Household Hints and Tips

Tub and Shower Magic

12 ounces (hot) white vinegar 12 ounces liquid, blue dawn detergent, squirt bottle

Jewelry Cleaner

1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon baking soda 1 tablespoon dish detergent 1 cup hot water 1 piece aluminum foil

Awkward Bottles.

A tip for all those girls out there who occasionally lack the oomph to open screw-top water/juice bottles but are too proud to ask nearby guys for help... If you are at home, a rubber glove or bottle gripper will give you the power you need to get into the stickier ones. However, these are usually in short supply at work in the office, so carefully wind a rubber band snugly around the lid and try again...

Getting a Glass Lid (top) from a Glass Jar.

We had trouble getting the glass lid (top) from a glass jar. Temperature differential did not help nor did rubber bands and rubber gloves. With eye protection and gloves, one of us held the jar whilst the other levered the lid using vice-grip pliers. The knob was protected with thick rubber bands and a rubber rest was on the edge of the jar lever point. It took a little time and patience but we were successful with not one but two jars.

Markings on Food Bags:

For markings on foodstuff and on freezer bags you could use an old lipstick to write the name of the foodstuff in the box or plastic bag.Lipstick is edible stuff so safe.

Zip Top Freezer Bags...

I Have difficulty getting them open? Take scissors and snip a fair sized "V" in one side of the top strip (don't cut into the 'sealer') and you will find it easy to gain access without the frustration. Also if you find it difficult to fill small freezer bags you might try putting them inside a measuring cup, folding a small flap down over the edges of the cup. Then it's easy to fill with foodstuffs and prevent the bag collapsing and the resultant spills. Same holds true for larger bags if you find a suitable sized bowl or can to place the bags in.

Bleach Smell:

To remove bleach smell from hands (and that slimy feeling) pour a little vinegar or lemon juice over your hands then rinse. (bleach is alkaline, vinegar and lemon are acid, so they cancel each other out and balance the pH of your skin.) -- Candace Downing Apr 11 2005

Subject: Fragrance: My hint is that to make a room smell nice spray a fragrance you like onto a light bulb and when you turn on the light bulb it will let of the smell with the heat. -- h. fitch 22 Mar 2004 - Caution - Only do this when the bulb is cold

Butter Dish.

To keep butter from sliding around on the butter dish, heat the dish with hot tap water, dry off and then put the butter stick on the dish and then into the refrigerator. It will melt just a little of the butter which will freeze when put in the fridge. Doesn't slide around when you are getting butter.

keep your socks together in the wash and dry process.

Get some safety pins and keep them by the washing machine for your socks .Pin the toes of the socks together so you save time matching them up after the laundry process.

Recycle Grocery Bags

I have recently fixed a pair of 3M Commander hooks - the kind that come off any surface just by pulling the tab - onto the sides of my kitchen garbage bin - the kind that fixes onto the inside of a cupboard door. I put the Commander hooks, one on each side a few inches below the rim and upside down. Instead of buying expensive garbage bags I can now hang a pair of plastic grocery bags from the hooks and tuck the edges neatly round the top of the bin. You know how these bags have an annoying habit of gradually sinking into the bin as they fill up - well, with the hooks they can't do that and when the bin needs emptying, I can just unhook the bag and tie the handles ready to toss down the garbage chute. It's also a great way to use up grocery bags instead of throwing them away. Ingenious hint

Save on cleaning Materials.

The best thing for cleaning anything around the house is very hot water with a squirt of good quality washing up liquid, and a window cloth . I like the water as hot as possible therefore I use rubber gloves, and ring out the cloth as much as possible. I use this for cleaning windows (in and out), mirrors, tiles, marble furniture, even the bedroom furniture, dusting around the house, car windows, anything that you might use cleaning products or polishes. Guaranteed not to leave smears. I haven't bought any cleaning products or polishes for about 8 years.

Pesky fruit fly tip

Here's a good way to get rid of those pesky fruit flies around the house without using harmful chemicals. You will need a spray bottle with an adjustable spray-head. fill the bottle with rubbing alcohol and adjust the spray head so that it sprays a fine mist. When you spray the fruit files, the rubbing alcohol will not kill them but it will knock them out so that they fall onto the floor where you can sweep them up. Doesn't work as good as insecticide, but then again, you won't be poisoning your family and yourself either.

pet stains and odors - even skunk.

"Nature's Miracle" is fantastic!! It can be bought at Pet Smart. It is to be used full strength. It's rather expensive, but it does the trick. We have a dog and has been great for the occasional accident so don't know how well it would work on cat pee. But, it did work on removing the skunk odor from our deck and shrubs that got sprayed one night. It's really terrific stuff!!

Carpet Spot Cleaner.

To clean spots on rugs and carpets, use window cleaner. It works as well as the spray-on carpet cleaners.

Candles and Drains.

Try putting your cheaper candles in water just deep enough to cover them, add 2 teaspoons of salt and soak. This is suppose to cut down on the amount of dripping. I haven't tried it yet, but will when I bring the Christmas decorations out. This will eliminate tossing out all of the cheapies you already have on hand. If anyone has a leaky faucet that drips rusty water, purchase a cheap screen-type strainer for tea (the one I bought had a handle on it, but that's OK) and place it directly under the faucet and over the drain. The water will be directed into the strainer and down the drain instead of splashing the sink or bathtub sides. Discard the strainer when you have time to repair the faucet and you'll have a cleaner sink or tub, as well.

