Number 1
Using toothpaste to clean Silver removes the tarnish ! Coat the silver with toothpaste, and then rub into a foam under warm water, then rinse well to remove the toothpaste.
A toothbrush can be used, but don’t brush to hard as toothpaste is mildly abrasive and could damage jewellery or antiques.
Number 2
Cover the burnt area of the pan or tray with dishwasher powder and enough water to create a paste over the burnt area. Leave to stand overnight, the following day it should clean off much easier.
Number 3
Clean with a damp cloth and then to bring up the stainless steel use some kitchen towel with a little baby oil. This will bring a nice shine to the appliances.
Number 4
To help remove a deodorant stain from a normally washable dress or shirt dab the stain with white vinegar before washing in the normal manner.
Number 5
Fill the mug or cup with water and a small amount of bleach. Leave to stand for a short while before washing and rinsing well. This should remove the staining, and certainly will with a little scrubbing.
Number 6
Rust can be removed from knives by sticking the blade into an onion, and leaving it for some time. You may need to move the knife around a little to activate the onion juices.
Number 7
To remove stains from the inside of a white microwave use a paste made of bicarbonate of soda and water.
Use a cloth or sponge to apply, so as not to scratch the interior of the microwave. This paste should remove the stains.
Number 8
To get your dishes extra sparkling and also smelling that bit nicer, when running the washing cycle, have half a cut lemon in the top rack of the dishwasher. This will add the cleaning and also enhance the smell.
Number 9
With the computer and power turned off, clean the keys and between the keys where you can, using a cotton wool bud dipped in warm soapy water. Pat them dry with a tea towel or cloth.
Number 10
Glass computer screens can be carefully cleaned using a damp paper towel with a small drop of washing up liquid on it applied to the screen.
Then wipe it clean with a second clean damp paper towel. Then carefully buff dry.
Number 11
One of the best methods of cleaning glass windows is to use white vinegar.
Mix one part white vinegar to nine parts of water, and place in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto the window and buff dry using either the traditional method of newspaper scrunched up, or dry paper towels.
The news print adds to the shine of the window, if using newspaper it is best to wear rubber gloves !
Number 12
To remove the dust which is attracted onto television screens by the static of the screen use a damp paper towel with a drop of washing up liquid on it. Clean and dry with a second clean paper towel.
Number 13
Stains and spills on carpets should always be attended to as quickly as possible.
Never scrub these spills but blot up the liquid with cloth or paper towels.
Pour a little soda water over the spill as the bubbles in the water should help bring more of the spill to the surface of the carpet to allow you to blot up more of it.
Number 14
Use a chamois leather cloth and dampen the cloth before wringing out as tightly as possible.
Rub the cloth across the fabric gently and you should find the pet hair will gather into strips which will allow for easy remove as you move the cloth across the furniture.
Number 15
First use warm soapy water to clean the tiles and then dry using a towel or cloth.
Then using sing a mixture of half white vinegar and half warm water, clean your ceramic floor tiles. This will bring back the shine to the tiles.
To remove stubborn stains use a cream cleaner.
Number 16
You will often find to remove marks and stains from painted surfaces such as walls, you can use a small dab of cream cleaner.
This can be applied using a cloth and wiped cleaned.
Number 17
One of the best ways to remove stains from the bottom of a toilet bowl is to place a few denture cleaning tablets into the water of the bowl.
Leave this overnight to work their magic , and flush away in the morning. You will find this removes most stains and helps with lime scale.
Number 18
Pour a can of Cola into the toilet. Leave this to stand in the water / bowl for around one hour. You should find this removes most stains from the ceramic also.
Number 19
Using a soft cloth apply washing up liquid to the surface of the bath. Rinse the bath and then dry with a towel to help avoid water marks and leave it clean and shiny.
Number 20
Where furniture has made indented marks on carpets, move the furniture and place ice cubes on the marks. Leave the ice to melt, and often it will help lift and remove the marks / indents.
Number 21
If you spill something on your cooker while cooking, pour salt on the spill as quickly as possible. This will absorb the spill. Once the cooking is over and the area has cooled clean away the spill much easier by mopping up the salt.
Number 22
To remove lime scale from chrome taps (solid ones not plated ones) use half a lemon and rub it over the surface of the tap and leave it for a few minutes. Leave it for a few minutes and then rinse well. Lemon is a natural corrosive so use it carefully, but for highly scaled taps repeat the above as needed till clean.
Number 23
For stubborn stains use a mixture of salt and lemon juice. Alternatively use a paste of bicarbonate of soda, and leave either on the stains for one hour then wipe off and rinse.
Number 24
Often rather than buying expensive wax scratch kits you can use eyebrow pencils. Pick an appropriate colour one and rub this into the mark, suitable colours will help cover the mark.
