Baking Soda:
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It can't sing and dance, but this venerable white powder is still the most versatile substance around. Baking soda is known by various names, including sodium bicarbonate, bicarbonate of soda, and--for those of you who stayed awake during chemistry class--NaHCO3. The nontoxic crystals act as a chemical cleaner, double as a scouring powder, neutralize odors, keep your drains clog-free, and are handy for putting out grease or electrical fires. (Sprinkle t on dry.) Oh, yeah--baking soda has a
starring role in baking, too.
THE CLEANING USES OF BAKING SODA are myriad. Here's just a sampling:
WHAT A BROOM IS MADE OF is important. While most brooms today have synthetic bristles, there are still plenty available with natural bristles, including corn, straw, horsehair, and hog hair. Flagged bristles are split at the ends to make the bristles thinner and better for sweeping up larger refuse (pebbles and such.) Some brooms have both types of bristles--flagged bristles on the outside and nonflagged bristles on the inner row. These brooms can tackle pebbles and find dust at the same time. For interior use, softer nylon bristles they won't scratch the floor.
IF YOUR STORE YOUR BROOM by standing it on its bristles, the bristles may curl, giving you less-than-perfect sweeping or brushing action. Therefore, it's better to hang up your broom. Many models come with a loop on the handle for just this purpose. If necessary, drill a hole in the handle and make a loop for it, or use the hole to hang the broom on a nail. There are also broom and mop holders you can attach to a wall.
THE BEST PLACE TO PURCHASE A BROOM is an Janitorial supply store, which usually carries a large section. Supermarkets, hardware stores, discount stores, and home improvement stores also carry brooms.
Brushes
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It can't sing and dance, but this venerable white powder is still the most versatile substance around. Baking soda is known by various names, including sodium bicarbonate, bicarbonate of soda, and--for those of you who stayed awake during chemistry class--NaHCO3. The nontoxic crystals act as a chemical cleaner, double as a scouring powder, neutralize odors, keep your drains clog-free, and are handy for putting out grease or electrical fires. (Sprinkle t on dry.) Oh, yeah--baking soda has a
starring role in baking, too.
THE CLEANING USES OF BAKING SODA are myriad. Here's just a sampling:
- For regular cleaning on hand surfaces, pour a little baking soda on a damp sponge or cleaning cloth and wipe. Follow up with another clean, damp sponge or cloth.
- To remove surface stains in the kitchen or bath, pour out enough baking soda to cover the stain and add just enough water to make a paste stay on the stain for several minutes, then scrub with a sponge and wipe it away.
- To help remove oil,and grease stains from clothing, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the wash.
- To keep your kitchen sink, clog-free, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain each night, followed by warm water. Do the same thing for other drains in your house once a week.
- Sprinkle baking soda on carpeting, rugs, and even car mats. Let it stand for 15 minutes and then vacuum.
- When you're changing the cat litter, sprinkle some in the bottom of the cat box and then a little on top of the new litter (unless your cat litter already includes baking soda).
- Pour baking soda into ashtrays to control the stench of tamped-out butts.
BAKING SODA ALSO SOAPS UP ODORS when it's dissolved in water. Pour 4 tablespoons of baking soda into 1 quart of warm water. Use the solution to:
- Rinse your mouth to get rid of garlic breath.
- Deodorize a stinky plastic container. Fill it with the solution and let it sit overnight.
- Soak a diaper that smells like ammonia because of urine.
BAKING SODA IS READILY AVAILABLE at supermarkets and discount retailers.
Bathroom Cleaners
Bathroom Cleaners
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Bathroom cleaners are designed to eliminate soap scum and mildew on tubs, tiles, showers, and grout. It's a good idea to use bathroom cleaners that disinfect--that is. Kill germs. Not all bathroom cleaners are disinfectants, so be sure to check the label. In general, these are tough cleaners for a tough job, so wearing rubber gloves is usually a good idea.
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANERS, such as Lysol Basin., Tub & Tile Cleaner, are the best choice for cleaning the whose bath-room. Look for a product that will attack germs and soap scum at the same time.
