127 Clean light bulbs with vodka. Periodically cleaning your light bulbs can really brighten up a room! Moisten a cleaning cloth with vodka, and use it to wipe dust buildup from light bulbs.
128 Vacuum dining room chairs to clean dirt and pet hair with ease. Use your vacuum’s upholstery attachment to clean between wood spindles and in upholstery creases on dining room chairs. Do this before you clean the floor so that debris missed by the vacuum can fall below and get cleaned up later.
129 Immediately blot fresh food spills on upholstered dining chairs to prevent staining. To keep spilled foods from staining upholstery, it’s important to act quickly. As soon as possible, start blotting the stain with a cloth or paper towels, and use one of the carpet stain removal recipes in the next section, if necessary.
130 Learn to read furniture tags to find out the best cleaning method for your upholstered furniture or dining set. All dining room chairs have a tag that lists the recommended cleaning method. A “W” on the tag means a water-based cleaning product may be used, but an “S” means you should avoid cleaning with water. Some tags will have both letters, which means either method is fine. “X” means the chairs should be professionally cleaned. Even if you know the recommended cleaning method, you should still test any DIY recipes on an inconspicuous area of the fabric to ensure safety and colorfastness.
131 Silence squeaky hinges with cooking oil. Use your finger to apply a dab of your favorite cooking oil on a squeaky hinge. Open and shut the door several times to work the oil into the hinge, then wipe away the excess oil with a cloth or paper towel.
132 Protect wood furniture with DIY orange oil spray. This homemade orange oil wood polish will make your wood shine like new!
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 cup olive oil
Peel and zest of 1 orange (optional)
20 drops orange essential oil
Spray bottle
Heat the vinegar, olive oil, and orange peel and zest in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until hot but not yet boiling. Remove the pan from the heat, and let it sit for several hours or overnight to release the natural oils in the orange peel.
Once the mixture is completely cooled, strain it into a measuring cup, discard the peels, and pour the liquid into a spray bottle. Add the orange essential oil, and shake to combine. If you’re not using the orange peel, just mix the vinegar, olive oil, and orange essential oil, and shake to combine.
To use, shake to combine the ingredients, and test in an inconspicuous spot. Spray on a cloth or directly on wood furniture. Polish furniture with a cloth, and let the polish sit for 10 minutes before wiping again with a clean, dry cloth to remove excess oil.
If your dining room is carpeted, food messes can be a real pain. These stain removal hacks will make your carpet look good as new. Use white cloths and paper towels to prevent ink and color transfer onto the carpet you’re trying to clean.
133 Absorb liquid spills with cornstarch. Clean up as much liquid as you can with white cloths or paper towels. Sprinkle the stain liberally with cornstarch, and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour until the cornstarch absorbs the liquid. Sweep up any excess powder you can with a broom and dustpan, then vacuum. If the carpet is still stained, treat with plain, unflavored club soda, and blot until the stain comes out.
134 Treat juice, grease, and oil stains with shaving cream. For juice spills, blot the liquid, and apply some shaving cream. Use a damp sponge or cloth to wipe clean. For grease and oil, apply the shaving cream, and work it into the stain. Let it dry, then rub clean with a cloth. The soap and acids in shaving cream break down and lift stains away in no time.
135 Remove coffee and tea stains with beer. To clean up coffee and tea spills, first soak up as much liquid as you can with cloths or paper towels, then pour some room temperature beer on the stain. Lightly blot the beer into the carpet, and watch as the stain disappears! The carbonation and acid content in beer make it an excellent stain fighter. You may have to repeat the process to fully remove all traces of the stain. Once the stain lifts, rinse away the beer and remaining residue with clean water, then blot or use a wet/dry vac to dry.
136 Freeze away gum with ice. Use an ice cube to freeze gum embedded in carpets, then scrape it out with a paring knife. This method works on melted wax too!
137 Get rid of fruit and juice stains with laundry detergent and vinegar. Mix 2 cups of water with 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent and 11/2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Soak up the bulk of the spill with paper towels or dry cloths. Apply the cleaning solution to the stain, and blot to remove.
138 Clean red wine stains with white wine and salt. Clean up as much liquid as possible with paper towels or a dry cloth. While the red wine is still wet, pour white wine or another clear liquor, such as vodka, over the stain to dilute the color. Clean the stain with a cloth or sponge and cold water, then pour salt on the stain. Let it sit for around 10 minutes, then vacuum it up.
139 Lift oil stains with salt and vodka. Combine 4 parts vodka to 1 part salt, and rub the mixture into the stain until removed.
140 Nix ketchup stains with salt. Pour salt over the ketchup spill, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Vacuum, and wipe clean with a damp cloth or sponge. Repeat the process as often as needed to lift the stain.
141 Use club soda for grease, red wine, and other colorful drinks. Remove as much liquid from the carpet as possible with paper towels or cloths, then douse the stain with a little plain, unflavored club soda. Use cloths or paper towels to blot the stain away.
142 Absorb oil stains with baking soda and dish soap. Sprinkle the stain with baking soda, and rub it gently into the carpet. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then vacuum it up. Add a dab of dish soap to the stain, and rub it into the carpet using your fingers or a toothbrush. Pour a little warm water over the stain, and start blotting with a cloth until the stain lifts out of the carpet.