Carpet Stains

Don't remember where on the web I got this solution but it has worked everytime. I was originally searching for something to remove old red wine stains from carpet but have used it on other stains and it has worked just as good. dishwashing liquid (i use Palmolive) and peroxide. The stains actually just disappear. It's great. I've never used a precise measurement of either. I would be careful on dark carpets. From what I understand the peroxide can have a bleaching effect. My carpets are beige so it hasn't been an issue.

Stainless Steel Appliances

Thought people out there would like to know a tip about cleaning stainless steel appliance doors etc. The folks at the Sears store use "baby oil" to get the finger prints and marks off the doors. I was nervous to try it but it works like a charm. I used a small amount on a napkin and wiped the fingerprints away. It also took off the glue from the tape that was used in shipping.

Carpet dents:

Scraps of carpet can be used to stop chairs from making dents.

Talc Talc removes sticky labels.

Use talc to make playing cards easier to use. Remember to put a little quantity of talc in your rubber gloves

Stuck Glasses

When you can't use lots of physical force to separate two "stuck" things, heat is often the best way to do it. The principle here is that when you heat something, it expands a little. When you cool something, it shrinks. You need a temperature difference (what scientists call a "delta-t") between the outside (neck) of the decanter and the stopper. This causes increases the space between the two parts, hopefully enough to separate them. For example, you could tie a piece of cloth on the outside, soaked in hot water. You could even try ice on the stopper at the same time. Another application of this idea is to apply a torch to a nut that won't come loose from a dirty or rusty bolt. The nut heats up faster. This helps to break the "glue" binding them together.

slow draining sinks

If your sink drains are chronically slow and you live in an older house, the problem may be an accumulation of sludge in the lines. No amount of plunging and chemicals is going to fix this. What's needed is to climb up onto the roof of your house with a metal snake (preferably one with a business end looking a bit like a ballpeen hammer) and ram that snake down each of the drain lines, entering through the vent stacks, with a fair amount of force. It may require 50 or 100 motions for each stack. A licensed plumber will charge you about US$250 or, you can venture it yourself. You should also snake out any drain clean-outs you can find at ground level.

Bathroom Smells

To help get rid of 'bathroom' smells, instead of using air fresheners, try striking a match, (regular not safety) sounds strange but very effective. r j russell. ==Doggy Smells.== To get rid of the smell on your dog, instead of using expensive dog shampoos, use a tomato (i personally use tomato puree in the same way as you would use regular dog shampoo) this will rid your dog of its smell for about six months and your dog will love you for it. A dogs smell is the reason why some dogs will roll in about anything that smells different to itself, so by getting rid of its natural smell it won't have the urge to roll in anything. Relax, your dog won't smell of tomatoes, it won't smell of anything, can also be used on your self if you have a strong body odour. p.s. A VERY IMPORTANT p.s. if your dog has light hair, i wouldn't recommend using puree, as you will end up with a pink dog, unless you want to spend a couple of hours rinsing him out, fortunately the dog smell will still be gone.

Body Odor

I have found that to remove body odor from the armpits of my husband's long sleeve running shirts and Under Armor winter athletic wear, I pre-soak the armpits in vinegar before washing normally. Doesn't seem to discolor them, and they do smell much better!

Onion Smell:

To remove the strong odor of onions from your hands, hold a stainless steel spoon in your hand while running water and rub your hands as though the spoon were soap. Silly, but it works --

Smelly hands.

I keep the lemons and limes that have been squeezed beside the sink, the main use is to rub on my hands after processing fish or any other foods. You can use them to cut the limescale around taps and plugholes.

STINKY HANDS.

I was reading about those smelly hands and all you have to do to get the onion smell off after you get through cutting is use a drop or two of dishwashing liquid and a little salt and rub for just a bit and rinse. Also if you are cutting an onion and bell pepper, cut the onion first then the bell pepper and rub your hands just a little with the pepper and no need to do anything the pepper does the trick. For shrimp smell use a little lemon juice and a little salt and rub and rinse.

Odors on hands:

To get rid of onion, pepper or garlic smells from hands, mix a ratio of two level tablespoons of baking soda to a glass of water and soak hands for 30 seconds to a minute. Also great for getting rid of these smells/burning from mouth (rinse, don't swallow!).

Garlic odor on hands:

To rid your hands of garlic odor, rub a piece of stainless steel while washing your hands. It works like a charm everytime! Sincerly,

hint for removing smells from your hands.

To remove the smell of garlic, onions, or anything else, rub your hands with a stainless steel spoon under cold running water (like you would with soap). Then you can wash the smell off the spoon with soap and water.

Removing odors from hands.

To get rid of onion or garlic smells from hands, wet your hands in running water and then rub your fingers and palms briskly on the silver metal of your sink faucet. If you have a stainless steel sink to rub your hands on, that is even better. Wash hands normally afterwards with hand soap and water.

To remove bad odors from your hands,

such as onion or garlic, rub your hands in used coffee grounds. I learned this from a perfume store that had a bowl of coffee grounds to rub into your hands after trying the different scents. It works for almost any odor. Then, of course, to remove the coffee smell, you'll need to use soap and water!

For removing onion, fish, or whatever smells from your hands.

No need to buy any fancy gadgets or metal stones. Turn on the faucet, wet your hands and run them back and forth along the water spout (using wringing motion). After a couple of passes, you will find that your hands now smell fresh and clean.

how to get rid of smells on hands.

to get rid of seafood, fish, onion smell on your hands, pour two tablespoons of table salt into your palm, mix with a little water and wash hands with this mixture, rinse, and add a little lotion to your hands. The salt not only cleans the smell from your hands; but, it also sluffs old skin off and softens hands.

