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More Tips from hints-n-tips.com

Household
With Tips on Furniture - Clothes - Household Cleaning - Pests - removal of Stains and Sticky Residues - and more
Apply mineral oil over your shower doors and tile surface. That delays the mineral build-up in future use. -- Cameo lcombs43@yahoo.com

Subject: Tip.....Icy Steps To clear icy steps fill a bucket with hot water and add enough DAWN detergent to make it sudsy. The hot water will melt the ice and the Dawn will not let it refreeze. Phyllis A.

Ref 'hammering water pipes'. This is caused by a pressure build up of water in the pipes. The simplest solution is to turn down your water pressure at the stop-cock -- Alan Brighton english.bob@tesco.net

If your water pipes sometimes make a loud "hammering noise" after the toilet has been flushed or sink, etc. Ask at the hardware store for something for "waterhammer". It's a fitting or somesuch thing which is easily installed in the line. A common problem and not very expensive. - - Anon

Remove cats hairs from clothes and furniture by rubbing with wetted rubber gloves -- Wendel Quinn Kuala Lumpur mwpquin@asia-mail.com

Marks inside cups and mugs are caused by the metal cutlery abrazing the glazing coating the
service. Try an old fashioned remedy from an old fashioned man - toothpaste! (Betcha it works!) -- Alan - english.bob@tesco.net

The whitening toothpaste usually contains alumina which is an abrasive. I suppose that if it safe on the teeth it has to be O.K. on cups etc -- Ed

I run vinegar through my dishwasher once a month and this prevents hard deposits from getting a head start. -- Good Luck, Patti kpm1@wt.net Seizetheday

Broken Glass: Use bread to pick up fragments of broken glass - - Veronica Eijo

Stuck finger rings? Use washing up liquid as a lubricant to remove stuck rings, I have seen it used to release a dog stuck in a rocky crevasse, alternatively use cooking or olive oil etc. -- David Edmunds

Squeaky floorboards can be eased by using French chalk or talcum powder – Jean Smith

Faded carpets can be restored by hand painting using fabric dyes -- Tony Doran.
(A useful range of fabric dye pens is available from Dylon in the UK)

Musty Instrument cases: Damp Rid is wonderful for removing must. Damp Rid is designed to be used in the container it comes in, but this may be too big for the instrument case--you may have to improvise. Once you've shut the Damp Rid in the case, you should probably leave it there undisturbed for several weeks. If you open the case to take a peek to see how it's working, you will allow the case to fill back up with humid air & the Damp Rid will have to pull all of that new moisture out of the air. Be careful not to bump the case--as the Damp Rid absorbs moisture out of the air, it dissolves, leaving an orange liquid in the container -- Jeanne chadzing@alaweb.com

Daffodils: Don’t mix cut daffodils in with other cut flowers as the daffodils produce a toxin that kills off the other flowers. – Anon.

Socks can be useful in protecting the ends of unused fluorescent tubes – Dave Edmunds

After working on your car you can clean your hands with a mixture of dishwashing liquid and sugar -- Simon Spicer

Use olive oil or other cooking oil to clean hands dirtied by engine oil -- Jean Edmunds.

A teaspoon in the glass will prevent it cracking when boiling water is poured -- Wendel Quinn, Hong Kong

Furniture
Rub a candle on the runners of a sticky desk drawer, it’s amazing how much of a difference it will make -- David Edmunds.

Furniture restoration: To make furniture look older mix varnish with soot and then paint on. – Robin Edmunds.

Light scratches on furniture can be disguised by using a wax crayon pencil. Another method is to rub with a Brazil Nut. – Dave

Small dents in furniture can be steamed out using a steam iron or a damped cloth. Be careful not to overdo it on delicate or very valuable items. – Dave Edmunds

Clothes.