Number 25
If you have a clogged drain try the following – half a cup of baking soda mixed with half a cup of white vinegar. Pour down the sink and leave for around ten minutes. After this time flush the drain with hot water. This should help unclogging drains.
Number 26
Stained and discoloured ceramic sinks can be bought back to whiteness by the use of bleach. Fill the sink with one cup approximately of bleach and then fill with cold water. Leave to soak and this should clean away staining.
Number 27
An easy way to clean leather furniture is to use baby wipes. Wipe the surfaces with the baby wipes to gently clean and moisturise the leather.
Number 28
To clean the grout between the tiles in say a shower or bathroom, use a mixture of half bleach and half water, and apply using an old toothbrush. Work your way around the tiles one line at a time to see good results.
Number 29
To freshen up a mattress remove all the bedding, and sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda. Leave the soda on the mattress for several hours, and then vacuum them off, this should remove many smells.
Number 30
One of the most simple ways to clean the dust off Venetian blinds is rather than using a duster wearing a pair of cotton gloves instead run your finger along the slates to remove the dust.
Number 31
If your pet is sick in the house, first sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda. Then scoop up using paper towels. Alternatively it can be removed with a vacuum cleaner potentially. Afterwards rinse the area with water water and disinfectant.
Number 32
Once a week pour a kettle of boiling water down the sink drain. This will prevent grease building up in the drain. Make sure you don’t forget the overflow also.
Number 33
To remove lime scale from chrome shower heads, leave them soaking for around an hour in a mixture of half water and half white vinegar. This should remove the lime scale but repeat if necessary. This is not recommended for plated appliances.
Number 34
One way to remove stickers from paintwork is to first peel as much of the sticker off as you can first. Then spray the remaining sticker with oil lubricant (such as WD40). This will then soak into the sticker and can be wiped off with a paper towel.
Number 35
As an alternative to expensive fabric conditioner, try using white vinegar , this acts as an alternative to commercial conditioner.
Number 36
A good way to remove chewing gum from leather such as seats or clothes, first pick off as much as will come off that way. Then use normal selotape / scotch tape, by placing it sticky side down on the gum and then pull away. This may take many goes but will eventually remove the gum.
Number 37
As soon as possible after spilling use soda water on the spill and dab up using paper towels. Reapply the soda and dab up until no red wine colour shows on the paper towels.
Number 38
To descale your kettle cover the element in a solution of half water and half white vinegar. Leave it overnight, and rinse multiple times to remove the vinegar taste. This will help descale the kettle.
Number 39
Stainless steel cutlery can be cleaned by wiping with undiluted white vinegar. Then rinse in warm soapy water. This should bring them up nice and shiny.
Number 40
To remove oil from your hands, use a mixture of washing up liquid and caster sugar. This will get in all the cracks in your hands and remove the oil much easier.
Number 41
A good way to clean a cutting board after cutting onions and other vegetables, which will remove the smell and the smaller bits of the vegetables, is to rub salt into the board, and scrub them off.
Number 42
Laminate flooring should be cleaned by simply using a vacuum cleaner on them first and then washing them over with a mop and warm water. Detergents and floor cleaning chemicals may discolour the laminate flooring.
Number 43
One of the most effective ways of removing mould from a bathroom surface such as a shower, is to use a mixture of bleach and water, and apply to the mould. Leave it for a few minutes and then wipe the surfaces off with a damp cloth. Apply again if the mould is stubborn.
Number 44
It is important to remember when washing away blood stains to use low temperature / cold water, as this will help stop the blood from clotting on the fabric. For fresh stains run under cold water and then hand wash with normal biological detergent. For older ground in stains soak the fabric and pre-wash in soda crystals before the main wash.
Number 45
Often the best way to clean curtains without washing or dry cleaning them is to vacuum them. Work from top to bottom to get the best results.
Number 46
Remove candle wax from where it is not supposed to be by first covering it in ice cubes. Then crack the surface of the wax and scrape off gently using a blunt knife or similar.
Number 47
Soak the stain in milk and leave for a few hours soaking. Wash and dry in the normal manner afterwards. Stubborn or permanent ink stains might need to be spot treated with methylated spirits. By dabbing the back of the stain before washing and drying thoroughly.
Number 48
Can be treated with either white vinegar or toothpaste (not the gel variety). Rinse and then repeat the application until the stain is removed.
Number 49
Allow the mud to dry and then shake / brush off the excess mud. Then with half of a cut potato rub this over the stain and then wash as per normal.
Number 50
Sadly birds often do their droppings on your clean washing hung out to dry. Basically scrape off the droppings and rewash the clothes. If they are heavily soiled spot clean first with biological washing powder.