43 Tips That Make Things Sparkle 1. To avoid a damp closet, place a container that has several air holes, fill it w/ charcoal & set it on the floor of the closet. 2. A quick way to hide cooking odors (fish for example) is to simmer a pot of water & vinegar on the stove. The vinegar will absorb the odor. 3. To remove stains from marble, make a paste of baking soda, water & lemon juice. Use a damp white towel & rub vigorously. Then rinse w/ clear water & dry. 4. To clean those “hard to reach” areas in the bathroom, use a toothbrush along with your cleaner. 5. If you want to remove stubborn coffee or tea stains from cups or coffee pot carafe, use baking soda. A sponge or dishcloth works well. 6. Have problems with your bathroom mirror fogging up? Use shaving cream on the entire surface then wipe it off thoroughly with a clean cloth. 7. To wash plastic shower curtains place them in your washing machine with several towels. Use your regular laundry detergent. Then remove the curtain before the spin cycle and hang up immediately. You've just saved yourself time and money! 8. Tired of not having a trash liner in your wastebasket? In the bottom, place 8 liners. This way you'll always have one and won't need to worry about running out for 2 months. 9. Candle wax can be such a problem to remove on holders. Place the candle holders in the refrigerator for approximately one hour. Remove one at a time. The wax should chip away easily. 10. To spot clean carpets, use a white damp cloth & shaving cream. Rub gently with the cream, then using a clean portion of the white towel remove the excess cream. 11. To clean piano keys, use a clean damp cloth. Don't use soap as it will stain the ivory. 12. When washing windows wait for a cloudy day. The sun causes the glass to dry quickly, leaving behind streaks. Also, use horizontal strokes on one side & vertical strokes on the other. If you have streaks, this will help you know which side of the window they're on. 13. Have you tried washing glass in the winter & the cleaner freezes? Try adding rubbing alcohol to the cleaner or use auto wind shield cleaner. 14. To keep dust to a minimum when using a broom, lift the broom bristles no more than 1 inch above the floor. 15. To extend the life of the bristles of your broom, hang them up or store them brush side up. 16. When you clean, use a bucket and place all your cleaning items and carry it around with you. This will save you time in cleaning and give you more time to enjoy fun things. 17. To clean oven racks, take them outside & place them on newspaper. Spray or brush the racks with an oven cleaner. Let the racks “sit” for a while & go about the rest of your tasks. When ready, use a garden hose & spray them. A second application may be required. 18. To clean shower doors, use a spray bottle with a solution of water & vinegar along with a sponge that has an abrasive side. Rinse the doors with clear hot water & dry. 19. To eliminate black sole marks at the bottom of showers & tubs when cleaning, place a large towel on the bottom before stepping in to clean. 20. To remove burnt food from frying pans, spray oven cleaner. Let the cleaner sit then rinse under hot water. Be careful not to burn your hands. Wash the pan with warm water & detergent. 21. Kitchen sponges hold in germs. To kill those germs, place the sponge in your dishwasher when you are ready to run a load of dishes. You can also place it in the microwave for 2 minutes. Be sure that the sponge is saturated before placing it in the microwave. 22. To clean the interior of your microwave without using detergents, place a glass measuring cup inside filled with water. Turn on high for approximately 2 minutes. The steam will loosen any splatters. Depending on how soiled the interior is, you may need to repeat. 23. To eliminate odors in your refrigerator/ freezer place an open box of baking soda on the middle shelf. 24. We use our washing machine all the time. But, washing machines need clean- ing too. Pour a gallon of distilled vinegar into the washer using warm water, let the machine run through the entire cycle. This will help remove the built-up soap residue in the hoses. 25. To remove blood stains, pour peroxide directly on the stain. The peroxide will bubble then rinse the area with cold water. 26. When scrubbing the bathtub & you don't have a detachable spray head, use a large plastic cup. Fill the cup with water & rinse from the back of the tub towards the drain. This works very well removing the cleanser residue. 27. When cleaning wall paper use a mild solution of detergent and warm water. Where the seams meet, wash in the same direction of the seam. This will prevent the seam from lifting. 28. If you find your wall paper is lifting at the seam, use “paper” glue and press down. The seam can be held in place with masking tape but be careful when removing the tape. 29. To remove wax spills from candles on your wood furniture, use a handheld hairdryer set on medium heat. When the wax starts to melt wipe it off with a soft cloth. Repeat until the wax is lifted, then polish. 30. To hide scratch marks on the legs of furniture, shoe polish works wonderfully. Choose a color that matches relatively closely, applying with a soft cloth. Wipe off any excess. Those unsightly furniture legs are revitalized. 31. To remove crayon marks from painted walls, use rubbing alcohol and cotton balls. 32. If you are having vacuum odors, make a bag of your favorite potpourri cutting a piece of old pantyhose. Tie off the end and place inside the vacuum. Each time you vacuum a pleasant aroma will fill the air. 33. Need to clean silver & you don't have “polish”. Make a baking soda paste, 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub onto the silver with a clean cloth. Rinse thoroughly & dry for shining sterling & silver-plated pieces. 34. To cut dust down on your electronic equipment (TV, stereo, computer) use an anti-static cleaner or a fabric sheet, rubbing over the outside of your computer equipment, desk and the chair where you sit. 35. Scuff marks & black marks on vinyl floors can be removed using an eraser. If you don't have an eraser, sprinkle baking soda on a damp towel/sponge and rub, then rinse & dry. 36. Freshen up your trash can by placing a scented fabric sheet at the bottom. 37. Hair spray residue can be removed from mirrors by using rubbing alcohol. 38. To remove nasty odors from your garbage disposal, add baking soda & citrus peels, and then grind away. Be sure you always run the water when operating your disposal. 39. Regular vacuuming and quickly blotting up spills are some of the best methods to keep your carpets looking their best. 40. To avoid scratching wood floors and snagging carpet, clip your pets' claws regularly. 41. Before you pull out the refrigerator to clean underneath, lay a piece of plywood on the floor first. Then slide the refrigerator onto the plywood. This will help to avoid indentations or scratches in your floor. 42. To clean & polish stainless steel, moisten a cloth w/ white vinegar (undiluted) & wipe clean along the grain of the surface. 43. Call Sparkle Professional Cleaning now for your FREE estimate to clean your home or business. We are the best full service cleaning company that does the same high quality job time after time.