Getting pee out of kids clothes

if you take your regular washing stuff and add a can of cheap cola to your laundry it takes the pee smell out. It also works great on getting greasy stuff out of clothes just let the clothes soak for about 30 mins. for both and when you dry them they will not come out smelling like pee.

Garlic hands:

To rid your hands of garlic odor, rub a piece of stainless steel while washing your hands. It works like a charm every time!

Regular cellulose kitchen sponges

tend to get smelly, and the odor transfers onto your hands when you use the sponge. We have found that a spray of Febreeze (or any fabric odor remover, I would imagine) keeps that nasty odor away.

Clothes Burned in House Fire:

To get smoke smell out (or skunk smell,) I have found that the only thing that works is taking clothes, etc to a dry cleaner that has an "ozone room." They do not dry clean the clothes -- they put them in a room with these hydrocarbons (or fluorocarbons, not sure which it is) and it removes the smell. This is the only thing that worked for me when a skunk got in the basement of a rental home & sprayed.

Leftover soap:

Utilising these little pieces of soap that are always left over. Add a little glycerine and mash them up with a little warm water and you will have a liquid soap that is gentle and economical

Musty Instrument cases:

Damp Rid is wonderful for removing must. Damp Rid is designed to be used in the container it comes in, but this may be too big for the instrument case--you may have to improvise. Once you've shut the Damp Rid in the case, you should probably leave it there undisturbed for several weeks. If you open the case to take a peek to see how it's working, you will allow the case to fill back up with humid air & the Damp Rid will have to pull all of that new moisture out of the air. Be careful not to bump the case--as the Damp Rid absorbs moisture out of the air, it dissolves, leaving an orange liquid in the container

     #To bring back the fluffiness in bed pillows, put them in the clothes dryer. The warm air does wonders in just a few minutes.

1. If an electric plug fits too tight and is difficult to pull out, rub its prongs with a soft lead pencil.
2. To clean a candle stand especially a glass one, place it in the deep freezer for one hour. The wax will chip off more easily .
3. Sprinkle a little boric acid on bathroom tiles before washing for economical as well as sparkling results.
4. While shifting residence, pack crockery while it is still wet. This way, the chances of breakage will be less.
5. To remove obstinate ball point ink stains, rub the affected area with a cotton bud soaked in eau-de-cologne.
6. To eliminate beer stains from woollen outfits, scrub the affected area with a mixture of lukewarm water and salt.
7. Apply mineral oil over your shower doors and tile surface. That delays the mineral build-up in future use.
8. Spruce up your wardrobe and Linen Cupboardby using brightly colored dyes. Faded shirts, underwear and towels can be made to look as good as new.Off-white whites and stained clothing can be rejuvenated. You can buy dyes that can be used in your washing machine – Essie
9. Marks inside cups and mugs are caused by the metal cutlery abrading the glazing coating the service. Try an old fashioned remedy from an old fashioned man - toothpaste! (Betcha it works!)
10. Broken Glass: Use bread to pick up fragments of broken glass
11. I run vinegar through my dishwasher once a month and this prevents hard deposits from getting a head start.

Stuck finger rings?

Use washing up liquid as a lubricant to remove stuck rings, I have seen it used to release a dog stuck in a rocky crevasse, alternatively use cooking or olive oil etc. Squeaky floorboards can be eased by using French chalk or talcum powder When sewing tough material, rub the material first with an old candle or cooking paraffin. Used this technique to sew carpeting. Faded carpets can be restored by hand painting using fabric dyes (A useful range of fabric dye pens is available Daffodils: Don’t mix cut daffodils in with other cut flowers as the daffodils produce a toxin that kills off the other flowers. – Anon.

House Plants

If you have an aquarium, save the water each time you change it and water your house plants with it. You'll be amazed at the results.

• Socks can be useful in protecting the ends of unused fluorescent tubes
• After working on your car you can clean your hands with a mixture of dishwashing liquid and sugar
• Use olive oil or other cooking oil to clean hands dirtied by engine oil -- Jean Edmunds.
• A teaspoon in the glass will prevent it cracking when boiling water is poured

Putting Curtains on a Curtain Rod.

When putting curtains on a metal rod, slip a plastic sandwich or freezer bag over the metal end first so that it doesn't snag the curtain and it will also go on much easier.

tips on stuff.

To spot clean carpets or upholstery, go to an auto discount store and get Lifter 1 in a spray can and just follow the directions. You'll be amazed!!!!!!!!! -- I've learned a lot of neat things while on this planet for 68 years. Try them, what do you have to lose?

Sticky desk drawer: Rub a candle on the runners of a sticky desk drawer, it’s amazing how much of a difference it will make -- Axel Klystron

Furniture restoration: To make furniture look older mix varnish with soot and then paint on. – Robin Edmunds.

Light scratches on furniture can be disguised by using a wax crayon pencil. Another method is to rub with a Brazil Nut. – Dave

Small dents in furniture can be steamed out using a steam iron or a damped cloth. Be careful not to overdo it on delicate or very valuable items. – Dave Edmunds Clothes. (and shoes)

Subject: tips on stuff. When doing laundry, never use a water softener in the washer. It only builds up on the clothes and puts a layer of slime onto the washer walls. Use Calgon in the wash or 20 mule team borax. It's cheaper and cleaner and softens the water without adding a nasty film to everything. Besides, the fabric softener makes the clothes less fire resistant. To clean out the washer if the walls are scummy, use the hottest water and ammonia and put through a couple of cycles without soap or (of course) clothes. -- I've learned a lot of neat things while on this planet for 68 years. Try them, what do you have to lose? -- (Irene M. Ward)

