200 QUICK HELPFUL HINTS!!!

1. To clean up spills, sprinkle immediately with salt. When the oven has cooled, brush away the burnt-on food with a damp sponge.
2.  Or sprinkle with automatic dish washing powder, cover with wet paper towels, let stand for a few hours, then clean with a damp sponge.
3.  To eliminate odors, keep an open box of baking soda, a small bowl of charcoal (from the plant store) or a piece of cotton dipped in vanilla extract in your refrigerator.
4.  To prevent mildew, wipe down the inside occasionally with white vinegar.
5.  To clean underneath the refrigerator, tie a sock around the end of a yardstick!
6.  Dip a damp rag in baking soda to clean up any inside spots.
7.  For odors, sprinkle baking soda in the bottom and let stand overnight.
8.  For film on dishes and the inside of the dishwasher, put a bowl with 1 cup bleach in the bottom of the washer. Run through the wash cycle but do not dry. Then fill the bowl with 1 cup white vinegar and run through an entire cycle.
9.  Keep them clean with baking soda.
10.  Fill the container half with hot water and a couple of drops of dish detergent. Cover and blend; rinse and dry.
11.  Loosen dirt with a toothbrush and run a paper towel through the cutting assembly. Then spray with non-stick vegetable spray.
12.  For a shiny white sink, cover with paper towels saturated in  bleach.  Let stand for about 30 minutes; then rinse thoroughly with cool water.
13.  To dissolve grease in a clogged drain, pour 1 cup salt and 1 cup baking soda down the drain followed by a kettle of boiling water.
14.  Shine them with club soda or white vinegar.
15.  After normal use, wipe with a damp cloth and dry with a soft cloth.
16.  To deep clean, wipe with a solution of ammonia and water or dish detergent and water. Dry thoroughly to avoid spots.
17.  For water spots or hard water build-up, wipe with white vinegar and flush well with water, then buff with dry cloth.
18.  Treat rust marks by rubbing with lighter fluid. Then wipe clean with a liquid cleaner.
19.  Keep it smelling sweet by grinding citrus rind. Or use the discarded baking soda after it has finished absorbing odors in the refrigerator.
20.  To clean copper pots: fill a spray bottle with vinegar and 3 tbs. salt. Spray on the copper, let stand for a while, then rub clean. Or  try toothpaste, Worcestershire sauce or ketchup. Or dip a lemon half in salt and rub.
21.  Clean cast iron skillets on the outside with a commercial oven cleaner. Let stand for 2 hours. Then remove any accumulated black tains with vinegar and water.
22.  After cleaning cast iron, while the pan is still warm, wipe with a piece of wax paper to prevent rusting. Or when clean, rub a small amount of vegetable oil on the inside to keep it seasoned.
23.  For burnt-on food stains, sprinkle pots liberally with baking soda and add just enough water to moisten. Let stand for 3 hours, then lift the burned food out of the pan.
24.  Remove stains on non-stick cookware by boiling 2 tbs. of baking soda, 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 cup water for 10 minutes. Re-season with salad oil.
25.  To remove lime deposits from the inside of a tea kettle, fill with equal parts white vinegar and water. Boil 10 minutes and let stand overnight. Shake the kettle, pour out contents and rinse well. If any residue remains, scrape with a wooden spoon and, if necessary, repeat.
26.  Clean your thermos bottle by adding a few tablespoons of baking soda and filling with warm water. Let stand, then rinse thoroughly.
27.  Never put a delicate glass in hot water bottom side first. It will crack from sudden expansion. The most delicate glassware will be safe if it is slipped in edgewise.
28.  After washing crystal, rinse in 1 part vinegar to 3 parts warm water, then air dry.
29.  Before washing fine china or crystal, put a towel in the bottom of the sink to cushion the pieces.
30.  When two glasses are stuck together, fill the top one with cold water and dip the bottom one in hot water.
31.  Scratches in glassware will disappear if polished with toothpaste.
32.  Use the cheapest dish detergent available, but add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the dish water. The vinegar cuts the grease and leaves dishes sparkling!
33.  Quickly remove food that is stuck in a casserole dish by filling it with boiling water and 2 tbs. of baking soda or salt.
34.  To clean and deodorize, combine 1/2 cup baking soda with 1 quart warm water. Rub the paste onto the wood. Rinse well with clear water and pat dry. To restore the wood sheen, rub in salad oil or linseed oil using a fine steel wool pad.
35.  To brighten up any yellowing appliance, mix 1/2 cup bleach, 1/4 cup baking soda and 4 cups warm water. Sponge on and let stand for about 10 minutes. Then rinse and dry thoroughly.
