Home-organizing and cleaning whizzes Katherine Schaefer, home economist, and Terri McGraw, host of Mrs. Fixit, share tips to help you clean and freshen up your windows, screens, drapes, blinds, carpets, mattresses, bedding, walls and floors quickly.
Take heart, with tips provided by Terri McGraw and Katherine Schaefer you can tackle your house cleaning jobs in as little as 15 to 20 minutes a day.
Windows
Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol to clean the windows. Rub them down with newspaper or unused coffee filters to get rid of streaks. To clean all windows, mix one gallon cool water with four Tbsp of lemon juice or vinegar. Avoid smudges by cleaning inside panes horizontally and outside ones vertically.
ScreensBefore putting screens back on, use an old pair of nylons or an old onion bag to scrub the dust off them without damaging them. Or, use the soft brush on a vacuum hose attachment. Wash screens by laying them flat on a cloth-covered surface and scrub with a soft brush dipped in warm, soapy water. For tough dirt, add vinegar to the water and rinse off with the garden hose.
Drapes and Curtains Use the soft brush attachment to the vacuum to work on drapes from top to bottom. Freshen washable curtains by putting them in the dryer with a fabric-softener sheet and a new tennis ball, which knocks out the dust. Run the dryer on air only for 20 minutes, and hang immediately to avoid ironing. For new curtains or curtains with wrinkles, spritz with water - this weighs them down, which smooths them out.
Blinds Use a white cotton or dirt-collecting microfibre glove and run your fingers between the slats of the blind to catch the dust. Wet your gloved fingers first with soapy water. To prevent dust from accumulating, dampen a dryer sheet and run it along the blinds.
Carpet Stains Spray spots with carpet cleaner or white foam shaving cream. Using a damp white cloth dab at the spots, working from the outside in. Keep working gently until the spot lifts, then dab again with clear water to lift any cleaner residue.
Mattresses Take all the beds apart and vacuum them to get rid of the dust. Keep dust mites out of the mattress with zippered plastic mattress covers.
Bedding Wash all the blankets and duvets, if they'll fit in your washing machine. Or, spend a few hours at a laundromat. If you have a clothesline, hang them outside to dry to absorb the freshness.
Walls and Floors Use Murphy's Oil Soap on wood floors, and an all-purpose organic cleaner for the walls.
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