House cleaning practices that work for you.

Move.

Maid

Don't get horizontal blinds.

Don’t get vertical blinds either.

Don't get drapes OR blinds. They'll just have to be cleaned.

Declutter. Have mostly clear surfaces. (Clear as in free of clutter, not transparent.)

A housekeeper twice-a-month.

Throw shit away.

Hydrogen peroxide. It will take out almost any stain. Just poor/squirt it on, but do not rub or scrub. Just let it sit on that stain, and think about things. Sometimes you have to apply a bit more, but otherwise just leave it alone.

e-cloth

I purchase lots of white bar mop towels from Target (they are only about $1 each) and use them for all types of cleaning around the house. I probably use around thirty each week. This cuts down on paper towel use. Whenever I am cooking, I have a damp bar mop towel by my side. At the end of each day, I put all the bar mop towels and dishtowels I've used that day in a bucket of water with OxiClean and once a week I wash all of these cloths in hot water with Tide, a cup of baking soda, and a small amount of bleach.

Dirty dishtowels spread bacteria more than anything so it is a good practice to use them for only a day and to start with fresh ones each morning.

For dishtowels I use flour sack towels that I also purchase at Target. They are inexpensive, large, extremely absorbent, lint-free, and super soft compared to ordinary kitchen towels. Flour sack towels are great for drying dishes, cleaning windows, dusting, and much more‚— but I try to use them only for drying pots and pans. They stay nice and bright white if you put them in a bucket of water and OxiClean every night and use a little bleach and hot water when you wash them.

I also add baking soda to the washing machine when I wash my white sheets and bath towels. It keeps everything smelling fresh. If you feel the need to use something to soften the fabric, add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Hire a maid.

You must do something little every day. I rotate through dusting, counters, floors. I do big cleans once a week - super clean counters, bathrooms, etc. I don't have a lot of clutter in my house, so it's not that challenging. The thing that is an ongoing battle is the dusting and the g.d. hardwood floors.

Develop OCD

Don't

Thanks, R9. I think I'll try hydrogen peroxide.

[quote] Have mostly clear surfaces.

I couldn't agree more—especially in the kitchen. I keep my counters entirely free of things. The toaster is on shelving beneath the counters, as is my Instant Pot, and KitchenAid stand mixer. I keep my coffee maker in the pantry. I literally have nothing on my kitchen counters except often a pewter vase of tulips when I can get them.

Oh, but by the cooktop, I have a large silver gallery tray on which I keep glass pouring bottles of vegetable oil, EVOO, a covered pewter dish holding softened butter, a jar of red pepper flakes, a covered bowl of kosher salt, white and black pepper mills, a jar of bay leaves, and a mortar & pestle. Having these items at hand by the cooktop is very handy.

Live in hotel.

Virtual reality glasses showing a clean house.

One more thing...I clean my toilets every day and also keep some bar mop towels in the bathrooms with a spray bottle of cleaner so that I can clean the sink quickly after every use.

I keep four spray bottles for all my cleaning: one containing water with a very small amount of bleach (great for bathroom sinks, toilets, and kitchen sink if I am working with chicken); another with Pine-Sol and water that I use for counters and general bathroom cleaning; another one with white vinegar and water for cleaning mirrors and windows; and lastly, one with equal parts Dawn blue dishwashing liquid and white vinegar for cleaning showers, tubs, and bathroom tile.

Plastic slipcovers on everything, OP (though not on children, I learned that the hard way with Tina).

This thread has brought out yummy, OCD goodness. Yes hydrogen peroxide is nice but can also leave a yellow spot if you ain't careful.

Get a cheap, lightweight, upright vacuum cleaner. You're more likely to use it than something heavy.

You must keep the bathrooms and kitchen spotless.

R17 " I literally have nothing on my kitchen counters" Let's don't use "literally" like a foolish high-school girl.

Hire a nude house boy

Have a smaller house.

I clean when I get home from work on Friday so that I can enjoy a clean apartment over the weekend.

I use only full strength vinegar and soap and water for most cleaning. I do use full strength bleach on certain things incl. spray into coffee cups and tupperware before loading in dw.

Question for you guys.

I have one of those molded fiberglass shower stalls, off-white in color. The walls are OK.

But the floor of the stall is purposely grainy-textured, to prevent slips, I guess.

How do you get stains out of that surface?

Clorox used to work, but then it stopped working. I've tried brushes - doesn't really work, either.

I'm worn out just from reading some of you bitches' cleaning routines.

I’m mainly about organizing. I try to get back to baseline every night with just a few minutes of putting things back in their place.

If I let things go more than that, things would get chaotic

Ditch all the name brand chemicals, especially if you have pets or allergies. Vinegar and water does wonders, as does Baking Soda. Tips online, check it out, try it out. You don't need all those chemicals that cost an arm and a leg. :-)

R29 you may need to use Lime Away or CLR on those deposits. Try Scrubbing Bubbles for maintenance after that. Just spray and leave on once a week.

Break into the home of a rich, hygienic person who's on vacation. Throw a dinner party and then go home after the guests have left. Your guests will be thrilled and a bit jealous at how you manage to have it all on the salary of check-out clerk at Walmart. And YOU won't have to do any clean-up!

Thanks R33, I'll try CLR.

Greg is impressive.

A clean house a clean soul, my grandmother used to say. I am often amazed that many friends and colleagues live like pigs, and I judge them for it. Lazy bitches.

The key to a clean house is never to allow clutter and never let cleaning slip. Floors must be mopped every other day. But also to find an excellent cleaner for four hours a week, and have her concentrate on different parts of the house each visit). Weekly help is worth the money. If your kitchen is impeccable, everything else falls into place.

The clutter is the main thing. Let it go. Create as much negative/empty space as you can.

That includes furniture. Get every room down to the smallest amount of furniture you think you can stand...then take away at least one thing. My bedroom has four pieces of furniture in it: the bed, a bureau, a chair, and a nightstand with just a lamp and clock on top. There is one framed piece of art on the wall.

You only read most books once.

Our country needs to make fabric recycling and furniture recycling easier, and find a cheap way to recycle hardcover books. I wish communities would organize once-a-year book recycling drives for paperbacks.

[quote]by the cooktop, I have a large silver gallery tray

How often are you polishing grease spatter off that tray?

Hydrogen Peroxide will bleach out colors if applied full strength.

Nothing..Im extremely ADD and no matter what I begin to do, I get sidetracked and move on to something else, then get sidetracked on that and, well, it can go on forever until I have a ton of half finished chores...I'm a mess

These things. They're cheap, but work so well. They shine every surface. Just add a little warm water. You don't need any chemical glass/steel cleaner.