36.  Drain board: to remove hard water lime deposits, soak in full strength white vinegar, then scrub.
37.  Rubber spatula: trim off the tattered edges and keep trimming until there's nothing left!
38.  Vases: to get rid of build-up in the bottom of a vase, add a few drops of automatic dishwater detergent and fill with hot water. Soak overnight, then rinse.
39.  Cutting boards: to get rid of onion, garlic or fish smells, cut a  lemon or lime in half and rub the board. Or use a baking soda and water paste.
40.  Broken egg on the floor: douse it with salt wait 5 minutes then sweep it right up.
41.  Kitchen sponge: for a clean, sweet smelling sponge, just run it through the top rack of your dishwasher.
42.  Steel wool pads won't get rusty if you throw them in a plastic bag and store in the freezer.
43.  Spray vegetable oil on a grater before use for fast clean-up. A toothbrush will clean it right out before washing.
44.  Use baking soda to remove coffee and tea stains from plastic cups and dishes.
45.  To get rid of odors from plastic containers, fill with crumpled-up black and white newspaper. Cover tightly and leave overnight. Next day the smell is gone.
46.  With all the showering, shaving and shampooing that goes on, it's no wonder that the bathroom needs constant attention. It may be the smallest room in the house, but it makes the biggest demands on your time. Read on and rest easy. Help is at hand.
47.  To get rid of mineral deposits in a clogged shower head, remove the shower head fixture and take out the rubber washer. If a metal fixture, boil in 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 quart of water for 15 minutes. Soak a plastic shower head in equal amounts of hot water and vinegar.
48.  Glass shower doors will come clean when rubbed with a sponge soaked in white vinegar. Rinse with cool water. And they'll stay cleaner longer if you spray them lightly with furniture polish, and then shine.
49.  To wash shower curtains fill the washing machine with warm water and two large bath towels. Add 1/2 cup each: detergent and baking soda. Then wash, adding 1 cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Do not spin dry or wash vinegar out. Hang immediately and wrinkles will disappear when completely dry.
50.  To prevent mildew from forming on new shower curtains, soak in salt water before hanging for the first time.
51.  Baking soda removes mildew from small areas.
52.  A toothbrush and any spray cleaner works wonders on shower door runners.
53.  Bad stains: mix a paste of peroxide and cream of tartar. Scrub with a small brush and rinse thoroughly. If stains persist, re-apply paste and add a drop or two of ammonia. Let stand for 2 hours and scrub again.
54.  Light stains: rub with a cut lemon.
55.  Dark stains or rust: rub with a paste of borax and lemon juice.
56.  Yellowed tub: rub with a solution of salt and turpentine. Rinse well.
57.  To guarantee your tub's finish, do not use abrasive cleansers. Use a non-abrasive powder, creamy liquid, spray-on foam or dishwasher detergent. (wear rubber gloves).
58.  For an all-purpose homemade cleaner: mix 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 cup clear ammonia and 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 gallon hot water. Be sure the room is well ventilated and wear rubber gloves. Great for fiberglass, porcelain and metal fixtures.
59.  To remove toilet rings, flush first to wet sides and apply a paste of borax and lemon juice. Let sit for 2 hours, then scrub. Or rub with a fine grade sandpaper (wet the sandpaper if the rings are very old).
60.  For general, all-purpose cleaning, add 1/2 cup chlorine bleach to the bowl and let stand for 10 minutes. Scrub and rinse.
61.  Before you start to clean tile, run the shower at the hottest water setting. The steam will help loosen the dirt and make for easier cleaning.
62.  For light cleaning, mix 1/2 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda in one gallon of warm water.
63.  For heavier cleaning, make a paste of baking soda and bleach. Scrub with a stiff brush and rinse thoroughly.
64.  Lemon oil keeps tiles shinier longer and helps keep water stains from building up.
65.  An old cloth dipped in kerosene removes built-up soap scum quickly and gives a great shine. The smell only lasts a short time. Be sure to dispose of the cloth properly or store safely for future use.
66.  Try equal parts non-sudsing ammonia and water in a spray bottle.
67.  For chrome faucets or fixtures, try rubbing alcohol for a super shine.
68.  Dip an old toothbrush or nail brush (reserved only for this purpose) into bleach and scrub.
69.  Or: mix 3 cups of baking soda and 1 cup of warm water into a paste and brush away!
70.  to remove hair spray film from mirrors, wipe with rubbing alcohol.
71. To create a fresh, clean aroma in the bathroom, toss a sheet of fabric softener in the wastebasket. Or dab a bit of perfume on a light bulb. It floods the room with scent when the light is turned on.
