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

[Cindyluwho]

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

Dawn, I'll try to get some posted for you. The scratching, aging, etc is part of the patina and really does look beautiful. There doesn't seem to be any foods that stain it, but lemon or anything acidic will bring it to a high, new copper shine. I use Barkeepers Friend every 10 days or so to polish them up like new. Some people let them age and darken naturally but I like them to look bright. Polishing takes about 15 minutes or so and there's a lot of countertop to polish. My kitchen is about 800 sq ft with lots of counters and cupboards. I'll try to post some pics this afternoon.

AAARRRGGGHHH!!! I hate trying to post pics!

 

[sweet angel]

Dawn, I'll try to get some posted for you. The scratching, aging, etc is part of the patina and really does look beautiful. There doesn't seem to be any foods that stain it, but lemon or anything acidic will bring it to a high, new copper shine. I use Barkeepers Friend every 10 days or so to polish them up like new. Some people let them age and darken naturally but I like them to look bright. Polishing takes about 15 minutes or so and there's a lot of countertop to polish. My kitchen is about 800 sq ft with lots of counters and cupboards. I'll try to post some pics this afternoon.

Holy smokes! Your kitchen is almost as big as my whole house!

I need to try that dish detergent in lieu of laundry detergent idea.

 

[Imzadi]

I'm a little leery of the little squirt of dishwashing liquid tip too. (Nothing personal. ) I swear by Cheer with Colorguard. I have so many colored cottons & blacks that have not faded, because of the Colorguard. My wardrobe lasts longer, so it is worth the extra money for Cheer.

Someone once pointed out that I didn't need to use Cheer for my whites & I could save a lot of money simply by using a cheaper detergent for my whites & saving the Cheer for colors. I tried this (with my normal bleach,) but when the clothes came out of the dryer, there were several yellow stains all over various clothes. These were NOT underarm stains, but all over the clothes in other areas - chest, tummy, etc.

Because I didn't notice the stains, they went into the dryer & got set in. No amount of bleach or Cheer or stain remover, on subsequent washings got them out, because they got set in. I'm quite sure the Cheer would have gotten the stains out the first time had I used it. I ended up tossing all those clothes. Never again will I switch brands to save a few dollars. Spending $100 to replace clothing because I didn't want to spend $5 on a bottle of detergent, just doesn't compute.

However, I Do recommend Dawn as a stain remover on greasy clothing stains. Just dab it on, rub it in so it really gets into the fibers & breaks up the grease & oil. Just be careful not to let it sit too long. Some clothes, it removes the color too, if it sits.

 

[Cindyluwho]

Thank you everyone for your help with the picture. Whew! working on a computer is like having every day be a Monday...
Anyway, this is my kitchen with the copper countertops. It's been about 2 weeks since I last polished them so they could use a good polishing but they still look good.

 

[sweet angel]

I don't know if you can hotlink from imagestation, but if you copy the address into your browser, you can see the picture. Very, very nice!

 

[Poohbear123]

Hey Robin, I am going to try and do a small load now with Dawn. Will let you ALL know how it comes out!

Came out OK I used Regular Dawn, maybe if I used the Dawn with Bleach they would come out brighter! At least I know if I run out of regular detergent, I can use Dish Liquid.

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

I just tried the dishwashing liquid on my DD's really flithy snowpants and coats -- I don't know what brand it is - I always transfer it to this glass bottle that looks nice with my kitchen

BUT - my point is - they llook great!! I thought it would work okay - but those horrible snowpants no longer have a stain on them!!!

Thanks for the tip - I am keeping a bottle downstairs from now on

 

[ceiligh1]

I havent seen this posted yet. When I cleaned my flat top stove I would use toothpaste to get the stains up. It worked a lot better than the knife that came with the stove then use the polish that came with it to make it shine.
Also if you wax the faucets of the sink you wont have to clean them as often.
Use soft scrub tile cleaner to get dried paint off of hardwood floors. Product called goof off to get dried paint out of carpet and sinks. (Our new house needed a lot of help we think the previous owners just gave paint cans to a 5 year old and let them paint the house. )
Use lemon and salt to clean a wooden cutting board.

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

I havent seen this posted yet. When I cleaned my flat top stove I would use toothpaste to get the stains up.

OH - I will have to try that - any particular brand?

 

[Dreaming of Disney]

What was that about dryer sheets and spiders? We have a terrible spider problem and with it coming up on spring I'm starting to get worried.

 

[momoftwins]

about how much do you use? A tablespoon, a quarter-cup, a good old squirt around the whole tub?

I just don'twant a basement full of soap bubbles

Thanks.

