1001 Cleaning Tips

Is Clumping Cat Litter Right For Your Kitty’s Litter Box?

mary — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 07:15:15 +0000

If you live with one or more indoor cats, household litter boxes are a fact of life in your home. There are several different types of cat litter products available, and the type you choose can have a major impact on how your home smells. It’s important to choose an effective cat litter that your cat doesn’t mind using and that keeps the smell out of your home.

Clumping Cat Litter
Many people prefer to use clumping cat litter rather than traditional cat litter. Those who prefer this option find keeping their cat’s litter boxes clean to be much easier than with traditional litter boxes. While traditional litter boxes have to be dumped and refilled regularly, this isn’t necessary when you use clumping cat litter.

Instead, the areas that need to be removed actually form clumps that you can easily see and remove, without having to deal with picking up the entire box and emptying it. Of course, the litter has to be completely changed once in a while, but the frequency is much less than with traditional litter.

On the downside, the clumps do need to be removed quite frequently. If you allow them to build up in the litter box, it’s likely that your cat will avoid using the box to do his or her business.

Odor Alert Clumping Cat Litter
If you like the idea of the easy ongoing maintenance of clumping cat litter but don’t trust yourself to remember to take care of the necessary complete litter changes before the smell gets out of hand, you might want to try Odor Alert. This type of cat litter provides cat owners with a visual cue when it’s time to swap out their clumping cat litter.

Instead of realizing too late that a litter box odor has permeated your home, with Odor Alert, it will be very obvious when it’s time to make a switch. The pre-odor indicators in this product turn blue when the dampness that leads to unpleasant odors starts to build up. Long before your nose tells you it’s time to switch your kitty litter, your eyes will notice that it has turned blue. Odor Alert takes the guess work out of knowing when it’s time to make a total litter switch.

Important Consideration for Choosing Cat Litter
Keep in mind that cats tend to be very finicky about their litter boxes. If you’re thinking about switching to a different type of kitty litter, purchase only a small container the first time. This will save you from wasting money and having to deal with kitty potty accidents in your home if your cat refuses to use the new litter.

Should I Use a Professional Cleaning Service?

mary — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 06:23:10 +0000

Is cleaning your home a chore that you really dread? Are you too busy with work, parenting, and other obligations to devote the proper amount of time to keeping your home as clean as it really should be? If so, you might want to consider enlisting the assistance of a professional cleaning service to help with your housekeeping responsibilities.

Hiring a professional cleaning service doesn’t have to be cost-prohibitive. One of the major factors impacting the fee for cleaning your house is how often you have a professional come in and work on your home. If you’re able to keep up with making sure your living space stays relatively tidy, you may only need to hire a professional to come in and take care of deep cleaning once each month.

On the other hand, if you want to minimize the need for you to spend any time on cleaning your home, you may want to hire someone to come in and take care of surface and deep cleaning once every week, or maybe even more often depending on how quickly your home gets messy. If this is your preference, your per-visit fee is likely to be less that for a once a month cleaning, because there won’t be as much to do on every visit. However, your overall out of pocket cost will be more due to the frequency of the visits. Of course, what you’ll get for the extra money you spend is increased freedom from regular house cleaning responsibilities.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, some people keep up with their regular cleaning duties, but like to have professionals come in and do a really thorough cleaning once or twice each year. Individuals who choose this option save the worst jobs for their cleaning specialists, such as cleaning the mini blinds, drapes, foot molding, and other hard to reach and clean areas. The per visit fee for this type of cleaning is likely to be fairly steep, but you only incur this type of expense on rare occasions.

The decision about whether or not to use professional cleaners, and how frequently to have them visit your home, is up to you. It’s a simple matter of time, preferences, and economics. If it’s worth the money to you to be able free up some of your time, then investing in a professional cleaning service can certainly be money well spent.

4 Easy Shower Cleaning Tips

mary — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:49:45 +0000

No one looks forward to scrubbing their shower, but keeping your shower clean is certainly an important part of proper housekeeping. Shower cleaning doesn’t have to be unpleasant or difficult, if you keep up with the task on a regular basis. Follow these simple tips, and you’ll find that maintaining a clean shower is much easier than you thought it could be!

1. Use The Right Cleaning Solution
When cleaning your shower, it’s important to use a cleaning solution designed for use in the bathroom. The dirt and germs that tend to build up in bathrooms are very different from those found in kitchens and other areas of the home. Bathroom cleaning products are especially designed to combat mold, mildew, and other types of dirt and bacteria that build up in damp areas.