R9 HP works on everything. I have an antique bowl with some old staining. I filled it with peroxide, covered it and let it sit for a week..like magic it took the stains out of my 100 yr old Wedgwood lobster bowl

During covid I lost the plot with housecleaning about a year ago. It was really affecting my mental health working and living in the same space and never getting the housework done to any acceptable level. I hired a cleaner to come twice a month and my fatigue and depression lifted. She is still coming. And I appreciate all she does. I have been able to get to other projects like purging and organizing. I could never have done that without her help!

[quote] " I literally have nothing on my kitchen counters"

Then proceeds to name three or four things on the counter.

SMH.

I do a little in different rooms each day, but the kitchen and bathroom are always clean. It will soon be time for a massive spring clean. I hate it at the time, but it’s a good feeling knowing that everything is spotless.

For dusting blinds tops of doors and frames I love the Swifer Duster I don't know who invented this but it is fantastic! The angling and lengthening wand make dusting anything hard to reach a breeze. I also am fascinated by how filthy hard to reach spots can be.

The best cleaning practice that works for me is to try and avoid making things messy, I'm an eldergay and cleaning tires me out. The only regular cleaning I do is the bathroom and toilet (yuk) and laundry as needed. I would rather do without a stove than a dishwasher. I could afford a maid but I hate having anyone around and I work from home.

Housekeeper is the easiest option.

Get a vacuum with a hepa filter (Miele is one), then use the soft brush attachment to vacuum all your flat surfaces - don't push around the dust with a rag, dust mop or those Swifter things. The filter prevents any dust particles from escaping.

Be careful cleaning marble or other natural stone tiles with most household cleansers (which are usually acidic). Make a paste with baking soda and Dawn, which is a neutral pH, to remove soap scum from marble tiles and glass shower doors.

Get a Roomba. Declutter your floor and run it every day, my floor are always clean. They have models that mop as well.

I recently moved from an old 60s house (with a few renovated rooms) to a 5 year old new-ish build. The one thing I noticed straight away is how easy it is to keep clean compared to my old place. It just doesn't seem to get a dirty as quickly.

Serious question for those who hire house cleaners:

What do you do while they’re cleaning? What I mean is I had a cleaning service come in 2x a month pre-pandemic. I always insisted the cleaning get done before I got home because it would bother me sitting around while they were cleaning.

I know it’s silly and they’re doing their jobs, but I hate it.

I love your accent, R51.

Helga; she’ll move the tree, before polishing the floor….

I cannot retire for the evening if there are any dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, not even a glass or utensil.

Love waking up to a completely clean kitchen.

[quote] "I literally have nothing on my kitchen counters" Then proceeds to name three or four things on the counter.

I did say 'except.'

I literally have nothing on my kitchen counters [bold]except[/bold] often a pewter vase of tulips when I can get them. Oh, but by the cooktop, I have a large silver gallery tray.

Hardly three of four things. My point was that the counters are free of appliances, canisters, jars of utensils, etc. A vase of flowers occasionally and a tray of things I use almost every time I cook.

Simple Green

I'm envious of anyone who has enough kitchen cabinet space that they don't have to appliances things on their counters.

Anyway, can any of you clean queens help me with my glass shower doors? I clean them regularly with vinegar-based glass cleaner, but they have developed a seemingly-permanent cloudiness. I've tried EVERYthing and nothing has worked to make them totally clear again. I've tried the Dawn/vinegar combo, baking soda/vinegar, Magic Erasers, you name it. We have very hard water here; I think that's the culprit.

R52, I work from home and my office is in a separate room. I stay there while the cleaning lady does her thing. She leaves my office until last, when I move to the dining room table and work there until she's done and departs. Other than greeting each other when she arrives (she has a key), we don't speak to each other.

I have much lower standards than most of the people in this thread, but higher standards than 90% of my friends. I don’t do much during the week but keep things picked up and wipe down my kitchen and keep the dishes, laundry, and trash moving. On the weekend, I clean the bathrooms, kitchen, and floors, wash the sheets, and dust. I’ve mastered this with my ADD by putting on a podcast and letting myself skip around from one task to the other and back. At less regular intervals, I clean the baseboards, scrub my shower, etc.

R58 that is mineral deposit starting. Use Scrubbing Bubbles or similar, spray on and leave it overnight. Next day rinse off you may need a couple applications. After that use once a week and get a little shower squeegee for everyday use after turning off the shower. It takes 20 sec to do all glass and tile in the cube.

R52, I have to leave when the housekeeper is here for about two hours. Work from home during the pandemic made things tougher (she used to just come when I was at work). I go grocery shopping, get my oil changed, run errands. Once I just drove around for two hours. I don’t have an office to retreat to and she’s LOUD. If I have a meeting, I go to father’s house (fortunately we live nearby). But it’s all manageable.

"Consuela, nuestros had un fiesta grande this weekend and I need you to come on Lunes as well. Yes, yes, lots of Lemon Pledge."

R52 I am similar to R60. Except my office is on open plan main floor. Cleaner starts upstairs and works her was down. Then we trade floors. I also chit chat with her for a few mins each visit and talk about our pets. She will do extras if I ask like fridge shelves or wipe down doors etc. I try to clear all surfaces before she arrives and take out all garbage/organics/recycling but if I am behind with that I also finish that work on main floor while she cleans upstairs.

Just do what you can, when you have the time and motivation. If you only feel like cleaning your bathroom sink, go ahead and do that. You don't have to clean the shower stall, toilet, and floors. I grew up thinking that you had to do everything or don't even get started. As an adult, I just do what I am able to do at that moment.

She also snarks abt a few of her other clients. Lol. That can be funny. One trust fund now middle aged dope had a couple month bender with a hooker and they were grooooosss!! Allegedly. Lol. Even if she snarks about me it could never be that bad. Lol.

Can anyone recommend a good cleaner for removing hard water stains in toilets? I’m at my wits’ end.

R52 - I have an extra room that I use as an office and so stay in there.

At some point I will walk the dog and signal to her that I am going out, at which point she will come in and clean/mop the floor and when I come back, she is done and the floor is dry.

The worst thing about cleaning is the negative thoughts that torment you as you waste hours of your precious life on a thing that is so beneath you, so distract yourself. Listen to music or a podcast or have the TV on something pleasant but not that interesting as you clean.

Figure out the most efficient order in which to do basic tasks (say, dust, then vacuum, then clean the kitchen, then bathrooms) and do them in the same order every time so after a while you just do them without thinking about it.

If you need extra motivation, look at images of dust mites. That’s what you’re sharing your space with when you don’t clean. Among other things.