72. Save those soap slivers! Mix them in the blender with some water and make your own liquid soap. Or collect them in an old nylon stocking and hang near an outside faucet for fast outdoors clean-up.
73. For clogged drains, use 1 cup baking soda, then 1 cup vinegar. As this solution foams, flush with at least 1 pint of boiling water.
74. Use vertical strokes when washing outside windows and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks.
75.  For a real shine, rub a clean blackboard eraser over a newly washed window.
76.  Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too fast, and probably streak.
77.  Always wash windows from top to bottom.
78.  Consensus of opinion has it that crumpled up black and white  newspaper  dipped in vinegar is the absolute best way to wash windows. Dip paper in vinegar and wipe the glass until almost dry, then shine with dry newspaper or cloth.
79.  Mix 1/3 cup ammonia in 1 gallon water. Or 1/2 cup ammonia, 1 cup white vinegar and 2 tbs. cornstarch mixed in a bucket of warm water.
80. In any event, don't use soap. It leaves a film.
81. On cold days, add 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to each quart of water to prevent icing.
82.  Keep a spray bottle filled with 3 tbs. ammonia, 1 tbs. white vinegar and cool water on hand for spot cleaning windows and mirrors.
83.  For painted window sills, dilute rubbing alcohol with water and rub with a soft cloth. It gets rid of spots, and the sills look freshly painted.
84. To avoid taking down curtains when washing windows, drape them through a hanger and hang them from the curtain rod.
85. For outside windows, dip a long-handled mop in your cleaning solution, wash, then hose off. Throw a clean towel over the mop to dry.
86. A long-handled car wash brush attached to a hose works great too!
87. Straight vinegar will get those outside windows really clean.
88. Rub a brush-type roller over the screen to pick up dust.
89. Or: brush both sides with kerosene and wipe clean with a clean cloth. This also prevents rust from forming.
90. For small areas, run a brush-type hair roller over the screen to remove lint and dust.
91. Dry nylon netting rubbed over screens will remove dirt too.
92. Clean blinds by taking them off the window and laying them in a tub of sudsy ammonia. Then hang over the tub to dry.
93. For Venetian or mini blinds, saturate a cloth with rubbing alcohol and wrap around a rubber spatula to clean both a bottom and a top slat at the same time.
94. Or: soak blinds in the tub and, wearing a pair of fabric garden gloves, wipe each slat clean. Then hang over tub to dry.
95. To clean window shades, dip a rough flannel cloth in flour or corn meal and wipe shades.
96. A soft eraser removes spots on shades.
97. Clear nail polish will repair small tears in window shades.
98. Wax parchment shades to keep them clean.
99. Clean aluminum window frames with cream silver polish.
100. To clean sliding door tracks, either wrap a small cloth around an eraser and rub dirt away or use a toothbrush dipped in all-purpose cleaning solution.
101. Wax traverse or curtain rods before hanging to make sliding curtains easier.
102. Stick drapery hooks into a bar of soap to make insertion into fabric a snap.
103. To keep the corners of window panes free of dust and moisture, save the ends of white candles and rub on the corners of the wood.
104. Louvered windows and doors are easy to clean with a 2-inch wide paint brush dipped in a mild soap solution. Lightly towel dry.
105. An all-purpose cleaner for painted walls: mix 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 gallon warm water. Wash thoroughly and rinse well. Wear rubber gloves.
106. Use a sponge mop to wash walls working from top to bottom. Throw a clean towel over the mop to dry.
107. Crayon: rub lightly with a dry, soap-filled steel wool pad.
108. Or: use a damp cloth sprinkled with baking soda.
109. Or: dab lighter fluid on a cloth and rub gently.
110. Erase smudges from pencil, fingerprints, or dirt with art gum squares (available at stationery and art supply stores).
111. To clean grease, blot with paper towel and sprinkle cornstarch on the stain. Rub off the cornstarch when it has soaked up the grease.
112. Clean marks with a paste of cornstarch and water. Apply to spots, let dry, brush off and repeat if necessary.
113. Apply baby powder to a clean powder puff; then rub into grease spot until it disappears.
114. Stale bread rubbed over soiled spots can also "erase" spots on wallpaper.
115. For cracking plaster, mix Elmer's type glue and baking soda into a paste. Rub into cracks with fingers.
116. To clean rough plaster walls, bunch old nylon stockings together into a ball and rub against wall.
117. Faded spots: mix brown shoe polish with floor wax for an antiqued look.
118. Scratches: dip very fine steel wool in floor wax. Go over the scratch.
119. Heel marks: wipe with kerosene or turpentine or use a pencil eraser.
120. Tar spots: use paste wax.
121. Nail polish spills: let it solidify. When it is just barely pliable, peel off.
122.  Crayon marks: use silver polish.
123.  To repair loose linoleum edges, work linoleum cement under loosened corner using a dull knife. Place some heavy books on top and let dry for 24 hours.
