Summers Here, Time To Clean Out That Garage!

Summer is here and it’s the perfect time to clean out your garage. I know. I know. Please stop groaning. You’ll feel so much better when it’s done. For me, early summer is the best time. I’m not terribly fond of spiders and the later in the season the larger the inevitable surprise spiders will be. First haul everything out onto the driveway that can be hauled out. This is great opportunity to access what you what to keep, give away or throw out. Spray everything water proof down with the hose and let it all dry in the sun. Brush off all the dead bugs and cobwebs that have accumulated. As far the inside of the garage goes, start out by sprinkling kitty litter over any grease or oil stains. This will absorb those chemicals and can easily be swept up later. To clean shelves and flat surfaces, use a spray bottle filled with 50% white vinegar and 50% water. It a lot less chemically harmful than commercial chemical packed cleaner and it also helps to prevent mold. I like to use old rags instead for paper towels for this job as its greener and paper towels run out very quickly doing this task. After you’ve swept out the garage and knocked down all the cobwebs, oil the chain for your garage door opener if it needs it. Next, mop the floor with a vinegar/water solution. The vinegar, once again, prevents mold, and if you happen to live in an area where snow is a regular feature of winter, the vinegar with help break up all the salt and de-icer your tires dragged in over the winter. After the floor dries, haul everything you’re keeping back in. Make sure antifreeze and all other chemicals are sealed properly and stored out of reach of children. Lastly, check your fire extinguisher to see if it’s expired. If you don’t keep a fire extinguisher in your garage, go out and buy one.

The Cleaning Powers Of Salt

Salt is another eco-cleaner we use often around our house. Salt is a good cleaner because it is an abrasive and dissolves easily into water. Salt dissolved into a solution creates an electrolyte. Electrolytes have the ability to transmit electricity. This property of electrolytes can boost the cleaning power of solutions, making chemical reactions possible. Our homemade silver cleaning tip uses these properties to transfer the tarnish on silver to the aluminum foil.

Salt can be used to clean carpets, cast iron, egg spills, grease, laundry stains, soot, stainless steel sinks, and wine stains.

Keep Your Drains Running Clear

Here is a great homemade cleaner to prevent clogged drains. Make a mixture of 1 cup of salt, 1 cup of baking soda, and a 1/4 cup of cream of tartar in a jar. Seal the jar and shake until fully blended. Put 1/4 cup of the mixture down your drain and follow with 2 cups of boiling water. It will start to fizzle as it destroys the grease and grime buildup. I recommend doing this about once a month or anytime that your drain seems to be running slow. With regular maintenance, you should be able to avoid having to take more drastic measures.

General Camping Tips

If you like camping as much as I do, here are a few goods tips for your next adventure. Turn a normal sheet into a sleeping bag insert by sewing it into a sleave. Measure the inside of the bag and cut the sheet to fit. Sew up the bottom and the sides. The sheet will keep your sweat off of the sleeping bag and can be simply thrown into the wash when you return. If your tent develops a musty smell, set it up in an dry, airy place and sprinkle salt inside. The salt will absorb the moisture and smells. Leave it set up overnight and remove the salt. You can also use borax.

Homemade Scouring Cleaning

If you have a hard to remove stain and a surface that you can use a scouring cleaner on, trying sprinkling salt onto the stain and rubbing with a clean microfiber cloth soaked in either lemon juice or white vinegar.

Removing Stains From Enamel Bathtubs

Porcelain enamel surface bathtubs can be quite beautiful. The surface is very hard and durable. Be careful when cleaning not to hit the surface with a hard object because the surface can be chipped, which is expensive to repair. Never use harsh abrasives or acids on enamel tubs or small scratches will form that capture more dirt. For tough stains try one of the following:

• Try covering the stain with a paste of borax and lemon juice. Let the paste stand for about 5 minutes and then rinse clean.
• Salt and turpentine work well to remove yellow water stains.
• For the really hard to remove stains, scrub with a brush and a mixture of 3 tablespoons of cream of tartar and one cup of hydrogen peroxide.

