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Post by chronic on May 20, 2008 13:52:35 GMT -5
Okay, I've been watching episodes of "How Clean is Your House" on YouTube. I have a theory that there is some conspiracy at work to keep all these funky-fabulous cleaning secrets out of the hands of the rest of us!
Grapefruit halved with salt = tub scrubber?
Biological powder? Huh?
Or are they dealing with / referring to stuff we have here, just calling it by different names? I am amazed at some of the transformations but it could just be the magic of TV. Still, I love the scent of grapefruit, can't hurt to try it!
Anyone else use tricks like this, have "natural" cleaning secrets? I found myself without even my usual standbys the other day (vinegar, baking soda, bleach) and had to clean my tub. I ended up using antibacterial dish soap and some salt. Came out okay.
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Post by Script on May 20, 2008 14:46:11 GMT -5
I have never seen this show, but I have SEEN articles about using regular home items for cleaning:
*half a lemon
*vinegar
*baking soda
*salt
I often pour vinegar and baking soda down the kitchen drain; leave it to sit for a bit; then pour a kettle of boiling water down.
Also I have used laundry powder to wash dishes. I have used SHAMPOO and a face cloth to wash a bath-tub (I think I read that one at FlyLady---this is a great way to use up bits of shampoo).
Luv from Script
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Post by Admin on May 20, 2008 15:10:53 GMT -5
i watched a behind-the-scenes episode of how clean is your house. the two main ladies don't really do any work, other than what you see on air. they actually have one guy that his whole job is making the gloves. another guy's job, is to do internet searches for these 'odd' cleaning ideas. because the ideas change almost every show. it was interesting to watch. i do love watching that show though.
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Post by bluefrog on May 20, 2008 18:31:00 GMT -5
A person whose job is to do internet searches for odd cleaning ideas?  I'd LOVE that job! They wouldn't even have to pay me--they could just come clean my house. |
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Post by wantinmore on May 20, 2008 18:47:56 GMT -5
Hi Chronic!!
I am so glad to see that you "crossed over"!!
I love "How Clean Is Your House" and often wonder what biological washing powder is!!
I think it has something to do with emzyems (sp?).
I agree bluefrog!! What a dream job!!!!
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Post by Admin on May 20, 2008 18:51:15 GMT -5
i LOVE hearing the little name differences in their english. love it. and their accents. i live in a bubble and am happy to please.  . |
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Post by chronic on May 20, 2008 19:23:35 GMT -5
Great tips! Cool to know I am already using some, just out of necessity/creativity. Just the other day I put all our toothbrushes in a gallon zip loc bag, filled it with hot water, a squirt of antibac dish soap, and a capful of listerine. . I wanted to do a very weak bleach water soak but was out of bleach and I wanted to buy more toothbrushes but hadn't gotten to the store so I sterilized them this way until I get some new ones.  I must say, however... the Listerine we have (it's not cool mint) smells absolutely FOUL. Ugh. It's the whitening kind. Gross, but it works. As for caulk, I just cleaned out the nastiest thing ever I think...well that's an exaggeration, I am sure I've cleaned worse, but I just discovered someone before us had used the wrong kind of caulk around the shower. They used the clear window kind, NOT the mold resistant bathroom kind, and it was all gummed up and not doing anything to protect from water seepage, and was nasty filthy black and brown and had slipped under the edge of the tub surround. I had to pull it all out with needle nose pliers. Eww. I have a tip of my own, one of the few pieces of advice from my mom that actually sunk in: to clean a crusted/burned/foody skillet, fill with hot water and dish soap, put it on the stove, turn the burner on med-hi, and as it boils the soapy water, use a spatula to scrape the gunk loose. The heat REALLY helps. Along that line of thought, has anyone tried a home steam cleaner? I watched more of that show today (HCIYH) and got a real kick out of this USA episode.. they really reminded me of my family. Minus the beer funnel, and with more adults. . Even the whole "mom is coming" thing. Reminds me of when MY mom is coming. By the way, thanks for the links and explanations. I thought Biological powder was some magic stuff?! ! I only buy powdered laundry detergent. Guess I should get some cheap powdered for other uses. I saw how it helped that one stove where she turned the blow dryer on it.... and my stove is about as bad! Gonna buy some grapefruit too! We all hate the taste but love the smell. Isn't that weird? I want an excuse to have the sent in my house. Now what's this I read about oranges in a microwave?? |
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Post by chronic on May 20, 2008 19:28:38 GMT -5
All from the HCIYH site: "wipe a stainless steel hob with baby oil and when you spill or splash food on it ,it will just wipe off with ease" <snip> What's a hob? |
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Post by dirtylilsecrets on May 20, 2008 20:12:22 GMT -5
I love that show.... sometimes it actually makes me feel so much better to really see that others struggle as much, sometimes even more, than I do with squalor. It's so much better than the shows that portray a little bit of clutter and act all freaked out about it. The people they show are so "real". I really wonder what happens to everything though. I wish they'd do a "behind the scenes" series. Once they get things cleaned up, everything is GONE. Where did it go, how long did it really take to make it all disappear and how did they do it? There isn't a lot of time spent showing the sorting of the stuff and the decisions and emotional trauma. The before and after really is encouraging though and proof that it can be done.
