Home Improvement Cleaning Tips That You Probably Never Knew

Americans spend roughly $5 billion on household cleaning supplies every year and this is growing annually. But do we really need all those detergents and liquids? One cleaning expert says you can skip the store and save money by employing some basic products sitting in your cabinets at home. DIY experts and DIY book authors offer their easy solutions to everyday problems with the following simple cleaning solutions:

Removing Ink from Leather

To remove stubborn ink marks from leather shoes or bags, all you need to do is spray a little hairspray and wipe the shoe or bag surface.

Leather Polish

Regular hair conditioner adds a glossy shine to leather shoes. Dab conditioner onto your shoes and work it into the leather with a cloth. It’s a fast method and it’s cost effective.

Red Wine Stain Remover

Whether you spill red wine on the floor or on fabric, a solution of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing liquid can do the cleaning job just as well as any expensive wine-removing product, which can cost up to $90 a bottle. The bleaching agent in the peroxide helps erase the stain, while the dishwashing liquid cleans. Let the mixture soak the stain and then wash away or wipe off.

Wine Glass Stains

Some stains resist water, for instance such as lipstick, and are too tough for dishwashing machines to remove. It is recommended to rub salt over the stain to remove the imprint and then wash as usual in the machine or under the sink.

Silver Polish

The simplest method to clean and polish your silver and avoid tarnishing is toothpaste. Set aside those pricey silver polishes. The results are similar. Contrary to what some polishing manufacturers are publishing, toothpaste will not damage silver because toothpaste ingredients are meant to clean teeth enamel.

Cleaning Using Vinegar

• To clean the mirror, use vinegar and water.
• To clean the bathroom tub, use a 40/60 solution of vinegar to hot tap water in the bottom of the tub. This works well by simply letting the vinegar/water solution soak for about 15 minutes and then scrub with a brush and drain. Rinse with hot water and wipe dry. If you don’t like the vinegar smell, don’t worry it will go away after you rinse the tub.
• The cheapest way to mop your kitchen floor is to mix vinegar with water. Buy the large containers and it makes some cheap disinfecting mop water. The vinegar smell will go away when the floor dries.