Household Tips, Tricks & Cheats

From this thread on the NHF forum.

Stains

Tip	Thanks To
Ballpoint pen marks on leather can be removed with hairspray.	happymama
Rust marks on clothing can be removed with lemon and salt and then washed as normal	titch7069
White wine is quite good on red wine. Dont know if you want to go wasting it though	Bronze
Rhubarb juice is supposed to get rid of rust marks in white linen	rachelleb
Vodkas supposed to be good on sweat and deodrant marks	Bronze
Beetroot stains can be removed by rubbing them with a slice of pear!	Milims

Sticky Things

Tip	Thanks To
Sticky label residue on bottles and jars can be wiped off easily with neat Eucalyptus oil	Kate
A great tip for removing chewing gum from clothes - scrape off as much as you can then rub the residue with neat eucalyptus oil then wash as usual.	Kate

Washing

Tip

Thanks To

Use less washing powder in your machine, most manufaturers recommend using far too much, try washing your clothes without any powder in, you will be amazed at the residue that is left. I use half a cup of washing powder and 2 tablespoon of washing soda, available from Wilkinsons etc…… gets the stains out of your clothes and also keeps your pipes clear. No longer use softner, fill the rinse dispenser with WHITE vinegar, often sold as distilled vinegar, try Macro for 3ltr containers. Vinegar kills the soap and softens the water, the clothes do not smell of vinegar either.

toots

Washing Up

Tip	Thanks To
Copper pan cleaner: Sprinkle surface of pans with coarse salt. Rub salt into stains with the cut half of a fresh lemon.	shields_art
Non-Stick Cookware: To remove stains from non-stick surfaces, pour a solution of 1 cup water, 2 tbs. baking soda into a pan, simmer 5 to 10 minutes. Do not allow mixture to boil or to boil over the side of the pan. Wash in hot soapy water, rinse and dry. Apply a light coating of cooking oil.	shields_art
Baking Dishes - Enamel, Ceramic or Glass: Soak in hot soapy water, then scour with salt or baking soda and rinse thoroughly.	shields_art
Dishes: 1) Use liquid or powdered soap instead of detergents - which are petroleum-based. In dishwashers, use equal parts borax and washing soda. 2) Use Baking soda and liquid soap.	shields_art
Drinking Glasses: 1) Occasionally soak drinking glasses in a solution of vinegar and water to really get them clean. Makes them sparkle! 2) When a quick dip for crystal glassware is needed, prepare a solution of baking soda in tepid-cool water (l level teaspoon to a quart) and brush with a soft toothbrush. Very good for glass coffee makers and thermos jugs too.	shields_art
Pots and Pans: 1) Burned, and crusted on foods; Soak or boil a solution of 2 tbs. baking soda per qt of water in each pan. Let stand until particles are loosened, then wash as usual. Use a mild or moderate abrasive if necessary. 2) To clean a greasy pan easily, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of baking soda to the water in which it is soaking.	shields_art
Scrunched up tin foil makes great pan scrubber - I use the left over stuff that i've wrapped the kids sarnies in and stuff	Milims
Burned, and crusted on foods; Soak or boil a solution of 2 tbs. baking soda per qt of water in each pan. Let stand until particles are loosened, then wash as usual. Use a mild or moderate abrasive if necessary or you could cook an apple in the pan this will do the same job but i woulden what to eat it after. 2) To clean a greasy pan easily, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of baking soda to the water in which it is soaking.	keithrawlins

Cleaning

Tip	Thanks To
Fine scouring powder: A really good scrub for delicate surfaces and it will keep in a sealed bottle for 8 months: 2oz soap flakes, 5oz whiting, 3oz washing soda, 5 drops lemon eoil. Grate soap flakes finely, and then mix with the whiting and soda. Finally add the oil. Transfer to bottle and shake well. rub over surface using a wet cloth voila sparkling clean.	rachelleb
Cleaning 'Milk': A great multi use cleaner and really gentle so if you are sensitive to modern products should go down a treat. 1 tablespoon soft soap, 200ml water, 1 teaspoon potash, 15g whiting, 5 drops lemon eoil. Put water soft soap & potash into a double saucepan over a low heat, stirring constantly until the soap & potash have dissolved. Whisk in the whiting, add lemon oil pour into a bottle and seal will keep for 3 months.	rachelleb
Making soft soap: Use a fine grater and grate 90g good household soap into an old saucepan. Add 1 litre of cold water and place over a low heat. Bring just to the boil, stirring occasionally the simmer gently for 15mins. Pour the hot soap into a tin or jar once mix has cooled seal and leave for a day to form a gel. Great for hand washing, using in other recipes and for all those bits of left over soap.	rachelleb
Cleaning the bath and bathrrom sink. We use Olivea soap………….it disolves grease from our bodies. it also cleans the sink and bath. Get out of shower…..leave old cloth in bottom of shower……………whilst still wet and drippy, pick up old cloth……rub with olivea soap……….run around shower and tile……….take bucket of water i stood in whilst showering, use some of the water to rinse the shower out………….take water outside chuck on veg (wrap up in towel first as I live on main road) same applies for the sink………….clean loo seat with vinegar and water, disinfects it too. Clean loo with bicarbonate of soda (always in bathroom as that is what we clean out teeth with). Sorted and by now I've dripped dry too!	fowey57
Tip your coffee grounds down the sink - not all the time, though, about once a month or once every two months only - to get the oily greasy yuck away from the pipework.	Lakshmi
Clean your window with methylated spirit and a cloth that doesn't leave fluff. Other idea to clean your windows is to use scrunched up newspaper. No liquid.	Lakshmi
To polish silver, line the sink or a bowl with kitchen foil , add 1 tablespoon of Bicarb of Soda and I tablespoon of salt, stir and place the silver in it to soak. Then polish with a nice clean cloth or tea towel. Works brilliantly on my jewellery	alainn_mactire
I use vinegar to clean the loo & to clean the winders.	loppy

Whiting is ground chalk, used in paints etc. Available from art suppliers, trad builders merchants.