tricks of the trade

J

jdoll

Cathlete
Ok, Maixmus has inspired me to do this thread.....(with her nuts solving furniture scratches post on nuts freakin expensive thread)

So here it is......What are some random little tricks you know for solving the household problems.....you know, stains, scratches, beauty secrets...that kind of stuff. i find home remedies facinating.

jes
 
Good idea Jes!

I use salt to absorb spilled wine on carpet. Before you blot, or rub or do anything, just go nuts and pour on the salt. It will draw a good portion of the wine up into it. Suck it up (but don't use your vacuum cleaner unless you want red salt falling out all over the place for months to come - a wet/dry vac would be better) and repeat as needed. I still find there will be some discoloration but it's much easier to treat and get clean.
 
In my family, if red wine spills, we immediately douse it with white wine to help remove the stain.

I don't really know any other tips because I have so little and such old furniture that I am going to chuck it all out and start again when we next move or one of us gets a better job!

Clare
 
Geez, Jes, did you read my mind?? I just stated on the daily check-in thread that I need to go clean up cat puke, and voila! Here's a thread all about cleaning crap off carpets. Merci!

I have no tricks that come to mind at the moment. Obviously the "ignore it and it will go away" trick doesn't really work. Well actually, it seems to work when DH is home, because he actually gets off his butt and fixes things. This means that I have to be careful not to ignore him, 'cause I don't want him to go away!

Sandra
 
>This salt trick also works for animal "accidents".

Can you please explain how to do this? My oldest cat is marking our new house and it's killing me - NOTHING gets out the smell!!! I don't know what else to do!

Do use a lot of salt? A little bit? Leave it on for how long and vacuum it up?

Thanks!

Susan L.G.
 
Dawn dishwashing liquid soap is the best spot remover for carpet. When we had just built our house my son spilled red salsa all over the white/gray berber carpeting. Dawn took it right out!
 
>In my family, if red wine spills, we immediately douse it
>with white wine to help remove the stain.
>
>


Clare-that just seems like a waste of some perfectly good white wine! :)
 
If you burn yourself in the kitchen, splash vinegar on the affected area. Takes the pain away and you can reapply it as needed.
 
I've never had to use this, but since I'm owned by two dogs and live in the country, I always keep this recipe on hand:

Skunk Odor Remedy - CANNOT BE STORED

1 quart (or liter) of three-percent hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup (50 ml.) of baking soda
1 teaspoon (5 ml.) of liquid soap
1 pair of plastic or latex gloves

* Bathe the dog outside or in a well ventilated area.
* Combine the ingredients in an open container (do not store in a sealed bottle--it will explode).
* Using gloves, wash your dog with lukewarm water and the mixture while the mixture is bubbling. Work the mixture well into the fur concentrating on the area that was sprayed.
* Keep mixture away from your dog's face and eyes (it's a harsh solution).
* Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes or so before rinsing off.
* Rinse the dog with lukewarm tap water. Don't wash the mixture into your dog's eyes (use a washcloth to cover the eyes if you're rinsing the head).
* After bathing, check your dog's eyes. If they are red and watering, your dog may have taken a direct hit in the face. Skunk spray won't blind the dog, but it's very painful. Contact a vet.
 
I found that WD-40 gets out crayon. Even on porus serfaces! But don't light a mtch near that surface until you wash it with soap and water after using the wd-40. ;)

Kathy
 
Stains on carpets are easily solved with a floor plant. Same goes for scratches on the furniture, only with candle holders, picture frames or other planters. My best beauty "secret" is NaPCA spray. I put it on before moisturizing my face and I haven't seen a flake on my skin in 5 years.
 
Great thread!!

*Shout to treat stains and spills on my rugs.

*Baking soda and water (mixed to paste) to whiten and clean my grout as well as anything white around my house(tub,sink etc.)

*Huggies baby wipes to wipe down ANYTHING including wood & my leather couch. It's gentle and cleans pretty darn good w/out any harsh abrasives.

*Corn starch to get out really bad grease stains

I am sure I can think of more!!

Aila:)
 
ha Donna! you sond like me! whem max said that about the pecans, i though, hey, now i can rearrange my candel holders and pictures on the coffee table and i do have a plant over a carpet stain! too funny.

these are great tips. i am printing them all. keep em coming, i am taking notes! Thanks

jes

p.s. i agree about the wasted wine! wine doesn't get spilled around here. it's never in the glass long enough!

p.p.s. the only weird trick i know is that when ever hot wax gets spilled on carpet or material, put a cloth over it and iron it on highest setting. it sticks to the rag and carpet is like new! i have had to do this several times!
 
Geez, If I did the plant thing for every stain on my carpet from the cat's various "things", it'd take you 15 minutes to get from one room to another cause you'd have to walk around 85 plants! :)

Nadine

~~Happiness is an Attitude~~
 
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa.....:D

hey, does anyone know a trick for getting scrathes off cds? i think i once heard toothpaste for this, but i'm not sure, so until one of you confirms or denies, i will never know.

jes
 
>My mother-in-law taught me how to keep your wine glasses from
>breaking......don't try to wash them until the "next day":p

That's because nobody should be handling delicate glassware until they've sobered up! ;-)



Susan L.G.
 
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