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Post by cyn on Dec 18, 2014 17:11:18 GMT -5
Some day, my home will be so desqualored, that when I go to clean something it will be just like how they do it on commercials: I'm going to have a lovely clean sponge, and wipe some cleaning product over the pretty, already-clean-looking surface, and that will be that! I won't even *remember* when I used metal scrubbies to get the grime off of everything, or how I had to use a razor blade/screwdriver combo to chip away at water deposits, or how I had to use a steak knife (today's antics) to scrape out filth from a window track. That's my New Year's Resolution - to be able to clean with soft cloths and sponges. Forget having to literally *scrape* these items clean!  |
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Post by def6 on Dec 18, 2014 17:46:53 GMT -5
dreaming with you… with a spotless apron on and my hair all done up…. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 18:30:02 GMT -5
here is a thing I got off of pinterest. For the window tracks, put down some baking soda and add some vinegar and let it bubble up. You still have a little rubbing to do, but it gets those crevasses mighty clean.
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Post by lesaulerouge on Dec 19, 2014 1:46:48 GMT -5
Add an old toothbrush to hordfest's suggestion and you're all set! Works on limescale and grubby grouting too.
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Post by aquamarine on Dec 19, 2014 4:54:34 GMT -5
I too use old demoted toothbrushes, although as scrubbing is not usually necessary it is mainly to get at awkward corners and behind things. I do not like sponges: I use microfibre cloths and they are fantastic. I also need only use cheap, safe, gentle cleaning products.
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Post by lesaulerouge on Dec 19, 2014 5:02:47 GMT -5
Yep, microfibre cloths here too, for everything. I have white flowered ones that I know are only for the kitchen, then the coloured ones get used for absolutely everything else.
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Post by shosha on Dec 19, 2014 5:40:46 GMT -5
Microfibre cloths and hot water are excellent, you can also get microfibre pads sometimes, which are basically two microfibre cloths with a bit of sponge between them, sewn around the sides and usually "quilted" a bit, too. Also have a few cotton cloths on hand because they can be stuck in a bowl of water, microwaved for a minute or two, then lifted out with a spoon or whatever (don't stick your fingers in boiling water, basically!) and plopped onto horrible grimy dried-on gack (e.g. if some food got spilled on the floor and you didn't notice/didn't feel up to dealing with it at the time and suddenly it's two weeks later...) Leave it for a couple of minutes (if it's *really* bad you might want to pour a couple of drops of cleaning product onto the area before plopping) and then you should be able to scrub moderately hard and get pretty much the whole lot up.
(I guess the same could be done with a microfibre cloth by sticking it in a bowl of already-boiling water, but in my experience it works a bit better if the cloth's been nuked as well, which you can't do with microfibre, could just be a placebo effect, but whatever!)
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Post by ohblondie on Dec 19, 2014 8:47:55 GMT -5
Cleaning in a dress, with an apron, wearing pearls.....channeling my inner Donna Reed........ (Is anyone here old enough to remember Donna Reed?)
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Post by cyn on Dec 19, 2014 9:27:29 GMT -5
Thanks for all the cleaning tips, everyone.  Hordfest, I'm going to try that solution on my bedroom window, because it's got some mold growth in the tracks. And I do usually use a toothbrush, but yesterday's challenge was too much for those delicate little bristles, ha. I looked at a microfibre cloth the other day, thinking I might buy it after seeing so many people here endorse them - but I was worried that my mess needed something tougher...most of my surfaces haven't been cleaned in forever....but maybe I should give one a try after all? Ohblondie, Donna Reed was before my time - although I did get into older movies at one point - Bette Davis was my favorite. But I can't picture her worrying about housework,  . |
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Post by dayeanu on Dec 19, 2014 9:53:06 GMT -5
Can you boil microfiber? I didn't think it could tolerate boiling or bleaching. But I love them for cleaning. I color code mine. Blue is always for floors. I prefer to use natural cleaners like vinegar and baking soda. And I do remember Donna Reed and June Clever! Who in their right mind would wear heels at home! To cook and clean, no less! (I was always a bad apple! !) |
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Post by Unswamping on Dec 19, 2014 9:56:57 GMT -5
cyn i dont know if you have a dollar tree near you. I get microfiber clothes there. Also they have the microfiber pads that shoshatikvah described. One side has a scrubber type surface. I find they work well and if they get really bad, heck they were only a buck. Actually i think there are two in a package. I also buy packs of tootbrushes there. I always save my old one to use as a cleaning tool but sometimes i need more. Also don't forget to let the cleaning products do their work. That was something i needed to learn, to have a little patience. So spray on and let it sit for a minute, then wipe. I know youre talking about heavy duty cleaning, ive been there, letting the cleaner work does really make it easier. I tend to use more natural, gentler cleaner. Baking soda is a good abrasive, vinegar cuts through grease and mineral deposits. I also do the hot wet rag soak on gunky spots. Youre doing great on your cleanup. Just hoping that everyones tips will make it a little easier for you.
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Post by shosha on Dec 19, 2014 10:01:28 GMT -5
Microfibre's good because it's strong and usually somewhat scrubby, so you can really, er, scrub at things if you need to. With hot enough water (wear rubber gloves!!) and maybe some detergent if you really need it, it's amazing what they can get up. And like I say, if something won't be damaged by having hot water soaking into it, just having a cloth dripping/wrung out with very hot/boiling water sitting on many things for five or ten minutes will be enough to soften them enough to scrub away. If you've got mould growing in places, it's probably worth wiping them down afterwards with water with a bit of thin* bleach in it. You can buy 'mould and mildew spray' but it's usually just watered down bleach, anyway!
*i.e. the stuff that sloshes around in the bottle, not the gloopy kind that you use to clean loos/unblock sinks, I think it has something added to make it thicker that seems to make it not disperse quite so well in water
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Post by shosha on Dec 19, 2014 10:04:23 GMT -5
Can you boil microfiber? I didn't think it could tolerate boiling or bleaching.) No, I don't think so, hence I wouldn't microwave it, but it seems to tolerate boiling water well enough - the thing with boiling water is it's generally rapidly-cooling-water unless you've got a largeish container of it (like, I wouldn't put a microfibre cloth in a bowl of boiling water and leave it for five minutes, but it seems to be okay with being dunked in boiling water and immediately dumped out onto the surface in need of cleaning). |
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Post by hiding on Dec 19, 2014 15:55:48 GMT -5
For Cyn -  |
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Post by cyn on Dec 20, 2014 10:20:36 GMT -5
Hiding, - I was trying to post a picture of Fonzie, to go with Spongebob - "Ayyyyy!" |
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