R67, try using a glove and 220 grit ("very fine") waterproof sandpaper. Just cut a small square (maybe 1/4th of the sheet) and try it.

A battery powered vacuum cleaner is a lot easier to use so you'll use it more. Keep your surfaces as free of junk as possible. Use a feather duster. Try to use multi-purpose cleaners as much as possible.

I'd ask my Rosario but she's dead.

I guess I’m not alone in my feelings about staying around after all.

[quote]Can anyone recommend a good cleaner for removing hard water stains in toilets? I’m at my wits’ end.

Yes! Her name is Nancy and she’s incredible. Reasonable prices. Doesn’t speak much English though. But she’s lovely.

Thanks, r70.

Roombas are great because they pick up tons of hair, dust, crumbs, etc. It also trains you to keep things off the floor. I had an older model so I'd have to supervise it a bit.

Pine-Sol

Better call Pine-Sol?

Top Job

Ooooh, tell me more.

Do not wear your shoes indoors.

As far as floors: Try not to have carpeting. It's kind of gross, anyway.

With hard surfaces (tile/wood/concrete), use two things: (1) a Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner; and (2) a Shark steam pocket "mop." The Shark thing comes with reusable pads that get gunked up with everything on your floor. Wash them between uses (I use hot water and bleach for this purpose). Your floors will be so clean!

[quote] I literally have nothing on my kitchen counters except often a pewter vase of tulips.

God damn that's gay.

Magic Eraser works wonders. It even cleaned the scum off the bottom of my kayak.

R40 I follow the flylady (not always) b/c I can get very OCD about cleaning and also lose track of what I am doing other times. She has a schedule for the day and week which helps keep me focused. I do whatever is there the week I decide to clean, eventually I will hit it all- but really I look at it once every 4 to 6 months. I second hiring a cleaning person.

Lye works well on stubborn stains.

My housekeeper comes in once a week (Wednesdays) while I'm at work. She cleans, does the laundry, etc. She's fantastic and I think of her as a friend.

Do you give her a key or a garage code? I would be unnerved with someone else having access to my house.

She's got it all, R88--a key, the alarm code, even a garage door opener. I trust her more than some of my family members.

I hate cleaning, so I spread it out. I do vaccuming, both carpeting (in the bedrooms) and hardware for the rest on Monday. On Tuesday, I clean all the hardwood and tile in the rest of the house. Wednesday is dusting, polishing, etc. Thursday is bathrooms (3) until sparkling. Friday is for the kitchen.

By stretching it out through the week, it doesn't seem like quite the chore as when you cram everything into one day.

Some people say you can tell someone's cleaning habits by their holes, so I guess R90's is like The Holland Tunnel.

Bathroom tile grout will be the death of me.

I work alongside my weekly housekeeper. It doubles the effect and I often do things that she doesn't or won't, like windows or organizing drawers.

Alongside the excellent advice of decluttering (radically) I'll add a lesson learnt from a friend (Swedish, with excellent taste). She bought the very best things for her house (giving everything a great deal of thought) and then the house or room was "done". Decorators like to have us think that rooms should be in a constant state of change to reflect inner creativity or something but this doesn't have to be the case.

Water softener, Magic Erasers, and OxyClean are my secrets.

Perfect your aim. You can only throw a cellphone at the help once. - Naomi C.

Use baking soda on stainless steel pans to take out stains from cooking. It's a miracle how baking soda even takes out stains that are years old and makes them look like new.

R58, I had shower doors , that left a film like you described., from hard water., The only thing that worked for me was, Limeaway. Don't get it on your skin, because it burns like hell. Also, be careful of using it on your fixtures, unless they are real chrome plated. It'll turn cheaper fixtures gray. It was the only thing that worked, and I used it once a week.

try "Bar Keeper's Friend" powder........ it is like magic on sinks and everything in the bathroom (esp stainless steel).........wear gloves though, as it is harsh on hands..........for toilets, pour water from a bucket in the bowl, (without flushing)........that will lower the water in the bowl significantly......make a paste with the BKF, and work it into the entire bowl.........I guarantee your hard water stains will simply disappear, with no scratching of the bowl..........remember, wear gloves!!!

Just tell yourself things are clean.

Sometimes it helps me to buy some cleaning equipment, which then I'm dying to try out at home.

People underestimate the satisfaction that you can achieve through acts of self efficiency like cleaning your home on your own. It also helps a lot of people, who tend to get depressed easily, knowing they can manage on their own. Not giving up, declaring defeat and retreat in your shell, but being able to manage something like cleaning your (messy) home one step at a time (even when it takes you a week to clean your one-room apartment). All of a sudden, having to do this every day or week feels less tedious and soul crushing, because you found the strength to manage, and you realized how beneficial it is to your mind and body.

Sorry, ... how beneficial it is for your mind and body.

[quote] By stretching it out through the week, it doesn't seem like quite the chore as when you cram everything into one day.

Yes, but then I have chores to do EVERY DAY of the week after I come home from work.

Aw, hell no!

Mamacita rules!

This isn't anything earth shattering - vinegar has already been mentioned here several times - but I always keep at least 2-3 large gallon size bottles of cleaning strength vinegar on hand at all times. More specifically though, it works magic on getting odors out of your cooking storage containers. So if you're storing leftovers like chili, it really helps. Plus it's relatively cheap.

A deep soak for an hour or so (or until the water cools off) in the hottest water you can get from your faucet, plus some cooking strength vinegar and some dish soap will release practically everything from baking dishes, casserole dishes, etc...

Greg wins this thread.

I pay for a cleaning service about every three months and make-do in-between times. I'd have it biweekly if I could afford it.

Yes to Scrubbing Bubbles and lime-away. Also Clorox wet wipes in the kitchen for counters and general cleanup.

Cooking strength vinegar….. hmmm

I've read and heard for years about vinegar for cleaning as opposed to harsher products. I worry cleaning everything with it would make my entire place have the faint stink of vinegar wafting about. Maybe mixing the vinegar and water blend with an essential oil (like orange or lemon) would help with that, I don't know. People who rinse their hair in vinegar are convinced it doesn't leave a smell behind, but I've got news for them, it does, and it's not pleasant. That said, I've made a list of so many of the tips and suggestions here, so thanks to all.

Adderall. And a swiffer mop.

My tip is - Hire a MAID

You have to police things diligently. Dishes- don't let them pile up or sit in the sink! Do them and for G*d's sake- put them away when they're clean so you can use the drainer/dishwasher again!

Police the floors, sweep daily and mop at least twice a month. Police the bathrooms for grime and get a toilet bleach tablet. Use after shower spray. I keep a scrubby in my shower so I can spot scrub any sign of mildew while I'm in there.

