How to Clean a Wedding Dress - May 17

Wedding season is upon us, and after the wedding, the question becomes what to do with the dress?

Wedding dress manufacturers recommend that wedding dresses be dry cleaned. You may be able to clean it yourself, but you may lose some of the lustre. It's likely worth the extra money to have the dress professionally cleaned and have wonderful memories for years to come. Also, the cost of cleaning is cheap relative to the unhappiness of a ruined dress. Check at local bridal shops in your area to see if they can recommend a cleaner who specializes in bridal gowns.

If you are willing to take a chance you can gently wash your dress in Woolite in the bathtub then let it air dry. Stuff it with acid-free tissue paper and store it in a 100% cotton garment bag or wrapped in 100% cotton sheets that have been rinsed with distilled water. If you choose to store it in an acid-free cardboard box, you'll need to change the box every three to five years since cardboard are absorbent and even acid-free boxes can re-acidify over time. Store it in a cool, dry place (so no hot attics or damp basements).

How to Remove a Gasoline Stain from Clothing - May 10

To remove gasoline from clothing, first place the stained area face down on paper towels. Apply dry-cleaning solvent to the back side of stain, replacing the paper towels frequently. Allow to dry, then rub in liquid detergent

or dampen the stained area with water and rub with bar soap or detergent paste. Rinse then launder. If any odour remains, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of you washer, as this should take out any remaining smell.

How to Clean a Baseball Cap - May 3

To clean a baseball cap, you can purchase a commercial product designed specifically for this purpose. It is a basket shaped to hold the cap and you wash it in the dishwasher. Alternately, you can scrub the cap with hair shampoo and a small brush to remove stains. If the cap is dirty all over, you can wash it in a washing machine. Spray any dirty areas with a prewash spray, wash in cold water, and hang over a large jar or similar object to dry to help it to retain its shape.

How to Clean the Garbage Disposal - April 26

When going about your regular kitchen cleaning, you don't want to overlook your garbage disposal. Especially if food is scraped into the disposal when regularly washing the dishes. To clean grease and leftover food from your disposal and sharpen the blades at the same time, sprinkle liberally with baking soda and pour white vinegar over until it bubbles. Let set ten minutes. Rinse with hot water. Put two or three ice cubes in the disposal and grind. Rinse again with hot water. Now your disposal is clean and odour free.

How to Remove Oil Stains From Carpet - April 19

To remove carpet stains that contain oil, you'll first need to absorb the oil. Baking soda and corn starch work best, but talcum powders also can do the trick. First sprinkle the powder liberally onto the stain and leave overnight. The next day, vacuum the powder. If there's still some discoloration left behind, try blotting the stain with a mild dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent formulated to cut oil and grease. Once the stain is lifted, blot again with a clean damp sponge or cloth.

How to Clean a Litter Box - April 12

Anyone with a cat knows all about pet urine stain removal. Even the bottom of a litter pan requires special attention. Clean out your cat's litter box with liquid peroxide cleaner such as PAWS - Pet Accident Wash-up Solution. Spray PAWS in the empty litter box. Let it sit for a few minutes then wipe clean with a cloth or paper towel. No rinsing necessary. This should eliminate any lingering odours. For a homemade solution, you can try white vinegar, which also works well for pet stain removal.

How to Remove Odours From Drawers or Cabinets - April 5

To remove odours from a drawer or cabinet, you can either fill the drawer with ground coffee and leave it overnight, use baking soda and leaving it in for several days, use cat litter and leave it in for several days or place the drawer outside in a shady spot on a breezy day. If the odour persists, you can carefully place a bowl of bleach in the empty drawer or cabinet, close the drawer or cabinet and let it sit for a few days, then carefully remove the bowl of bleach.
 

How to Remove Varnish Stains From Linoleum - March 1

You should be able to remove the varnish from linoleum with paint thinner or turpentine. You may find the finish altered somewhat, and may need to apply wax on the area of the floor to restore shine after. To be safe, test it on a non-visible area to ensure that you do not cause more damage.

How to Maintain Fresh Smelling Guest Beds - March 8

Guest beds that are not often used can end up smelling musty. If you like to keep your guest beds made up, keep the sheets smelling fresh by placing a fabric softener sheet under the blanket or bedspread until the bed is needed. When you do your periodic mattress cleaning, exchange the old sheet for a fresh one.