124. Always vacuum your carpet like you would
125.  Mow your lawn, in neat rows, back and forth so that you don't miss a spot. Each section needs two or three passes, more in high traffic areas.
126.  To raise flattened pile, use a steam iron. Hold the iron over the area without touching it to the carpet. Brush the pile briskly back and forth with the other hand.
127. Brighten your carpet with cornstarch. Sprinkle thoroughly, let stand for 1 hour, vacuum.
128. When shampooing carpet, put small plastic bags or glass jars around furniture legs to prevent rust stains from forming.
129. Fresh stains: blot up as much as possible. Pour a little club soda on the spot and let stand for a few seconds, then blot.
130. Older stains: mix 1 quart warm water, 2 tbs. detergent and 3 tbs. white vinegar. Work small amount into stain and blot dry. Cover with clean towel or paper towel and place heavy books over towel. Let stand for 24 hours. Repeat if necessary.
131. Candle wax: place a blotter or brown paper bag over the spot and put a hot iron over the blotter. After a few minutes, the wax will be absorbed by the blotter.
132. Damp mud spots: sprinkle cornstarch and let stand at least 15 minutes. Vacuum.
133. Sooty footprints: sprinkle with salt, let stand for 30 minutes, then vacuum. On light colored carpets, try an art gum eraser.
134. Chewing gum: press ice cubes on gum until it becomes brittle and breaks off. Spot remover should get rid of the rest.
135. Glue: saturate the spot with a vinegar soaked cloth.
136. Ball-point ink: saturate with hair spray, let dry and brush with a solution of water and vinegar.
137. Instant spot remover: shaving cream. Apply, blot into stain, wash up with water or club soda. Blot dry.
138. Instant burn repair: remove some fuzz from an inconspicuous area by shaving or pulling with a tweezer. Roll the fuzz into the shape of the burn and glue into place.
139.  When repairing a scratch, always rub with the grain of the wood.
140.  Walnut: use the meat of a fresh, unsalted walnut or pecan. Break in half and rub the scratch with the broken side of the nut meat.
141. Mahogany: rub with dark brown crayon or buff with brown paste wax.
142.  Red mahogany: apply iodine with a number o artist's brush.
143. Maple: combine equal parts iodine and denatured alcohol and apply with a cotton swab. Let dry, wax and buff.
144. Ebony: use black shoe polish, eyebrow pencil or crayon.
145. Teak: rub gently with 0000 steel wool. Rub in equal parts linseed oil and turpentine.
146. Light finishes: tan shoe polish (use only on shiny finishes).
147. Minor scratches: cover generously with white petroleum jelly and let sit for 24 hours. Rub into wood, remove excess and polish.
148. Larger scratches: rub with a wax stick (from hardware store) or crayon in color that matches the finish.
149. Water marks: rub spot with damp cloth sprinkled with a few drops of ammonia or mix a paste of butter or mayonnaise and cigarette ashes and buff with a damp cloth, then polish.
150. Or: try toothpaste applied to water mark on a damp cloth.
151. Candle wax can be softened with a hair dryer and wiped up with paper towels.
152. Children's stickers can be removed from wood by 'painting' the sticker with white vinegar, letting it soak in and then scraping off.
153. Cigarette burns can be treated as follows: dip a cotton swab in clear fingernail polish remover and rub over the burn. If burn remains, scrape with a dull knife until the discoloration is gone. Fill the indentation with clear nail polish and let dry. Repeat until the depression is filled. When completely dry, cover the whole surface
154. With furniture polish.
155. Shaving cream works well for new stains and common dirt.
156. Blood stains: treat immediately with a paste of cornstarch and cold water. Rub lightly and place in sun to dry. (the sun will draw the blood out into the cornstarch). Brush off the residue and repeat if necessary.
157. Grease and oil stains: sprinkle talcum powder or cornstarch on fresh stains. Rub in well and let stand until stain is absorbed. Brush away residue and wipe clean with a damp cloth.
158. Sprinkle baking soda or vinegar on a rough, damp cloth. Wash with a mild dish washing soap. Never use oil on vinyl. It will become hard and almost impossible to re-soften.
