Do you have a great household tip? Then share it here!

[tiggerlover]

I just learned something new from a co-worker the other day and it works so great I thought I would share it. A good way to clean the coffee pot or any metal pan is to disolve a dishwasher tablet in it and it will come so clean it will look almost new. I couldn't believe what a great job this did on my baking pans and the coffee pot. The next thing I am going to do is the metal drip pans on my stove!

So if you have a great little household tip I'd love to hear about it!

 

[LeCras]

Polish stainless steel with baby oil. Works wonders, costs less than most dedicated products and is far less abrasive.

Charlotte

 

[kimmikayb]

Subscribing...as I am a horrible housekeeper I have no tips! But this will be a great thread.

 

[beckmrk04]

Instead of one overstuffed, crazy junk drawer- I have junk pockets. I bought a clear over-the-door shoe organizer, and it has like 24 clear pockets. I keep batteries, flashlights, matches, extension cords, sewing kit, etc- all the junk you'd find in a junk drawer, in the clear pockets- no digging through a mess! And since it hangs on the back of the door, no one sees it.

 

[Cindyluwho]

Polish stainless steel with baby oil. Works wonders, costs less than most dedicated products and is far less abrasive.

Charlotte

Do you think this would work on copper? There are some days that my copper counter tops make me crazy! I polish them every 10 days or so and I could just let them age/patina naturally but I like that fresh polished, new copper penny look.

 

[beckmrk04]

Oooh. Copper countertops sound beautiful but sooo high maintenance!

 

[DawnCt1]

One of the bests decluttering tips is not to let it clutter in the first place. When I bring the mail in, I open it immediately. I put the bills into the bill drawer, throw the junk mail away and put DH's mail that can wait for him to get home in a separate basket. Fillers, flyers and ads that I am not interested in get tossed and coupons that I might be interested in get filed. It takes two minutes but when it builds up, it takes forever.

 

[DawnCt1]

Do you think this would work on copper? There are some days that my copper counter tops make me crazy! I polish them every 10 days or so and I could just let them age/patina naturally but I like that fresh polished, new copper penny look.

Could you post a pictures of your counter tops? Do they scratch easily or show grease or food stains? They must be gorgeous.

 

[Robinrs]

The best household tip I've ever learned was from an old Martha Stewart show. She invited a "laundry expert" on and she asked what she used for detergent. She explained that the only thing soap does in laundry is to break the "skin" on the water, the membrane that allows things to float on it. Once the skin is broken, the water can go thru the fabric, which is what cleans it.

In other words you only need a tiny squirt of DISH detergent and that will clean your whole load. WHAT????? I said after years of buying Tide, SA8 and other overpriced detergents???? This CAN'T work!!!

But it DOES!!

I tried it about 14 years ago and must have saved THOUSANDS of dollars by not having to buy detergent! It took a bit but I talked my Mom and sisters into trying it and they, too, were amazed.

I'm so glad I found out because washing the clothes of a 13 yo boy could put me in the poor house if I didn't know this secret!

 

[Poohbear123]

Robin, thats so funny you should mention that, as DH's Parents (now deceased) used to use Dish Soap for clothes detergent! I thought they were being CHEAP!

 

[daemom]

The best household tip I've ever learned was from an old Martha Stewart show. She invited a "laundry expert" on and she asked what she used for detergent. She explained that the only thing soap does in laundry is to break the "skin" on the water, the membrane that allows things to float on it. Once the skin is broken, the water can go thru the fabric, which is what cleans it.

In other words you only need a tiny squirt of DISH detergent and that will clean your whole load. WHAT????? I said after years of buying Tide, SA8 and other overpriced detergents???? This CAN'T work!!!

But it DOES!!

I tried it about 14 years ago and must have saved THOUSANDS of dollars by not having to buy detergent! It took a bit but I talked my Mom and sisters into trying it and they, too, were amazed.

I'm so glad I found out because washing the clothes of a 13 yo boy could put me in the poor house if I didn't know this secret!

So you use a detergent like Dawn, add a squirt to the wash and that's it? Sounds like soemthing I need to try!