How to Remove Gum From Floors - March 15

To make it easier to remove gum from a hard surfaced floor, use an ice cube to chill the gum. Simply rub it over the material to make it brittle and then using a plastic spatula, carefully scrape and lift the gum from the floor.

How to Refresh Black Clothing - March 22

You can refresh your black clothes by adding bluing, or strong coffee, or tea (2 cups) to the rinse water. They should return to their original dark black state. To prevent future fading, wash them in cold water, with Ivory Flakes and only a small amount of detergent.

How to remove Ink Stains from Walls - March 29

You can remove ink stains from your wall by using a non-oily liquid hairspray. Spray the area well then wipe with a clean cloth. You may need to use several applications. Remember to always test in a non-visible area first to be sure that this does not harm your wall.

How to Remove Blood Stains -  February 1

Place a paste of water and cornstarch, cornmeal or talcum powder on fresh spots. Let dry and brush off. Cover fresh or dried stains with meat tenderizer and add cool water. After 15 to 30 minutes, sponge off with cool water.

Fresh blood on leather? Dab on a little hydrogen peroxide. After it bubbles, wipe it off.

If you get blood on fabric, quickly wet a long piece of white cotton thread with saliva and place it across the spot. The thread will absorb the blood.

How to Remove Candle Wax - February 8

For spilled wax on carpets and upholstery, put a brown paper bag over the dried wax and run a hot iron over it. The bag will absorb the hot wax. Dried wax on wood floors can be removed by softening the wax with a hair dryer, then removing with paper towels. Wash spot down with a combination of vinegar and water.

How to remove water stains - Feb 15, 2010

If the fabric is non-washable, gently scratch off the stain (which is made up of mineral deposits) with your fingernail. Still there? Hold the spot over a steaming teakettle until well-dampened. As it dries, rub the stain, working from its outer edges toward the center.

Remove hard-water stains from glasses and bottles by rubbing them with steel wool dipped in vinegar.

Cover hard-water stains and mineral deposits on bathroom fixtures with a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Then drape with a terry cloth towel and let stand for about an hour. Wipe off, rinse and dry

How to Wash Pillows - February 22

When cleaning mattresses and bedding, always check the manufacturer's care label first. In the case of pillows, chances are it can be thrown in the washing machine. Place two or three pillows in the machine, making sure to distribute evenly around the agitator. Use a gentle cycle and a mild detergent. To dry, place in the dryer along with a clean pair of sneakers to keep them from bunching up. To give them a fresh scent, use a couple of fabric softener sheets.

How to Sanitize Your Butcher Block -  January 25

Butcher blocks are notorious for being a bacteria breeding ground. To keep your butcher block safe, wash it with a mild detergent and let it air dry thoroughly. Next, rub salt into the block to draw out any moisture which may be in the crevices of the board. To keep your butcher block in tip-top shape, rub a very light coat of mineral oil into the wood after each cleaning.

How to Remove Nail Polish Stains From Carpet - January 18

If you spill nail polish on your carpet, reach for the nail polish remover. Put some remover on a cotton ball and blot (don't rub) the polish up until it disappears. Next, blot the area with a moist wash cloth to remove the nail polish residue. Next time you are painting your nails, lay down a piece of newspaper or admail!

How to Clean and Remove Paint From Leather - January 11

If you have a paint stain on your leather, you should first try cleaning the stain with saddle soap. If the paint stain lingers, you can try wiping it with rubbing alcohol. If your leather has been dyed, you should do a spot test first in a non-visible area to make sure the alcohol doesn’t fade your leather.

How to Clean and Remove Pet Feces Stain - January 4

Removing feces stains can be done by first scooping up any excess feces. You can do this with an old spoon, spatula or even some old newspaper. Create a mixture using 2 tablespoons of ammonia to one cup of water to sprinkle on the area, and then you would blot the stain to remove the leftover residue and rinse with cold water.
Repeat if all of the feces stain is not removed. To remove lingering carpet odours from pet feces, sprinkle baking soda on the stain. Let the baking soda sit overnight, and then vacuum.