Decanters
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The dirty decanter is the cleaning world's brainteaser. The Puzzle: to reach the cavernous space that lies beyond a decanter's narrow neck in order to scrub away stubborn stains such as lime deposits and red wine rings. And after you clean it, there's the challenging of drying it. If ever there was a need for a genie--armed with a miniature scrub brush and rags--this is it. But the puzzle can be solved. Here's how:
Begin with the outside, washing your decanter by hand. Never put a decanter in a dishwasher: the heat and vibration can easily break is delicate glass neck. If the decanter is an antique or made of fine crystal or cut glass, wash it in a plastic basin rather than in a hard sink to reduce the chances of breakage. Or line the bottom of your sink with a rubber mat or a doubled-over towel. Then just use a sponge or soft-bristled brush, warm water, and mild dishwashing liquid to wash the outer surface.
Cleaning the inside depends on how dirty or stained the decanter is. There are several approaches. The simplest is to fill it halfway with soapy, warm water, hold your hand over the top, and gently shake. Still stained? Swirl a mixture of rock salt and vinegar around inside the decanter.
Another approach: Put water in the decanter, drop in a denture cleaner, such as Efferdent, and let it stand overnight. No matter which method use, rinse with clean, warm water.
The salt will gently scour the surface while the vinegar helps remove stains, especially lime deposits. If rock salt and vinegar helps remove stains, especially lime deposits. If rock salt and vinegar do not remove wine stains, try swishing a small amount of warm water, baking soda, and rock salt in the bottle.
Dry your decanter completely, so that it does not fog up after you replace the stopper. Worse than being unsightly, that moisture could harbor dangerous microorganisms. Instead of drying your decanter by inverting it in your dish rack, which increases the chance of breakage and takes forever, try this trick: Drain most of the water out of the decanter by holding it upside down. To remove final moisture, wrap a paper towel around the handle of a long-handled wooden spoon so that the towel extends slightly beyond the end. Stick the towel-wrapped spoon into the decanter and let it rest on the bottom overnight. By morning the towel should have absorbed most of the condensation. If you can't until morning, gently blow warm air into the decanter with a hair dryer. Be careful, though: Too much heat can crack delicate glass.
OOPS!
High pressure, High Risk >
Pressure washers are dangerous, and here's proof. Homeowner Bill R. Of Virginia rented a pressure washer to clean his deck. Like many people, he had never used one before, and the rental company gave him very little instruction--and no safety advice. When he accidentally passed the nozzle
over his gloveless hand, the jet of water ripped through the soft skin on the back of his hand, damaging two tendons. It took 20 stitches to sew up the wound, and Bill had to spend the night in the hospital.
Decks
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Think of your deck as an outdoor room, one exposed to sun, wind, rain, and ice. To keep your deck looking its best, you need to clean it--not as regularly or meticulously as you do your indoor rooms, but well enough to maintain it for the long term. Even decks made of weather-resistant or pressure-treated lumber deteriorate unless they are cared for. And, contrary to popular belief, the pressure washer is not the best way to clean a wood deck. Before you reach for the nozzle, read on.
Sweep your deck regularly to keep it free of leaves and twigs. This is the most basic step you can take. Otherwise, the tannins from tree fallout will stain the wood surface, and the piles of decomposting organic matter will hold moisture, leading to mildew and not. Use a heavy-duty broom to sweep your deck regularly, taking care to keep the gaps between boards clean. If leaves or twigs get stuck in the gaps, scrape them out with a putty knife. The more often you sweep, the easier it will be on you and the deck, especially if the leaves are dry.
To remove dirt and mildew and brighten the color of your deck, periodically (once a year or so) give it a more thorough cleaning. Start by mixing a solution of 1 cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP), a safe all-purpose cleaner and degreaser available at most hardware stores, with 1 gallon of warm water. Using a long-handled stiff-bristled brush (a long handle is easier on your back and knees), scrub the deck with the TSP solution. Rinse by washing down the deck with a hose. The TSP solution. Rinse by washing down the deck with a hose. The TSP runoff will not harm surrounding foliage. (Note: If you have a covered or partially covered dock that is not built to withstand rain, clean it as you would an indoor hardwood floor. Do not soak it with water.)