159. Clean with a damp cloth and saddle soap.
160. To prevent cracking, clean regularly with a mixture of 1 part vinegar and two parts linseed
161. Rub on a little lemon juice, dry with paper towels and shine with newspaper.
162. Remove small scratches by rubbing with toothpaste .
163. To clean chrome without streaking, use a cloth dampened with ammonia.
164. Warm salt water keeps it from turning yellow.
165. Lemon oil prevents it from drying out.
166. Never let wicker freeze, it will crack and split. If possible,  use a humidifier in winter to preserve it.
167. Your best bet is to start with a clean washing machine, so fill the washer with warm water and pour in a gallon of distilled vinegar. Run through an entire cycle. The vinegar cleans the hoses and cleans away soap scum.
168. If your machine overflows from too many suds, adding some fabric softener will get rid of the suds.
169. Instead of using expensive fabric softener sheets, add a few capfuls of liquid fabric softener and water to a bowl, swish a washcloth around in the mixture, ring out the cloth and toss into the dryer.
170. Always clean out the lint filter in your dryer after every use.
171. Add 1 cup white vinegar to the final rinse cycle to eliminate lint.
172. Throw a yard of nylon netting in the dryer to catch any excess lint.
173. To treat the worst lint-attracting offender, corduroy, brush it with a clothes brush while still damp. Dry corduroy very slowly on a low heating setting.
174. Add vinegar to rinse water to cut down on soap and to keep rinsing to a minimum.
175. Rinse washable wool garments in lukewarm water and add a few tablespoons of glycerin to keep them soft. It also helps prevent itching.
176. Ordinary hair shampoo dissolves body oils. Using a paint brush, paint the shampoo on the stain and let stand before washing.
177. Mark the stain with chalk. Chalk absorbs the body oil and the remaining dirt will come off easily. An older stain will probably require several applications.
178. A paste of vinegar and baking soda will remove dirt (and mildew).
179. Always try to treat stains immediately. This will maximize your chances of getting the stains out.
180. Blood: cover stain with meat tenderizer, add cool water to form a paste. Let stand 15 30 minutes, then sponge off with cool water.
181. Chocolate: sponge with cold water. Mix together 2 tbs. of borax and 2 cups warm water. Sponge onto stain. Rinse well.
182. Coffee: for fresh stains, use same procedure as for chocolate. For older stains, sponge with cold water and rub with glycerin. Let glycerin stand for 1/2 hour, then rinse in warm water.
183. Crayon or candle wax: place garment between two clean paper towels orpieces of brown paper bag and press with warm iron.
184. Grass: sponge with denatured alcohol before washing. Wash in hot suds.
185. Gum: put the garment in a plastic bag in the freezer, then scrape off frozen gum. Or soak the garment in white vinegar. Or rub the stain with egg white before washing.
186. Ink: spray hair spray liberally on the stain and rub with a clean, dry cloth. This works especially well on polyesters. Or apply rubbing alcohol to the spot before washing.
187. Mildew: dampen with lemon juice and salt. Dry in the sun.
188. Milk: rinse in cool water. Then wash in cold water using liquid detergent.
189. Perspiration: soak in warm vinegar and water.
190. Rust: apply lemon juice and salt, then let dry in the sun. On white garments, cover the stain with cream of tartar and gather up the ends of the garment to keep the powder on the stain dip the spot into hot water for 5 minutes, then wash as usual.
191. Red wine: sprinkle fresh stain liberally with salt. Dunk in cold water and rub out stain before washing.
192. shoe polish: apply one part rubbing alcohol and two parts water on colored fabrics. Use straight alcohol on whites.
193. Tar: rub spot with kerosene until tar is removed, then wash as usual. Make sure to test a small, inconspicuous area first for color fastness.
194. To clean suede: to remove rain spots, rub lightly with an emery board. To remove grease spots, dip a cloth in vinegar or club soda and blot out the stain. Brush with a suede brush to restore the nap.
195.  Scorch that beautiful linen cloth?  Simply rub the scorched area with a raw onion, soak in cold water for a couple of hours, then wash the linen as usual.
196.  Establish priorities.  Identify which tasks absolutely have to be done, which ones should be done, and which ones would be nice to get done.  Work on them in that order, and forget about all others.
197.  Set time limits.  You can accomplish quite a bit in several 15-minute periods.  Keep your cleaning schedule flexible so you can change it if something unexpected comes up.  Do what you can when you can.
198.  Delegate.  Teach your kids how to fold laundry, vacuum, dust, unload the dishwasher, make their beds, and how to prepare their breakfasts, lunches, and snacks.  Enlist teens to help with big jobs like washing windows and floors and cleaning cabinets and woodwork.
199.  Finish tasks.  Complete one project before you start another.
200.  Reward yourself for a job well done.Time management is not just keeping busy.  It is choosing a direction and  moving ahead to accomplish your goals.