2. Start at the Top
When you clean your shower, the dirt that you remove will drip down the walls to the floor. If you start at the bottom, you’ll find yourself having to duplicate your effort. Start cleaning at the top of the walls, and work your way completely around the shower before moving downward.

Apply bathroom cleaner all the way around the top of the shower and start scrubbing. The cleaner and some of the dirt will drip down the walls. This is fine, because you will simply work your way down the walls, and end by cleaning the tub or floor of the shower.

3. Don’t Forget Faucets
Even though shower faucets don’t usually collect mold and mildew as quickly as shower floors and walls, it’s still important to clean them on a regular basis. If the bathroom cleaner you are using on the walls is safe for use on the types of faucets you have, you can use it. Many people prefer using a vinegar and water solution to clean their shower faucets.

4. Preventive Maintenance
One of the best things you can do to make shower cleaning easy is to take proper preventive maintenance steps. Mildew builds up in showers because they stay damp. If you get in the habit of wiping your shower walls down after you use it, you’ll create an environment that is less conducive to mildew growth. You can also spray down the shower with a 10:1 solution of water and bleach in between uses, to prevent unwanted buildup and bacteria growth.

4 Carpet Cleaning Tips

mary — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:35:01 +0000

Keeping your carpet clean can play an important role in extending it’s useful life. Replacing flooring can be costly and inconvenient, so it’s definitely a good idea to do what you can to extend the life of the carpeting in your home.

1. Vacuum Regularly
Embedded dirt and dust can make your carpet look old and worn out long before it should. If you vacuum your carpeting at least once a week, you’ll keep dirt and dust from settling in and causing stains and other permanent problems that contribute to worn out carpeting.

2. Shampoo Periodically
Even with regular vacuuming, dirt can still get trapped in your carpet over a period of time. While regular vacuuming helps make sure that the dirt and dust of daily life don’t settle in the carpet for the long haul, an occasional shampoo is necessary to keep your carpet as fresh and clean as possible.

Whether you own a steam cleaner or you rent one from your local home improvement store, shampooing your carpet is much easier and less costly than having to replace it. Proper carpet shampooing can add several years to the useful life of your carpeting.

3. Be Proactive
When something spills on your carpet, don’t let it set there until you have time to get around to cleaning it up. Cleaning up a spill now doesn’t take any more time than it will take to clean it up later. As a matter of fact, when you go back later, the spill that would have been easy to clean up when it was fresh will likely have gotten worse, possibly even creating a permanent stain.

4. Spot Treatments
If you do get a stain on your carpet, the sooner you try to remove it, the better chance you have of being successful. If you have carpeting in your home, it’s a good idea to keep some type of carpet cleaning solution on hand so that you’ll always be able to treat stains as soon as you become aware of them.

Lower Your Stress Level by De-cluttering Your Home

mary — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:43:32 +0000

Do you have a tendency to hang on to items that you aren’t likely to ever use again? Has anyone ever used the word “packrat” to describe you? If so, it’s likely that your living environment is much more cluttered than it really needs to be. For many people, a cluttered home leads to a great deal of stress and anxiety. The good news is that living in a cluttered environment is one source of stress that you can control.

If you want to enjoy the benefits of living in a peaceful and relaxing home, it’s important that you get rid of the excess stuff that is keeping your home cultured and messy. This doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of all of your home décor and keepsake pieces. However, it does mean that you should take a good look at the items that have accumulated in your home over the years and take stock of which ones add positive energy to your living environment and which ones detract from it.

If there are items in your home that no longer serve any purpose in your life, it’s time to let them go. Don’t just look at the areas of your living space that are visible at first glance when considering which items contribute to your clutter-induced stress. Look in your closets, drawers, attic, garage, and basement. There’s no reason to hold on to items that you will never use again, just because you have space available to sock them away.

The idea of getting organized may seem overwhelming at first, and it may even stress you out more than the thought of continuing to live with your clutter. The key to making the process of getting organized manageable is to focus on one area at a time. Think about the greatest source of clutter-related stress in your life, and attack that area first.

For many people, closets provide the biggest source of clutter-related anxiety. If this is the case for you, tackle your closet first. Get rid of clothing and accessories that you haven’t worn in a year or more, and arrange the remaining items in a logical and orderly manner so it will be easy for you to find what you need when you go to the closet every day. If your closet isn’t the biggest problem area, don’t start there. Pick the part of your home environment that stresses you out the most, and get it on order first.

