How To Clean Your Shower Curtain

Face it, shower curtains attract dirt with the damp conditions and soap scum that builds up. It really makes them a mold breeding ground waiting to happen. Instead of throwing that shower curtain out, you can take a few steps to save it.

To get your shower curtains clean and looking better than new, put the them into the clothes washer. Add 1 cup of bleach and 1 cup of detergent. Add several dirty towels or a blanket, etc. to the washer and run it on a gentle cycle using either warm or hot water. Hang them back up to drip dry. The combined effect of gravity and the hot steam from using the shower or bath will cause any remaining wrinkles to disappear within a day.

Removing Mold and Mildew

To remove any mold and mildew that does occur you can wash the curtain in the washer, or soak it in the bath tub with about 1 cup of bleach. Let it sit for about 20 minutes. To keep mildew away, spray newly washed shower curtains with a disinfectant during your regular cleaning routine.

Removing Scuff Marks and Heel Marks

It happens to all home owners, your favorite pair of shoes or your kid’s shoes leave scuff marks on your kitchen floor. Once you discover the scuff marks next comes figuring out how to clean them. It’s not likely that you will be able to mop them off. Scuff marks are some of the hardest messes to clean up.

Here are a few great tips for cleaning your scuff marks and other stains that you may have on your floor.

* Mr. Clean Magic Erasers really are helpful. These are ideal for cleaning up scuff marks on your flooring. You just need to wet them, wring them out and apply a bit of pressure to the eraser on the stain. Usually, they will pull the stain right off.

* Use WD 40 on the heel mark. Apply to the stain lightly and then wipe the area up with a clean paper towel or cloth.

* Take an ordinary, clean tennis ball and rub it over the scuff mark until it disappears. You can also use a large pencil eraser in the same way.

* Baking soda, mix 1 tsp of baking soda with some water and rub it over the scuff, with a sponge or toothbrush. Another product that you can use to get rid of scuff marks is toothpaste. Rub it over the mark straight on, without mixing it with water.

Keep in mind you will want to be careful with special types of flooring. If your flooring is wood or has a protective seal to it, some chemicals can damage that seal and cause damage. Instead, you will want to make sure to follow the directions provided by your flooring manufacturer.

Cleaning Your Dishwasher

Your dishwasher may not be the first place you think to clean but over time it builds up with food deposits, grime and much more. Dishwashers need regular routine cleaning just like every large, frequently used appliance in your home. After awhile, they can become a problem with appearance and odor. A routine dishwasher cleaning is a good habit and should be included with your regular spring cleaning routine.

How to Clean Your Dishwasher and Remove Odor

1. Using a small brush or an old toothbrush dipped in warm soapy water, go around the door of the dishwasher taking care to get into the grooves and crevices of the rubber seal. You may need to use a soft abrasive cleanser, such as Soft Scrub® to remove the dried and baked on grime.

2. Pull the bottom rack out and examine the drain area. Wipe around it to be sure there are no hard chunks that can plug the drain, cause damage to the pump or scratch dishes.

3. Using a clean wet sponge or a rag, wipe the cleaning solution from the gasket and the door.

4. Place a dishwasher-safe cup filled with plain white vinegar on the top rack of the dishwasher. Using the hottest water available, run the dishwasher through a cycle - except for the cup of vinegar, the dishwasher needs to be empty.

5. Baking soda is also effective at freshening and brightening your dishwasher. Just sprinkle a cupful around the bottom of the tub and run it through a short but complete cycle using the hottest water. Baking soda can help to remove any stains.

Cleaning and Care For Sinks

Our kitchen sinks and bathroom sinks get a lot of wear and tear throughout the day, over time they begin to show the wear. With a little elbow grease you can get your sink looking like new in no time flat.

Fiberglass sinks
Use a non-abrasive cleaners like dish washing soap or household all-purpose cleaners. If you want to take the green route use some baking soda moistened with water to make a paste then wet the surface and rub with the paste on a soft cloth. Rub gently and make sure you rinse thoroughly to remove all of the cleaner.
Never use any abrasive cleaners like common scouring powders, nor any abrasive scouring pads, or steel wool.

Porcelain Enamel Sinks
To clean porcelain, wash with warm or hot soapy water, using detergent or baking soda might help remove soap scum and soil. Always rinse with plain water.
If you choose to use scouring powder it should be the very finest one possible. Most scouring powders contain abrasives that can cause scratches. Once the porcelain surface has been scratched, it attracts dirt, grease and soap residue, which then becomes hard to clean.
Important Tips To Keep In Mind

* Try to rinse your sink after every use. This will make the sink smell fresh.