Subject: imitation suede. I bought an imitation suede jacket. There aren't any care instructions. Is this something that is disposable or can it be washed? It's like a lined flight jacket. -- Marti Han,

Subject: Smelly Clothes after being left in the Washing Machine. If you leave the clothes in the washer for a day or more, especially in warm weather, they will smell bad. Rewashing with 1/2 cup of ammonia gets the smell out better than laundry detergent does. -- Judy Vega

Subject: Tumble Drying Down Clothing. Instead of sneakers, use a can of new tennis balls. -- Susan Carter

Subject: Removing "Pills" from Clothing. When "pills" develop on clothing (small wads of lint) use a rough piece of steel wool, run it over the material and the "pills" disappear. Very easy to do. Will not harm material. -- Gertrude M Seifert,

Wash jeans inside out. The first wash should be without detergent. – Vanessa Echols

Cleaning Leather. Small spots of dirt on glossy leather can be removed with a damp sponge. Scuff marks can be removed with a shoe polish of the correct color. - Jane King

This follow-up is in answer to the question about how to get an angora sweater not to shed on dark clothes. Answer: Put the angora sweater in a plastic bag and then put it into the freezer for several hours before wearing it. I really don't know why this works but it does -- Nancy Abu-Ayyash

Remove cats hairs from clothes and furniture by rubbing with wetted rubber gloves -- Wendel Quinn Kuala Lumpur

Subject: washing red clothes. My Grandmother told me this- to keep brand new red clothes from bleeding all over your other laundry, soak it in vinegar before the first washing. Works like a charm!! -- Mindy Ralston

Extend the life of leather shoes:You can significantly extend the life of leather shoes by applying silicone fluid, by it by the bottle or get some from a chemist friend, Dow the chemical giant is the main manufacturer. Medium viscosity is best -- Steve Jones Pittsburg

Take care when removing your shoes. You can damage the back of your shoes over a period of time if you use the toe of one of your shoes on the back of the other to hold it in place while you pull your foot out. -- S. Jones

Subject: Wonderweb. If you’ve used Wonderweb to turn up kids trousers and you now want to let the hem out again. The bond will obviously break easily enough with minimal force, but what about all scratchy residue that’s left? To stop your kids legs getting scratched up on old bits of wonder web place some kitchen tissue or brown paper over the old wonder web and press with the iron. The wonder web will transfer to the kitchen paper and be removed from the trousers.-- vicky wood. 15 Nov 2007

Household Cleaning.

Subject: Vinegar as disinfectant. I have a tip for everyone and also a bit of information that not everyone knows about, is that Vinegar (either white or cider is the best disinfectant around it beats anything man made and is certainly healthier and cheaper, use vinegar all around house to disinfect and clean many surfaces, although don't use this on furniture made with fabric. You can use vinegar straight or equal parts vinegar and water. -- Darrel

Subject: Icky Shower curtain I don't remember where I learned this but it works! To get your shower liners/ curtains clean and looking like new again, wash in your clothes washer with about 1 cup each of vinegar and bleach. Add white towels, normal amount of clothes soap and run. Don't forget to add liquid clothes softener (it helps keep your shower curtain clean). When the load is done, return the curtains to their place in the bathroom to drip dry (the wrinkles will disappear in a day or so). I do this every few months to keep my clear shower curtain just that! ~~ Danielle Lewis, Boise, ID,

Subject: Scuff marks on vinyl, take a rubber sole shoe (tennis shoes) wipe across it and it will come off. No joke, I have tried it, it works great!!! also, I would like to know, what will take those sticky holders off walls with wallpaper and not take the finish off? We have a brand new mobile home and some people used them instead of the Command hooks, which work real well. Thank you, ~~ Carol --

Subject: Household: Cleaning. Use a Crest SpinBrush battery toothbrush ($5 ) and spray cleaner or powdered cleanser for easy cleaning of those hard to get to places: baseboard corners, around sink faucets, tile grout, corners of wood mouldings around windows, around shower doors, etc. -- PeggyVelthoen,

Subject: Glass cleaning. This was passed on to me from my mother of course. Add about one tablespoon of cornstarch to about a third of a gallon of lukewarm water. Wet and a rag or squeegee, remove excessive water and wipe down glass as if using regular glass cleaner. Dry with either a soft cloth or paper towel and be amazed. This is great for both inside and outside glass cleaning. Vehicle windows too! Cleans the dirtiest windows in half the time. No steaks, never clean and then clean again to get the spots that didn't come off the first time. The glass seems to stay cleaner longer too. I have been told that the cornstarch method doesn't build up a static charge on the glass so it doesn't attract dust and debris as quickly as regular cleaner.?? Thanks mom!! ~~ Famous Redhead

Subject: ring in toilet. pumice didn't work - CLR didn't work - ZUD worked. -- LCD (Elsie Dawkins)

Subject: Stainless Steel Sinks. A great way to get your stainless steel sink to look brand new. After cleaning and drying the sink. Put some lemon oil or pledge on a paper towel and coat the entire surface of the sink. It will look brand new! Of course, once it is used again, the lemon oil will vanish and your sink will look the way it did before. But it is great if you are having company, and want a shiny sink. -- Linda Sparrow

Subject: Dirty dish solver. Want to solve the grungy caked on baking dish problem? Instead of scrubbing away, ...fill pan with water,pour a bit of Downey fabric softener in and let soak. Everything will slide off ! :) Debbie --- Louis Makrdichian

Subject: kitchen & window cleaner. Mix about a 1/8th or a 1/4 bottle of rubbing alcohol, 4 drops of dish soap & water in an old Windex bottle this works great for cleaning in the kitchen & cleaning windows and you'll never have to buy Windex, 409, Fantastic or whatever again and to get tape off windows use straight rubbing alcohol ~~ Jimisme