Wash jeans inside out. The first wash should be without detergent. – Veronica Eijo

Cleaning Leather. Small spots of dirt on glossy leather can be removed with a damp sponge. Scuff marks can be removed with a shoe polish of the correct color. - Jane King

Household Cleaning.
Shower curtains: To remove mildew soak shower curtains in water containing 20% chlorine bleach. To remove soap and water marks wipe with vinegar. – Essy Edmunds.
For more tips on cleaning mildew see the stains page

To remove toliet stains, use a pumice stone and rub hard, It will not scratch and works well- did on my toilet bowl after 20 years of buildup -- James A Boyle james.boyle@prodigy.net

Toilet bowls come up shiny when cleaned with old, flat Coke or Pepsi. Leave overnight to dissolve limescale -- Sylvia Burge, London UK

Use vinegar when cleaning windows (glass) -- Veronica Eijo.

I find ammonia pretty useful too for greasy bathroom marks. In fact ammonia is a great grease "cutter" if you can stand the smell. Keep windows open maroof@global.net.au

Ammonia is an excellent cleaner in the bathroom, it used to be easy to buy it but last time I tried I had some difficulty getting hold of some, if any of our readers know of a good way to get it in their country please let us know. -- Ed

Old newspapers give windows a shine, every bit as good as a chamois leather -- Wendel Quinn, Hong Kong

Crayon marks on wall: use a blowdrier to heat the crayon so it can easily be wiped off. -- Heather Dickerson elaine@mcmsys.com

Marks on Walls: Try using bread to remove marks on walls and surfaces - - Mike Weller

Brass: Clean brass with lemon juice. – Comi Edmunds.

Dry windows with old newspaper -- Nigel Hartley.


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Removal of Sticky Residues
Removing Sticky Labels from Plastic:
Whatever method you use, first test the cleaning/removal material in an inconspicuous part of the surface the label is stuck on the be sure it will not damage that surface. If the label on the plastic has been wet, or the article has been stored where it was hot or humid, it will be more difficult to remove.
1. Dampen a small piece of cloth, or the end of a swab stick (cotton twisted on the end of a wooden match or orange stick). Dip cotton end in dry cleaning fluid.
2. Allow the fluid to remain on the label only long enough to allow the label to be rubbed off. Wipe away excess fluid immediately, and wash article in sudsy water and dry. (DO NOT ALLOW FLUID TO REMAIN ON THE PLASTIC SURFACE VERY LONG, AS IT WILL DULL THE FINISH OF THE PLASTIC.)
This article was written by Anne Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus, with reference from Mary Ellen Delsipee, and Isabel Jones, previous Extension specialists. Quoted from the Michigan State University Extension Home Maintenance and Repair page http://www.msue.msu.edu/imp/mod02/master02.html

Removing Adhesive: Rubber cement thinner which you can buy at most art supply stores and some office supply stores removes most adhesives used on labels. Scrape off as much of the paper from the label as possible before applying the thinner and rubbing with a cloth or paper towel. It works great on glass, Formica and most non porous surfaces but will cloud many plastics. Also, it is extremely flammable. Lighter fluid often will also remove rubber based adhesives. Bob Lipson Email: -- boblipson@aol.com

Use white spirit or lighter fluid to remove the residue from sticky labels. - - Veronica Eijo

Subject: sticky residue/glue I discovered the other day, finger nail polish remover, (most already have it in the home). Removed old wall paper glue the tub insert with one wipe, removed melted plastic bag off of curling iron, paint spatter windows and tub insert. All was removed with just one wipe of remover on a piece of toilet tissue. -- DDugan7589@aol.com

Residue from Sticky labels: Goo Gone works great on removing adhesives left behind by stickers, store stickers, gum, etc. It is found in Sears Hardware Stores and other department stores. -- Good Luck, Patti kpm1@wt.net Seizetheday

Removing Adhesive: I used vinegar to remove adhesive from glass jars, and off of our sink. it worked pretty well Jan Tani jtani@bendnet.com


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Stains:

Subject: ink pen stain
To get an ink stain out, spray ultra-hold hairspray on the stain, let it dry, then wash like normal. ( Don't be afaid of putting too much hairspray on the stain.) -Polli

Subject: stains on clothing
I have found that most types of baby wipes work great on removing a strain from your clothing. Anyone with babies always have baby wipes handy. Try it some time it works. I always use them when my 2 year old gets something on her and it works great for taking ink from your skin. -- Bradley E Baker -- bake24@midwest.net

