Tackling cobwebs

 

When you are cleaning your home tuck a one and one-half inch paintbrush into your back pocket. Outside of my mop for removing those remarkable works of art designed by our spider friends from the ceilings, a paintbush is the handiest tool for catching the webs around door hinges, windows and dusting into the nooks and crannies I often miss mostly because I'm busy in the garden and if I don't see the dirt I don't clean it. Best way to clean a room is to walk in and sweep it with a glance!

 

Mary Findley
http://www.goclean.com

Dirt Buster

   Dirt under your fingernails that is after you have been out in the yard or garden. That dirt stuck under your fingernails can be a bit more than troublesome to remove. Set your pressure washer to a strong stream and aim underneath your fingernails. It blows the dirt right out of there. Now remember my tips about cutting off the bottom half of a pair of ruined panty hose. Slide a soap sliver down into the toe part and tie the whole thing around the faucet. It's so much easier to wash your hands outside than having to clean your sink as well as your hands inside.

 

This tip may only be reprinted giving credit to Mary Findley and her website at www.goclean.com. All rights reserved world wide.

Cleaning vinyl boat seats

 

     I'm going to veer off my usual home cleaning tips and get into some boat cleaning tips for my boating enthusiasts due to the numerous questions being asked about vinyl seat stains. Actually this applies to anyone with vinyl seats whether in your car, truck, RV or boat, whatever and where ever.

    Remember "one" of my main rules on cleaning and care of anything is prevention. Stains become tremendously more difficult to remove when vinyl or leather is allowed to become dry. Dryness eventually leads to cracking, which leads to expensive replacement.

     You must be apply a leather/vinyl conditioner to any leather or vinyl seat, chair or couch at least twice a year and boat seats three to four times a year. This is especially important for boat seats that tend to become moldy and dry more quickly due to exposure to the elements.

     Just remember after you remove a stain if you are using a general cleaner or something I recommend below, you must condition the seats afterwards or they will dry which will only lead to more difficulty later in cleaning them.   

     Some common boat stains involve: tree sap or leaves from trees; swimsuits or towels that have left a dye on the seats; spilled drinks, grease or oil and mold or mildew.    

1)      For tree sap or leaves; grease and oil including fried food or Fido's slobbering on the seats and heavy dirt. Usually most of these stains can be removed with foaming tub and tile cleaner either that made by Lysol or Dow. No I do not like this stuff in the shower or bathroom. It's completely useless there and an expensive way to clean. But for some reason those little foaming bubbles seem to remove these kinds of dirt and grime.

If you are dealing with oil or grease from perhaps your engine then try a foaming shaving cream. The gel won't work but sometimes the 3 kinds of alcohol in the foaming shaving cream will zap that stuff off without damaging the vinyl.

2)      Dye from swimsuits, towels, red dye from food or drinks: I don't know that these stains will come out. Try pouring some baking soda on the stain then spraying that with hydrogen peroxide – a fresh bottle please. It will bubble and fizzle which helps sometimes to remove a stain. Do not leave this on longer than 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly. If that does not remove the stain leave it alone as anything else strong enough to remove the stain will "burn" the vinyl.

3)      Mold and mildew: My CleanEz will kill mold and mildew to prevent it from worsening. However, once mold or mildew has been allowed to get a strong hold in either vinyl or leather, the stain itself usually will not come out. Try the method in #2 but I doubt if you can remove the stain. 

4)      Dirt and grime: Try a foaming tub and tile cleaner then condition with Leather/Vinyl Care is the best you can buy for cleaning and conditioning vinyl or leather.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

    

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2007 All rights reserved worldwide.

 

 

DULL Utility Knifes

 

     Anyone who has cut a piece of cardboard lately with a utility knife lately has undoubtedly run into the same problem I encounter. Utility knives are manufactured in such a manner that they dull by the time you get to the middle of the box forcing you to change blades to finish the job. Gratefully these folks from Dull Town anywhere USA don't make razor blades. Or do they? Hum my razor blades seem to dull just as quickly.

 

     There is an easy solution: shapen the blade using a honing stone. It takes but a minute but will save you a considerable amount of money and time.   

 

This article may be reprinted but credit must be given to Mary Findley and her website www.goclean.com. All rights reserved world wide.

 

 

Two ways to alleviate a sore back when mopping your floor.

 

Both men and women ask how to avoid a sore back when damp mopping their floors.  Sore backs can be nearly eliminated in one of two ways.

 

1) If you are taller than 5 foot 5 or 6 inches then give some thought into obtaining an extension handle that will reach to your head height. Leaning over a too short of a handle will cause back and neck pain. Leaning over while cleaning your floor also takes you far longer since you not only fight the dirt on the floor but your cleaning equipment as well.

 

2) Change the way you hold a handle. Most people grab a handle with their thumbs on top of the handle and their fingers underneath. This hand position automatically pulls your back over. Switch your hand position so your thumbs are underneath the handle and your fingers are on top, much like you are playing a flute. This  keeps your back erect, eliminates back pain - most of it anyway - and you will find you clean faster and more effictively.

 

If you find you need to use any pressure at all on your mop to mop your floor, then it is time to find an efficient mopping system. Cleaning floors should be as easy as dancing across the floor when you are using terry cloth towels. If not there is something wrong with the system you are using.

 

This article may only be used referencing Mary Findley and her website www.goclean.com. All rights reserved worldwide.

Removing red food coloring or red wine from carpet.

 

Gently blot what you can. Refer to my stain removal guide for blotting and general stain removal instructions.

 

Mix a 50/50 solution of a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide and water. Spray on the spot sufficiently to saturate the spot, wait 10 to 15 minutes then blot with 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar per quart of water. Then again with plain water. Wait 24 hours and repeat if needed.

