 | 44 Household Tips Below are just some household tips and hints. I have not tried all these so can’t tell for sure if they work or not. You can try them at your own risk. This is an older list that I gathered up here and there before the days of Pinterest. If you know the original source of any of these, please leave a link. |
If you don't use Pinterest, it is a great resource for so many things and I would love to have you follow me there or just follow my Good to know board/tips/hints/frugality board. Just don't let it be one of those time wasters you see listed at the bottom of this post. I know there are many many more tips than I could list! I used to love to get a hold of those little books that list lots and lots of tips, where I could always find something good or unique to try. Nowadays, you can find about anything on the internet. If you know a great tip or a great homemaking website, would you do me a favor and leave a comment below with your tip or your website or both? I would love to add to this. Thanks so much!
Some General Random Tips
1. Remove a laundry stain from clothing as soon as you know it is there.
2. Easy oven clean-ammonia on aluminum pie pan in your oven overnight. Remove and wipe oven clean.
3. Put towels in washer with your shower curtain-they will help remove soap scum.
4. Set toaster inside shoe box lid to keep crumbs off counter. Cover lid with matching wallpaper.
5. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of salt onto ironing board and run hot iron over it to remove dirt from bottom of iron.
6. Coat clean windowsills with a thin coating of floor wax. It protects painted surface, prevents dirt from adhering and makes cleaning easy. You can do the same on fan blades.
7. Scorched pans? sprinkle liberally with baking soda with enough water to moisten. Let paste stand for several hours.
8. A cup of vinegar in mop water will make your kitchen floor gleam 9. Use a clean dust mop to dust ceilings. It works great to get those sticky cob webs, etc.(You can also use a sticky lint remover over a paint roller). Put your dust mop in a grocery bag, tie handles tight, shake and dust will fall into the bag.
10. Play some peppy music. It helps you to go faster and feel better while cleaning. Stay focused and don't let other things side track you. Play games with the timer. It can be fun for you too, not just the kids.
11. Keep disinfectant wipes on hand. They are great for last minute clean ups or emergencies.
12. Remove scuff marks on floor with pencil eraser or dryer sheet, or rubbing a rag dabbed in mineral spirits on hardwoord or using s drop of baby oil on vinyl floors.
13. Remove small spots of rust on chrome by rubbing with aluminum foil. Scrunch a piece into a small ball with shiny side out. Rub the rust until it disappears, then polish.
14. Line top of cabinets with wax paper. Display your knick knacks and when cleaning is needed, just replace wax paper. This saves on dusting and cleaning.
15. Fill baby food jars with a small sample of each color of paint used in your home. Label and save the samples to use for touch-ups. Use cotton swabs to apply paint to small stains or marks on walls.
16. Get curtains out of way by looping them over a hanger, and hang from curtain rod. You'll be able to clean the windows without wetting the fabric.
17. Us a squirt gun to spray cleaner on windows above your reach and wipe clean with along-handled squeegee.
18. Keep a basket on the stairs for items that belong upstairs. Anyone going up is responsible for taking the basket along.
19. Have children take three belongings with them whenever they are on their way to their bedrooms. Also, have family do a five minute pickup each night before bed.
20. Use small amount of baby oil to wipe fingerprints off stainless steel. Club Soda will also do the trick.
21. Sanitize sponges by running them through the dishwasher on top rack or put them in the washing machine.
22.Apply stain removers to back of stain; it will push the stain out of the fabric.
23. For shiny floors-1/2 cup vinegar and 1 gallon warm water.
24. Clogged drain? Use 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar. Let set a while and follow with boiling water.
25. Use a long handled brush or sponge mop to clean your tub to keep from bending over.
26. Cut dryer sheets in half to make them go further. One half works as well as a whole.
27. Sprinkle table salt on spills in oven. When oven has cooled brush away the burnt food with damp sponge.
28. Mend ironing board tears-attach iron-on patches.
29. Speed drying time of bulky items and jeans-add a dry towel to the dryer and it will help absorb some of the excess moisture.
30. A small natural paintbrush is good for removing dirt and dust that collect around books.
31. One cup water and 3/4 Tbsp. of baking soda placed in microwave for two minutes will loosen stuck on food and dirt for easy clean up.
32. Oven cleaner will remove grease and oil stains in your driveway.
33. Stuck zipper? Rub candle wax along zipper, then press with iron.
34. Rust on Chrome? Clean with aluminum foil.
35. Use rubbing alcohol to shine appliances.
36. Remove stains from coffee cups by rubbing with salt and vinegar.
37. Using steel wool to fill your pin cushion will keep your needles sharp.
38. Pick up before you clean up.
39. Teamwork: Let family members share in work.
SPIFF UP IN MINUTES
40. Fold blankets and arrange pillows on sofas
and stack newspapers and magazines. Toss toys
and other stray items into an empty laundry basket.
41. Load dirty dishes in the dishwasher, toss food wrappers in the trash and wipe off the kitchen table and counter.
42. Hang fresh towels in the bathroom. Spot clean the mirror, counter and sink. Give the toilet bowl a quick scrub and clean the seat and rim.
43. Spritz a cloth with multi-surface cleaner and
wipe switch plates and knobs near the entryway so
the house smells fresh when guests arrive.
44. Finally, run a comb through your hair, light
a fragrant candle and sit back and wait for the doorbell to ring.
KEEPING ON TRACK
1. Make a TO DO list of everything you have to do tomorrow.
2. Assign a priority to each item.
3. Begin with number one and finish before
proceeding to next item.