Even small reductions in household clutter can have a significant impact on your sense of well being and order. If you can gradually break yourself of your packrat habits, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of living a less cluttered life almost immediately.

How to Remove Coffee Stains From Fabric

mary — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:17:35 +0000

If you drink coffee on a regular basis, you’ve probably had a bad experience with a spill. Whether you drink coffee at home, at work, or in restaurants, it’s likely that you’ve had to deal with drips or spills getting on your clothes and staining them. Even worse, if you drink coffee during your daily commute, you may likely have experienced a big spill while driving or being jostled on a bus or train.

Everyone who drinks coffee needs to understand the basics of how to remove coffee stains from their clothing and other fabric items, such as tablecloths and napkins. The most important thing to remember about removing coffee stains is that they become very difficult, if not impossible, to get out if they get dry. As soon as the stain occurs, it’s important to start trying to get it out.

When you spill coffee on fabric, follow these steps to enjoy the best chances of preventing a permanent fabric stain.

Blot the excess liquid from the fabric.
Mix dishwashing liquid with slightly warm water and sponge over the affected area.
Blot the affected area to remove excess soap.
Combine 1 part of white vinegar to two parts of slightly warm water.
Use a sponge to apply the vinegar and water solution to the affected area.
Thoroughly rinse the affected area with tap water.
Wash the entire garment or other item per manufacturers’ instructions.

How to Remove Tomato Sauce Stains From Fabric

mary — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 05:18:23 +0000

Do you avoid ordering marinara sauce or pizza when you go to restaurants because you’re afraid you’ll end up with a big red tomato sauce stain on your shirt or slacks? Not only will you have to be teased all night for wearing your food, you’ll have to struggle with trying to get rid of the stain before your outfit is permanently destroyed.

One of the reasons that people struggle so much trouble with tomato sauce stains is that they inadvertently make the stains worse as soon as they happen. The worst thing you can do for this type of stain is to rub it. When you try to rub away a stain when it occurs, what you’re really doing is rubbing it in. This is the first step in causing permanent discoloration that can ruin the fabric.

Fortunately, tomato sauce stains don’t have to become permanent, if you take care of them right away and use the proper stain removal techniques. The next time you find yourself dealing with dripping shrimp creole, spaghetti sauce, or an unwieldy meatball sandwich, try one of these great tips for how to remove tomato sauce stains from clothing.

Rinse Immediately
Don’t wait until you go home to try to do something about the stain. To have the best chance of avoiding a stain, you should rinse your garment immediately. As soon as the spill or splatter occurs, blot (don’t rub, blot!) the excess sauce from the fabric. Then, run the stain under the cold water, letting the water go through the fabric from the back of the material so the stain will be forced out rather than being allowed to sink it.

Follow Up With Detergent
As soon as possible, gently rub liquid detergent into the affected area. If you’re in a restaurant, if there is liquid hand soap in the dispenser that is not a color likely to cause further staining, you can improvise with that product. Alternately, you can try squeezing lemon juice on the affected area if you don’t have access to liquid detergent.

Launder in Cold Water
Once you have followed the preliminary stain removal techniques, you will want to wash the garment in your washing machine in cold water. Avoid using hot water, as this could cause the stain to set instead of being washed away. If the garment is white, you may want to add bleach. You can also add color safe bleach to colored fabrics if you have some.
Check Before Drying
Before placing the garment in the dryer, check to see if the stain is gone. If there are still visible signs of staining, try soaking again, or applying additional stain removal products. If you run a stained garment through the dryer, the stain will set and you’ll have a permanent reminder of your run in with tomato sauce.

How to Clean Chewing Gum off Your Shoes

mary — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 05:01:07 +0000

Have you ever thrown away a perfectly good pair of shoes because you stepped on someone’s old chewing gum and couldn’t get it off the sole of your shoe? Most people have had this experience at one time or another. When it happens, it always seems to be to either a brand new pair of very expensive shoes, or your favorite footwear that you can’t replace no matter how hard you look.

Fortunately, getting gum stuck on your shoe doesn’t have to mean the end for the unfortunate footwear. Try one of these how to remove gum from your shoes tips the next time you find yourself in a sticky situation, and you’ll probably be able to save the shoes. Of course, you may just want to buy a new pair anyway!