Attack the stain straight away. If you are going to use water make sure that it is as cold as possible -- Jean Smith Kirkcaldy Scotland

Use salt on Red wine stains. - - Veronica Eijo

Use white wine on red wine stains. - - Veronica Eijo

Veronica, are we to assume that considerable amounts of wine are consumed (and spilled) in your household?? -- Ed

If your garment is cotton or similar try disguising the stain by tie-dying it -- Dave Edmunds

Embarrasing Stains : I know people dont like to discuss (stains in underwear) but they are there. I discovered the other day when I was washing my sons that this worked. I used a cup of bleach, not water and half a cup of dish washer detergent. I couldn't believe how white they became. No stains. I believe the dish washing detergent is the trick. SUE fdegarmo@egl.net

Vicky Lansky in her book "It worked for me" suggests using dishwasher products for removing stubborn stains. See the Media section

Nicotine stains. Remove them from your fingers with lemon juice, and scrubbing with pumice stone. Then add hand cream. - Jacob Thorne, Bristol

Melted Wax: To remove melted wax from clothing '... you will lay a brown paper bag over the garment before you iron over it then keep moving the bag around it will absorb the wax'--magand@2swbell.net

Age Stains: I have heard a mixture of fresh lemon juice and salt rubbed on spots and placed in sun will bleach out yellow in old stains. This information from my wise Aunt Sue. I would try it first on just one small area and see how it does. -- Good Luck, Patti Seizetheday Email: kpm1@wt.net

Chocolate Stains. First blot or scrape off any excess chocolate. Add a solution of biological washing powder, and then blot with clean towels. If the stain remains soak the fabric in biological detergent. White fabrics can be dabbed with bleach. - Anna, Canada

Rubbing a Brazil nut on a scratch can disguise some surface damage in wooden furniture -- Veronica

Chewing gum: To remove chewing gum from clothes freeze, or cover the gum with ice, then crack and scrape off. – Marjory Simpson.

Ink Stains. If the ink is still wet put salt on the stain, and then brush it off after a few minutes when it has soaked up some of the ink. You may need to repeat this a few times. Clean wet ink off carpet with soda water, then blot it off with paper towels. Then clean with a detergent. - Ruth Knowles

Rust stains in white cotton: To remove the stain, rub with lemon juice and salt. Leave it several hours. It's even more efective when placed in the sun. Wash as normal. - - Patti kpm1@wt.net

If you find that you can't remove a stain from your shirt...then give it to your Mum -- Daniel Anderson -- Milton Keynes England

More on stain removal


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Pests.
Ants: Mix ant killer (borax powder, etc.) with sugar and leave near the nest, they will eat it and take the poison back to the nest where it will kill the queen ant. – David Edmunds.

Bugs in the Pantry: You can reduce any bug problem by the following tips: When you buy flour or cornmeal, freeze it for twenty-four hours before placing in canister. I would also look very hard at using plastic seal containers for all dry goods like flour and breakfast cereals, rice,etc. If you buy the right size containers, maybe you can stack and still have room. We live in southern Texas and cock roaches was our dilemma. However by doing the above and not using any sticky shelf paper, which they like to eat, I have had no more troubles. Also, if anybody else has cock roach problems, get rid of wall paper as they like to eat paste on that as well. In fact any glue like substance feeds the critters. Good Luck, Patti Email: kpm1@wt.net "Seize The Day" for "This Too Shall Pass"

If you have an older house you can save money on your heating bills by blocking up unused chimneys. Plastic foam is the best but I usually end up using old clothes -- Peter and Thelma Jones Alicante Spain

Mice. Mice seem to prefer peanut butter, bacon, and nuts, and chocolate to cheese in mouse traps. - Anon

If you are troubled with silverfish try placing whole cloves in the closets and drawers -- J maroof@global.net.au

A contributor suggested sprinkling Epsom salts at the back of cupboards as a way of eliminating silverfish. Sorry but we lost the original e-mail. -- Ed


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