Don't let it get to disaster level and you won't mind cleaning so much.

Long handled dustpan which snaps onto matching broom. I have a set by OXO, from Amazon. It's great for random sweeping ex. pet food, litter box, and other daily dust ups in between vaccuums.

I also use Jude cloths for daily cleaning of glass surfaces (mirrored closet doors, coffee tables). They leave no streaks, are zero waste, and are great for many applications (and they look like they were invented by DLer).

R111 try e-cloth. They’re better.

What’s e-cloth?

R29 Try CLR

[quote]Long handled dustpan which snaps onto matching broom.

I love our lobby broom but the lazy SOB I live with sweeps shit into it and then just hangs it back up.

This is marginally better than the Swiffer we've had for years, where he sweeps with it and just leaves the crap on it in a corner, then stands the Swiffer on top of the pile of swept crap.

Always have bleach, vinegar, rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide on hand and learn how to use them safely. Keep your favorite essential oils around for a better smelling cleanser. And yes, you will have to clean daily - it’s part of being a grownup.

I forgot: Method’s tub and tile cleanser (green bottle/foamy) will remove bath scum without any scrubbing.

What does Target call these "bar mop towels?" I'd like to get some, and they don't call them that. Thanks.

How long do you leave it on, r117?

How do you get the blackish burnt on film of grease/food or whatever it is that accumulates around the burners on the stove? I tried a bunch of things including EZoff oven cleaner but nothing seems to get it all off? Thanks

My house is a clutter nest. I used to have a NYC apartment with more closet space than I’ve had in my entire life put together. Those closets had tons of shelves. I arranged the shelves so I could see EVEYTHING as soon as I opened the door. I memorized where everything was. Then I lost my apartment and had to move into my summer hose which had no closets. I had to put my washer dryer in my bathroom just to make a coat closet. I have no linen closet, no utility closet. I can’t find things in drawers. So I buy new ones. Then I put the new ones in drawers & can’t find them either. So I buy more. Now I have to keep everything on top of surfaces so I can plainly see them. My drawers are full. My husband keeps takin* the things I leave on countertops into the garage & squirrels them away. Now I can’t get near my garage stuff — gardening gloves, pots, weed whackers, grass trimmers, hummingbird feeders, all different sized stakes, clippers, pruners, trays……

So now I bought new gloves, spades, etc and they’re in my house. On top of things so I can reach them.

I went to ikea to buy closets and I could buy shelves, baskets, shoe holders, etc that go inside the closet frame. Yay! But I can’t get the closet frames. They’re out of them. For months…..and if they ever come in I’ll have to reb5 a truck to luck them up because they won’t deliver them.

Highest recommendation: buy a cordless vacuum.

Everyday I had to sweep kitchen of the mess made after cooking. Then I bought a cordless vacuum. Absolutely love it. So much lighter and easier to use than a regular vacuum. I can easily clean the stairs, my car, under the bed, the carpets, etc. instead of lugging a heavy vacuum around. It is especially useful if you have arthritis.

R122 my cordless Dyson animal hair vacuum is ever bit as powerful as a typical upright only it’s a breeze to use.

[quote] What does Target call these "bar mop towels?" I'd like to get some, and they don't call them that. Thanks.

Ah, but they do!

Start at the top and work your way down.

You can also get them for less than $1 each at Walmart.

Now that I see them, I realize that Walmart is where I purchased my barmop towels. A package of 24 towels for $20.99. I bought 3 packages (72 towels)—and I use them with abandon. I now use far fewer paper towels. Just be sure to put them in a bucket of water with OxyClean at the end of every day. Then wash them in hot water weekly, with detergent, a cup of baking soda, and a small amount of bleach. I fold them in half and then roll them up. You'll be very pleased.

And keep some in the kitchen, some in each bathroom, and some in your nightstand (!)

I could have written Greg's post. Except we use washcloths. Again, about a buck apiece, use them for a day and into the laundry they go. But I am curious about the bar mops also.

We also use the large flour sack cloths for drying pots, pans, dishes, etc. I also use them to dry food like chicken, beef, and pork. It's better than using all those paper towels.

If you have cast iron, a good way to dry them is to use newspaper.

I put my dishes in hot soapy water, instead of rinsing I throw in dishwasher to rinse. Clears them out fast and you practically have to wash them off anyway before putting them in DW.

Ammonia is the best degreaser

[quote] I put my dishes in hot soapy water, instead of rinsing I throw in dishwasher to rinse. Clears them out fast and you practically have to wash them off anyway before putting them in DW.

I don't understand this.

Can somebody recommend an all-purpose cleaner alternative to Mr lean or Fabuloso? They seem to trigger asthma for me. I am looking for a green alternative, but one that cleans reliably. Any product that works?

Glass tables are a nightmare to keep clean, especially after a Mexican-themed dinner party.

Keep plenty of disinfectant wipes around.

[quote] How do you get the blackish burnt on film of grease/food or whatever it is that accumulates around the burners on the stove? I tried a bunch of things including EZoff oven cleaner but nothing seems to get it all off? Thanks

Wow, Easy Off oven cleaner is the most powerful dissolver known to mankind. Maybe try Zep, which is an oven AND grill cleaner.

Eat out so you don’t have to wash dishes

After the first four years the dirt doesn't get any worse. There are a number of variations on this quote, all attributed to Quentin Crisp: sometimes it's "some" years, sometimes it's two years, and sometimes it isn't dirt, but dust.

Get a rubber tined broom, they're great for picking up hairs, fluff and all that stuff that clings to carpets.

A long handled dustpan set works great for a quick sweep on hard surfaces.

Run your socked toe along the top of skirting boards to dust them while you're picking stuff off the floor before turning on the robot vacuum cleaner.

Buy an empty fishing tackle box and keep it in a drawer in the kitchen, use that to store all your leftover rubber bands, screws, thumb tacks, stamps, velcro, nails, charging cables, buttons etc (ie all that small stuff that floats around drawers and you can never find when you need them)

If you're really snowed under with work etc try to do three bits of housework as soon as you get home and before you sit down. It doesn't have to be much just put a few things away, go through a pile of papers or clear out some old take away from the fridge. It stops shit from piling up too much.

Boiling water with a dash of tea tree oil is good for mopping; super hygienic, dries quickly, no suds and the mop itself stays cleaner.

[quote] Can somebody recommend an all-purpose cleaner alternative to Mr lean or Fabuloso?

I use Method. It's mostly natural, plant-derived and has several pleasant fragrances like Apple, Lavender, Citron, Wildweeds, etc. Don't guy it at Amazon, Target is cheaper.

