Wednesday, August 10, 2016
By Barbara Pronin
Nobody wants to spend more time than necessary on chores—or spend more on cleaning supplies. Good Housekeeping recently rounded up eight tips to save both:
1. Make One All-Purpose Cleaner – Combine four tablespoons of baking soda with four cups of warm water in a spray bottle. Use the spray and a rag to make any household surface shine.
2. Spruce Up Wood Furniture – Scratched wood furniture? Mask the damage by rubbing it with a walnut (shell removed).
3. Brush Away Stains – Use toothpaste to remove marker stains from wood—a handy solution when kids draw at the dining room table! (Bonus: To clean off wall doodles, sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and scrub.)
4. Unclog a Drain for Cheap – Don’t spend on costly drain cleaners. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain with a wet cloth, and let the agents work for 30 minutes.
5. Sanitize the Cutting Board – Rub the cut side of a lemon over a cutting board to remove odors and stains. For extra cleaning power, sprinkle it first with salt or baking soda.
6. De-Grime Patio Furniture – Wipe down patio furniture with a squirt of dishwashing liquid in bucket of warm water. Hose it down afterwards.
7. Vinegar Those Windows – It’s cheap and effective. Add two tablespoons of vinegar to a gallon of water. Pour some in a spray bottle. Squirt and wipe it away with clean microfiber cloth.
8. Lift Shirt Stains – Never spend on spot cleaners or stain removers again. Rub dish detergent into the stain and rinse the shirt before tossing it into the washer.
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