white bread, cleaning tips

What better way to usher in the new year than by letting its new broom sweep clean?

To make it less tedious, here are some simple tips to make it happen just in time for new year’s eve. Using common household ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice, you can say the tips here make cleaning easy peasy, lemon squeezy!


1. Cleaning window tracks

You will need: baking soda, vinegar and cotton buds

Window tracks are often neglected in our daily cleaning, making it a painful experience to get rid of grime, especially those caked up at the corners.

However, it only takes a few simple ingredients to make cleaning the tracks easier and faster.

First, sprinkle some baking soda into the track, especially the corners where most of the dirt is stuck.

Next, pour some vinegar onto the tracks. The vinegar and baking soda combination will bubble up and loosen the dirt stuck on the tracks.

Finally, brush out the dirt with cotton buds, then pour warm water to wash out all the dirt.

 

2. Cleaning ceiling fans

You will need: old pillow cases

Ceiling fans are often covered with dust and spider webs, so cleaning them with normal cloth is not easy. Why not try using old pillow cases instead?

Wrap the blade of the fan using the damp pillow case, rubbing the blade by using the pillow case and the dust will all collect inside the pillow case rather than flying all over the place.

To clean the dust out of the pillow case, just turn it inside out and wash it under the water tap.

 

3. Getting rid of stubborn stains on laminate counter surfaces

You will need: Baking soda and microfibre cloth

Stubborn stains on laminate countertops won’t come off no matter how hard you rub them. Try putting some baking soda on top of the stain. Leave the baking soda on for one minute, then wipe the stain off with a wet microfiber cloth.

 

4. Cleaning shower heads

You will need: vinegar, plastic bag and rubber band

Shower heads will spray water unevenly when their tiny holes are clogged with mineral deposits.

You can either dismantle the shower head and clean it with a toothbrush, or use an easier method.

Wrap the shower head in a plastic bag filled with vinegar, tie the plastic bag up with a rubber band and leave the plastic bag on the shower head for a few hours or overnight.

Remove the plastic bag and rinse the shower head with water.

 

5. Cleaning microwave ovens

You will need: lemon juice, microwave-safe bowl and cleaning rag

Lemon juice is a natural cleaning agent and is harmless. Just squeeze some lemon juice into a bowl of water and heat it in the microwave oven for about five to fifteen minutes.

As the liquid boils, the steam will loosen the gunk and dissolve food splatters. Take out the hot lemon water and wipe everything clean.

 

6. Removing pet hair

You will need: rubber gloves

Rubber gloves are the easiest and cheapest tool to remove pet hair from sofas and chairs, or even car seats.

Put on damp rubber gloves and run your hands over the surface and watch the hair cling to the gloves. Simply rinse the hair off and repeat as needed.

 

7. Cleaning small toys

You will need: laundry bag or zippered old pillow cases and washing machine

Small toys like Lego and matchbox cars are hard to clean and it takes a long time to rub off the dust and dirt. This time, try cleaning them with a washing machine. Put small toys into a laundry bag or zippered old pillow case and drop the bag into the washing machine filled with soapy water.

Do note that it can get a bit noisy during the cycle and remember to skip the spin dry function.

After the wash cycle is over, take the bag out, pour the toys out, spread them on a towel and leave them to dry.

 

8. Removing permanent marker ink from hardwood surfaces

You will need: old toothbrush or microfiber cloth and toothpaste

Permanent marker stains can ruin the look of your wood furniture. Now, you can remove them with a little toothpaste. Put a dab of toothpaste on the stain, leave it for a while then scrub the spot with an old toothbrush or a damp microfibre cloth.

 

9. Cleaning grout stains

You will need: baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice

Grout stains in the bathroom and kitchen wall are disgusting and hard to get rid of. Try this homemade grout cleaner with baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and water.

Mix seven cups of water, half a cup of baking soda, one quarter of a cup of lemon juice and vinegar, then spray or pour the mixture onto dirty grout lines and leave it for 10 minutes.

Scrub the grout with a brush and rinse the paste off with water.

 

10. Cleaning paintings with bread

You will need: White bread, a soft paint brush and old newspaper or mahjong paper

First, place your favourite oil paintings on top of the newspaper or mahjong paper.

Then, tear a piece of bread and gently dab or brush it against the painting. The bread will absorb dust and dirt from the painting like a sponge.

Finally, clear bread crumbs (if any) with a soft brush.

 

11. Un-stinking trash cans

You will need: Baking soda

A smelly trash can is annoying and embarrassing, especially when you have guests over.

Sprinkle a few tablespoons of baking soda into the bottom of the trash can. The alkaline nature of baking soda will absorb bad smells.

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