Kitchen Sink:

I just compared "Bar Keeper's Friend" vs baking soda and soap (dawn). "Bar Keeper's Friend" won by a mile. But the other works okay if that is all you have. this was a kitchen sink.

Bathtub:

I just compared "Bar Keeper's Friend" to comet. "Bar Keeper's Friend" won by a mile. Do not buy comet, it does no work that well.

All purpose cleaner I use is Treader joes one.

Resolve Stain Stick

Rub that on to any stain and it will come out in the next wash

When you are cooking, running the microwave or coffee maker, anything where you have to wait a few minutes... Put things away in the kitchen and do a few dishes.

Every time you come to the kitchen, in fact, do a couple dishes, wipe a counter down, grab the drink and go. If you get in this habit, your kitchen will never be a disaster area requiring you to invest an entire weekend.

Every couple weeks just go around the house and look for things to throw away. Grab a trash bag and fill it up. Or the recycling bin. So many papers, mail, receipts, flyers, all of it is keeping you from having peace. Inspect the house for this stuff every couple weeks... Or every few days if you live with a pack rat like I do.

You wash your dishes like you do, then immediately in DW to rinse all at one time and no dish drainer pile up. Dirty dishes disappear fast. I turn it on when I want.

Keep a squirt bottle in each room. You always need to squirt things.

In the bathroom, squirt down the toilet bowl and lid. Do this every day and you won't need to scrub your toilet as often.

Get the mail only twice a week.

You know it's going to be mostly junk, so toss it all right when you get it. Take less time acknowledging the mail entirely. When it's building up in your mailbox all week, you don't see it. Then twice a week, boom, 20 pieces of junk and one important piece to look at. Takes less time.

If you get the mail every day, you might set it on a table and not look at it until someday you have a slowly accumulating pile of junk to sort through.

[quote] If you get the mail every day, you might set it on a table and not look at it until someday you have a slowly accumulating pile of junk to sort through.

Wow. That’s me to a T!

[quote] Every time you come to the kitchen, in fact, do a couple dishes,

How many do you think I have sitting in the sink?!

Get a handvac with a long nozzle. They're invaluable for doing little vacuuming jobs or getting into awkward spaces. Yes, you could use the attachments on your regular vacuum cleaner, but you know you avoid using them because they're such a pain in the ass to hook up, and then you have to drag the vacuum around, so the stuff on the floor gets ignored or accumulates in inaccessible areas. The handvac makes all that a breeze to deal with. Spend a little more and get one that has a shorter charging time, though - some of them can take half a day to charge, and you have to charge them more often too.

Throw stuff away!! THAT will make your space neater and cleaner than all the products in the world

[quote] Easy Off oven cleaner is the most powerful dissolver known to mankind.

Be careful of Easy Off because it will peel off the enamel from your stovetop too.

[quote] Yes, you could use the attachments on your regular vacuum cleaner, but you know you avoid using them because they're such a pain in the ass to hook up, and then you have to drag the vacuum around,

This is like the third or fourth time the regular vacuum cleaner and our reluctance to drag it out has been mentioned. I find it hilarious because we’re all (apparently) the same. And for the same reasons.

Poor Nathan Lane struggles to keep up with the dancing during that ballroom dancing scene.

Oh, fuck. I posted r154 in the wrong thread. My apologies.

I finally figured out what's up with this Greg weirdo. Greg is clearly a WOMAN.

I was pretty impressed by Greg, R156, and I'm a gay man.

By the way, I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the wonderful "Obsessive Compulsive Country House Cleaners" show on BBC. You can find many episodes on Youtube. OC cleaners help out aristocratic hoarders, and the hoarders make the cleaners a little less obsessive compulsive. Only a little.

The fabulous antiques dealer in the Jacobean house in Wales was a real treat: "NO BLEACH EVER", said to a lovely plump cleaner who, in moments of panic, felt compelled to wash herself down with it.

R156 there is NO way Greg is a woman

I wonder if Greg advises divorced women on how to maintain a clean household??

[quote] Inspect the house for this stuff every couple weeks... Or every few days if you live with a pack rat like I do.

My mom was a packrat and, as an adult, I couldn't choose to live with a packrat.

At the second visit I left, casually, somewhere in the kitchen a photo of their parents and children and the number for the police chief in their Chihuahua town.

Never a problem after that, and it's been seven years. So cooperative and learned English muy rápido.

I have a permanent ring of burnt-on gunk around one burner from using a wok with a ring stand, and nothing that was strong enough to get the gunk off was safe for the enamel.

R29. Buy comet bath hard water stains, leave it on for bout 30 minutes wipe and if need be , repeat.

R58 comet bath hard water cleaner, it will amaze you.

[quote] I have a permanent ring of burnt-on gunk around one burner from using a wok with a ring stand, and nothing that was strong enough to get the gunk off was safe for the enamel.

You might just have to live with it. Restaurants don't have enameled stuff & can use harsher chemicals. In the future, just wipe it down regularly so there's no further buildup. Good for you that you actually cook. So many people don't even use their stoves.

R120 i use easy off oven cleaner on them. It may take a couple times using it if you have burnt on crud.

R129 my grandmother taught me to dry cast iron on the stove low temp , it will remove all moisture so never rust.

For those of you who use washrags, bar rags and towels instead of paper towels, I find that they clean well in the laundry if you put them into the machine with hot water on a small or medium sized load, with the detergent, Borax and Oxy powder. Let them agitate for a minute then stop the machine and let them soak an hour. Then turn the load size up one notch (i.e. if you had it on a medium load, turn it to large load) so more hot water gets added, and wash as normal. Pretty much everything comes off them without fuss.

Doing it this way means I can't throw them into the laundry with the bath towels (they're too thick and if you soak them in soap, you'll never get it all rinsed out) but that's not a huge hassle for me.

Hiring a cleaning service has changed my life.

[quote] Good for you that you actually cook. So many people don't even use their stoves.

You’re right. I only have a kitchen because it came with the house.

I clean my floors using paper towel and windex or some sort of surface cleaner. I feel it's less harder work than having to get a bucket and a floor scrubber, filling it with water and detergent, and then having to rinse and then dry the floor. Paper towel and surface cleaner might seem like more strenuous work but it does the job faster.

If you have limited space/storage issues -- get rid of anything you haven't used, worn, thought about in a year or more.

If anyone has a tried and true product for cleaning tile grout I would appreciate it. Stanley Steemer rapes people with their rates, but I really hate grungy tile grout.

[quote] They have models that mop as well.