 

If your dog or cat leaves red stains in your carpet after eating, switch food. It's the red dye in their food that causes the problem. Dogs and cats are color blind. Switching to a neutral color food eliminates that problem.

 

 

Cleaning Wood Floors with Vinegar

 

    I have read on other cleaning experts' pages where using distilled white vinegar to clean a wood or laminated floor will cause it to become dull. That the "acid" will damage the floor. Then these same people recommend microfiber mops to clean the floor. Please do not follow this bad advice. It is NOT the vinegar that causes the problem.

 

    These people need to study their fabrics and do their homework. It is the microfiber mops that causes the damage not vinegar. Microfiber is made from 80 to 85% polyester. Polyester is plastic and plastic scratches. With time, it not only will scratch the dirt off the surface, it will continue to "scratch" the finish off the floor as well. It will take the clear or gel coat off a vehicle, the finish off cabinets and the paint off a wall. I have had microfiber manufacturers from Taiwan and China admit this to me only the advertising does not mention that with continued use microfiber will remove a finish, sealant or paint. 

 

     Also do not follow the advice of other cleaning experts who recommend using cotton string mops. It is impossible to wring out the excell moisture. That moisture will work between the boards and it will warp them.

 

Wood floor challenge: If you want to test this for yourself, take a brand new wood floor. Clean half of it with a 100% cotton terry towel (the towel must be made here in America or it may contain 20% polyester) 2 tablespoons of white vinegar per quart of water. Spray the towel until it is just damp enough to damp mop. Mop one half with this solution and the other side with water and a microfiber mop. Within a year the side that has been cleaned with the microfiber will have dulled and the vinigar side will still look brand new. I cleaned homes professionally for over 12 years - none of my clients floors were damaged in that time by vinegar and water.

 

Murphy Oil Soap: Other cleaning experts also recommend using Murphy Oil Soap. Two of my customers had to have their floors sanded and refinished because their prior cleaning ladies used Murphy's on their floors and it gummed up the finish by softening it. Murphy Oil Soap does not belong on wood or laminated floors.

 

     Vinegar is not like other acids. It's a natural acid. When mixed with water, the acid in the vinegar neutralizes the alakali in the water so the water is now a balanced PH. Water spots are slow to form if at all it cannot dull the floor. You do not need to use more than 1/4 cup vinegar per gallon of water unless your water is quite hard then perhaps 1/3 cup. The floors are dulling by microfiber mops or Murphy Oil Soap NOT by vinegar.

 

This article may be reprinted but credit must be given to Mary Findley and her website www.goclean.com. All rights reserved world wide.

 

Prepare for an Emergency

When Tragedy Hits – Be Prepared   The tornado and horrible storms hit the Midwest while I was visiting my family. Those storms brought another house cleaning chore to mind and one that I need to bring current as well.

     So what would happen if you heard a tornado warning or listening to the news were told to evacuate? Your home and all your possessions are about to be demolished – everything gone in minutes. You have time to take only a few things. What will you grab?

     You best have your important papers handy and in one spot so you can grab them and head out the door.

Here is a list of things to help you prepare for an emergency:

1)      Take pictures of every item in your home – don't you love those digital cameras? Include pictures of everything, computers, jewelry, cars, collections like baseball cards, appliances, tools, computers everything you own needs to be on film including an overall picture of your closets, cabinets etc. 

Now copy those pictures to your computer and save that to a separate CD. Then start by placing one picture per page into a folder titled Household items or whatever is best for you. On that page list when you purchased the item, how much you paid for it and the item name.

2)      Also keep receipts for everything that is a major purchase. Appliances, computers, cameras, furniture tools, locate all the receipts you can. Beginning today keep all receipts for major purchases in one place where you can grab them easily.

3)      Your insurance papers and any and all important documents like birth certificates, SSN papers, CDs or stocks you may own, a copy of your last pay stub, passports, a few checks from your bank and a couple of withdrawal stubs, a copy of one statement from each of your credit cards and any other document that will give you the information you need to start your life again. 

Take Copies Make a copy of your drivers license front and back along with a copy of your insurance cards and your credit cards front and back. These items will help clear your identity.

Make a living will along with a regular will or instructions on how to settle your estate should something happen to you.

4)      Start a spread sheet folder with the names of all your banks, CDs, your stocks who they are with and the amounts, when and where you purchased them and when they are due along with the name and number of your broker or bank etc where they were purchased. 

Also list all your credit cards, who issued them, the amount owed and a phone number to call if something goes wrong. This is an excellent idea anyway in case your billfold is stolen. Include copies of your 401K plan and your IRA and savings deposits.

Add to that the name and phone number of your insurance agent and who to call in case of emergency. Include any hospital phone number, your doctor, dentist and all pertinent phone numbers – family members included. When you are in the middle of a catastrophe it is easy to forget your own phone number let alone that of family. Don't assume you will remember – trust me you won't. I've been through both a hurricane and a tornado. You will not remember.  

5)      I have never read where experts advise this but after hurricane Katrina I have also included pieces of gold and silver. Paper money can get wet and be of little or no use. So if you want to put some paper money in with this information make sure it's in a vacuum packed bag so it can't get wet. Many of the Katrina victims could not get access to their bank accounts because their bank had been demolished. Keep enough money there to get you by for about a month.

Now most important, make a copy of this CD and send it to a family member, preferably whoever would be the executor of your estate. This should not go to someone in your own home town as their home may be destroyed as well.  If your executor is in your home town, then forward a second copy to a family member you trust but who is living out of town.  Even more importantly print out a copy to send to these people along with a copy for you to keep. You will not be able to get access to your computer to read the document.  Again vacuum pack this document along with the CD so they won't get wet.

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2007 All rights reserved worldwide.