In the Kitchen... Part II

The Stove

* Filmy dirt and grease on the stove top will come clean with white vinegar

* To prevent grease build-up, dampen a rag with a solution of white vinegar and water and wipe down the interior of the oven.

* Oven spills will stop smoking if you sprinkle them with salt. Wipe with a damp cloth after the oven cools.

* If something in the oven catches on fire,, salt  or baking soda will help smother the flames.

* A mixture of salt and cinnamon makes a good oven freshener. Sprinkle spills while the oven is still warm to take away the burned smell.

The Humidifier

* To clean the filter, remove it and soak it in a pan of white vinegar until the sediment is off. Then wash in dishwashing detergent and water

tips by: The Old Farmers Almanac

In the Kitchen...

I'm starting a new string of posts dealing with cleanliness in the kitchen. Each post will feature an appliance or object found in the kitchen and the steps to conquer dirt, grease, spills, or odors all with a few common household items. 

So, let's get started! 

DISHWASHER

* To help keep the drain line clean and sweet smelling add a 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.

* Fresh lemon juice will remove soap film from the interior

GARBAGE DISPOSAL

* If the rubber shield smells after much use, soak it in a pan of white vinegar.

* Toss used lemons into your garbage disposal to keep it clean and fresh smelling.

tips found: The Old Farmer's Almanac

 SPRING CLEANING! 

*Sparkle *Fresh *Shine is here to take the words 'spring' and 'cleaning' out of the back of your mind and replace the headache with the words 'relaxation' and ' relief .'  

*Sparkle *Fresh *Shine is the cure for Springcleaning Fever. :)

So, if you're ready to do some Spring Relaxation and you're in the Los Angeles area, 

contact *Sparkle *Fresh *Shine Cleaning Services:

sparklefreshshine[at]hotmail[dot]com

If you would like to watch this video clip, please press pause on the playlist at the bottom of the page. Thanks! Enjoy!

Bakin' Pop

Baking Soda... not just used in Volcano Science Projects  

Baking Soda = the prime multi-purpose cleaning agent

Dirt and Grease- Using a damp cloth sprinkle the cloth with baking soda and scrub away that dirt and grease.

Bathtub- Make a thick paste of baking soda and vinegar to clean your tub of grease, body oils, and soap scum.

Cedar Chests- Want to keep your pretty cedar chest for storage, but hate the smell of your personal items after being stored? Sprinkle the bottom of the chest with baking soda. Then, place drawer liner or just paper over the baking soda to protect your items. The baking soda will absorb the smell.

Jewelry- Use a paste of baking soda and peroxide to rinse off dirt off in no time. Then soak your jewelry in a mixture of vinegar and water for a sparkling shine!

Wet pets- Rainy day walk with you pet pup?  You can dry them quickly and neutralize the wet dog smell with baking soda by working the baking soda in their hair with a brush or comb.

Dirty and Smelly Microwave?- Dissolve a few tablespoons of baking soda in water in a microwave safe bowl. Then, bring the water to a boil in your microwave. Let it sit for a minute or two. After that, you should be able to wipe clean any crusted on gunk or baked on stains. Also your oven will smell fresh and clean!

Smelly Trash Can?- Sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of the trash bag and/or can. The baking soda will reduce odors.

Water Stains- With a dampened sponge sprinkle baking soda on the sponge and watch water stains disappear from wooden floors! 

Oil Stains of Garage Floors- Apply baking soda to recent grease or oil spills on your garage floor and the baking soda will absorb the oil/grease which can be scraped up later.

Are the walls in your home your child's canvas?--  Apply a baking soda/water paste on an old toothbrush and lightly brush the affected area.

Click here for a link to a fun baking soda cleaning tip video

Photo: google images

A little bit of Grapefruit and a tad of Ginger

Restoration Hardware has to be one of my favorite stores to waltz around in. Everything is beautiful. I find myself wandering around picking out my future kitchen cabinet knobs and guest bathroom handles. They have tasteful house paint colors and amazingly soft bedding and throw blankets. However, I absolutely love their Grapefruit Ginger Cleaning Selection. Pretty packaging and an incredibly  calming and light scent of grapefruit and ginger. My nose is very happy when I clean. 