4. Be flexible.
5. Pray over your list and ask the Lord's guidance and help. Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. This is the best thing anyone can do when trying to keep on track. Do you know the Lord? He can and will help you through each day.
Are any of these time wasters when it comes to your priorities?
Websites and I know there are many more!
http://organizedhome.com/
http://flylady.com/
http://www.realsimple.com/
Some General Random Tips
1. Remove a laundry stain from clothing as soon as you know it is there.
2. Easy oven clean-ammonia on aluminum pie pan in your oven overnight. Remove and wipe oven clean.
3. Put towels in washer with your shower curtain-they will help remove soap scum.
4. Set toaster inside shoe box lid to keep crumbs off counter. Cover lid with matching wallpaper.
5. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of salt onto ironing board and run hot iron over it to remove dirt from bottom of iron.
6. Coat clean windowsills with a thin coating of floor wax. It protects painted surface, prevents dirt from adhering and makes cleaning easy. You can do the same on fan blades.
7. Scorched pans? sprinkle liberally with baking soda with enough water to moisten. Let paste stand for several hours.
8. A cup of vinegar in mop water will make your kitchen floor gleam 9. Use a clean dust mop to dust ceilings. It works great to get those sticky cob webs, etc.(You can also use a sticky lint remover over a paint roller). Put your dust mop in a grocery bag, tie handles tight, shake and dust will fall into the bag.
10. Play some peppy music. It helps you to go faster and feel better while cleaning. Stay focused and don't let other things side track you. Play games with the timer. It can be fun for you too, not just the kids.
11. Keep disinfectant wipes on hand. They are great for last minute clean ups or emergencies.
12. Remove scuff marks on floor with pencil eraser or dryer sheet, or rubbing a rag dabbed in mineral spirits on hardwoord or using s drop of baby oil on vinyl floors.
13. Remove small spots of rust on chrome by rubbing with aluminum foil. Scrunch a piece into a small ball with shiny side out. Rub the rust until it disappears, then polish.
14. Line top of cabinets with wax paper. Display your knick knacks and when cleaning is needed, just replace wax paper. This saves on dusting and cleaning.
15. Fill baby food jars with a small sample of each color of paint used in your home. Label and save the samples to use for touch-ups. Use cotton swabs to apply paint to small stains or marks on walls.
16. Get curtains out of way by looping them over a hanger, and hang from curtain rod. You'll be able to clean the windows without wetting the fabric.
17. Us a squirt gun to spray cleaner on windows above your reach and wipe clean with along-handled squeegee.
18. Keep a basket on the stairs for items that belong upstairs. Anyone going up is responsible for taking the basket along.
19. Have children take three belongings with them whenever they are on their way to their bedrooms. Also, have family do a five minute pickup each night before bed.
20. Use small amount of baby oil to wipe fingerprints off stainless steel. Club Soda will also do the trick.
21. Sanitize sponges by running them through the dishwasher on top rack or put them in the washing machine.
22.Apply stain removers to back of stain; it will push the stain out of the fabric.
23. For shiny floors-1/2 cup vinegar and 1 gallon warm water.
24. Clogged drain? Use 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar. Let set a while and follow with boiling water.
25. Use a long handled brush or sponge mop to clean your tub to keep from bending over.
26. Cut dryer sheets in half to make them go further. One half works as well as a whole.
27. Sprinkle table salt on spills in oven. When oven has cooled brush away the burnt food with damp sponge.
28. Mend ironing board tears-attach iron-on patches.
29. Speed drying time of bulky items and jeans-add a dry towel to the dryer and it will help absorb some of the excess moisture.
30. A small natural paintbrush is good for removing dirt and dust that collect around books.
31. One cup water and 3/4 Tbsp. of baking soda placed in microwave for two minutes will loosen stuck on food and dirt for easy clean up.
32. Oven cleaner will remove grease and oil stains in your driveway.
33. Stuck zipper? Rub candle wax along zipper, then press with iron.
34. Rust on Chrome? Clean with aluminum foil.
35. Use rubbing alcohol to shine appliances.
36. Remove stains from coffee cups by rubbing with salt and vinegar.
37. Using steel wool to fill your pin cushion will keep your needles sharp.
38. Pick up before you clean up.
39. Teamwork: Let family members share in work.
SPIFF UP IN MINUTES
40. Fold blankets and arrange pillows on sofas
and stack newspapers and magazines. Toss toys
and other stray items into an empty laundry basket.
41. Load dirty dishes in the dishwasher, toss food wrappers in the trash and wipe off the kitchen table and counter.
42. Hang fresh towels in the bathroom. Spot clean the mirror, counter and sink. Give the toilet bowl a quick scrub and clean the seat and rim.
43. Spritz a cloth with multi-surface cleaner and
wipe switch plates and knobs near the entryway so
the house smells fresh when guests arrive.
44. Finally, run a comb through your hair, light
a fragrant candle and sit back and wait for the doorbell to ring.
KEEPING ON TRACK
1. Make a TO DO list of everything you have to do tomorrow.
2. Assign a priority to each item.
3. Begin with number one and finish before
proceeding to next item.
4. Be flexible.
5. Pray over your list and ask the Lord's guidance and help. Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. This is the best thing anyone can do when trying to keep on track. Do you know the Lord? He can and will help you through each day.
Are any of these time wasters when it comes to your priorities?
- Phone
- T.V. and/or internet
- Social Media
- Going back to bed
Websites and I know there are many more!
http://organizedhome.com/
http://flylady.com/
http://www.realsimple.com/
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