Simple Cleaning Tips From Simple Solutions Diva

January 17, 2014 / Simple Cleaning Tips, Simple Ideas / 0 comment

Cleaning is not always on the top of our list of “Fun” things to do, but it is something that we have to do at some point! Here are some simple solutions to some common cleaning challenges:

But I HATE Cleaning! – Hate tackling cleaning jobs (like I do)? Pick one project to do, put on some good music, set a timer for 15-20 minutes and tackle just one job. When the timer goes off, stop and move on. And don’t feel guilty! I use this tip to tackle some of the paper piles that build up on my desk, or to do a speed pick up of a room.

Vinegar – The Super Cleaner! I love using vinegar to do some simple cleaning jobs around the house. It is non-toxic and does a great job! Try out some of these cleaning tips using white vinegar:

Clean Your Microwave – Fill a microwave safe bowl with ½ c. white vinegar and ½ c. water. Run in microwave 3-4 minutes. Take a damp cloth and wipe down inside of microwave– the steam, plus vinegar, helps to loosen cooked on debris and deodorize the inside of the microwave.
Simple Way To Clean Gunk Off Shower Head– Do mineral deposits clog your shower head? Fill a quart-sized baggie with white vinegar. Take a rubber band and attach the vinegar-filled bag to your shower head, making sure the shower head is covered completely with the vinegar. Leave on overnight. The vinegar will do the cleaning for you! The next day, remove the bag, take an old toothbrush (you will toss after using!) and gentle scrub the shower head. The crusted on gunk should come off easily! To see the process in action, Click Here.

Non-Toxic Way To De-Gunk Your Shower Head, from SimpleSolutionsDiva.com.

Dust It? No, Roll It! – Have dusty lampshades but find it awkward to vacuum the shades? Use a lint roller to get the dust off the shade.

Remove Sticky Stickers from Dishes or Glassware– Use rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or Q-tip to tackle the job. If it doesn’t come off, soak a cotton ball in the rubbing alcohol and let sit o the sticker for 5 minutes before trying again.

You can check out more links to other video cleaning tips from Simple Solutions Diva:

Putting Pinterest To The Test: Clean Your Top Loading Washer

How To Remove Mildew From Towels

Uses For Vinegar Around The House

And finally, here is an interesting link from BuzzFeed.com on 16 Common Product Combinations You Should Never Mix.

Thank you to WTLV-TV’s First Coast Living for inviting me on the show to share these tips!

Spring Fever = Spring Cleaning!

April 10, 2013 / Simple Cleaning Tips, Simple Ideas, Simple Project, Spring Fever! / 0 comment

Getting ready to tackle the big spring cleaning jobs around your house, but don’t want to spend a fortune on commercial cleaners that may, or may not, work? Consumer Reports ShopSmartMag.org (April 2013) recommends three, tried and true, homemade recipes for cleaners that are inexpensive and easy to make!

All-Purpose Vinegar Cleaner: Good For Counters

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water

1. Combine the vinegar and water in a spray bottle.

2. Shake well to blend

All-Purpose Soapy Ammonia: Use on Walls and Floors

1/2 cup household ammonia
1 teaspoon mild liquid dishwashing detergent (without bleach)

1. Combine the ammonia and liquid dishwashing detergent in a bottle.

2. Shake well to blend.

3. Dilute in 1 gallon of water for use on walls and floors.

Glass-And-Window Cleaner

7 pints cold water
1/2 cup soapy ammonia
1 pint rubbing alcohol

1. Fill a 1- or 2-gallon bucket with the water. Carefully add the ammonia and rubbing alcohol (See Safety Tips below).

2. Mix well and pour into spray bottles. The mixture should clean glass well and leave few or no streaks.

5 SAFETY MUSTS!!

Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, or other acids. Those combos can produce deadly gases.
Always wear gloves to protect skin.
Store safely. Keep all cleaners, including homemade ones, well labeled. Store them away from kids and pets.
When working with chemical cleaners, check warning labels, open windows and doors, and keep kids and pets far away from where you’re cleaning.
Try a cleaner in a hidden spot before using it on a surface for the first time.

Top Four Common Product Combinations To Never Mix

February 25, 2014 / Simple Cleaning Tips, Simple Ideas / 0 comment

With so many great cleaning ideas floating around Pinterest, it really is important to know that some common household products, when combined together, can be dangerous! Thank you to BuzzFeed.com for these combination warnings – visit the site for more combinations that are not good.

Take a look at these products that you should never mix:

Bleach and Vinegar

These are great cleaners — when used separately! But combine these two, and you end up with Toxic Chlorine Gas! It can cause a chemical burn to your eyes and lungs.

Ammonia and Bleach

This combination, if you inhale the vapors, could cause respiratory damage and throat burns. BuzzFeed.com highlights a story of a man who used Ammonia, Bleach and Drano to unclog his toilet, was overcome by the fumes, and died. I don’t know about you, but cleaning my toilet is NOT the way I want to go!

Rubbing Alcohol and Bleach

This chemical cocktail creates chloroform – Who knew? It can damage your nervous system, eyes, lungs, kidneys and more. Extremely high exposure can actually cause death, and even low levels of exposure can cause dizziness and nausea.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar

You can use these items as cleaners, separately. But if you combine them together in the same container (like a spray bottle for cleaning), you can create a corrosive acid! use them on the same surface, separately.

Check out Buzzfeed.com to see the full listing of products they recommend you do not combine!

Searching for ""Cleaning" "Vinegar""

Bleach and Vinegar

Ammonia and Bleach

Rubbing Alcohol and Bleach

Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar