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Post by desi on Apr 18, 2015 15:05:17 GMT -5
I wanted to start a thread where we can ask questions about cleaning techniques, tips and tricks for cleaning areas or items in our homes.
I have come to realize that I am not really a good cleaner and lack the skills to get my house really clean so I would love to discuss it here and learn more. Please feel free to ask questions or share your best tips!
My first question is... I have painted walls that are super dirty in my kitchen. Grease, spots, food splatter and grime built up for years. What's the best way to really deep clean them? I have tried hot water and washing detergent but it's not really strong enough to get them clean. Any ideas?
The walls are concrete with paint on them so I can scrub them without ruining them, if necessary.
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Post by Serendipity on Apr 18, 2015 17:06:25 GMT -5
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Post by immaculata on Apr 18, 2015 17:08:03 GMT -5
My first question is... I have painted walls that are super dirty in my kitchen. Grease, spots, food splatter and grime built up for years. What's the best way to really deep clean them? I have tried hot water and washing detergent but it's not really strong enough to get them clean. Any ideas? The walls are concrete with paint on them so I can scrub them without ruining them, if necessary. I remember watching How Clean Is Your House? and if I recall correctly, the best thing for it would be a solution of sugar soap. It's a cleaning liquid that you mix with water and it is usually used for prepping surfaces before they are painted. I've never used the stuff myself, but hopefully someone more experienced than I will chime in. My questions would be: how do I get serious limescale off a smoked glass shower door? And how do I clean the lichen off the outside of skylights that don't open? Do I need to hire a windowcleaner or Spiderman? |
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Post by 7sweetbabiesgranny on Apr 18, 2015 19:46:12 GMT -5
Just read this and tried it myself
For the bottom of a shower that's rough,
So you don't slip
Use Dawn and baking soda
Scrub with a brush
Worked great!
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Post by Di on Apr 18, 2015 20:21:10 GMT -5
immaculata, My DD cleans homes. She uses Bounce dryer sheets on shower doors and loves the results. I haven't tried it. She did mention that off brand doesn't work.
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Post by needmorecoffee on Apr 18, 2015 22:56:45 GMT -5
Walls: For painted concrete a steam duck might work well. Sugar soap will remove the very top layer of paint. it'll work but you'll need to be on top of cleaning the wall every time it gets dirty as you can't keep sugar soaping or you'll lose all the paint eventually. I'd suggest vinegar and dishliquid mixed 50/50 and left to soak if the paint is hardy enough, then rubbed down with a microfibre cloth that had been dusted with bicarb. In the reqally bad spots, go ahead and use sugar soap. The paint in my house is not great and comes off the walls with ease, Super frustrating in a house that's 2.5 years old I'm already having to touch up paint. I use a product called magic eraser for walls when a basic wipe down won't shift marks. Shower: 2 parts vinegar to 1 part dish liquid. let soak 30-60 mins, wipe down. For badly watermarked glass, make a paste with Bicarb Soda and scrub the soaked glass with it. If it's still not coming off, your hardware store should carry a professional limescale remover. Windows: Dirty windows on the outside of the house can be spray with half strength vinegar then hosed off. They'll come up a lot better than straight hosing, especially if they're dusty. Any suggestions for tiles that have stains from pot plant water? I haven't tried to remove them yet, but I'll need to before I move out, and hopefully before then! Why shouldn't I have nice tiles now!  |
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Post by shellsncheese on Apr 19, 2015 0:50:53 GMT -5
How do I clean mini-blinds? Like, really clean them.
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Post by bub on Apr 19, 2015 2:12:38 GMT -5
Plastic Mini blinds- you can take them down and soak them in a bathtub, as long as the top metal part isn't submerged. Use a bit of dish soap and hot water, then rub each slat with a cloth or paper towel.
I clean one slat at a time with a damp paper towel and dish soap/water. The grime in the kitchen is unbelievable when it builds up. Most of mine are wood so they can't be soaked.
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Post by desi on Apr 19, 2015 11:03:07 GMT -5
Serendipity, immaculata and needmorecoffee, thanks for your suggestions! I will start with the vinegar solution that needmorecoffee suggested and see how it works, since I already have everything at home to do it. Will report back later with the result!
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momofacutie
New Member
I'm also under the user name Alexandra. :)
Joined: August 2013
Posts: 36 
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Post by momofacutie on Apr 21, 2015 9:34:40 GMT -5
I've used the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers on walls before, I think they work fine.
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Post by angela on Apr 21, 2015 13:14:03 GMT -5
My question..my toilet is getting stained looking despite regular bowl brushing and addition of baking soda. I have been hesitant to use a pumice stone but is that really the best choice?
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Post by desi on Apr 21, 2015 13:21:57 GMT -5
My question..my toilet is getting stained looking despite regular bowl brushing and addition of baking soda. I have been hesitant to use a pumice stone but is that really the best choice? When my toilet looked stained, and had calcium spots in it, I used the Johnson WC-duck (think it's an American brand?) to get it clean. I poured the liquid all over the inside of the bowl and let it sit overnight, gave it a good scrub with the toilet brush in the morning and repeated every day until it looked clean again. It took about a week to get it sparkling again. |
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Post by mynicehome on Apr 21, 2015 22:19:49 GMT -5
I have a tip for those who wash dishes by hand, like I do. I buy the packets of dishwasher detergent that contain a bleach alternative and dissolve one into a empty squirt bottle of dishwashing soap. When I fill my sink, I put a long squirt of the dishwasher dilute in along with the dish soap. I find this works really well to keep coffee stains out of my cups and other dishes just generally cleaner looking. ![]() |
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Post by razy on Apr 22, 2015 1:19:26 GMT -5
In this country (and I assume it is the same in others) some toilet cleaners are acidic and some are not. I found one that was acidic cleaned the stains and build up off the toilet bowl. I don't have to use it all the time, which is good because it is has a very strong smell.
Greasy walls - ammonia based cleaner and hot water
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Post by horseatemymoney on Apr 22, 2015 9:02:13 GMT -5
My question..my toilet is getting stained looking despite regular bowl brushing and addition of baking soda. I have been hesitant to use a pumice stone but is that really the best choice? I have found that coke in the toilet bowl, left overnight, then scrubbed off with a toilet brush is pretty good for removing lime scale. If the lime scale is bad, you might need to repeat it a couple of times. I would be careful about mixing certain products together, bleach and ammonia when mixed can give of poison gas, which can kill you. For cleaning glass, spraying with vinegar and water mix, then polishing with crumpled newspaper can give good results. I also use a silicon scraper to remove water from just cleaned baths, shower glass and windows for a smear free finish. For removing pet hair from carpets, get a pair of rubber soled shoes,wet the soles, then drag your feet along the carpet, the hair will come into clumps, that are easy to pick up. Croc type shoes work well, as the soles are not smooth. This also has the advantage of giving you a bit of a workout. |
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