Raid the Garage
If your house is like mine, you probably have a can or two of WD-40 lurking in your garage. This miracle product is good for so many different purposes, so it’s not surprising that it can even help you clean chewing gum from your shoes. Simply spray the affected area of the shoe (the part with gum stuck to it) with WD-40 and allow it to sit for approximately one minute. Using a clean soft cloth or a paper towel, wipe away the gum and the WD-40 residue. In most cases, the gum will immediately pull free from the shoe. You can then use a second clean rag to make sure that you aren’t leaving oily residue behind on your shoe.

Try the Freezer Technique
It sounds kid of strange, but it’s much easier to remove frozen gum from a shoe than it is to get rid of hot or room temperature gum that is stuck to the sole. Take off the offending shoe, and put it in a plastic bag. Stick the plastic bag to the piece of gum. Put the bag in your freezer and leave it for about three hours, which should be sufficient time to allow the gum to freeze. After the time is up, remove the bag from the freezer compartment and pull the bag away from the shoe. If this tip was successful, the gum will stick to the bag, and your shoe will no longer have a sticky clump stuck to the bottom.

Save the Shoes?
These easy tips can help you save your shoes from becoming trash when you accidentally step on someone’s cast away chewing gum. Hopefully you won’t need to put these tips to the test, but if you do find yourself wondering how to get rid of the gum that’s stuck to your shoe, you’ll be sure to be happy that you found these simple tips for removing gum from your footwear.

How to Clean Plastic Food Storage Containers

mary — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 14:33:10 +0000

Are your Rubbermaid, Tupperware, or other plastic food storage containers starting to show signs of wear and tear. With continuous use, all types of food storage containers are likely to stain. Traditional washing will keep them safe to use, but won’t help remove food stains that build up over time. When these containers start to show discoloration, it’s time to tackle cleaning them with a different approach.

Cleaning Tip #1: Use Baking Soda to Remove Stains
Baking soda is one of the most amazing products ever invented. It has so many different uses and applications around the house. Among it’s many uses, baking soda is a powerful tool for fighting stains on plastic food storage containers. If you have a stained container, try sprinkling baking soda in the container and scrubbing it with a damp cloth or sponge. All but the toughest stains will disappear before your eyes.

Cleaning Tip #2: Clean Containers With White Vinegar
Like baking soda, white vinegar can be used for many different purposes around a home. Vinegar has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the toughest available solutions to household cleaning problems. To use vinegar to remove tough stains from your plastic food storage containers, simply create a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water in the container. Allow the vinegar and water mixture to sit in the container for thirty minutes, and then rinse with cold water. Most stains will disappear following this procedure, which can also eliminate odors.

Cleaning Tip #3: Combined Cleaning Power
If either of the above tips alone don’t solve your problem, you may want to try a combination of the two methods. Scrub your containers down with baking soda and rinse clean. Follow up by adding a mixture of vinegar and water, and leave it in the container overnight. Pour out the water, rinse, and then wash as you normally do.

If your plastic food storage containers are still stained after trying all three of these cleaning tips, it’s likely that it’s time for you to purchase new containers to hold your leftovers and other food items.

Tips for Cleaning Your Ceramic Cook Top

mary — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 14:20:23 +0000

Stoves with glass ceramic stove tops are attractive additions to any kitchen. They are easy to use, and even easier to keep clean if you follow simple tips for how to properly maintain your ceramic cook top.

Cleaning Products
You can find cleaning cloths and products made especially for use with ceramic stove tops. While these products work just fine, it isn’t necessary (in most cases) to purchase such items. You can use any soft cloth or sponge and kitchen multipurpose cleanser or liquid dish soap to keep your glass ceramic stove top in sparkling clean condition. It is important to avoid wiping your stove the abrasive side of a sponge or anything else likely to scratch the surface.

Daily Maintenance
Every time you use your stove, you should keep an eye out for spills. It’s much easier to wipe a spill off your ceramic stove top as soon as it occurs than it is to remove it after it has had time to dry and harden. Every time you cook on your stove, follow up by wiping the ceramic stove top down with a soft cloth.

Periodic Deep Cleaning
No matter how careful you are with keeping your stove wiped clean on a daily basis, it’s always likely that grime and spills will accumulate on the surface. When you notice a build up of grime on your cook top, it’s time to give it a good, deep cleaning. Simply wet the surface and apply the cleaning product of your choice. Products such as soft scrub, Fantastic, and Formula 409 are good for this purpose.