To remove stains and stubborn mildew, use a bleaching solution: 1 to 3 ounces of sodium percarbonate, also known as oxygen bleach, per gallon of warm water. Unlike chlorine bleach, which can break down the lignin that holds the wood together and harm plants, oxygen bleach is relatively gentle and nontoxic. Simply apply it with a mop or brush. Don't scrub. Wait 15 or 20 minutes for it to soak in and then hose down the deck to remove the solution. If you use a wood sealer, such as Thompson's Water Seal, on your deck, you will need to reapply it after washing the deck with TSP and oxygen bleach, which strip away sealers along with dirt and mildew.
Don't use a pressure washer! Pressure washers are expensive, dangerous, and harmful to the wood you are cleaning. The extreme water pressure will break up the wood fibers--what you're trying to prevent--leaving the surface fuzzy, more susceptible to the weather, and in poor condition for refinishing with stains and sealers. Only use them as a last resort, and then be very careful. Use the lowest pressure setting available, between 800 psi (pounds per square inch) and 1,200 psi, and never use a pinpoint nozzle. Hold the nozzle at an angle at least a foot away from the deck's surface.
Dehumidifiers
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Dehumidifers are part of a home's airflow system. They cut down on moisture as well as the mold and micro-organsims that thrive in moist environments. If you don't clean your dehumidifier, you may cancel out its beneficial health effects. And as with any electrical appliance, keeping your dehumidifier clean is important for its operating efficiency and longevity.
Cleaning a dehumidifier is easy. Periodically dust the outer cabinet with a damp, oil-free cloth, and clean the front grille and the coils under the grille using the dusting attachment on a vacuum cleaner. Once a month--or more often if necessary, depending on use-scrub the drip pan and the inside of the water reservoir with a sponge or soft cloth and mild
dishwashing liquid to discourage
the growth of mold or mildew. At least once a season, remove the dust and lint from the cold coils inside the unit with a soft-bristled brush. Most dehumidifiers have an air filter in the front grille area. Replace or clean it at least once a season. The procedure is the same as it is for a window air conditioner.
See also Air Conditioners
Dentures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who hasn't seen those television commercials showing denture wearers enjoying coffee, blueberry pie, and other teeth--staining foods? The advertiser's message: Buy our denture cleaner and ear worry-free. Like many ads, those are misleading--but only slightly. While not as simple as dropping your choppers into a glass of cleaning solution, denture cleaning should require little more effort than brushing your original set of teeth.
Protect Those Choppers
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are some precautions you should take to protect your dentures:
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The dirty decanter is the cleaning world's brainteaser. The Puzzle: to reach the cavernous space that lies beyond a decanter's narrow neck in order to scrub away stubborn stains such as lime deposits and red wine rings. And after you clean it, there's the challenging of drying it. If ever there was a need for a genie--armed with a miniature scrub brush and rags--this is it. But the puzzle can be solved. Here's how:
Begin with the outside, washing your decanter by hand. Never put a decanter in a dishwasher: the heat and vibration can easily break is delicate glass neck. If the decanter is an antique or made of fine crystal or cut glass, wash it in a plastic basin rather than in a hard sink to reduce the chances of breakage. Or line the bottom of your sink with a rubber mat or a doubled-over towel. Then just use a sponge or soft-bristled brush, warm water, and mild dishwashing liquid to wash the outer surface.
Cleaning the inside depends on how dirty or stained the decanter is. There are several approaches. The simplest is to fill it halfway with soapy, warm water, hold your hand over the top, and gently shake. Still stained? Swirl a mixture of rock salt and vinegar around inside the decanter.
Another approach: Put water in the decanter, drop in a denture cleaner, such as Efferdent, and let it stand overnight. No matter which method use, rinse with clean, warm water.
Dry your decanter completely, so that it does not fog up after you replace the stopper. Worse than being unsightly, that moisture could harbor dangerous microorganisms. Instead of drying your decanter by inverting it in your dish rack, which increases the chance of breakage and takes forever, try this trick: Drain most of the water out of the decanter by holding it upside down. To remove final moisture, wrap a paper towel around the handle of a long-handled wooden spoon so that the towel extends slightly beyond the end. Stick the towel-wrapped spoon into the decanter and let it rest on the bottom overnight. By morning the towel should have absorbed most of the condensation. If you can't until morning, gently blow warm air into the decanter with a hair dryer. Be careful, though: Too much heat can crack delicate glass.