Subject: tips on stuff. To remove hairspray from eyeglasses or any non porous surface, use rubbing alcohol. It does the job. -- I've learned a lot of neat things while on this planet for 68 years. Try them, what do you have to lose? -- (Irene M. Ward)

Subject: tips on stuff. To clean the shower stall or bathtub and sliding glass doors on the tub without scrubbing, get a hand held shower spray and after showering, just spray the walls and tub or shower area every day before you step out of it. You won't ever have to scrub if you do this faithfully -- I've learned a lot of neat things while on this planet for 68 years. Try them, what do you have to lose? -- (Irene M. Ward)

To get perfectly spotless windows and mirrors, without chemicals, use a solution of water and regular vinegar. (About 1/2 cup vinegar to 2 cups water), spray and wipe. This solution will not streak at all. It is the best and cheapest way to clean glass. You can increase the amount of vinegar for very dirty glass. -- Kelly Jimenez

Shower curtains: To remove mildew soak shower curtains in water containing 20% chlorine bleach. To remove soap and water marks wipe with vinegar. – Essy Edmunds.

For more tips on cleaning mildew see the stains page

To remove toilet stains, use a pumice stone and rub hard, It will not scratch and works well- did on my toilet bowl after 20 years of build-up -- James A Boyle

Subject: Crayons on the wall I was talking to my neighbor about how my 3-year-old twins decided to draw all over their room - top to bottom, with crayons. She said that she saw a woman on TV. who used WD-40 and then cleaned it up with soap and water. So I figured I'd try - it was that or sand down the whole room and paint. I was AMAZED!! The crayon came off with minimal elbow grease!!!! and I mean there was A LOT of crayon on the wall - ALL GONE! My problem afterwards was the greasiness from the WD-40. Although the woman had suggested soap and water, I used a spray grease cutter and that worked well. Dishwasher detergent may also work, anything that is a grease cutter. -- "MLNeathery"

Subject: household hints. For crayon on walls, use WD-40. It removes it immediately, but if you use it on a flat paint it will leave a greasy line that can easily be washed off with soap and water. -- Kelly Jimenez

Toilet bowls come up shiny when cleaned with old, flat Coke or Pepsi. Leave overnight to dissolve limescale -- Sylvia Burge, London UK

A good replacement for those expensive cleaners for shower stalls/doors that I have found is, believe it or not: WD-40. I never believed it until I tried it, and it certainly makes a shower door sparkle, so give it a try! --"Susan Kelly"

Use vinegar when cleaning windows (glass) -- Vanessa Echols.

I find ammonia pretty useful too for greasy bathroom marks. In fact ammonia is a great grease "cutter" if you can stand the smell. Keep windows open -- Maroof

   Ammonia is an excellent cleaner in the bathroom, it used to be easy to buy it but last time I tried I had some difficulty getting hold of some,  if any of our readers know of a good way to get it in their country please let us know. -- Ed

   Answer: Cleaning Ammonia Hi Ed, I can buy what they call Cloudy Ammonia here in Oz at any supermarket. Using a bleach with Ammonia is a definite No No, as it gives off toxic fumes and can lead to respiratory problems and death. Let me know if you want more info. on how to purchase from over here. I can find out the companies names on the containers for you. - regards Sumanaju   

   Answer:  Ammonia. where to get. Ask your local friendly jeweller. It is used for cleaning jewellery. Cheers from sunny Down Under -- Lilo Stadler  

   Answer: ammonia I have purchased ammonia at my local Wal*mart -- Hasher   27 Jun 2002

Old newspapers give windows a shine, every bit as good as a chamois leather -- Wendel Quinn, Hong Kong

Crayon marks on wall: use a blowdrier to heat the crayon so it can easily be wiped off. -- Heather Dickerson

Crayon On Walls I have tried both of the other methods you have shown, and neither worked successfully. The only method I found that worked quickly and easily was to use white spirit (mineral Spirits) and an only rag. It works a treat, but be careful on emulsion walls (it works best on vinyl and gloss). -- Ian Matthews 3 Dec 2004

Marks on Walls: Try using bread to remove marks on walls and surfaces - - Mike Weller

Silk plants Why pay expensive prices for silk plant cleaners? Just spray them with Dow bathroom cleaner and let them dry. This works just as well as the more expensive alternative --“Toni,

Brass: Clean brass with lemon juice. – Comi Edmunds.

Dry windows with old newspaper -- Nigel Hartley.

Subject: tips on stuff. To remove hairspray eyeglasses or any non porous surface, use rubbing alcohol. It does the job. -- I've learned a lot of neat things while on this planet for 68 years. Try them, what do you have to lose?