R50 I prefer these type of models who mop?

There are services that have scantily-clad women doing the cleaning for you. I’m sure someone would make a killing offering the same service with men.

Not only would gay guys patronize them, but I’m sure fraus would too.

I love to clean my toilets

I’ll send you my address. Double your fun and clean mine.

This thread has me moist as a snack cake down there!

[quote] There are services that have scantily-clad women doing the cleaning for you. I’m sure someone would make a killing offering the same service with men.

That was tried a few years ago but now they can make more money doing OnlyFans and never have to leave their house or clean other people's nasty houses.

My HE Maytag top loader locks the lid so doing what R168 says is difficult. I wish I never bought an HE washer or I wish it had an over ride button to wash more like an older upright.

"Cascade Professional Fryer Boil Out"......you can get it at amazon.....this is the ORIGINAL Cascade Dishwasher powder from the '60-70s (before the phosphorus was removed by government edict).........it is the SINGLE best cleaner in my house..........I use three tablespoons of the powder in my automatic dishwasher and OMG.........the dishes and glassware look brand new........(ignore the directions on the box, and use it just like the dishwashing powder of old)...........trust me, you will be shocked ...........

Sodium Tri Poly Phosphate (STPP)..............you can buy it from "The Chemistry Store"............add a tiny bit to all your clothes washer loads, along with your normal detergent...........(white and dark)........it adds back in the Phosphate to the detergent that was removed by the EPA back in the '70s...........you will be absolutely shocked at the improvement in cleaning............*****note: Sodium Tri-Poly Phosphate (STPP) is NOT the same thing as Sodium Tri Phosphate (STP) .......the former will spectacularly clean your clothes, the latter will eat holes in them.....*********

Hydrogen peroxide did not work on my shower (fiberglass) floor. I just did some research and apparently Easy-Off fume free will clean it. I need to buy some and I'll report back.

R181, R182, why would you want to use a product that was banned by the EPA. There’s a reason it was removed like causes cancer and not good for the environment. All this for super clean clothes and super clean dishes? Relax your standards for goodness sake.

I've got to admit that I didn't know that flat screen televisions need such special care.

[quote]I clean my floors using paper towel and windex or some sort of surface cleaner. I feel it's less harder work than having to get a bucket and a floor scrubber, filling it with water and detergent, and then having to rinse and then dry the floor.

I use the Swiffer refill wipes like this. In spaces with relatively small floor areas, like my bathrooms, it's easier and faster than dragging out an actual Swiffer or mop & bucket, and more effective at getting into corners, etc. The wipes contain disinfectant so it's sanitizing too, not just picking up dirt.

[quote] Relax your standards for goodness sake.

Have you seen his typing? Clearly, there are no standards.

[quote] I finally figured out what's up with this Greg weirdo. Greg is clearly a WOMAN.

I may be a weirdo, but I'm no woman. Have a nice day.

[quote] I wonder if Greg advises divorced women on how to maintain a clean household??

I could. Why do you ask?

Hide toothpicks and then berate the cleaning staff for missing them. So fun!

Greg, I feel divorced women are a subset of our society that could benefit from housecleaning advise. Will you please offer your expertise. Thank you and have a fantastic day.

[quote] Greg, I feel divorced women are a subset of our society that could benefit from housecleaning advise. Will you please offer your expertise. Thank you and have a fantastic day.

I couldn't agree more. I'll get on it.

^ You’re so good!!

"Your Divorce May Have Been Messy, But Your House Needn't Be—Greg's Tips for Keeping a Clean House Après-Divorce"

This will be my working title. Subtitle: "You Can Clean Without Being Taken to the Cleaners"

[quote] that could benefit from housecleaning advise.

Oh, dear!

If you really want a room to [italic]sparkle[/italic] like the top of the Chrysler building, keep the floors and baseboards as clean as possible. The human gaze is naturally downcast. The floor and the lower portion of the wall are what we see first and most in a room.

Swiffer is a game changer

@R185, that series of videos is called "Clean With Confidence" Finally there is help! All my life I was very self-conscious when cleaning. No more.

For god sakes people, don’t use a broom on hard floors. It’s not 1850 anymore. Get a good canister vacuum with a bare floor attachment.

Martha Stewart recommends a combination of hot water, Castile soap and tea tree oil is great for cleaning wood cabinets but sadly, no.

Martha’s routines are for her and not practical for anyone else

Martha's routine is not performed by Martha. Martha's routine is performed by paid staff.

R173 bleach has always worked for me. I hate tile grout too.

^ thanks. I think I’ll just use the concentrate of bleach; less splash.

R182 recommends that we use phosphate on our clothes and dishwasher to get our clothes and dishes sparkling white....in the meantime Russia just bombed Ukraine with a white phosphorus bomb.

I just moved to a new apartment and, unfortunately, I have a "glazed" bathtub. Tell me how to clean it so that it looks nice and white!

The only thing that can remove a toilet bowl ring from hard water deposits is a pumice stone.

I am trying to get off stains off carpet. It is biodegradable dye and suppose to fade anyway.

What should I use?

Baking soda?

Something else?

r205,,,,,,,take a chemistry course, phosphorus is NOT phosphate..........totally different chemical.........bombing someone with phosphate would only make them extremely clean..............

r184.........the EPA did NOT ban phosphates from detergents because they caused cancer............nowhere at EPA.gov does it say that..........stop making things up..............by all means don't use it.........that action will make my dishes stand out from everyone else's hard water stained tripe............

r205 & r184........I just ran an empty dishwasher load, and washed an empty clotheswasher load (with added phosphate) to celebrate your posts.........environment, eat my shorts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

r187 ..........me type pretty some day........

For tile grout and shower doors …a good portable steam cleaner. Wear gloves. You can spray a mix of vinegar, water and a dash of Dawn dishwashing detergent on first if you like. I don’t bother.

I love the bleach gel toilet ducks.

Phosphates in cleaners are banned in the US and EU, as well as in many other countries worldwide. Although they are neither toxic nor harmful to humans, they can disturb the balance of aquatic life in water bodies. As a fertilizer, phosphates cause rapid algae growth. The so-called algal bloom has a negative effect on other organisms living in the water.

Wastewater treatment plants cannot completely remove phosphates from domestic wastewater, so inevitably some of it ends up in natural waters. The countries that have banned phosphates want to limit the spread of algal blooms - and thus negative effects on vegetation in rivers and lakes.

[quote] The only thing that can remove a toilet bowl ring from hard water deposits is a pumice stone.

Wouldn’t this be similar to 200 grit sandpaper that someone above suggested, or are they completely different?

Either way, a pumice stone is a great idea too!