OOPS!
High pressure, High Risk >
Pressure washers are dangerous, and here's proof. Homeowner Bill R. Of Virginia rented a pressure washer to clean his deck. Like many people, he had never used one before, and the rental company gave him very little instruction--and no safety advice. When he accidentally passed the nozzle
over his gloveless hand, the jet of water ripped through the soft skin on the back of his hand, damaging two tendons. It took 20 stitches to sew up the wound, and Bill had to spend the night in the hospital.
Decks
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Think of your deck as an outdoor room, one exposed to sun, wind, rain, and ice. To keep your deck looking its best, you need to clean it--not as regularly or meticulously as you do your indoor rooms, but well enough to maintain it for the long term. Even decks made of weather-resistant or pressure-treated lumber deteriorate unless they are cared for. And, contrary to popular belief, the pressure washer is not the best way to clean a wood deck. Before you reach for the nozzle, read on.
Sweep your deck regularly to keep it free of leaves and twigs. This is the most basic step you can take. Otherwise, the tannins from tree fallout will stain the wood surface, and the piles of decomposting organic matter will hold moisture, leading to mildew and not. Use a heavy-duty broom to sweep your deck regularly, taking care to keep the gaps between boards clean. If leaves or twigs get stuck in the gaps, scrape them out with a putty knife. The more often you sweep, the easier it will be on you and the deck, especially if the leaves are dry.
To remove dirt and mildew and brighten the color of your deck, periodically (once a year or so) give it a more thorough cleaning. Start by mixing a solution of 1 cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP), a safe all-purpose cleaner and degreaser available at most hardware stores, with 1 gallon of warm water. Using a long-handled stiff-bristled brush (a long handle is easier on your back and knees), scrub the deck with the TSP solution. Rinse by washing down the deck with a hose. The TSP solution. Rinse by washing down the deck with a hose. The TSP runoff will not harm surrounding foliage. (Note: If you have a covered or partially covered dock that is not built to withstand rain, clean it as you would an indoor hardwood floor. Do not soak it with water.)
To remove stains and stubborn mildew, use a bleaching solution: 1 to 3 ounces of sodium percarbonate, also known as oxygen bleach, per gallon of warm water. Unlike chlorine bleach, which can break down the lignin that holds the wood together and harm plants, oxygen bleach is relatively gentle and nontoxic. Simply apply it with a mop or brush. Don't scrub. Wait 15 or 20 minutes for it to soak in and then hose down the deck to remove the solution. If you use a wood sealer, such as Thompson's Water Seal, on your deck, you will need to reapply it after washing the deck with TSP and oxygen bleach, which strip away sealers along with dirt and mildew.
Don't use a pressure washer! Pressure washers are expensive, dangerous, and harmful to the wood you are cleaning. The extreme water pressure will break up the wood fibers--what you're trying to prevent--leaving the surface fuzzy, more susceptible to the weather, and in poor condition for refinishing with stains and sealers. Only use them as a last resort, and then be very careful. Use the lowest pressure setting available, between 800 psi (pounds per square inch) and 1,200 psi, and never use a pinpoint nozzle. Hold the nozzle at an angle at least a foot away from the deck's surface.
Dehumidifiers
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dehumidifers are part of a home's airflow system. They cut down on moisture as well as the mold and micro-organsims that thrive in moist environments. If you don't clean your dehumidifier, you may cancel out its beneficial health effects. And as with any electrical appliance, keeping your dehumidifier clean is important for its operating efficiency and longevity.
Cleaning a dehumidifier is easy. Periodically dust the outer cabinet with a damp, oil-free cloth, and clean the front grille and the coils under the grille using the dusting attachment on a vacuum cleaner. Once a month--or more often if necessary, depending on use-scrub the drip pan and the inside of the water reservoir with a sponge or soft cloth and mild
the growth of mold or mildew. At least once a season, remove the dust and lint from the cold coils inside the unit with a soft-bristled brush. Most dehumidifiers have an air filter in the front grille area. Replace or clean it at least once a season. The procedure is the same as it is for a window air conditioner.
