Tuesday, February 19, 2019

By Barbara Pronin No matter how hard we try to keep our home in order, there are some household challenges the most devoted among us just can’t seem to overcome. But before you toss out those cloudy glasses, or trash that trusty but rusting skillet, check out these tips from Good Housekeeping magazine:

Re-season a cast iron skillet. To restore the finish, use a soft scrub sponge to remove rust, then clean it with a bit of mild dish soap, rinse and dry well. Coat the inside and outside with vegetable oil and bake it upside down in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour. Let cool and remove excess grease with a paper towel.

Revive cloudy glasses. Remove built-up film from hard-water minerals by soaking glasses or stemware in white vinegar for five minutes. Then rinse by hand and dry with a microfiber cloth.

Perk up a sluggish showerhead. Unclog a showerhead by filling a sturdy plastic bag with equal parts white vinegar and water. Tie the bag around the showerhead to immerse the holes in the solution and secure it with a twist tie. Let it soak for about an hour, then remove and wipe away the particles.

Buff out floor scuffs. Protect that expensive hardwood. Remove small scuffs with a white sock or a clean tennis ball. For bigger scuffs, add some baking soda to a damp cloth and gently rub, then rinse with a damp paper towel and dry.

De-scale the coffee maker. Morning brew not tasting too good? Remove caked-on minerals by filling the reservoir with a mixture that's half vinegar, half water. Let the solution brew halfway, then stop and let it sit for 30 minutes before completing the cycle. Rinse by "brewing" a pot of clean water afterwards. 

Wipe out wall doodles. When your child's artistic efforts end up all over your new paint job, scrub lightly with a damp sponge sprinkled in baking soda.

Bust the germs you can’t see. The icky truth: Your cellphone might harbor more germs than the toilet seat. Sanitize it by wiping it down with an alcohol wipe. While you’re at it, give your TV remote and computer mouse the same treatment.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com