Tuesday, February 23, 2016

By Barbara Pronin From the pages of a grocery store pamphlet published 30 years ago come a dozen household cleaning tips that still work well today to take the sting—and the stain—out of some commonplace household annoyances.

• Longer lasting candles –Pretty candles will last longer if you put them in the freezer for three hours prior to burning them.
• Wax on candlesticks – Put the candlesticks in the freezer for a few hours. The wax will peel off easily.
• Crayon on the walls – Use a damp rag dipped in baking soda to remove crayon marks from painted walls with very little effort.
• Blood stains on clothing – Pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and bloodstains will wipe right off.
• Pleasantly scented rooms - Spray a bit of perfume on one of the light bulbs to create a lovely light scent in the room when the light is turned on.
• Burnt food in a skillet – Add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Bring it to a boil on stove top and the burnt food can easily be removed.
• Stained plastic containers – Spaghetti sauce left a reddish residue? Next time, spray a clean container with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauce – and there won't be any stain.
• Use leftover wine – Don’t dispose of that last ounce or two. Pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze it. Toss it in to add extra flavor to any soup or stew.
• Cleaner mirrors – Use air-freshener to clean the bathroom mirror. It does a good job and leaves a fresh aroma in the room.
• Fresher toilets – Out of toilet bowl cleaner? Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action will leave it clean and fresh.
• Polish your jewelry – Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two or three minutes.
• A natural cure for headaches – They say you can stop the throbbing by cutting a lime in half and rubbing one half on your forehead. What have you got to lose but the headache?

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