 

[petchie]

found this sheet from Martha Stewart (is an adobe file)

http://www.marthastewart.com/images/pdf/stain_chart.pdf#search='martha%20stewart%20laundry'

 

[tw1nsmom]

I use toothpaste to polish my silver knick knacks. I don't have many, and this way I don't have to buy polish for just a few pieces.

Also, when I'm painting a room (not sure if this falls under housekeeping), and I get called away before I'm finished, I wrap the brushes and/or rollers in saran wrap. If I'm not going to paint again for a while, I'll put the brushes and rollers in the freezer. This way I don't have to wash the brushes every time I get called away.

 

[Cindyluwho]

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.

I can just imagine the look on my DHs face if he walked in and I'd covered the countertops with tomato sauce. Lemon and salt works but Barkeeper's Friend is the best thing I've tried so far. Wipe on, wipe off, polish...job's done.

 

[luvdzne]

I use vinegar mixed with water in a spray bottle to clean just about everything. It cleans the windows and mirror better than the stuff you buy.

I mix vinegar and baking soda (it will foam for a few seconds) to clean the burners on the stove, polish my tea kettle, get stains out of pots and pans (do not use on non stick).

If your sink is starting clog, dump baking soda in it and then pour boiling water, continue to do both until the sink drains freely.

If your clothes sit in the washer too long and start to smell rewash with vinegar and the smell is gone.

I polish my stainless sink with baking soda. Pour baking soda in the sink, scrub with a slightly wet cloth.

Baking soda sprinkled on the carpet, let sit for 1/2 hour or so before vacuuming will help remove smell.

Do not use vinegar on plain metal (such as faucets that are not stainless), it will remove the finish


Baking soda with a damp cloth will remove permant marker, pen, stains from your wood furniture. Scrub with the grain of the wood, and lightly. (have done this many times to my poor abused oak kitchen table).

Baking soda paste will clean soap scum off the tub and shower, you can also add vinegar which will help clean the tub and tile.

Pour vinegar in your toilets before going on vacation and you won't get that hard water ring that you have to scrub off.

I buy giant bags of baking soda and huge jugs of vinegar at costco, I use them both for just about everything.

 

[Poohbear123]

SIMPLE GREEN! My DS and his former boss use GALLONS of this stuff, you can use it in the Laundry/grease on tires/brush your teeth....ok some one we know did this, but you can use it in the laundry too! My DS uses it in Afghanistan too!

 

[Mishetta]

When we had our ceramic tile laid in our new home, our tile man told us to just use vinegar & water to wash the floors. Use about 1/2 cup vinegar to about 1 gallon of warm water. Very inexpensive (buy my vinegar at Costco or Sam's) & the floors come out beautiful .

I'm gonna try that dish soap hint for my laundry tomorrow! I currently have Palmolive Apple scented dish soap ~ the clothes should smell good enough to take a bite out of!

 

[ceiligh1]

OH - I will have to try that - any particular brand?

No I just used whatever I had on hand. Usually the last little bit of one tube or a small travel size that I kept in the cleaning tote. The key is not to dilute it with water. you want it to be a little abrasive. I used a tooth brush with it on the stove top it worked well and everything smells like mint afterwards.

 

[moniot]

Another hint using vinegar. I mix a large spray bottle with equal parts water, vinegar and rubbing alcohol then add a couple drops of dish soap. I use it to clean everything. Streak free mirrors, windows and glass. It cleans my floors, counter tops and bathrooms. The alcohol makes it dry fast so it works quick.

I use Barkeepers friend on my flat stove top. Never scratches and easily clean up everything.

I keep the Magic Eraser in the shower and it wipes away soap build up in seconds.

I use my used dryer sheet straight out of the dryer to wipe down the tops of the washer and dryer before I toss it.

Bounce dryer sheet tucked around the engine of the car will keep mice away so you won't have chewed wires or nests under the hood.

I keep the largest laundry hamper in our bathroom (it is the furthest from the laundry room) then when I carry it through the house I can pick up any stray laundry on my way through.

I still think that a maid style cart with everything you need on it would be great for cleaning. Trash bag, broom, dust mop, any clean product would be right there. No walking away to get something and getting side tracked. If only it were easy to store somewhere.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I still think that a maid style cart with everything you need on it would be great for cleaning. Trash bag, broom, dust mop, any clean product would be right there. No walking away to get something and getting side tracked. If only it were easy to store somewhere.

OK, now don't laugh, but I use an old golf bag with wheels on it for all of my lawn stuff. The rake, shovels, etc fit right in the bag and all the little tools fit on the pocket on the outside. My neighbors must think I'm crazy but I can scoot it all over the yard, it's so cool!