Pssssst! Household secrets!!!!

[jean_ji]

I have small rare earth magnets holding my measuring spoons to the refrigerator. No getting them off a ring or searching for the right size, they are always ready to go.

[Riley.]

Someone who helped me clean the house a few times gave me this tip:

for cleaning the shower, make a spray bottle with Dawn dishwashing detergent and white vinegar. Shake. Spray on shower walls, moisten, and rub it in. Let it sit for a 'little while.' Come back, moisten, rub it around some more and then rinse. This totally cleans a shower stall of soap residue.

[nuts2uiam]

Originally Posted by brokensky

Mix baking soda w/ hydrogen peroxide for toothpaste!

Reminds me of another hint!!! Those runners - whatever you call them - those metal thingies on shower doors and sliding doors?????

Here is the easiest method I have ever found for cleaning them - even when they are really really nasty! Just pour hydrogen peroxide on them. Let that sit and bubble. Then come back about 10 minutes later w/ a cleaning brush - and the goop will all come up very easily! Just rinse and you are done - NO SCRUBBING!!!

Hey - once the runners dry - wonder if you could then spray them w/ WD-40????? Hmmmmm. Or wax them w/ car wax . . . to keep the build up from coming back as quickly???? Anyone tried that?

No not in the shower but you can use silicone spray.

[silibran]

Originally Posted by PacificaViews

I call "smart" washing machines for what they are: mildew machines. They use less water, mostly just mist your clothes, etc, and create mold that way. Buy a SpeedQueen like used at laundry mats, with manual turning knobs, and use dye free detergent like Tide free & clear. Don't use liquid softeners. Use free / clear Bounce sheets in dryer. All those Afresh & scented products are scams because a bad washing machine means dirty clothes. Most all new machines these days that claim they are efficient and smart, are actually harboring dirt. If you want your clothes clean - use plenty of water and soap, not misting machines with fragrance products. After we bought our SpeedQueen, we never looked back at all those machines we had before, like fancy expensive Bosch front loaders, etc.

We own a newer LG and it does clean my clothes. I run a bleach cycle periodically to help with mildew. But the biggest help with the He machines is to leave the door open when it is not in use. This works with top loaders machines. I would not have a front loader. I bend down enough using a dryer!

I am not sure where you got your info about newer machines “harboring dirt” or even what that means. I do agree about not using fabric softener, unless you wash mostly synthetics. If you wash mostly natural fibers, you don’t need fabric softener, IMO.

[Riley.]

Here's another one (also suggested to me by a woman who helped me clean my house).

Use Easy Off oven cleaning spray on the grates from the stove (go over the burners). I have a Maytag stove and I could NOT get those grates clean. Spray with Easy Off and let sit for a few hours. Good as new with a bit of scrubbing. Note to self: Don't let them get so encrusted the next time.

[foodyum]

Just finished applying linseed oil to my heavy aluminum outdoor dining table. I keep it out all winter and a light coat applied with a rag and left to dry in the sun really brings it back to life. I also do the heavy oak front door which gets pounded by snow