Allow the cleaner and water to sit on the stove for a while, so the cleaning chemicals have a chance to loosen up the caked up spills or grease from the surface of the appliance. After thirty minutes or so, simply go back with your sponge or soft cloth and wipe the surface clean. If some spots are too stubborn to wipe away after a brief soak, apply more cleanser and let it sit a little longer. You may have to scrub pretty hard in some spots. Do not give in to the temptation to use an abrasive cleaning pad, or you’ll end up with a scratched cook top.

Tips for Cleaning Up Puppy Potty Accidents

mary — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:56:02 +0000

When you have a new puppy, it’s important to understand that accidents are going to happen no matter how early you start housebreaking your new pet. Don’t lose patience with your puppy for doing what comes naturally to him or her. Keep in mind that someone had to keep you clean for several years before you were old enough to even start potty training!

Since accidents are inevitable when you bring a new puppy into your home, it’s important for you to learn how to clean puppy urine from your floors. By following these how to clean dog urine tips, you’ll be able to keep your house clean while your puppy is learning how to control when and where to go to the bathroom.

Cleaning Tips for Dog Urine:

1. Avoid Rubbing Urine Puddles
One of the worst things you can do when cleaning up dog urine is to rub an area where there is a puddle. Doing so can cause the odor to seep into your carpeting or other floor covering.

2. Soak Up Urine Puddles
Instead of rubbing a puddle, use a towel to soak up the liquid. This will draw the urine away from the floor rather than risking the possibility of causing it to seep in, causing permanent stains and odor problems.

3. Rinse Thoroughly
Once you have soaked up the puddle, apply water to the area and allow it to soak for a few minutes. Thoroughly cover the area with water, then place a towel over the spot. This will dilute any remaining urine, thus reducing the likelihood discoloration. It will also help remove odors.

4. Fight Odor
Once you have thoroughly rinsed the area, clean the floor as you normally would. Use some sort of odor neutralizer to help make the smell go away. Keep in mind that if your puppy can still smell the urine in the affected area, he or she may get in the habit of going back to the same spot again and again for potty breaks.

How to Clean Your Cat’s Litter Box

mary — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:08:18 +0000

When you have an indoor cat, a litter box is one of life’s necessities. Having a litter box can keep down odor from your house and significantly reduce the amount of time you have to spend cleaning up after your cat. However, liter boxes must be properly maintained and cleaned in order to keep them fresh and tolerable in your home environment.

Daily Cleaning
It’s a good idea to remove feces from your cat’s litter box every day. This serves two purposes. It prevents an unpleasant odor from wafting throughout your home from the litter box. It also helps make sure the cat doesn’t mind going back to the box to take care of his or her business.

If the box becomes to smelly or messy, a finicky feline will choose to avoid the box. If this happens, you’ll end up cleaning up feces from all over your house. It’s much better to just get in the habit of scooping the box on a daily basis.

Changing the Litter
Even if you keep your box scooped clean every day, you will certainly periodically have to change the litter in the box. The frequency with which you will need to change the litter will vary, based on the type of litter you use, the number of litter boxes you have, as well as the number of cats living in your home. Generally, clay litter should be changed twice weekly, and scoopable litter should be replaced every other week.

Of course, it’s important to use common sense when deciding when to change the litter. If you notice an odor, it’s definitely time to change the litter. If the litter is clumped together or is wet, it’s also time to switch it out with fresh litter.

Washing the Box
When you change the litter, you should wash the box out with soap and water. Beware of using household cleaning products, as many such substances can be harmful to cats. Even cleaning products that aren’t dangerous to cats should be avoided, as their odors can be repellent to cats. The last thing you want to do is use something to clean your cat’s box that will be a turn off for him or her.

By taking proactive steps to keep your cat’s litter box clean and fresh at all times, your home will be a much more pleasant place to be, and your cat will be happy and likely to contain his or her business to the designated box.

How to Keep Your Yard Free of Pinecones the Easy Way

mary — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:14:57 +0000

Do you get tired of constantly stooping down or bending over to clean up the pinecones from your yard? Add a CONEIVORE to your supply of yard clean-up tools, and you can take the pain out of keeping your lawn free of pine cones, hazelnuts, pears, walnuts, chestnuts, sweet gum balls, and other fruits and nuts that fall from trees and keep your yard looking messy.

This unique tool provides homeowners with a fast and easy tool for removing debris from the ground. Instead of having to constantly bend down and pick up items that are cluttering the yard, the CONEIVORE allows you to remove these items without having to stoop.