* Avoid pouring left over coffee, tea and juices into your sink, because such liquids can cause staining. Instead, put the liquids directly to the drain holes

* If you have a dual basin kitchen sink, then swap the sides that you use for washing and pre-washing, every now and then. This will allow the even use of drains.

* Make sure that the cleaning product is suitable for the finish of your kitchen sink, because not all the cleaners are recommended for every type of sink. For instance, in the case of a stainless steel sink, you may use abrasive cleaners. On the other hand, porcelain needs something more delicate, to prevent the surface from scratching.

* Make sure that you clean the faucet and the back of the sink as well to avoid mold and bacteria growth. You may use a solution made with one part vinegar and one part water for cleaning the faucet and handles.

Sources: http://www.pioneerthinking.com

Cleaning Upholstery

Cleaning spills on furniture cushions can seem tricky, but there are some basic tips to getting them clean that anyone can put to use quickly. One of the most important points is knowing what caused the stain, and what type of fabric the stain is on.

Cold water should be used on all types of stains other than enzyme based stains such as blood. Using hot water on other types of stains can actually cause more harm than good.

Quick Tips

Clean off the food or other debris from the affected area. If the mess is already dried you can vacuum the area to remove any excess food, etc.
Clean the area with either a commercial upholstery cleaner or natural cleaners.
Let the area dry.

Green Upholstery Cleaners

One of the best is white vinegar. Mixed with water, the vinegar not only picks up the stain, but also disinfects. It works great on wine stains.
Another effective cleaning agent is salt. Pour it over the stain and let dry. Scrape it off and wash with cold water. Finish by vacuuming and you should have a like-new cushion.

Cornstarch is another excellent way of removing oil and grease stains. Pour it over the affected area and let it dry. Vacuum it off and you should have a nice clean surface.

Add 1/4 c. laundry detergent or liquid dish detergent to 1 c. warm water. Blend with an electric mixer; whip the mixture until the suds look like whipped cream (it will be dry and form peaks). Take a damp cloth and rub the mixture into the stained area. Rinse out the cloth and gently wipe off the surface.

Source: www.wisegeek.com

Making Cleaning Easier

Everyone has to do it and most of us don’t want to. We all come home after a long day and we need to pick up around the house and clean up after dinner. Lets face it, you don’t get the time to enjoy your family. So don’t do it, don’t clean. Let Grime Solvers clean for you. Here are some reasons you should hire Grime Solvers to clean for you:

House cleaning can give you a more organized household that will make day to day task run more smoothly and reduce the stress for you and your family.

You’ll have no more worries about a dirty bathroom or a dirty kitchen. Regular cleaning from Grime Solvers will make sure you don’t send a bad impression to your guests.

You’ll family will be healthier – it’s proven that regular cleaning can reduce allergens, dust mites, mold and other potential health problems around the house.

You’ll only need to do a daily spiff up and organize the house. Grime Solvers will do the heavy cleaning and you’ll have more time for hobbies and your family.

We believe that client satisfaction is our only measure of success. Try us and you will see the Grime Solvers difference.

Keeping your Countertops Clean—How to Care for Granite

Granite counter tops in the kitchen are a great choice for the stylish and savvy homeowner. Not only does granite come in wide range of colors and patterns, each slab of stone is uniquely distinct from another—making it the ideal choice for someone looking to set their kitchen apart. But it is also extremely durable and able to resist heat and metal abrasion, making it equally as practical for your tough kitchen wear and tear. Because granite needs to be sealed, it is also stain resistant—perfect for the clean-conscious!

With all of these advantages, granite is known as a high-end counter top solution, and therefore adds value to your home. But proper care and maintenance is important to not only keep your kitchen looking its best, it’s also necessary in order to retain that added value. Here are few Do's and Don'ts when it comes to caring for and cleaning your granite counter tops.

Do's & Don'ts
The best way to keep your stone looking great is to avoid bad habits that may cause damage.