For normal cleaning try:

• Washing with 1 gallon of warm water mixed with 1 tablespoon of dish soap and 1 cub of baking soda. Use a sponge soaked in the mixture to scrub the tub working from the top down, then from the back to the drain. Rinse well with clean water and then buff with a microfiber cloth.
• A slightly stronger cleaner is 1 gallon of hot water and 1 tablespoon of a TSP (trisodium phosphate) . TSP can react with other cleaners, so don't add anything else to this recipe. Be sure to rinse well after you have scrubbed the tub.

Quick Tip: Set The Colors In Your New Cottons

If you soak a new cotton shirt in lightly salted water or a solution of 1 part vinegar and 20 parts water you can keep it from fading as much in the wash.

Save Yourself From An Overflowing Washer

If you ever find yourself with a washer overflowing with suds you can make the suds disappear by sprinkling salt on them. The salt with burst the bubbles faster then the agitator can make them, saving you from a big mess. Adding salt before you boil water will also keep the bubbles from the boiling water at bay.

Cleaning Coffee Pot Disasters

I have been known to be a bit absent-minded in the morning. Coffee helps a lot, but, sometimes, not enough. I have, on occasion, forgotten to turn off the coffee maker thus boiling away all the water leaving behind a nasty black gunk. Scrubbing that stuff out would take an eternity. There is a much easier way. Pour a handful off ice cubes and a few teaspoons of salt into the pot. Swish it around in a fast circular motion for a minute or two and rinse. Repeat if necessary. This method works amazingly well.

Removing Watermarks From Wood Furniture

Here are three tips to help you remove watermarks from wood furniture:

1. Mix vegetable oil and salt into a paste. Apply paste to marks and let stand for about 20 minutes. Wipe off the past with a dry cloth and polish with your favorite wood polish.


2. Rub stain gently with toothpaste and baking soda. I like to use Arm & Hammer toothpaste as it already has baking soda in it.


3. Cover watermark with mayonnaise. Let stand for 12 hours. Wipe off the mayonnaise with a clean cloth and polish with your favorite wood polish.

Homemade Brass and Copper Cleaner

These days, cabinetry has undergone a renaissance. Brass and copper fixtures have become commonplace in our homes. These metals are attractive, yet are prone to tarnishing and discoloration. To clean all of your brass and copper, create a paste of vinegar and salt. Use a clean cloth and rub the mixture into the surface until the surface shines. Let it sit for a few minutes and apply the paste again with a clean cloth if necessary. Keep moving what area of the cloth you are using to avoid spreading the discoloration that you have removed. Wipe well with a fresh cloth to bring the metal to a clean shine. Change cloths as necessary. When done cleaning, use a fresh cloth to buff out the surface to really make it shine!

Tough Homemade Carpet Stain Remover

For tough carpet stains try mixing 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup baking soda, 8 drops of white vinegar, and a small amount of water to make a paste. Spread the paste onto the stain. You can just let it dry or you can work it into the carpet for really tough stains. After the paste has dried, brush with a stiff brush and vacuum. Don't brush too hard as not to damage the carpet. This is a very powerful carpet cleaner so be sure to test your carpet for color fastness.

This worked great for me when we rearranged our bedroom furniture. Years ago I spilled a pop on my night stand. I quickly cleaned the spill then; however, when we rearranged the bedroom, I found that some of it had gotten under the night stand. I tried several commercial cleaners and this paste was the only one that worked.

Let me know how it works on your stains.  I think it is the best homemade carpet stain remover.

Polish your silver with zero effort

I have been collecting coins all of my life and the one thing I always hated was cleaning and polishing the coins. I found this trick to clean my coins, but it is also useful for silverware, teapots, trays, etc. Basically this will clean anything that is silver.

1. Get a large pot or you can use your kitchen sink and fill it with hot water, the hotter the better.
2. Place a 1 foot by 1 foot sheet of aluminum foil at the bottom.
3. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of baking soda for every half gallon of water.
4. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt for every half gallon of water.
5. Place your item into the mixture for up to five minutes.
6. Rinse your item in fresh water and dry with a soft cloth.
7. Enjoy your newly cleaned item.

This is great to do with the kids, they'll think it is magic!!!