I use a lot of hydrogen peroxide to clean the messes that give me the heebie-jeebies. To look at my squalor you'd never realize that I also have big issues about actually touching filth... which makes it really hard for me to clean it. The way the peroxide foams up white actually helps me cope with it psychologically. I get the brown quart plastic bottle and screw a sprayer cap right onto the bottle.
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Post by Minnibella on May 20, 2008 20:29:56 GMT -5
Krazykatlady,
I just looked at that clip, and truthfully I emphathized with that woman....there's something going on with her there and if she does not deal with it, I am afraid that her house may go back to the way it was.
By the way, I like the show also!
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Post by WestsideStory on May 20, 2008 20:38:25 GMT -5
Chronic, I am sorry ... don't mean to seem like I am picking on you, but I am in the middle of reading Organic Housekeeping, and your well-intended use of antibacterial dish soap raised a RED flag. <<Just the other day I put all our toothbrushes in a gallon zip loc bag, filled it with hot water, a squirt of antibac dish soap, and a capful of listerine. . I wanted to do a very weak bleach water soak but was out of bleach and I wanted to buy more toothbrushes but hadn't gotten to the store so I sterilized them this way until I get some new ones. >> Kudos on everything but the antibacterial dish soap -- sounds like a very creative and frugal solution to the toothbrush situation. Antimicrobials are not good for humans, our food, and other living things like animals, fish, birds, etc. To quote from Organic Housekeeping, pp. 72-73: "The American Medical Association (AMA) released a report in 2000 which stated that bacteria are developing resistance to the antimicrobials which are increasingly being added to consumer products such as dish soaps, bath soaps, hand soaps, toothpaste, and hand lotions, and that the use of these products may lead to antibiotic resistance. The report stated: 'Ultimately, antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that has to be controlled... The use of common antimicrobials ... in consumer products should be discontinued...' "All the bacteria that survive antibacterials become the foundations of new, improved bacterial Superraces. Ironically, research has shown that regular hand soap and dish liquid soap are just as effective as killing backteria as antibacterial soaps are. ... "It is not just their salutary effect on dangerous bacteria that makes antibacterials hazardous: (the most commonly used antibacterial, triclosan) was found in 58% of the water bodies tested. (Scientists examined what happens to triclosan when it entered the natural environment) and discovered that it degraded into a form of dioxin [the chemical that cause the Love Canal contaminated site among other major environmental disasters]. "Never assume that 'biodegradable' means harmless. Many synthetic compounds biodegrade into more dangerous compounds." Sorry to go on at so much length about this, but with all the advertising money going into promoting the use of antibacterial and antimicrobial products, busy working Moms like you are led to believe that they are doing a good thing for their family when they buy these products, and that is simply not true -- assuming that the Moms care whether or not their kids or grandkids are killed by malicious antibiotic-and/or-drug-resistant SuperGerms ... BTW, thanks for your Mom's useful hint about burned on stuff on pots and pans. I'm tending to burn dinner every so often if I am really caught up on the computer in the other room. :/ Next time I loose track of time I'll check it out. ...Stepping down from my natural, environmentally friendly soapbox... WestsideStory |
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Post by Minnibella on May 20, 2008 21:03:54 GMT -5
Krazykatlady,
I am sorry for the misunderstanding...It also cracked me up too!!! Not only did I laugh at Kim and Aggie, but I was also emphatizing with that lady too-looks like me a little!
Sorry, I did not mean to imply you were laughing at her...
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2008 6:33:50 GMT -5
i get nausteated when aggie sticks her fingers in the toilet and scraps the crap out with her nails. UGH. seriously, how could anyone do that?  |
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hollymaid
New Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 99
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Post by hollymaid on May 21, 2008 12:40:07 GMT -5
I love that show to. Makes me not feel so bad about my own house. I would not want those ladies to show up at my house. Having my mess on tv... I would die of embarassment. I love the way the "act" like this is the worst place yet.
I do have a question about cleanning with mouth wash~ does it have to be listerine I have some anti bacterial scoop kicking around the house. Would that work the same? Also, is the carpet left sticky from the mouth wash and do you dilute it?
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hollymaid
New Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 99
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Post by hollymaid on May 22, 2008 11:29:25 GMT -5
I got another Question What is sugar soap?
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