Whaddabout my glazed bathtub??!

r214, thank you for some truth.......they do not cause cancer, ........but I will still continue to add them back into my cleaning........

R215, yes it's like sandpaper. I'm the one who said to try 220 grit waterproof sandpaper. The reason sandpaper is better, IMO, is b/c it's flexible. A pumice stone is usually rectangular. A toilet bowl is round on the inside.

I just got a little Bissell steam cleaner R213, for the grout (had to order the hose separately). I love it for the kitchen too.

What about car cleaning tips? Talking about the interior. I like to keep my car clean. Unfortunately, my car has a mostly black interior and everything shows up against the black (dust particles).

It is ok to lower your standard of cleanliness a bit. It really is, provided it may be too high or not very important. I used to fret all the time about this or that not being perfect. I began to understand that no one really noticed or cared but me. Sometimes it is ok to leave the dishes until tomorrow. As long as nothing gets out of hand there is no reason to beat yourself up about not cleaning the windows or skipping vacuuming once in a while.

It isn't the end of the world if I skip doing (fill in the blank) ___________ this week.

Once I lowered my standards a little, it freed up time to do some of the things I'd been missing.

Time is precious and life is short, enjoy it. This is what works for me.

What’s easiest for interior glass oven door?

Give Carmen a $20 tip.

If you are gone a long time from your home, I recommend putting a cup of bleach in the toilet bowl to prevent nasty stuff from growing in there. It also makes the bowl shinier and it actually got rid of the ring, looks like new now (but that's because I don't use that toilet often). The bleach has to stay there for a while without flushing or if you do use it, then pour bleach in again.

Doesn’t bleach corrode porcelain?

Hard water rings in toilets? Buy toilet pumice sticks off amz or Walmart. They’re cheap and they work. Just scrub the pumice across the ring and it’s gone.

For really tough hard water stains/etching on glass shower doors: Flitz metal polish in the silver can and a scrubber attached to a drill remove the cloudy etching and leave the doors clear again. It takes a lot of work but you only need to do it once a year or so. Do small sections, rub Flitz on the glass, scrub with the drill (scrubber) applying some pressure, wipe remaining polish off with a microfiber cloth, repeat if necessary and rinse when you’re all done. Obviously do a small test area first. Make sure you use the right type of Flitz and an actual drill with a scrubber attached.

The laziest housecleaning tip I have is to buy a handheld computer/keyboard air compressor-blower. Blast it across all the stuff you hate dusting, top to bottom, once a week and then vacuum the floor. It takes 1/4 of the time as actual dusting and works just as well.

I wish there was a really way to get the smell of cat pee out of carpet and its backing. My kitten was traumatized by my vacuum and let me know in no uncertain terms.

Odor-X-it, full strength

Nature’s Miracle, r227

Hydrogen peroxide.

I admit being a tad oversensitive about uniform closet hangers. Not MINE, though.

Are they wire?

Oh dear. I am obsessed with having uniform hangers. Non-wire, naturally.

[quote] I wish there was a really way to get the smell of cat pee out of carpet and its backing

Rubbing alcohol. Mix warm water and rubbing alcohol. Then put a drop of Dawn dishwashing liquid, mix (do not shake) in a spray bottle. Get white washcloth. Spray stain & pound it in with the back of a large spoon. Let sit for 5 minutes. Then rub with washcloth to get stain up. You might have to do it a few times and after second time, just put some straight rubbing alcohol on it.

Now here’s the brilliant part. Get a wet/dry vac. It doesn’t have to be gigantic, but I found the 1.5 gallon wet dry vac was too weak. A 3 gallon, maybe. Use the wet dry vac on the stain to pull out as much liquid as you can. It picks up leftover stain, too. It’s perfect.

If yiu can’t have a wet dry vac, use sponges with soft & scratchy sides and alternate. Use paper towels to blot as much liquid as possible. Don’t drop a match.

The shower doors - I use a steamer for that. I have very hard water. The first few times I also used vinegar, water & dishwashing liquid. Then I found it didn’t matter. Just the steamer and towel worked fine. Steamer takes away red to scrub.

If you have room, a doodle bug steam machine is great for ovens and cooking surfaces. You need good weed, plenty of cotton rags, and a nice bowl of vinegar water for the rinse.

Jesus, r234, I’d rather buy a new rug.

"Uniform hangers" as in hangers to hang uniforms? Or uniform as in all the same kind (of hanger) and color?

I'm currently hating the flat, "velvet"-covered hangers. That seems to be the hanger of choice for the past ten years or so.

Buy stuff from the e-cloth company on Amazon

Uniform hangers as in for the everyday hangers, must match in color at the very least. All of my wooden hangers for jackets, pants, etc, must also match. Things that look out of place bother me a lot. I also like symmetry in bookcases or if I hang something on a wall.

Get mad at the dirt!

R70/r218 thanks for the suggestion of sandpaper for the hard water stains. I had one in my John and it worked like a charm!

Stain gone.

I clean with a mix of white vinegar, water and dish soap. It works well to get rid of fruit flies too.

I clean and organize my space every night before bed.

R242 is bring completely honest

Really felt R60s comment. Reckon I must have ADD/ADHD or something, because I am cleaning-avoidant (not averse—I do clean weekly but I hate and dread it), and can tolerate it better when music is on or a distraction is around.

Cleaning is such a drag!

When removing hard water rings from the toilet bowl, turn the water supply to the tank off, then flush. Use your cleaner or pumice stone without water in the bowl. When done, turn the water back on and flush.

If the entire bowl has yellowed, with the water turned off and the bowl empty, fill it with a bleach & water solution (1 cup bleach to one gallon water) to a point higher than the normal water line. Let it sit 24 hours or more. (Open a window and close the door to prevent bleach fumes from spreading throughout the house.)

If the mirrors in your home get dusty, it's time to change to air filter in your furnace or a/c unit.

I run a clean dust mop along the edge where the ceiling and wall meet to remove any phantom dust webs which seem to appear out of nowhere.

Not a cleaning tip per se, but whenever I bring home a new pair of shoes or item of clothing, I remove a similar item and put it in the pile for Goodwill.

[quote] I clean with a mix of white vinegar,

Oh, sure. Has to be white vinegar, huh?

I’ve got my eye on you, mister.

I can’t wait until they announce white vinegar causes cancer and all is it’s proponents scurry off to find something else to finger wag to everybody.

Don't worry, R248. You'll probably have choked on your own bile before that happens.

Well aren’t you the lucky one?!

We are all lucky for getting some useful tips in this thread.

I just cleaned my toilets

Yeah, whenever I buy something new, I try to get rid of something that I haven’t been using.