The CONEIVORE is designed to gobble up the cones with very
little effort. The three-foot handled tool weighs less than three pounds. It is made with a plunging tube that fits over the top of a pinecone or other item that you want to pick up, and pulls it from the ground into the tube.

The unit comes with caps of two different sizes designed to accommodate pinecones of different sizes. The CONEIVORE can pick up any item from two to seven inches to slip into the tube when pushed over it. It holds 15 to 18 pinecones at a time. When it’s full, simply dump it out and start over until your yard is clear.

This handy piece of yard equipment enables the user to pick up pinecones without having to bend over or rake them into piles. They don’t have to risk finger pricks and cuts, which means the chances of injury and infection are greatly diminished.

For more information, see Coneivore.com or call 888-CONEWIZ.

How to Make Hardwood Floors Look Like New

mary — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:52:17 +0000

Are your hardwood floors starting to look their age? Real hardwood floors are an elegant design element for any home. However, over time they can begin to lose their luster. Scuffs and scratches sometimes seem to appear on hardwood flooring out of nowhere. While some wear and tear adds a look and feel of character to wood floors, too much evidence of use can detract from the beauty of these floors.

Fortunately, there’s a new product that helps keep hardwood floors looking their best regardless of how frequently they are used. Minwax Hardwood Floor Reviver is a easy to use product that allows homeowners to restore the beauty and luster of their hardwood floors with a minimal amount of effort.

Minwax Hardwood Floor Reviver is a topcoat that brings back shine to dull floors and adds a protective layer to help prevent future damage. With this product, it’s easy to revive scuffed and scratched hardwood floors that have begun to dull as a result of daily use. You don’t have to sand the floors at all, and only a minimal amount of preparation is required.

To bring your floors back to life, simply sweep or vacuum the floor to remove loose dirt and wash the floor with a cleaning product designed especially for hardwood floors. Follow up cleaning by applying a thin layer of Minwax Hardwood Floor Reviver using a synthetic applicator pad and let dry for two hours. The water-based formula means the product dries quickly and doesn’t have a strong odor.

According to Jacquelyn, Ferrara, the Director of Marketing for Minwax, “Reviver is an easy way to revitalize worn hardwood floors without undertaking a complete refinishing, making it a perfect and simple do-it-yourself project.” You can give your hardwood floors new life and keep them looking beautiful by reapplying every three to six months.

How to Clean Dishes Without Soaking, Pre-Rinsing, or Scrubbing

mary — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:30:58 +0000

Enjoy clean dishes without elbow grease with a Whirlpool Gold dishwasher featuring PowerScour technology. This advanced dish washing solution features 36 targeted jets that blast away even the toughest baked on foods without requiring soaking, pre-rinsing, or scrubbing by hand. This powerful technology meets the needs of busy consumers who are frustrated by having to soak and scrub dishes before running them through their dishwashers.

Whirlpool’s Gold dishwasher with PowerScour technology can handle just about anything. The appliance is strong enough to wash away baked-on food, but can also safely clean delicate glassware in the same load. Whirlpool’s PowerScour technology takes aim at the worst messes, yet the smart technology makes sure that items that don’t need to feel the force of the powerful jets are protected.

This is accomplished via an “Adaptive Wash” cycle, which calculates the size of the load and dirtiness of the dishes. It automatically adjusts among light, normal and heavy cleaning cycles. Not only does this feature provide optimal cleaning results, it also conserves water and saves energy.

“Today’s consumers want their appliances to take the dirty work out of housework,” said Tony Chang, Whirlpool brand marketing director. “PowerScour technology can handle the stickiest pie pan or oatmeal bowl at the push of a button. It eliminates the need to do things by hand because the dishwasher is powerful enough to do it all on its own.”

Keys for Cleaning Your Refrigerator

mary — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:35:56 +0000

Keeping your refrigerator clean sometimes seems like a full-time job. This important appliance likely gets more use than any other appliance in your kitchen. Every member of your family probably opens and closes the fridge several times each day.

Daily Cleaning
Each time your refrigerator is opened or closed, there is a chance that something will spill, drip, or slosh, making for a mess that will only get worse if you don’t clean it up right away. While you shouldn’t cry over spilled milk, it’s also very important to avoid letting it build up on the shelves of your fridge. Doing so leads to creating a smelly mess that can make your food stink and become very hard to clean up.

