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Handy Hints |
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The Essential Cleaning Kit
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With these inexpensive products and tools, you’ll have everything you need to tackle the whole house
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Item 1 - Microfiber Cloths
Why You Need Them : Unlike ordinary cleaning products, that only move or push dirt and dust from one point to another,
microfiber cleaning products lift the dirt from the surface and store the particles in the cloth until it is washed.
When it is placed in a warm to hot wash, the fiber opens up and releases the dirt into the water.
Heavy dirt will be released from the microfiber with the assistance of a laundry detergent in the water.
What to Look For : Buy packs with various colours so that you can use one colour for each task.
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Item 2 - Scrubbing Brush
Why You Need It : Handy when you want to clean aggressively.
Use it on floors, fireplaces, or any rough surface. It can also destroy soap-scum rings.
What to Look For : Heavy-duty nylon bristles are the least likely to scratch surfaces.
A comfortable handle (rubber is ideal) keeps skin from coming into contact with cleansers.
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Item 3 - Trigger Spray Bottle
Why You Need It : The bottle makes cleaning large surfaces very simple, as you can just spray and wipe.
Also useful for spraying homemade stain-removal solutions onto carpets and upholstery.
What to Look For : Buy professional spray bottles — they will last for many years.
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Item 4 - Rubber Gloves
Why You Need Them : They protect your skin from harmful agents, especially the chemicals in oven cleaner.
What to Look For : The right size. Gloves that are to large will flop around.
Gloves that are to small ones are hard to remove.
A foam lining will absorb interior dampness better than a cotton one.
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Item 5 - Toothbrush
Why You Need Them : This little guy gets into all those hard to get to places. It may be used
to clean the tracks of a sliding glass door, scour around the base of taps, and remove
baked-on matter from toaster racks.
What to Look For : Any soft-bristled model, whether
it's an electric or old-fashioned kind.
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Item 6 - Dry Cleaning Sponge
Why You Need It : A dry cleaning sponge is designed to remove soot from surfaces without smearing. The
sponge is made of a rubberized formula with tiny porous holes which collect and remove soot. Dry cleaning sponges
are particularly effective for removing soot, dust, and pet hair from fabric, upholstery and lampshades.
What to Look For : A perfect size. Choose one that’s roughly three by six inches
so that it fits snugly in your hand but still covers a substantial swath of surface.
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Item 7 - Squeegee
Why You Need It : A quality squeegee has a durable rubber edge that displaces liquid
on glass without streaks. It also works on mirrors and shower doors.
What to Look For : A brass or stainless-steel squeegee is the best.
Wipe the squeegee after every pass with a microfiber cloth.
Handy Hint :
Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows.
This way you can tell which side has the streaks.
Straight vinegar will clean outside windows very well.
Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
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Item 8 - Disinfecting Wipes
Why You Need Them : They eradicate nearly 100 percent of bacteria and can clean a counter in a flash.
What to Look For : A wipe which has a low alcohol content and is anti-bacterial,
which means the product has been proven to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Store the canister upside down so that the wipes don’t dry out.
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Item 9 - Degreaser
Why You Need It : It delivers a high impact concentrated jet of a unique formulation
which combines blended surfactants, detergents and solvents designed to degrease and clean fast
Natural Degreaser :
Natural Degreaser is a naturally formulated, biodegradable cleaner/degreaser that offers the natural cleaning power
of citrus.
CRC Natural Degreaser does not require water wash-off
and does not leave sticky residue commonly associated with citrus-based cleaners. CRC Natural Degreaser does
not contain any ozone depleting chemicals or chlorinated solvents. It is non-corrosive and suitable for use
on all metals.
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Item 10 - White Vinegar
Why You Need It : See the list ----->
What to Look For : Plain distilled white vinegar - not cider, balsamic, or white
wine - with a solution of 5 percent acetic acid.
It is not ideal for acid-sensitive surfaces.
White vinegar is not to be used as a food product.
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Item 11 - Baking Soda
Why You Need It : See the list ----->
What to Look For : A label that says "pure baking soda" or "100 percent sodium bicarbonate".
Baking soda and bicarbonate of soda are different names for the same thing
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Item 12 - Microfiber Duster
Why You Need It : It has that magnetic attraction, picking up dust and pet hair wherever it lands. Use it
for blinds, works of art, and even plants. It requires no cleaning product, and the removable heads can be machine-washed.
What to Look For : A comfortable handle and a head with a thick or looped nap to grab the maximum amount of debris.
