Other hints

Cleaning Dirty Collars:

Take a small paintbrush or old toothbrush with some of your hair shampoo; brush into soiled shirt collars before laundering.

The shampoo will dissolve body oils.

Removing stains from carpet and upholstered furniture:

• Mix equal parts of white vinegar, liquid dish detergent and water.

• Spray on stains, scrub with a brush and rinse with water.

• Another trick is to use shaving cream to clean carpet stains. Just scrub it in, rinse and let dry.

Polish leather upholstery with a cream made from 1 part vinegar and 2 parts linseed oil.

Pots and pan cleaner:

• Sprinkle surface of pans with coarse salt.

• Rub salt into stains with the cut half of a fresh lemon.

• An easy way to clean copper and brass is to mix 1/2 cup vinegar with 1 tablespoon salt.

Removing mildew:

• To remove mildew from bathtubs, bathroom curtains and tile, make a mixture of:

– one-half cup vinegar

– one-half cup of Borax cleaning detergent

– 2 cups of water.

• Pour it on the dirty areas and let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub with a cloth. If mildew is still visible, use the mixture twice.

Removing crayon, pencil or ink:

• To remove crayon, pencil or ink marks from the walls (without removing paint), take about 2 tablespoons of baking soda and mix in water.

• Dip a white wash rag in the solution and rub the marks away.

• Wipe away excess baking soda with the same cloth.

Removing crayon, pencil or ink from upholstery:

To remove pencil, crayon or ink marks from upholstery, use dry baking soda. Use a hairbrush or similar brush to rub baking soda and remove the marks.

Coffee and chocolate stains:

• To remove coffee and chocolate stains, mix one teaspoon of white vinegar in one quart of cold water.

• Sponge on stain and wipe clean.

Removing Grease:

• To remove grease or hair from the drain, use equal parts of vinegar, salt and baking soda.

• Pour mixture down the drain and let stand for 15 minutes.

• Then pour boiling water down the drain.

Candle Wax:

For wax on carpets and upholstery, put a brown paper bag over the dried wax & run a hot iron over it. The bag will absorb the hot wax.

Dried wax on wood floors or any at that matter can be removed by softening the wax with a hair dryer, then removing with paper towels. Wash the spot down with a combination of vinegar and water.

Other hints