As soon as you notice a spill in your refrigerator, you should wipe it up. Some spills may wipe right up with a damp cloth or spoon, and others may need a little bit more effort. You can often get spills cleaned up with minimal effort by spraying them with a kitchen cleaning product and wiping them away. More stubborn stains may require scrubbing with a brush or an abrasive cleaning pad, such as a Scotch Brite sponge.

Deep Cleaning
Even if you do a great job keeping spills wiped clean, it’s inevitable that your refrigerator will periodically need to be thoroughly scrubbed down. When it’s time to give your fridge a top to bottom bath, the first thing you need to do is remove all the foods and beverages from the appliance. Once you have done that, you will need to take the shelves and drawers out as well.

The best way to clean the inside of your refrigerator is by using a spray cleaner designed for the kitchen, or an all natural mixture of vinegar and water. You can make your own vinegar and water cleaner simply by adding 1/4 cup of vinegar to a gallon of warm water and stirring.

If the refrigerator drawers have stubborn stains, the easiest way to get them clean is to fill them with water and add liquid dish washing soap. Allowing them to soak for 15 minutes or so will make it fairly easy for you to wash away any stubborn sticky spots.

Preventive Maintenance
When your refrigerator is completely cleared out, you will be able thoroughly clean every nook and cranny, getting rid of every particle that might cause a smelly environment inside the appliance.

Once you clean your fridge, place a fresh and open box of baking soda inside the appliance, to keep smells at bay so your family’s food stays fresh as long as possible.

Tips for Keeping the Kitchen Sink Clean

mary — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:21:11 +0000

Cleaning the kitchen sink isn’t an exciting or glamorous task, but it certainly is an important one. It’s important to keep your kitchen sink clean at all times, for a variety of reasons.

The sink is one of the most visible components of the kitchen, so a dirty bowl can certainly distract from the room’s aesthetic appeal. It’s also important to keep the sink area free from germs and bacteria so you can enjoy safe food preparation and prevent cross-contamination.

Cleaning Supplies:
To keep your kitchen sink looking its best, you need to use the right types of tools to handle the job. Depending on the type of sink you have, you’re likely to need a good quality sink scrubbing brush, a scouring pad, a sponge, and/or a cleaning cloth.

No matter what you use to clean your sink, it’s important that you reserve the items specifically for sink cleaning. This is key to avoid spreading germs or bacteria from the sink into other areas of your home.

To keep your kitchen sink clean, you also need a good quality cleaning product. For most cleaning jobs, an all purpose spray kitchen cleaner will work very well. It’s a good idea to choose a product that includes antibacterial properties.

The Cleaning Process
1. When it’s time to clean your sink, the first thing you need to do is make sure it is empty. If there are any dirty dishes in the sink, go ahead and wash them or place them in your dishwasher before getting started.

2. Wipe down the sink to remove any food particles or other items that might have been left behind.

3. Use the spray nozzle or faucet to make sure the sink is slightly damp.

4. Apply your cleaning process over the entire surface area of the sink, as well as the faucet and handles.

5. You want to work from top to bottom when wiping the sink clean, to prevent getting areas dirty again that you have already cleaned. Starting with the faucet, begin wiping the sink clean, paying extra attention to any areas with stubborn stains.

6. Once you have thoroughly scrubbed the sink, rinse it clean with fresh cold water. If there are any residual stains, spray them down and scrub until clean, following with an additional cold water rinse.

7. Perform a final rinse with hot water, making sure to remove all of the residual cleaning products from the bowl.

By following these simple steps, you’ll find that cleaning your kitchen sink is much easier than you thought it could be. Regular cleaning prevents stubborn stains from building up, so you can save time in the long run by cleaning your sink frequently.

Coffee Maker Cleaning Made Easy

mary — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:05:47 +0000

If you enjoy drinking coffee, it’s likely that your coffee makers gets more use than just about any other small appliance you own. It’s important to clean your coffee maker regularly, to prevent germs and bacteria from building up. Keeping your coffee maker clean is also an important way to make sure that the coffee you brew tastes great!

Frequency of Cleaning? It’s a good idea to clean your coffee maker at least one time each month.

What to Use? The best way to clean a standard household coffee maker is by using a combination of vinegar and water.

How to Clean? Simply fill your coffee pot with a vinegar and water mixture in the proportions of one part vinegar to two parts of water. Pour the mixture into your coffee maker, and turn it on as if you were brewing a pot of coffee.

Once the vinegar and water runs through your coffee maker, turn it off and throw the water away. Follow up by running plain water through the coffee maker so you can be certain that all the vinegar is washed away. You’ll have a fresh, clean appliance ready to brew a delicious tasting pot of coffee.