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Item 13 - Caddy
Why You Need It : It's the efficient housekeeper's best friend, containing everything you need in one
easy-to-find place that moves with you as you tackle the house.
What to Look For : A sturdy basket or bucket wide enough to fit products and deep enough to contain spills.
Handy Hint : Wear a tool apron and stash your toothbrush, microfiber cloths,
and dry-cleaning sponge in the pockets.
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And to finish off....
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Did we miss something? : Probably. Use this as a guide only for your own household
cleaning needs. We hope this gives a starting point .........?????
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Uses For Vinegar
- To remove calcium buildup on kettles and electric jugs, boil the kettle with half a cup of white vinegar and leave to soak for a while. Rinse with fresh water, reboil with same and your kettle should now be calcium deposit free.
- Place a small container of vinegar in your toilet and bathroom to eliminate odors.
- A half cup of vinegar added to a toilet bowl left overnight removes bowl odor. The smell of the vinegar will also dissipate overnight.
- A cotton ball soaked in vinegar and appled to bruises for an hour is said to speed up the healing process.
- Vinegar on minor burns and many sorts of stings can alleviate pain.
- For cleaning your dishwasher, vinegar frozen into ice cubes, then a couple added to the bottom of the dishwasher just prior to a cycle is an effective alternative to using heavy chemical cleaners.
- Old, stiff paintbrushes can be revived by dipping them into heated white vinegar for a couple of hours, followed by a rinse in soapy water. Beats using turpentine!
- Vinegar can be used as a nappy soak; simply add half a cup of white vinegar to the water in the nappy bucket
- Use it as a broad leaf weed killer - spray it neat onto the leaves of weeds, being careful to avoid plants you wish to keep. A mix of vinegar and salt can be used to keep weeks and grass out of driveway cement joins.
- Vinegar can be used as a benchtop disinfectant; but it's a good idea to wipe over at night in order that the smell dissipates.
- For pet owners, white vinegar poured onto pet urine mishaps on carpets, then blotted up with paper towel will prevent staining and odor.
- Save money on washing pre-spray by spraying neat vinegar on deodorant and other stains on garments just prior to washing.
- Spray a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water onto soap scum on shower screens, leave sit then wipe or rinse off.
- Neat vinegar sprayed onto mould affected bathroom/shower tiles will kill the mould.
- Vinegar can be used as a fabric softener by adding half the amount of vinegar as you would of your usual softening agent.
- I've seen many suggestions that a tablespoon of vinegar can be used as a replacement for hair conditioner.
- Vinegar can also be used as a glass cleaner either mixed with water or used neat in a spray bottle.
- Use full strength vinegar to polish chrome and stainless steel
- Use a 50/50 vinegar and water mix to clean your iron. Add the mixture to your iron and allow it steam itself clean
- Pour boiling white vinegar down a clogged drain to remove the obstruction
- Ants hate vinegar; so spray it around doorways and other areas they frequent to repel them
- How to Clean the Showerhead With Vinegar
Uses For Baking Soda
Put out fires - A handful of baking soda can safely put out fires in many places; clothes, rugs, carpets etc.
Clean your teeth - Use a little bit of baking soda on your toothbrush after you've brushed to get your teeth extra white.
Don't do this more than 2, 3 times a month.
Cleans clothes - Add a little baking soda to your cycle, it takes out tough stains.
Use to clean certain dishes/containers - Use baking soda on food and drink containers to clean well. Works better with plastic items.
Use to clean things around the house - Baking soda is a great cleaning tool for almost anything. Toilets, counters, furniture (marble),
garbage cans, sinks, showers etc.
Use to clean stainless steel pots and glass.
Use baking soda to break down tough dirty areas; dirt on a car, inside of barbecue etc.
Get rid of smells - Get rid of almost any smell with a little bit of baking soda, try it out.
Use baking soda to clean appliances such as dishwashers and coffee-makers.
Wash well with baking soda and apply for a stronger substitute then deodorant.
Sun-burn solvent - To relieve minor burns (such as a sun burn), use baking soda and water.
Gargle - Gargle baking soda for whiter teeth, fresher smell and it also heals sores.
Bug bites - Apply baking soda to bug, bee, wasp, ant or any kind of bites for a quicker heal.
Polish - Baking soda is a great polish for chrome, silver, marble furniture, piano keys.
Smooth skin - Use with water to create paste, apply to face, careful to avoid eyes and mouth, and
leave on for 3 - 5 minutes, wash off. Your face will be noticeably softer.
Clean Any Surface in Your House
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