 

[imageid]

The best trick I recently learned is to "defunk" the microwave! You put a small bowl of vinegar in and cook about 1 minute. Let it sit for about 5 minutes (don't open the door....the steam is working its magic) Take out the bowl and any gunk DH,DS,DD..etc. has gotten on the inside will wipe off with ease!!

 

[tiggerlover]

Instead of one overstuffed, crazy junk drawer- I have junk pockets. I bought a clear over-the-door shoe organizer, and it has like 24 clear pockets. I keep batteries, flashlights, matches, extension cords, sewing kit, etc- all the junk you'd find in a junk drawer, in the clear pockets- no digging through a mess! And since it hangs on the back of the door, no one sees it.

We have something like this in DS's closet and the guest room closet (had them in our old house and didn't need it in the new). For DS it is a great place to store small toys and such and in the guest room I use the pockets for my different craft supplies.....they work great!

 

[MomofKatie]

My best household hint- to get stubborn cleaning jobs done, HIRE A MAID!!

Works like a charm.

 

[Caradana]

Okay. Here is a Manhattan household tip.

Here, where square footage is at a premium, it's only a rare soul who owns a washer-dryer. SO ... we send it all out to the laundromat and THEY wash it. Every last stitch. I leave a bag downstairs on Tuesday mornings, doorman calls laundromat, laundromat picks it up, washes, folds, carries it back, and when I get home the smiling doorman hands me a bag of perfectly washed and folded laundry.

Best $0.75/pound I spend all week.

We just bought a place in Cranbury, New Jersey, and it's going to be a VERY MAJOR adjustment to go back to laundry. I think I will try the dishsoap thing. I love the smell of my lavendar dishsoap.

 

[makinorlando]

My best household hint- to get stubborn cleaning jobs done, HIRE A MAID!!

Works like a charm.

I agree... I hire out whatever I can - I have a pool guy, lawn guy and bug guy, and on occasion the maid service... I need to look into the laundry service... I hate laundry!

The best trick I recently learned is to "defunk" the microwave! You put a small bowl of vinegar in and cook about 1 minute. Let it sit for about 5 minutes (don't open the door....the steam is working its magic) Take out the bowl and any gunk DH,DS,DD..etc. has gotten on the inside will wipe off with ease!!

Add a little lemon juice and it smells good too!

Instead of one overstuffed, crazy junk drawer- I have junk pockets. I bought a clear over-the-door shoe organizer, and it has like 24 clear pockets. I keep batteries, flashlights, matches, extension cords, sewing kit, etc- all the junk you'd find in a junk drawer, in the clear pockets- no digging through a mess! And since it hangs on the back of the door, no one sees it.

Ohh - I LOVE that one! I'm going to have to do that!

 

[mamacatnv]

I agree with the houskeeper comment

When I go to Costco and buy meat, I bring it home and divvy it up into freezer bags or the food saver whatever I am in the mood for. I then add marinades or seasoning to the chicken, pork and beef. I flatten out the packages and then freeze. Every morning before I leave for work I pull a bag out of the freezer, set it on the washer and by the time I get home it is usually defrosted and dinner is ready for whoever gets home first to throw into the oven or onto the BBQ. Add veggie and bread and we are good to go.

This has really cut back on eating out

MamaCatNV

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Do you think this would work on copper? There are some days that my copper counter tops make me crazy! I polish them every 10 days or so and I could just let them age/patina naturally but I like that fresh polished, new copper penny look.

Wow, I bet Lauri would love copper countertops!

I know that Lauri will use tomato based products (sauce, ketchup, etc) on the bottom of her Revere pots to make the copper shine - it takes the dark spots right off - just spread it on and let it sit for a second and wipe it off. Not sure if that would work on counters though.

 

[nuke]

Back in the dark ages when I was a teenager I worked at Dunkin Donuts. We cleaned out glass coffee pots by throwing in some crushed ice and salt. Swirl it around, rinse and they were sparkling clean.

I do the microwave thing with a bowl of water and lemon juice. Cook for 2 minutes, leave alone for 10 minutes and wipe clean.

I use Shout on carpet stains. It works better than any carpet cleaner I've tried.

 

[Beth76]

Add a little lemon juice and it smells good too!

I'll have to try that. My microwave always smells of vinegar for a couple of days after I clean it.