Spring is Here & Here's Some Help

Spring is Here, which means alot of us are doing double-duty. Alot of us have spring fever ... we're ready to start our days earlier, end them later & get more done. We're ready to cook-out, take longer walks and swing from the old oak tree.
It's also time to do our spring cleaning & get the taxes done for Good Ol' Uncle Sam.
I can't help anyone with their taxes too much, as my own are overwhelming, but I can share some spring cleaning tips... some are very old, tried & true.

• Mix vinegar with salt to clean copper and lemon to clean brass.
• To clean drain pipes, pour baking soda into your sink, follow with some vinegar. Watch the bubbles eat the funk then follow with some boiling water to was it all down.
• Vinegar and water can be used to clean tile floors, soaps dull the tile. This mixture will also clean mineral spots off of irons, faucetts & drains.
• Permanent ink can be blotted from upholstery/clothing using any alcohol based spray...such as hair spray. Spray it on, blot it up...repeating as needed.
• Shaving cream can similarly be used for red wine stains.
• Fresh lemons sliced & added to cups of water then thrown in the microwave for 5 minutes will make it smell again. The steam can be wiped up removing all that funky splatter from the inside.
• Brown sugar, cinnamon sticks and water in the oven will make the whole house smell good.
• Lift spilt candle was from your table linens with a paper bag and an iron on low. Place the paper bag on the wax & lightly iron. Lift & repeat on a fresh area of paper bag.
• Use newspaper instead of paper towels when cleaning windows & mirrors ffrom a streak free clean. You can use a mixture of vinegar & water (1 Tblspn to about 16 oz water) to do this. No windex needed!
• Uncooked rice, salt & water(or vinegar) can be used to clean the inside of coffee pots, stemware & vases that have stubborn stains. Alka-Selzter tabs can do the same if the stains aren't too terribly bad.
• Down pillows and comforters can be thrown in the dryer for 10 minutes a week to kill dust mites.
• After doing the dishes, microwave your sponge for 1 minute to kill the bacteria in it.
• A tablespoon of rubbing alcohol added to a gallon of water will make glazed tiles shine. Rub it on, then dry it off.
• A cup of olive oil mixed with 1/2 cup of vinegar,shaken, will make a wonderful concoction for dusting & polishing wood furniture
• Black tea can be used to clean & shine natural hardwoods (not poly-sealed) Brew tea and let it cool, then mop with it!
• Use old mis-matched socks on your hands to dust ceiling fan blades with warm soapy water.
• Avoid summer humidity in your winter shoes by stuffing them with newspaper & a dryer sheet.
• Kerosene can be used to clean rust spots caused by leaky faucets.
• Use your blow dryer to dust pleated lampshades.
• Clean ashtrays can be wiped with furniture polish to avoid a funky build-up.
• Polish your jewelry in 2 minutes by dropping 2 alka-seltzer tabs in a cup of water with your jewelry.
• Use dryer sheets (used) to dust tv screens, computer monitors, blinds and any surface that you want to keep from electro-statically attracting dust. Used sheets can also b e used to buff away soap scum on shower doors
• Fresh dryer sheets can be used with water to clean baked on stains. Allow to soak over night & then scrub in the AM. Also put a fresh one in your suitcase and car, to keep them smelling fresh.
• A cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract & placed in the fridge will keep it fresh smelling.
• Silk flowers can smell fresh& look clean again by dipping in a solution of liquid laundry softener and water until clean.
  

Here are some recipes found for homemade concoctions to clean with:

Glass cleaner

2 cups water

1/2 cup white or cider vinegar

1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70 percent concentration)

1 to 2 drops of orange essential oil, which gives the solution a lovely smell (optional)

Heavy-duty scrub

Half a lemon

1/2 cup borax (a laundry booster; find it in the detergent aisle) or baking soda

Great for: Rust stains on porcelain or enamel sinks and tubs
How to use: Dip lemon into borax and scrub surface; rinse. (Not safe for marble or granite.)

All-purpose cleaner and deodorizer

4 tablespoons baking soda

1 quart warm water

Great for: Kitchen counters, appliances, and inside the refrigerator
How to use: Pour solution on a clean sponge and wipe.

Am I doing all of this? Nope! I'm wrapped up in taxes! Soon, I hope to be able to bounce around some more & visit all of you.