ACIDIC BATHROOM CLEANERS, such as Lime-A-Way, handle everyday cases of soap scum nicely. Soft scrub also works, but it slightly abrasive and could scratch surfaces, especially stainless steel. First just try white vinegar mixed in equal parts with water. If you need to pull out the big guns, pick up phosphoric acid in a 20 percent concentration at a janitorial supply store. For the worst cases of buildup, use it full strength. Otherwise, dilute it to 2 parts water and 1 part phosphoric acid. Apply the solution with a damp sponge or cloth and rinse thoroughly.
COMMERCIAL BOWL CLEANING PRODUCTS, such as Lysol Disinfectant Toilet Bowl Cleaner, are numerous and widely available. But you may not even need a special cleaner, because baking soda or non chlorine scouring powder will often do the job. Put the baking soda or cleaner on a sponge or on the surface you want to clean, scrub, and rinse. To remove stains from toilet bowls,
pour in 1/4 cup of borax and let it sit for at least 30 minutes--overnight is better. Scrub the bowl well and flush.
BATHROOM CLEANERS CAN BE PURCHASED almost anywhere: supermarkets, home improvement stores, discount retailers, and janitorial supply stores.
Brooms
Bathroom cleaners are designed to eliminate soap scum and mildew on tubs, tiles, showers, and grout. It's a good idea to use bathroom cleaners that disinfect--that is. Kill germs. Not all bathroom cleaners are disinfectants, so be sure to check the label. In general, these are tough cleaners for a tough job, so wearing rubber gloves is usually a good idea.
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANERS, such as Lysol Basin., Tub & Tile Cleaner, are the best choice for cleaning the whose bath-room. Look for a product that will attack germs and soap scum at the same time.
ACIDIC BATHROOM CLEANERS, such as Lime-A-Way, handle everyday cases of soap scum nicely. Soft scrub also works, but it slightly abrasive and could scratch surfaces, especially stainless steel. First just try white vinegar mixed in equal parts with water. If you need to pull out the big guns, pick up phosphoric acid in a 20 percent concentration at a janitorial supply store. For the worst cases of buildup, use it full strength. Otherwise, dilute it to 2 parts water and 1 part phosphoric acid. Apply the solution with a damp sponge or cloth and rinse thoroughly.
COMMERCIAL BOWL CLEANING PRODUCTS, such as Lysol Disinfectant Toilet Bowl Cleaner, are numerous and widely available. But you may not even need a special cleaner, because baking soda or non chlorine scouring powder will often do the job. Put the baking soda or cleaner on a sponge or on the surface you want to clean, scrub, and rinse. To remove stains from toilet bowls,
pour in 1/4 cup of borax and let it sit for at least 30 minutes--overnight is better. Scrub the bowl well and flush.
BATHROOM CLEANERS CAN BE PURCHASED almost anywhere: supermarkets, home improvement stores, discount retailers, and janitorial supply stores.
Brooms
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Yes, vacuum cleaners swept into homes in recent decades and wrested away many of he cleaning duties once performed by brooms. But there are still plenty of times when a broom will do a superior job. Besides, they're easier to haul out than a vacuum cleaner and, of course, they don't require electricity.
BROOMS COME in two basic sytles:
Yes, vacuum cleaners swept into homes in recent decades and wrested away many of he cleaning duties once performed by brooms. But there are still plenty of times when a broom will do a superior job. Besides, they're easier to haul out than a vacuum cleaner and, of course, they don't require electricity.
BROOMS COME in two basic sytles:
- Push brooms, with a head measuring 18 to 48 inches wide. These are good for sweeping garages, patios, sidewalks, and such.
- Traditional household kitchen brooms, with the narrower head. There are better for interior use on hard floors.
WHAT A BROOM IS MADE OF is important. While most brooms today have synthetic bristles, there are still plenty available with natural bristles, including corn, straw, horsehair, and hog hair. Flagged bristles are split at the ends to make the bristles thinner and better for sweeping up larger refuse (pebbles and such.) Some brooms have both types of bristles--flagged bristles on the outside and nonflagged bristles on the inner row. These brooms can tackle pebbles and find dust at the same time. For interior use, softer nylon bristles they won't scratch the floor.