Recommend to add the following: Using an astringent or other harsh/acidic/abrasive cleaner on glass lenses coated with protective film (ie to help prevent scratches) - may scratch, blur or altogether remove the protective coating. This will also void any insurance claims or "warranty" regarding the "protection" on your lenses -- Irene M. Ward

Chewing Gum

Subject: REMOVING GUM Great way to get GUM out , rub it with PEANUT butter! I think it is the OIL in in, and though I have not tried it, I am sure oil would probably due the same thing, except the peanut butter is GOOEY, and the oil runs! -- "Kathy Ulmer"5 Sep 2002

Subject: gum in hair Use lighter fluid to get gum out of hair works like a charm, wash hair a couple of times after to get rid of smell. Lighter fluid can also be used on other sticky thing such as: paint, glue, price tags, stickers, I even washed silicone caulking out of my hair once.-Kelly Lowery Sep 2002

Subject: chewing gum. If you have gum on a shirt try putting it in the freezer and scrape it off. -- Hannah Minich,

Removal of Sticky Residues

Subject: Adhesive Removal on Jars. I was recycling old jars for Christmas gifts in a jar and I needed to get the glue off. I tried most of the remedies suggested here but the best and easiest way to do it is to boil the jar for about 3 minutes, then take it out with tongs and (still using the tongs) scrub the glue off with an s.o.s. pad. Afterwards just rinse off the soap and dry it...good as new! -- Crystal Carruthers

Subject: Removing Sticky Price Tags. Use adhesive tape to remove sticky price tags. It's moisture- and odour-free, and works even on glossy paper. Simply rub or lightly scratch in the tape to lift as much of the price tag as possible. Repeat till the whole tag and sticky residue comes off. Learnt it from shop assistants doing gift-wrapping. It works! Cheers, GI -- atheneum

Subject: Removing Sticky Marks Hi, I find that household spray-on polish removes most sticky marks left by labels etc- especially good for taking them off the bottom of new shoes. "Joanna Keith"

Subject: how to remove labels hi this is hema from california. to remove labels from plastic & glass jars, just keep the jar in hot water for 30 - 40 min. take off the label. it works very good on glass jars but on plastic jars its hard to remove sticky residue. so try the idea of T Cattermole the idea is applying oil on sticky residue & leave it for few days & wash it with detergent & water. i also tried & i saw the magic. (Kumar Pandya) hema pandya

Subject: tips on stuff. To remove any sticky residue left on after peeling, use "goo gone" which can be purchased at Walmart. It works better than alcohol on sticky stuff. -- I've learned a lot of neat things while on this planet for 68 years. Try them, what do you have to lose? -- (Irene M. Ward)

Subject: Sticky Residue. Fingernail polish remover works great to remove sticky residue - especially on glass & metal surfaces. Do a test spot if using on plastic though, it will melt most plastic. -- Dan & Evelyn Fleddermann,

Subject: Adhesive residues. Simple alcohol will clean off adhesives. Sometimes you will need to apply and let sit a few minutes, but it will work. Some people like to use nail polish remover. Alcohol is its major ingredient. Save yourself some money! Alcohol also removes ink from nonporous surfaces, i.e., kitchen counters. ~~ E Melsem

Comments: Given a few days to work, cooking oil will combine with the glue and soften it. After peeling off the label, the oily residue responds to hot water and detergent. You can help the oil to penetrate by peeling off or scratching the label's surface -- “Tony Cattermole”

Subject Sticky Residue? Dear Hints and Tips: Hope you can help me solve a baffling problem.

I have a desk mat, one of the clear plastic "soft" variety--Artistic "Krystal View" is the brand name. When new, it was beautiful. I put photographs and important calendars under it since it is designed provide both viewing and a cushioned surface. Unfortunately, it's impossible to clean. I've tried liquid detergents such as Palmolive Dishwashing Liquid, cleansers (Ajax) and window cleaner (Windex) all to no avail. There is a sticky residue, perhaps from cellophane tape, on the surface of the mat and I cannot remove it. Any suggestions? These mats are expensive--around $25--so I'd like to return it to its clear appearance.

Thanks for your assistance! -- Melanie ~ Melanie O. Massengale Systems Manager/Technician

Answer: Peanut butter, Cooking oil, WD40. All of the previous remove sticky residues. In this instance avoid "Dry cleaning Solvents as they could damage the mat.

Subject: Sticky label remover from glass I have found that if you put peanut butter, preferably not chunky, on glass, bottles, or even mirrors, it will remove the residue. Sometimes it takes more than one application. Most people have peanut butter on hand. -- Anon

Subject: Sticky labels. I use WD40 to remove sticky labels. Just spray a little WD40 on the label and leave it for a few minutes. The label usually slides right off.-- "The McKenna's"

Old decals can be removed from glass using a razor blade.-- Mike Hanewinckel

Removing Sticky Labels from Plastic: Whatever method you use, first test the cleaning/removal material in an inconspicuous part of the surface the label is stuck on the be sure it will not damage that surface. If the label on the plastic has been wet, or the article has been stored where it was hot or humid, it will be more difficult to remove. 1. Dampen a small piece of cloth, or the end of a swab stick (cotton twisted on the end of a wooden match or orange stick). Dip cotton end in dry cleaning fluid. 2. Allow the fluid to remain on the label only long enough to allow the label to be rubbed off. Wipe away excess fluid immediately, and wash article in sudsy water and dry. (DO NOT ALLOW FLUID TO REMAIN ON THE PLASTIC SURFACE VERY LONG, AS IT WILL DULL THE FINISH OF THE PLASTIC.) This article was written by Anne Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus, with reference from Mary Ellen Delsipee, and Isabel Jones, previous Extension specialists. Quoted from the Michigan State University Extension Home Maintenance and Repair page http://www.msue.msu.edu/imp/mod02/master02.html

Removing Adhesive: Rubber cement thinner which you can buy at most art supply stores and some office supply stores removes most adhesives used on labels. Scrape off as much of the paper from the label as possible before applying the thinner and rubbing with a cloth or paper towel. It works great on glass, Formica and most non porous surfaces but will cloud many plastics. Also, it is extremely flammable. Lighter fluid often will also remove rubber based adhesives. Bob Lipson

Use white spirit (Mineral Spirits in the US) or lighter fluid to remove the residue from sticky labels. - - Vanessa Echols

