pour just water into the reservoir. Brew again to rinse. Do this for a total of 3 times, each time changing with fresh water.

It should clean just as well as Brew Rite and Dip It.