Household & Cleaning Archives

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Keep Fido Fresh and Clean!

Baking soda works great as a dry shampoo for dogs. Simply rub some directly into the fur, then brush it out. Your pup will smell fresh and clean!

To keep bugs away, replace your outdoor white light bulbs with yellow LED or CFL bulbs. Yellow light contains less of the blue wavelength of light and helps to keep bugs away. These bulbs, unlike incandescent bulbs, also emit very little heat, further reducing their attractiveness to bugs.

Fix Wood Scratches Easily

For small surface scratches on your dark wood furniture or floors, gently rub a walnut half over the scratch. Let the natural oils penetrate into the scratch for several minutes, then buff with a soft, dry cloth.

Conserve Water

To conserve water, use a broom or rake to clean away leaves and debris from your driveway and patio rather than a hose. Using a hose can waste as much as 150 gallons of water. You’ll get the added benefit of getting some exercise as well!

Dusting Made Easy

Grab a couple of mismatched socks, put them over your hands, and use them to dust around the house. The socks will trap dirt, hair, and dust on appliances, tables, blinds, and TV screens. Then just toss them in the wash!

Keep Bathroom Mirrors From Fogging

To keep bathroom mirrors from fogging, coat them with shaving cream and wipe them with a clean cloth before your shower. Works great on eyeglasses, too!

Sharpen Dull Scissors

To sharpen a dull pair of scissors at home easily, use a piece of fine-grit sandpaper. Simply cut through the sandpaper, rough side down, several times.

Air-Dry Your Clothes

Dry indoor air can wreak havoc on your skin. To add moisture to the air in your home (and save energy), dry some garments on a drying rack or indoor clothes line.

Don’t Toss It, Clean It!

Your plastic shower curtain liner can get moldy and grungy over time. But there’s no need to throw it away. Simply wash it with some soiled towels in warm water with 1/2 cup laundry detergent and 1/2 cup baking soda on your machine’s regular cycle. Add 1 cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Hang it back up

Easy Tile and Grout Cleaner

Mix equal parts Epsom salts and liquid dish detergent to create an effective tile and grout cleaner. Apply this mixture to stains in your bathroom or kitchen. Let it soak for a few minutes, scrub away grime, then rinse clean.