Tip of the Day #246: Controlling Beach Sand with Baby Powder

Summer trips to the beach often result in a car, home and body covered in sand that seems to linger until winter--but this can be resolved with such a simple trick!
Place a small amount of baby powder in the palm of your hand and rub into onto your skin. The baby powder will quickly absorb moisture and the sand will fall away. Make sure to pour some on your beach towels and blankets then shake off!
Also, apply a sprinkle of baby powder to your shoes or sandals to remove sand.

If you need to, flip your head upside down and apply a bit of baby powder into the palm of your hand. Rub a little bit into your scalp and gently brush the sand from your hair. Baby powder is great for dry, oily hair and will ensure that all of the sand is removed quickly and easily.

Lastly, sand in the car can be a real nuisance! Sprinkle a light layer of baby powder on seats and carpets before vacuuming clean. Do not rub the baby powder into your car seats or flooring, as it may leave white powdery marks.

*WARNINGS* WHEN CREATING HOMEMADE CLEANERS

I am constantly baffled by how many frugal websites recommend a homemade cleaning agent with both bleach and vinegar in the recipe.NO.Never mix bleach and vinegar, bleach and ammonia, bleach and toilet bowl cleaners, or even different brands of toilet bowl cleaners (some are bleach based while others are acid based).

I often recommend cleaning your washing machine with 1 cup of vinegar, but DO NOT do so if you have recently used bleach or vise versa. Run a few loads before using one or the other again.

ALWAYS read your labels: Bleach can also be listed as sodium hypochlorite or hypochlorite.

When bleach and ammonia are mixed, depending on the ratios, Chlorine gas is created or Nitrogen Trichloride or Hydrazine.  Chlorine gas is deadly, Nitrogen Trichloride is very volatile (meaning it’s just dying to react) and the Hydrazine reaction creates a large amount of heat. Don’t even pour bleach into an unflushed toilet bowl.When bleach and vinegar are mixed it creates an acid base reaction with chlorine gas as a byproduct.Toilet bowl cleaners are often acidic and will also react with bleach.

Tip of the Day #245: Cleaning your Barbecue

Instead of pouring out your leftover coffee, save it to clean your barbecue grill. Old brewed coffee makes an effective cleaner when you pour it on your grill and wipe it off. Use it on your cold or hot grill.

Tip of the Day #244: Uses for Microfiber Cloths

I love microfiber cloths because they are so handy and do a great cleaning job--and you dont have to spend a lot of money! Try these hints for using them around the house:

Auto
Keep several microfiber cloths underneath the front seat of your vehicle. Use them to dust off the dashboard, radio and steering wheel that accumulate dust at a rapid rate.

Bathroom, Kitchen
Store a couple of microfiber cloths in these locations because they will clean and shine the chrome, shine mirrors & leave them streak-free and are great for wiping off the sink. When the cloths become dirty, toss them into the washing machine but DO NOT USE WITH FABRIC SOFTENER AS IT DIMINISHES THE CLOTHS EFFECTIVENESS.

Pets
Freshen up your dog by lightly dampening a microfiber cloth with water and wiping over its fur. If your cat or dog needs to get the gunk out of its eyes, a microfiber cloth will do the job nicely. And if your pet, gets a dirty -'beard' after eating, the cloth will remove that food mess.

Plants
To take dust off live or artificial leaves, lightly dampen a microfiber cloth and wipe over the leaves. This will also add a bit of moisture to the real plants too.

Computer
Pet hair, dust, ashes from smoking can migrate into your computer and clog the open holes. Use the hose attachment of your vacuum to remove pet hair and dust from the back of your computer. Clean the monitor case with a slightly damp microfiber cloth. Be sure to also dust the power cords, floor and area around the computer, printer and fax machine too.

Cell Phone
Wipe the handset surface with a dampened microfiber cloth to eliminate fingerprints and dust--this is especially useful with the popular touchscreen phones that are on the market! But if it’s still sticky, mix one cup of water with one drop of mild detergent to wipe off and then rinse area (not the screen) with a clean dampened cloth. Don’t spray anything into the handset or keys.

Digital Camera
To remove dust, grime and fingerprints, wipe the outside with a microfiber cloth and then carefully swipe over the lens. For a thorough cleaning, take to a professional or use commercial wipes.

Music Players
Wipe the outside with a slightly damp microfiber cloth to clean, but don’t let moisture seep into openings. Do not use alcohol or solvents on this equipment.

Plasma TV Screens
First, unplug the power cord. Lift off fingerprints or dust by wiping screen with a microfiber cloth. Use it to clean the remote control too. NEVER apply any solvent on the screen. Lightly vacuum the vents on the rear panel occasionally.

Tip of the Day #243: Dealing with Pet Hair

There are a few methods that I have found to be very effective in removing pet hair from furniture:

1. Put on a rubber glove. Rub the surface with it on. The pet hair should stick to your glove. Dampen the glove or rubber section of the glove for increased effectiveness.

2. You can use sellotape (packing tape) to peel off some fur. Just wrap some around your hand with the sticky, adhesive part sticking out and tap it on the fur-covered areas.

3. For areas that are not completely covered in fur, using a lint roller also works!

For your FLOORS, I highly recommend investing in a microfiber mop! A normal broom or vacuum tends to blow pet hair around, whereas the microfiber picks up every single piece--a true miracle worker! :)

Tip of the Day #242: Removing Marks & 'Gunk' from Kitchen Cabinets

This recipe is one of the most useful mixtures in my house--mainly because my kitchen cabinets are white. Although I LOVE the look of white, they are not very practical :( I feel like I am constantly cleaning them!

You probably also notice how greasy and dirty your cupboards can get from daily use, regardless of their colour--especially close to the handles, mainly from sauces or food that may be on our hands, or even just the oils from our skin!

Use the following recipe and you are guaranteed to remove all unnecessary debris within a single wipe--its like MAGIC!

Ingredients:
2 parts baking soda
1 part oil (the best is vegetable oil)

Mix together and apply with a soft cloth or paper towel.

Hope this helps many of you! :)

Tip of the Day #241: Cleaning Ceramic Stovetops

Cleaning your stove does not have to be a difficult task. It can be as simple as baking soda and water!
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the surface, then take a damp (NOT WET) scrubber or cloth and rub the powder in circular motions. Once all has been worked in, wipe clean with a soft cloth or you may choose to shine with a bit of glass cleaner.