See also Air Conditioners
Dentures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who hasn't seen those television commercials showing denture wearers enjoying coffee, blueberry pie, and other teeth--staining foods? The advertiser's message: Buy our denture cleaner and ear worry-free. Like many ads, those are misleading--but only slightly. While not as simple as dropping your choppers into a glass of cleaning solution, denture cleaning should require little more effort than brushing your original set of teeth.
Protect Those Choppers
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are some precautions you should take to protect your dentures:
- Never use a brush with stiff, coarse bristles, which can damage the materials that make up dentures.
- Don't use gritty powdered cleansers or toothpastes, which can also cause damage.
- Don't clean dentures with bleach. It can whiten the pink part of the dentures and corrode the metal framework on partial dentures.
- Never use hot water to rinse your dentures. The heat could warp them.
- Never let your dentures dry out, which could also warp them or make them brittle.
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As with real teeth, your dentures should be kept free of food particles, plaque, and stains so that your mouth can remain healthy and attractive. And removing plaque--that germ-harboring dentist's nemesis-from dentures requires the same regular brushing that real teeth need. The difference, of course, is that with dentures, you take them out to brush them.
Brush your dentures twice a day. Dentures are delicate and-we hardly need mention--expensive. They may break even if dropped a few inches. For that reason, brush them over a folded towel or bowl of water. Go over them lightly with a recommended denture brush or a soft nylon toothbrush, using a cleanser your dentist recommends. For an economical alternative, use mild hand soap or dishwashing liquid. And remember: You can keep your dentures cleaner by also lightly brushing your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth. (But not with hand soap!)
OOPS!
Acci-Dental Washing >
Attention, denture wearers! Do not try the following. According to dental educational consultant Margaret. J. Fehrenbach, MS, who is a registered dental hygienist, a man she knows slipped a set of dentures into his pants pocket one day and forgot ahout them. when the pants went through the washer and dryer, so did the dentures. Funny thing was, after the spin cycles, the dentures, which had always bothered him, fit better and hurt no more.
Dish Drainers
As with real teeth, your dentures should be kept free of food particles, plaque, and stains so that your mouth can remain healthy and attractive. And removing plaque--that germ-harboring dentist's nemesis-from dentures requires the same regular brushing that real teeth need. The difference, of course, is that with dentures, you take them out to brush them.
Brush your dentures twice a day. Dentures are delicate and-we hardly need mention--expensive. They may break even if dropped a few inches. For that reason, brush them over a folded towel or bowl of water. Go over them lightly with a recommended denture brush or a soft nylon toothbrush, using a cleanser your dentist recommends. For an economical alternative, use mild hand soap or dishwashing liquid. And remember: You can keep your dentures cleaner by also lightly brushing your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth. (But not with hand soap!)
OOPS!
Acci-Dental Washing >
Dish Drainers
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Since your dish drainer is meant to hold clean dishes, a dirty dish drainer defeats the purpose. It is important to keep your drainer clean and free of mold and bacteria.
Wash your dish drainer periodically in warm water with liquid dishwashing soap, using a clean sponge. Do it separately, not while you're washing other dishes, since harmful bacteria can taint the dishess you are trying to clean. Use a scrub brush to remove stuck-on food and mold. Air-dry the drainer upside down on a clean towel.
Sanitize the dish drainer every few weeks by soaking it in a solution 1/4 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of warm water.
Since your dish drainer is meant to hold clean dishes, a dirty dish drainer defeats the purpose. It is important to keep your drainer clean and free of mold and bacteria.
Wash your dish drainer periodically in warm water with liquid dishwashing soap, using a clean sponge. Do it separately, not while you're washing other dishes, since harmful bacteria can taint the dishess you are trying to clean. Use a scrub brush to remove stuck-on food and mold. Air-dry the drainer upside down on a clean towel.
Sanitize the dish drainer every few weeks by soaking it in a solution 1/4 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of warm water.
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