The bottom line is that, eventually, a dirty home gets to be too much and we have to clean it. Whether it’s as simple as putting away toys or as ambitious as scrubbing out all the scum that has built up in your bathtub, one thing is for sure–cleaning is a chore. That being said, the experts at Paul Davis got together and talked about some of their best-kept secrets for cleaning house. This month we’ve compiled the top ten household cleaning tips from Paul Davis staff members–and we hope you find them very helpful the next time you begin to scrub.
Make Your Own All-Purpose Cleaner: Not only are cleaners you buy from the store expensive, they’re also filled with who knows what? Just say “no” to chemicals you can’t pronounce, and instead fill a spray bottle with 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 quart of warm water. Use it with a sponge to get rid of messes without the worry.
Banish Coloring Marks: Do you have creative kids? We’ve all been there. You walk into a room and your toddler is decorating the woodwork with a marker he found tucked under the bed. Luckily, the everyday household item toothpaste will erase marker stains from wood lickity split. Try it the next time your artist gets loose. Got crayon on the walls? Sprinkle a damp sponge with baking soda and scrub lightly.
Fight Pet Odor: Are your household critters giving your home a funky smell? Try sprinkling baking soda on surfaces where your pet sits, like couches and dog beds, and let set for about 15 minutes. Vacuum it up and enjoy a fresher, cleaner-smelling room.
Soften Your Towels: If your towels are getting scratchy, don’t toss them. Instead, soak them in the absolute hottest water you can and add one cup of ammonia. Ammonia will help lift deposits left behind by mineral buildup.
Remove Stains From the Cutting Board: Tired of your cutting board giving away its age? Simply run the cut side of a lemon over the board to remove smells and food stains. If you need a little extra cleaning power, sprinkle a little salt on your board prior to introducing the lemon.
Clean Up Patio Furniture: Grimy patio furniture is the worst. The next time you want to clean your patio furniture, introduce a squirt of dish detergent to warm water and use the solution to wipe down your outdoor tables and chairs. Rinse everything clean with a garden hose and let dry in the sunshine.
Battle Clothing Stains: Don’t let that oily salad dressing set into your shirt! Instead, rub some grease-fighting dish soap into the stain and then rinse with water. Dish soap is capable of treating most fabrics, even wool and washable silk, so it’s the perfect stain-fighting solution.
Get Rid of Cabinet Grease: Have your cabinets gotten a little greasy? It happens to the best of us, especially when the kitchen is used often. Once again, dish soap comes to the rescue. Add some dish soap to a spray bottle, then fill the bottle with warm water. You’ll be misting away grease and grime in no time.
Hide Furniture Nicks: Is your wooden furniture scuffed or scratched? Try removing the shell from a walnut and then rubbing it into the damaged area to mask the problem. This solution doesn’t always work, especially if the scuff is larger or more pronounced, but it’s an inexpensive solution that’s worth a try.
Make Mirrors Gleam: Did you know that coffee filters are lint free? If you’re a coffee drinker, take time to rejoice. You can use a filter in place of a paper towel to give all the mirrors in your home a streak-free shine.
These are just some of the great tips that our experts came up with. Remember–if you have a mess that’s simply too big to clean up yourself after an event like flooding or a fire, just call the experts at Paul Davis to help: 608-839-4100.