Subject: Tip: household - cleaning - removing sticky residues You can remove sticky residues and loads of other hard-to-shift marks by simply "rubbing them out" with a rubber (or even Blu-Tack), just as you would rub pencil marks off paper. -- Simon Davey: 26 Jun 2003

Subject: sticky residue/glue I discovered the other day, finger nail polish remover, (most already have it in the home). Removed old wall paper glue the tub insert with one wipe, removed melted plastic bag off of curling iron, paint spatter windows and tub insert. All was removed with just one wipe of remover on a piece of toilet tissue. -- D Dugan

Residue from Sticky labels: Goo Gone works great on removing adhesives left behind by stickers, store stickers, gum, etc. It is found in Sears Hardware Stores and other department stores. -- Good Luck, Patti Seizetheday

Removing Adhesive: I used vinegar to remove adhesive from glass jars, and off of our sink. it worked pretty well Jan Tani

Talcum powder can help to remove sticky residues -- Ed

Sticky residue I've found Avon Skin-so-soft works great for getting off sticky residue left from labels or tape on glasses, plastic dishes, etc. and it smells good too. Put it on a cotton ball and rub on residue, then wash with soapy water. I've also used this to get it off windows and walls. -- Rhonda Carpenter 28 Nov 2002

Subject: Avon Skin so Soft. to take sticky goo off of things. I use it for many things. Including the dog and cat. I use it when cleaning old glass it helps take the old grease off and leaves everything shining. Baking soda is a all around cleaning solution. It is non abrasive. Cleans the outside of a refrigerator very well and takes the yellow away if you have white. I use it in the wash instead of softeners. It sweets the clothes and softens them also. It is also good to take the bugs off the car. Remember it is non abrasive. Always keep baking soda in the car as it will put out a fire, yours or someone else's. Cheap also. We used baking soda in our pool along with bleach for 14 years and never bought another chemical. We had the best looking pool in the neighborhood. Crystal clear. I also use it in my pond for the PH. -- KD Bug 27 Nov 2002

Subject: Re sticky residues Sticky residue can be removed with methylated spirits, dabbed on with cotton wool. Use sparingly at first, use more if necessary. Works for residue left behind by Sellotape/Scotch tape/decals/stickers/sticking plaster/price stickers. Works on wood, glass, metal and plastic. And skin. It's flammable so take care. Gerard Sagar +44 (0) 20 8883 5052 +44 (0) 7711 036723

Subject: REMOVING GUM Great way to get GUM out , rub it with PEANUT butter! I think it is the OIL in in, and though I have not tried it, I am sure oil would probably due the same thing, except the peanut butter is GOOEY, and the oil runs! -- "Kathy Ulmer" 5 Sep 2002

Subject: Sticky decals on glass Some people sure go through a lot of trouble trying to remove the stickers, try wd 40 or lighter fluid, it does come right off without the hot water and soap. But of course you want to rinse the chem smell. ~~ D1 Kelly 22 Dec 2002

Subject: Use of Talc for Removing Sticky Stuff. Talc causes cancer. Try cornstarch in its place. Baby powder can now be found in cornstarch form. -- maryanne tom 6 Jan 2006

Subject: Sticky Residue. To remove any sticky residue from any surface, simply clean with eucalyptus oil using a lint free cloth. Cheers from sunny down under. -- Tina Gianakoudakis 29 Aug 2005 Stains: Subject: Fresh Blood stain. Put article of clothing into bathroom sink and pour some peroxide on it and let it set a couple minutes. work it in a little, rinse and repeat. -- John D,

Subject: Blood on fabric and carpet. Pour, full strength, hydrogen peroxide on the stain and let it bubble. Then, blot with damp cloth. ~~ JG Bet Caution!! Full strength is a rocket fuel!!! Full Strength should read 5%. Ed.

Subject: remove stains from dishwasher. dump a cup of tang in the washer & run it for a cycle--guaranteed to remove any stains , also works for plastic cups, etc. Barbara (Barbara R Kynette)

Subject: ink pen stain: To get an ink stain out, spray ultra-hold hairspray on the stain, let it dry, then wash like normal. ( Don't be afraid of putting too much hairspray on the stain.) -Polli

Subject: removing ink stain. To remove ink stains from cloth, or leather spray hair spray on the area and wipe off with a clean rag. Judy and Lou

Subject: Ink Stains. For removing ink stains on shirt or jeans pockets just soak in milk overnight and wash as normal the next day! Lana Kelly

Subject: Blood Stains. To get blood out of ANY fabric, use hydrogen peroxide. Apply it directly to the stain and toss in the washer. I've used it on every kind of fabric, including satin, and it works like a charm. It also works on grass stains and mustard.--Belinda

Subject: Tip for removing blood stain. Soak affected garment in salt solution overnight then machine wash as per usual. 1/2 cup of cooking salt in a small or medium sized bucket. garment will look as good as new. -- Marcia Allen

Subject: tub stains Use the Gel Type Dishwasher Detergent to remove tub stains. Put it on and allow it to sit for 5 or 10 minutes. It tends to be slippery so rinse very well. -- JEM jeanna hawley

Subject: Stains I use peroxide in my laundry. Half of a large bottle (32 oz. size) w/ half box (sm) of baking soda. It removes stains. I also use it straight on stains. It seems to work like the oxy wash that's advertised on TV. It's a lot more friendlier to our environment than bleach and doesn't have the offensive smell. Donetta Joe Hinton

Subject: stains on clothing I have found that most types of baby wipes work great on removing a strain from your clothing. Anyone with babies always have baby wipes handy. Try it some time it works. I always use them when my 2 year old gets something on her and it works great for taking ink from your skin. -- Bradley E Baker