I enjoy cleaning my asshole with soap and a loofah. Then I apply copious amounts of vitamin e oil and rub it in real good. Makes it soft n supple.

The fume free Easy Off did not work on my fiberglass shower floor.

I spray whit vinegar and water on my asshole after I shit to clean it up.

Talk about tossing salad.

Vinegar does absolutely nothing for cleaning. Complete myth that it cleans anything.

It is a good disinfectant, though. I soak my respiratory equipment in it after washing (with soap & water).

Nothing get dirt and grime out like Vivian Vance

It is KEY to try to clean up your house at least once a year. If it doesn't always work out on schedule, there is always next year.

Men whose houses are always spotlessly clean almost always have a lot in common with men whose tennis shoes are always spotlessly white, and whose underwear is similarly, blindingly new looking. I generally find them empty-headed bores, housewives at heart. No thanks.

HOW IN THE WORLD DID I MISS THIS THREAD???? Oh... it was because I was so disappointed in DL and all of its mundaneness that I have boycotted it for months on end.

Anyway, these are the best threads going (IMHO). THANKS GREG! I adored the "How many times do you change your sheets" and "How many times do you clean your bathroom" threads. Besides the many postings containing fantastic tips there were the other postings which were hysterically funny! And, this one hasn't failed either. It's just too hard to choose which posting is the funniest. However the one that sticks in my mind; "I only have a kitchen because it came with the house" had me on the floor laughing! It is just so true in my case being that I can't even boil water correctly. LOL! Thanks again, to all especially "Greg"

Whenever I try to clean my home somebody comes along and fucks me up the ass. Because of this, my housekeeping plans for the day are derailed.

Just cleaned my toilets yesterday. I've been ill and neglected a lot of housekeeping chores.

I used Clorox Toilet wands (replace the cleaning pad each time). For the hard water stuff, I used Bar Keeper's Friend powder for the first pass. For remaining hard water marks, I did a second pass with the same.

Worked very well.

Can you just wave the wand around and the stains magically disappear?

^Of course you can, Dear...

E-cloths

Dawn Platinum spray

Lysol toilet bowl cleaner

I have two German Shepherds and a lot of rugs. I have both a Miele canister and a Dyson upright which I alternate. I also have a Big Green steam cleaner which I use often

Reporting back (again) on Fume Free Easy Off oven cleaner. I used it on my shower floor again (fiberglass). This time, I used a stiff brush (nylon, I think). And ... it worked. There are some small areas that still have stains and I need to spot-clean those areas. But for the most part, it worked. You have to spray a lot on there. I only let it soak for 20-30 minutes, but the directions say to soak for 1 hour.

It wasn't just the brush, though. Because I scrubbed it first with just the brush and Dawn dish soap. Some of the dirt / stains did come off, but significant amount still left over.

Then, I sprayed the Easy Off & brushed / scrubbed it again. Much better.

What irks me about cleaning products for every little thing is not so much the chemical cleaners themselves, but the disposable packaging.

Incinerating or burying all that packaging releases dioxin into the air, water and soil, which contribute heavily to the growth of cancers and other diseases in mammals.

Be silly, be whimsical. Sing and dance along with the music you're playing. Pretend to be in a movie montage. That works when you are alone or with others like family or roommates, make it a silly & fun tradition. It takes away the "ugh, I hate doing that!" negativity attached to chores.

Be rich, have a staff to clean for you, including a pool boy to sex you up.

Two things that I recommend;

If you want easier cleaning of your bathroom tile, chrome fixtures, glass shower doors, etc, and their repelling of water spots, then after cleaning them use a glass wax on them and then wipe that down with a soft cloth after the solution sits for about 1-2 minutes. Use it about every 4-6 weeks. I use Rain-X. It does wonders! It's also great to use on stove tops too.

If you want your bathroom to have a near blinding shine then do what many hotel housekeeping staff do and use. Use furniture polish! Just lightly spray and then wipe down with a soft cloth.

Wow! Greg wins this thread hands down.

[quote]My housekeeper comes in once a week (Wednesdays) while I'm at work. She cleans, does the laundry, etc. She's fantastic and I think of her as a friend.

[i]Translation[i]

Cheap labor...

Housework is JUST NO FUN

OH, MY GOD!!!

I have a testimony THIS morning!!!

I have been reading through this thread picking up many good cleaning tips but the postings about vinegar really intrigued me. I have never considered vinegar to be this miraculous cleaning agent. I never learned anything about its cleaning properties while growing up or knew anyone that made such use of vinegar. I'm from the "everything" is store bought with a brand name era. Anyway, my kitchen is close to spotless, but what has always annoyed me since I moved into this apartment was this one eye on my kitchen stove that was so encrusted with baked on grease that I could not even make a dent into it with whatever I used. I had resigned myself to the reality of that it would just be something that I would have to get used to and live with. After reading the 170-whatever post about vinegar I decided to give it a try. I remembered that there was maybe a little cleaning vinegar left by whoever in the cabinet under the bathroom. As for baking soda I always have that at ready.

Well, honey child....

I'm still in shock over this! I can't really describe the amazement and feelings of what I have just witnessed. I applied the vinegar, sprinkled some baking soda on top of it, and used a soft sponge to rub it in a bit. I let it sit for maybe 3-4 minutes. "It can't hurt", I thought to myself. So, as I returned back to the stove I was expecting the solution just to remove some of the baked on grease. I would have been happy with that. I was also expecting to have to put some elbow grease in really getting the grit off.

When I just simply wiped... and I saw the clean surface... I nearly fell out on the floor! This is just unbelievable! I now regret that I did not take a before and after picture. Simply amazing....

After reading the 170-whatever post about vinegar I decided to give it a try. I remembered that there was maybe

Would one of you gurls get Miss R277 her smelling salts, please?

Hooonn naaayyy, Miss R277 done fainted DEAD AWAY from the MIRACLE that IS vinegar and baking soda.

Fuck that vinegar and baking soda crap.

There was a product that I used years ago, BOOS, that really worked in removing the odor of cat urine. I think it was B.O.O. S.

Her name is Yosinnia.

Just fabulous.

I recently learned that to effectively clean a toilet, you need to pour some water into the bowl to make it empty (without flushing it). Then using regular toilet bowl cleaner works really well because it hits much more of the bowl itself and isn't watered down. (Maybe this was up-thread. If so, I tried it and it works.)

Lick it up

In [italic]Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil[/italic], there was a bit about a man recommending using a brick on hard water stains. Never having dealt with this, I have no idea if it works.

It doesn’t work r285. They did that because they didn’t have much choice back then.