Note: If you haven’t cleaned your coffee pot in a long time, you may need to repeat this step three or four times to get the small appliance truly clean.

What Does this Do? Running a mixture of vinegar and water through your coffee pot gets rid of mineral deposits from hard water and other impurities that build up over time. This technique can help your coffee taste much better, and can also improve the lifespan of your coffee maker.

Stain Removal Secrets: How to Clean Anything!

mary — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 13:50:49 +0000

Dealing with stains can be really frustrating. However, if you know a few basis about how to remove stains, you can clean just about anything.

Tips for Removing Common Stains:

Coffee - Every coffee drinker experiences a spill from time to time. Coffee stains don’t have to become permanent, assuming that you act quickly and decisively to get rid of them as soon as they occur. As soon as a coffee spill occurs, you should rinse the fabric thoroughly with cold water to prevent it from setting. You should apply a stain liquid detergent to the area immediately, and then follow with an additional cold water rinse after about five minutes.

Ink - If you accidentally write on your favorite machine washable shirt, don’t panic. You can remove the stain quickly and easily. Simply spray hair spray on the affected area and allow to soak for a few minutes. Rinse under cold water, and the stain will disappear before your eyes!

Tomato Sauce - If you enjoy cooking with or eating tomato sauce, you’re likely to end up with globs of it on your clothing from time to time. Whenever this happens, immediately remove the excess sauce from your garment, and then soak the affected spot in cold water for about thirty minutes. Once the spot has soaked for a while, gently rub liquid detergent into the area. Allow it to sit for about 15 minutes, then wash in cold water.

Wine - There’s no reason to cry over spilled wine. If you spill red wine on your carpet, tablecloth, or clothing, your first instinct might be to panic. However, there is hope for removing red wine. Try sprinkling salt on the affected area and letting it sit for a few minutes. Rinse with cold water, and it’s very likely that the stain will disappear. If not, try a commercial cleaning product designed to remove red wine stains.

On-the-Go Stain Removal
It’s a good idea to carry one of the modern stain removal stick products with you when you’re on the go, particularly if you’re prone to experiencing spills and stains. Sometimes removing a garment and soaking it isn’t possible, and a stain removal stick can really be a great assistance in such situations.

Toilet Cleaning Made Easy

mary — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 13:08:24 +0000

Cleaning toilets isn’t the most fun household job, but it is certainly an important one. If you know the right way to clean your toilet and you don’t go too long between cleanings, it doesn’t have to be difficult.

Clear the Area
Before you start cleaning your toilet, remove items that are sitting on the toilet or around the toilet area. Water will inevitably splash out while you are cleaning, so you can prevent creating more work for yourself if you make sure there are no items sitting in the splash pattern path.

Use a Good Toilet Cleaning Product
There are a number of different cleaning products designed just for the purpose of cleaning products. The best ones come in bottles with curved necks, which makes it easy for you to apply cleaner all the way around the rim directly from the container. It’s also important to use high quality cleaning gloves, to protect your hands from germs and bacteria from the toilet.

Cleaning Steps: How to Clean Your Toilet
1. When you’re ready to start cleaning the toilet, start out by putting the cleaning product of your choice inside the toilet bowl. Get the cleanser as close to the rim as possible. Close the lid and allow the cleaner to sit for a little while, so that it’s cleaning powers can get a jump start.

2. While the cleaner is soaking in the bowl, you’ll want to clean the outside of the toilet and the seat. You should use a sponge or brush that is reserved specifically for this purpose. Do not use it on any other areas of your home to avoid spreading germs.

Use a household spray cleaner with antibacterial properties. You should start at the top and work your way down, so you don’t find yourself having to go back and re-clean areas due to drips that occur during the cleaning process.

3. By the time the outside of the bowl is clean, the cleaner that you applied inside the bowl will have had time to start working, so you’ll be able to get started with scrubbing away the germs that build up over time.

Make sure you have a good quality toilet brush, and start out by scrubbing under the rim. As with the outside of the bowl, you will want to work from the top down. Once you have thoroughly scrubbed the inside of the toilet bowl, flush the toilet and then check to make sure it is clean. If not, reapply cleaner and scrub until you’re satisfied with the results.

4. Clean up any drips or spills that have managed to escape the toilet and land on the floor, vanity, or other surrounding items. Wash your hands thoroughly before moving on to your next task.