Five Shortcuts to Make Cleaning Your Bathroom Easy

Removing soap scum, mildew, and hard water stains are as easy as can be, even without harsh chemicals. These quick and simple steps will transform cleaning your bathroom from a dreaded chore into an earth-friendly breeze. Which leaves more time for doing the things you really want to do in the bathroom, like taking a long, luxurious bath.

Visit our new website for five shortcuts to make cleaning your bathroom easy. 

Five Ways to Take Care of Your Home This Winter

Halloween has come and gone, the snow has been falling here on the East Coast, and we can no longer deny that winter has arrived. The silver lining to this cloud is that it’s a perfect opportunity to share our favorite household tips for the season. Visit our new website for five simple ways to save money and take care of your home this winter.

Tip of the Day: Tea Trick

Here’s a terrific way to make your post-dinner clean up a breeze. Remove cooked-on food from pots and pans effortlessly by filling them with water, adding a tea bag, and simmering. The tea’s acid will break up food.

Tip of the Day: Baking Soda for Delicates

You don’t need to spend money on detergents just for delicates. Instead, use this homemade solution: 1 cup baking soda mixed with 1 cup warm water. The baking soda will clean your clothes without harming their delicate fibers.

Tip of the Day: Lock Block

Have a padlock on your shed or something else outdoors? Keep it from rusting by keeping it from the elements. Slice open the side of a tennis ball (carefully!) and slip it over the lock to protect it.

Tip of the Day: No More Spots on Stainless Steel

You’ve scrubbed it twice, but you can’t seem to get those water spots out of your stainless steel sink! The solution? A little white vinegar. Just rub into the spots and they’ll disappear.

Tip of the Day: Wallpaper Remover

Redoing a room with a wallpaper border? Easily remove it by blowing hot air from a hair dryer on it. The heat will loosen the glue and it will peel right off.

Tip of the Day: When Coffee Stains Are a Good Thing

Cover up scratches in wood furniture or floors with coffee! Just brew a very strong pot, and then use a cotton ball or rag to apply the coffee over the scratch. It works as a stain, and will have the scratch blending in with the floor in no time!

Tip of the Day: Just Don't Slip

Here’s an unlikely tool for polishing your shoes: a banana. Just rub the banana peel over your shoes, moist side down. Then buff with a soft cloth.

Tip of the Day: Winning Wicker

Make sure your wicker patio furniture lasts through the fall and winter no matter where you store it. Lightly brush it with a small amount of vegetable oil and the wicker or rattan will stay supple.

Tip of the Day: Find the Stain

If you spilled something on a tablecloth or blanket, make the stain easy to find in the laundry room by clipping a bobby pin or safety pin onto the location. Find the pin and you’ve found the stain!

Tip of the Day: No More Misplaced Keys

If you’re always misplacing your keys around the house, tie a brightly-colored ribbon to your keychain. They’ll be much easier to spot.

Tip of the Day: Shiny Leaves

Use olive oil to keep the leaves of houseplants shiny. Just rub a little bit on each side of the leaf using a cotton ball or rag. It will get rid of dust and keep them gleaming!

Tip of the Day: Save on Soap

These days, most dishwashing liquids have moisturizers in them to keep your hands smooth even after doing the dishes. They work so well, you can use dishwashing liquid as a stand-in for hand soap! Just fill an old soap dispenser with 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid and top off with water. Shake to combine and you’ll have hand soap at a fraction of the cost.

Tip of the Day: Never Buy Fabric Softener Again!

You can use white vinegar in lieu of fabric softener! Use the same proportions as you would for a liquid fabric softener—you’ll never notice the difference.

Tip of the Day: Goodbye Gummy Mess

If you’ve gotten gum on your clothes, try rubbing them with egg whites using an old toothbrush. If that doesn’t work, you can also try placing a piece of wax paper on the affected area, then ironing the wax paper. The gum should transfer from the cloth to the paper—problem solved!

Tip of the Day: Waterproof with Wax

To waterproof something you’ve written with marker on your child’s school supplies or on a package you’re sending, rub over the writing with a white candle. The wax will repel water, but you’ll still be able to see through it.

Tip of the Day: Fix Stuck Plugs

If an electric plug on an appliance fits too snugly and is difficult to pull out, rub its prongs with a soft lead pencil and it will move in and out more easily.

Tip of the Day: Clothes Love Cold

No matter which temperature you choose to wash your clothes, always use a cold-water rinse. It will help the clothes retain their shape and color, and you’ll save money and energy by not taxing your water heater.

Tip of the Day: Suede Cleaner

Got a grease spot on suede? Vinegar to the rescue! Simply dip an old toothbrush in white vinegar and gently brush over the grease.