~~Helpful (Homemade) Household Cleaning Hints~~

Homemade Lemon Furniture Polish: Add the juice of one lemon to two cups of mineral oil. Apply with a soft cloth & buff until you can see your own reflection!

Chimney Soot Remover: Mix one cup of salt with one cup of zinc oxide powder. Mix and throw into fire.

To Prevent Mildew: Wiping down surfaces with vinegar helps prevent mildew bc it kills mildew fungus. I do this to my shower weekly.

Drain Declogger: Pour 1/4 cup baking soda down the drain. Then follow with 1/4 cup vinegar. Close the drain & let it sit until the bubbling has stopped. Then follow with a bucket of boiling water.

Polishing Glassware: Using a thin paste of baking powder & water, rub into the glass. Rinse well & dry with a soft cloth to create a bright shine!

Washing Windows: Use your regular glass cleaner, but use newspaper to wipe (it doesnt leave as many streaks). Use vertical streaks on the inside & use horizontal streaks on the outside so if you see that youve missed a spot, ull know which side its on.

Misc. Household Tips:

• Full strength vinegar applied to glassware will remove the cloudy appearance
• Place a piece of chalk in your silver drawer or jewelry box to absorb moisture to prevent tarnishing
• Before you hand wash delicate items, place a thinck dish towel in the bottom of the sink to prevent & stand them in hot water. Expansion & Contraction from the temp diff will free them.
• Remove rust from knives & such by sticking them in an onion for a day or two. Rub it back & forth periodically to get the onion juices going
• Use a dry bar of soap on creaky doors or stuck drawers
• For a sink that drips & wont stop, tie a piece of string that hangs from the faucet to the drain. The water will flow down the length of the string, silencing the drip!
• Plain old cold tea will clean woodwork
• Rub a few drops of vanilla extract on your radiator to make your house smell yummy!
• Stuff wet shoes with newspaper to speed up the drying process
• Put sugar cubes in your suitcase to absorb odors
• Goodness knows you dont smoke, but you should always have an ashtray available for guests to discourage them throwing their ciggs in your yard. A dab of furniture polish in the bottom make them easier to clean
• Keep a safety pin near your sink. You can use this to take off your rings & pin them to your shirt when doing dishes