Do:
• Clean up spills immediately. Though granite is strong enough that it will not etch like marble, some liquids—particularly highly acidic substances like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce and sodas--could potentially stain the surface, especially if the slab is due for another sealing.
• Don't over clean. Using a small amount of specially formulated stone cleaner is a best practice because it will protect your sealer; however, hot water and a very, very small amount of dish soap will do in a pitch. Be sure you only use a very small amount of soap, as excessive and repeated use could cause build-up and dull your counter top's shine.
• Use coasters under all glasses, bottles and cans. Though this is not an absolute necessity because of the strength of granite, using coasters is a good habit to protect all surfaces.
• Use trivets and hot pads under pots, pans and dinnerware. Though the granite will not be necessarily damaged by the heat, once you remove the hot pan from the surface, it will be very hot and may burn you. So use caution!
• Use cutting boards. Avoid the very small possibility of scratching the surface, but also protect your knives, which can be dulled and damaged very quickly by cutting on stone.
• Re-seal your counter tops every 3-5 years.

Don't:
• Use common household or abrasive cleaners such as glass cleaners, degreasers or bleach. These products can contain chemicals that wear the granite sealer, leaving you stone more vulnerable to damage.
• Use vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange as cleaners. Though natural cleaners and usually effective as a kitchen cleaning aid, these products are highly acidic, which again, can cause your sealant to wear more quickly than usually.
• Use bathroom, tub & tile or grout cleaners. These powders and creams cleansers are abrasive and will dull the surface, and could cause scratches with prolonged use.
• Sit or stand on your counter tops. Though this material is extremely hard, is it NOT flexible, unlink many other counter top materials. Too much weight in one spot could cause a crack.

Sources: www.countertopspecialty.com
www.thekitchn.com

Cleaning Blinds

Caring for and cleaning your window blinds doesn't have to leave you seeing red. In fact, with a little preventive care and maintenance, keeping your blinds clean is easy.

The most important thing to remember is to not wait until you can see the dust and dirt buildup to decide it’s time for a cleaning. Prevention is best. With weekly light dusting using a soft cloth or feather duster (an old sock in which you can stick your hand also works extremely well) you can keep your work to a minimum and your blinds looking their best.

But if you're like many, chances are your blinds get neglected in your weekly cleaning routine. So what do you do when a light dusting is just not enough to get off the weeks or maybe even month’s worth of grit and grime that has accumulated? We have your answer. Depending on the type of blind, there are easy and relatively quick ways to bring your blinds back to their original state.
Vinyl or Aluminum Blinds

• Start by using a round brush attachment on your vacuum to remove all surface dust and dirt.
• Next, remove your blinds from the window and place them in your bathtub, filled with a low
level of hot soapy water. Be sure you layer your tub with a towel or tub mat to avoid scratching
the bottom of your tub. If you're a smoker, you may want to add a small amount of ammonia
to the water, which will help remove the yellow staining caused by cigarette smoke? Be sure
your room is properly ventilated if you do so.
• With a sponge or rag, clean each slat, being careful to not bend or scratch the blind.
• Never use an abrasive sponge or pad, which can cause scratching and may dull the surface.

Wood Blinds

• Wood blinds require a bit of extra care, since you cannot use soap and water.
• Again, start by using the round brush attachment on your vacuum to remove surface dust and
dirt.
• Remove the blinds from the window and lay them flat on the floor, with an old sheet or towel
underneath to keep the floor clean.
• On some wood blinds, you can use a very lightly damp cloth to wipe each individual blind, but
be sure you check the manufacturers label first, to avid warping and damage.
• With any standard wood furniture cleaner or polish and a soft cloth, wipe each blind in long
horizontal strokes for horizontal blinds and long vertical strokes for vertical blinds.
• Depending on how dirty your blinds are, you may need to repeat this step several times.
Fabric Blinds

• Fabric tends to attract more dust, but these blinds are usually treated to repel deep dirt.
• Using the round brush attachment on your vacuum to remove surface dust and dirt is
generally all you need to do to keep these clean; however, a damp cloth or rag can be used spot
treat if necessary.
• For really deep dirt removal or to remove stains, remove the blinds from the window and soak
them in hot water, again the tub works well. Do not use soap. Use caution and be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions, as this step could cause dulling or discoloration of some
fabrics.
• For heavy cleaning of fabric blinds, you may want to consider taking them to the dry cleaners
to avoid potential damage.

Wiping each blind, regardless of their type, with a dryer sheet will help repel future dust, as will thoroughly cleaning your windows and sills, and should be done before you rehang you newly clean blinds.


Sources:www.topwindowblinds.com
www.creativehomemaking.com