Attack the stain straight away. If you are going to use water make sure that it is as cold as possible -- Jean Smith Kirkcaldy Scotland

Use salt on Red wine stains. - - Vanessa Echols

Use white wine on red wine stains. - - Vanessa Echols

   Veronica, are we to assume that considerable amounts of wine are consumed (and spilled) in your household?? -- Ed

If your garment is cotton or similar try disguising the stain by tie-dying it -- Dave Edmunds

Embarassing Stains : I know people don't like to discuss (stains in underwear) but they are there. I discovered the other day when I was washing my sons that this worked. I used half a cup of dish washer detergent. I couldn't believe how white they became. No stains. I believe the dish washing detergent is the trick. SUE

Vicky Lansky in her book "It worked for me" suggests using dishwasher products for removing stubborn stains. See the Shop section

Nicotine stains. Remove them from your fingers with lemon juice, and scrubbing with pumice stone. Then add hand cream. - Jacob Thorne, Bristol

Melted Wax: To remove melted wax from clothing '... you will lay a brown paper bag over the garment before you iron over it then keep moving the bag around it will absorb the wax'-- Magand

Age Stains: I have heard a mixture of fresh lemon juice and salt rubbed on spots and placed in sun will bleach out yellow in old stains. This information from my wise Aunt Sue. I would try it first on just one small area and see how it does. -- Good Luck, Patti Seizetheday Email:

Chocolate Stains. First blot or scrape off any excess chocolate. Add a solution of biological washing powder, and then blot with clean towels. If the stain remains soak the fabric in biological detergent. White fabrics can be dabbed with bleach. - Anna, Canada

Rubbing a Brazil nut on a scratch can disguise some surface damage in wooden furniture -- Vanessa Echols

Chewing gum: To remove chewing gum from clothes freeze, or cover the gum with ice, then crack and scrape off. – Marjory Simpson.

Ink Stains. If the ink is still wet put salt on the stain, and then brush it off after a few minutes when it has soaked up some of the ink. You may need to repeat this a few times. Clean wet ink off carpet with soda water, then blot it off with paper towels. Then clean with a detergent. - Ruth Knowles

Rust stains in white cotton: To remove the stain, rub with lemon juice and salt. Leave it several hours. It's even more effective when placed in the sun. Wash as normal. - - Patti

If you find that you can't remove a stain from your shirt...then give it to your Mum -- Daniel Anderson -- Milton Keynes England <;o)

Subject: stains. I have a 2 year old granddaughter that is always coming home with some kind of stain on her clothes, I have found that Fels Napa sope (found in the laundry aile) has never failed to remove them. Just wet the bar and the item rub it in let set for about 5 minutes and laundry as usual. -- Susan Horton

More on stain removal Pests.

Mouse Traps. When I set mousetraps, I always bait them and put them in a brown paper lunch bag. The mice seem drawn to the small place to explore and all I have to do is close the bag and throw it away after they've been caught! No muss, no fuss! -- Martha Smith 19 Jul 2002

Subject: Pests A pumpkin seed is a good cheap and effective bait for a mouse trap. Mice love seeds and the smell and the pumpkin seed will not be easily removed by the mouse if you put it on firmly. If you want to make the pumpkin seed even more alluring, rub a small amount of cheese over the upper surface of the seed before, setting the trigger on the trap. A la mousie - guaranteed. Cheerio Megan -- Megan Scott 22 Jul 2002

Ants: Mix ant killer (borax powder, etc.) with sugar and leave near the nest, they will eat it and take the poison back to the nest where it will kill the queen ant. Make sure that young children and pets can not get near!! – Axel Klystron. This one sounds dangerous to pets and children etc. Take care Ed

Subject: Ants I have found that ants will not cross a chalk line drawn on any surface. Of course if you live in a rainy area where ants are a problem, you must re-draw the chalk lines each time it rains. But it really works to keep ants away from your home -- ShirleyStrevell

Sugar ants To get rid of the pesky ants you simply take cinnamon and place it wherever you have noticed them and they will leave, for some strange reason they don't like it!!!!! -- ROOSGIRL4EVER

Bugs in the Pantry: You can reduce any bug problem by the following tips: When you buy flour or cornmeal, freeze it for twenty-four hours before placing in canister. I would also look very hard at using plastic seal containers for all dry goods like flour and breakfast cereals, rice,etc. If you buy the right size containers, maybe you can stack and still have room. We live in southern Texas and cockroaches were our dilemma. However by doing the above and not using any sticky shelf paper, which they like to eat, I have had no more troubles. Also, if anybody else has cockroach problems, get rid of wall paper as they like to eat paste on that as well. In fact any glue like substance feeds the critters. Good Luck, Patti Email: "Seize The Day" for "This Too Shall Pass"

If you have an older house you can save money on your heating bills by blocking up unused chimneys. Plastic foam is the best but I usually end up using old clothes -- Peter and Thelma Jones Alicante Spain

Mice. Mice seem to prefer peanut butter, bacon, and nuts, and chocolate to cheese in mouse traps. - Anon

Earwigs If you have a problem with earwigs just roll up a newspaper and leave it in the problem area over night when you wake up in the morning they will be inside the paper put in plastic bag and throw away. Of course it isn't a permanent solution but it will help cut down on the quantity.-- Kelly Lowery Sep 2002 Poison Spiders Read more....

Silverfish: If you are troubled with silverfish try placing whole cloves in the closets and drawers -- J Maroof

A contributor suggested sprinkling Epsom salts at the back of cupboards as a way of eliminating silverfish. Sorry but we lost the original e-mail. -- Ed