Top 10 Ingenious Tricks to Spot-Clean Your Home

Remove Baked-On Food Clean Silver Without Polish

Remove Ink Stains

Unclog a DrainRemove Coffee Stains

Lift Grease

Freshen a Cutting Board

Remove Wine Stains Clean Up Sticky Stuff Dust Your Ceiling Fan

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Use Vinegar to Remove Coffee StainsIn a spray bottle, combine 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup water. Spritz the stain, then blot with a damp cloth. Next, dab with diluted ammonia (1 tablespoon clear ammonia in 1 cup water). Blot with a clean, damp cloth, followed by a dry cloth.

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Use Baking Soda to Unclog a DrainIf your drain moves slower than a tortoise, unclog it by pouring down ½ cup baking soda, then ½ cup vinegar. Cover the drain with a wet cloth, and let sit for five minutes. Uncover, and flush with steaming-hot water.

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Use Aluminum Foil to Scrub Off Baked-On FoodIf you have remnants of your casserole stuck to your baking dish, wad a clean piece of foil into a ball and use it with a few drops of dishwashing liquid to scrub glass cookware clean.

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Use Baking Soda to Clean SilverFirst, hand wash items in warm soapy water (use mild dish soap). Place in an aluminum foil-lined pot.

In a separate pot, mix 1 quart of boiling water with ¼ cup baking soda and a couple teaspoons of salt. Pour the mix over the silver, then cover with a well-fitting lid.

Let sit for up to five minutes as the solution works to remove any blackness from the silver. Remove silver from pot, rinse with clean water, and dry with a clean, soft cloth.

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Use a Lemon to Freshen a Cutting boardLemon juice will work magic on food-stained cutting boards made of light wood or plastic. Slice a lemon in half, squeeze its juice onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. Your cutting board will be stain-free and smell lemony fresh.

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Use Powder to Lift Grease (Pizza, Salad Dressing)Sprinkle cornmeal or talcum powder on the spot until absorbed. Brush off with a dry cloth.

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Use Rubbing Alcohol to Remove InkDip a clean toothbrush in a capful of rubbing alcohol; shake off the excess and brush gently over the spot.

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Use White Wine to Clean Red WineBlot – don’t rub – with a clean, damp cloth, then use a fresh cloth to apply white wine (yep!); blot again. Still there? Sprinkle on baking soda, let sit for 20 minutes, and remove with yet another cloth.

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Use Dish Soap to Clean White WineDab with water and a little clear dish soap. Rinse with a clean, damp cloth.

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Use Ice to Clean Sticky Stuff (Gum, Wax)Apply a piece of ice until the gunk hardens, then gen-tly scrape it off with a comb or a butter knife. Dab on some clear dish soap to dislodge any residue. Rinse with a clean, damp cloth.

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Use a Pillowcase for Dust-Free CleaningYes, you can clean a ceiling fan without the dusty mess. Working with one blade at a time, slide an old pillowcase over the blade, then slowly draw the fabric back. All the dust and dirt will stay in the pillowcase instead of flying everywhere.

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