IF YOUR STORE YOUR BROOM by standing it on its bristles, the bristles may curl, giving you less-than-perfect sweeping or brushing action. Therefore, it's better to hang up your broom. Many models come with a loop on the handle for just this purpose. If necessary, drill a hole in the handle and make a loop for it, or use the hole to hang the broom on a nail. There are also broom and mop holders you can attach to a wall.
THE BEST PLACE TO PURCHASE A BROOM is an Janitorial supply store, which usually carries a large section. Supermarkets, hardware stores, discount stores, and home improvement stores also carry brooms.
Brushes
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There's a special brush out there for just about anything you'd ever want to give the brush-off-everything rom dirt to mildew, barbecue grime to counter crumbs, They can be used dry (to remove surface dirt from irregularly shaped objects) or wet (to work in conjunction with cleaners).
Make sure the brush you're using won't damage the object you're trying to clean. Brush bristles can be made of soft hair, synthetics, natural fibers, or metal (often stainless steel or brass).
Brushes fall into the following main categories:
KITCHEN BRUSHES include these:
There's a special brush out there for just about anything you'd ever want to give the brush-off-everything rom dirt to mildew, barbecue grime to counter crumbs, They can be used dry (to remove surface dirt from irregularly shaped objects) or wet (to work in conjunction with cleaners).
Make sure the brush you're using won't damage the object you're trying to clean. Brush bristles can be made of soft hair, synthetics, natural fibers, or metal (often stainless steel or brass).
Brushes fall into the following main categories:
KITCHEN BRUSHES include these:
- Oven brushes for cleaning the racks and the slides of the oven. (Best on stainless steel ovens; painted enamel and chrome ovens will scratch)
- Scouring brushes for use on pots and pants.
- Scrub brushes for use on floors and grout.
- Counter brushes, which originally were used in stores to sweep crumbs from the counter. Now they're typically sold as a set with a dustpan.
- Bottle brushes, for scrubbing inside tight spaces.
FLOOR BRUSHES include these:
- Handled brushes that have stiff bristles
- Deck brushes (similar to the handheld brushes, but with poles in them)
- Carpet-spotting brushes (pole-mounted brushes for removing spots on carpets)
SPECIALITY BRUSHES include:
- Automotive brushes
- Tile brushes, which are small-headed brushes, with fine bristles for cleaning tile and grout.
- Window brushes
- Wire brushes for tough jobs, such as cleaning barbecue grills
- Radiator brushes, for getting into narrow spaces
- Vacuum cleaner brush attachments, for a gentle touch when you're suctioning up dirt
- Paintbrushes, which can be adapted to cleaning purposes. For instance, they're great for dusting between the pleats of a lamp shade.
PERSONAL HYGIENE AND GROOMING BRUSHES include:
- Old, used toothbrushes and nail brushes that you've recruited for other purposes--cleaning around faucets, for instance
- Whisk brushes used for removing lint, dirt, and dust from clothing.
BRUSHES CAN BE BROUGHT from supermarkets, hardware stores, home improvement stores, and discount retailers.
Buckets
Buckets
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You've known what a bucket was ever since you were introduced to those water-haulers Jack and Jill. But are you sure you know how to use one?
THE PROBLEM WITH BUCKETS is that they can redistribute dirt and germs on the floor that you're trying to clean. For example, let's say you're mopping the bathroom. You mop up the grunge, and when you put the mop back into the bucket, the dirt and germs get spread throughout the water. Then you mop another section of the floor, spreading that nasty stuff all around.
You've known what a bucket was ever since you were introduced to those water-haulers Jack and Jill. But are you sure you know how to use one?
THE PROBLEM WITH BUCKETS is that they can redistribute dirt and germs on the floor that you're trying to clean. For example, let's say you're mopping the bathroom. You mop up the grunge, and when you put the mop back into the bucket, the dirt and germs get spread throughout the water. Then you mop another section of the floor, spreading that nasty stuff all around.
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