The product line consists of:

*Multi-purpose surface cleaner

*Vacuum BBs to turn your vacuum into a scent spreading diffuser

*Sheet Spray- freshen linens

*Dryer Sheets

*Pot and Dish Soap

*Hand Soap and Hand Lotion

*Room Spray

*Kitchen Candle

*Boxed Soap Set

*Bath Crystals

Grapefruit Ginger for your total living space!   snif snif (sigh) FRESH!!

The Natural Cleaning Champ!

Say bye bye to tarnish, soap scum, mineral deposits, and more! 

Coffee-maker: Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the machine's water chamber, then switch on the brew cycle. Halfway through, turn off coffee maker and let the solution sit for about an hour. Turn it on again to complete the cycle, then run several cycles with clean water.

Dishwasher: To disinfect the interior of the machine, pour 1/2 cup vinegar into the reservoir and run an empty cycle. Or place a small bowl filled with vinegar on the bottom rack and run an empty cycle.

Drains: Clean drains and the pipes attached- pour vinegar down them. After 30 minutes, flush cold water.

Floors: Add 1/4 cup vinegar to a bucket of warm water to clean almost any type of floor except marble or wood.

Glassware: For spotless hand-washed glasses, add 1 cup vinegar to rinse water.

Moldy walls: Spray vinegar on affected areas. After about 15 minutes, rinse, and let dry thoroughly.

Shower heads: To combat mineral deposits, pour vinegar into a plastic grocery bag and knot the handles over the neck of the shower head, securing with rubber bands. Let soak overnight. Rinse with water in the morning. 

Steam Iron: To get rid of mineral deposits, fill iron with equal parts vinegar and water; press the steam button. Turn off, let cool, empty, and rinse.

Windows: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar,2 cups water, and a squirt of liquid Castile soap in a spray bottle. Spritz windows and wipe with a sheet of newspaper.

Tips by REAL SIMPLE

Photo from Real Simple too!

Essential Oils

Not just for scenting wax with a wick.... 

The Nitty-Gritty: Extracted from plants, some essential oils can kill bacteria and mold. One drop goes a long way. 

One drop of peppermint oil is as potent as 30 cups of peppermint tea.

Clean your combs and brushes:  Fill a container with 1 1/2 cups of water, 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar, and 20 drops tea-tree, lavender, or eucalyptus oil. Soak combs and brushes for 20 minutes. Rinse and air-dry.

Scuffed Floors:  Apply two drops to four drops of tea-tree oil to the spots. Wipe excess oil with a cloth and rub in distilled white vinegar.

Gum-encrusted items:  Orange oil is great at removing this sticky offender from various materials. (Don't worry it shouldn't stain fabrics, but do launder immediately.) Apply with a cotton ball.

Shower doors: Wipe scum-covered glass doors with a few drops of lemon oil twice a month. It will protect them from grime build-up.

Toilets: Add two teaspoons tea-tree oil and 2 cups water to a spray bottle. Shake, then spritz along toilet's inside rim. Let sit for 30 minutes;scrub. You can also place a few drops of your favorite oil on the inside of the toilet paper tube. -Every time the paper is used, the scent will be released.

Windows:  Mix two ounces water and 10 drops lavender or lemon-grass oil to wipe grime off windows. Bonus: These oils may repel flies!

Tips by Real Simple

Photo: google images

When life gives you lemons... CLEAN

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade or.... CLEAN! 

The acid in lemons works magic in removing dirt and even rust stains! 

Countertops: Dip the cut side of a lemon half in baking soda to tackle countertops. Wipe with a wet sponge and dry. However, do not use on delicate stone such as marble or stainless steel.

Dishes: To increase the grease-cutting power of your dishwasher detergent, add a teaspoon of lemon juice.

Faucets: Combat lime scale by rubbing lemon juice onto the taps and letting it sit over night. Wipe with a damp cloth.

Garbage Disposal: Cut a lemon in half, the run both pieces through the disposal. It makes it smell great!

Hands: When you touch raw fish, the smell can linger on your fingers. Rub your hands with lemon juice, which will neutralize the odor.

Laundry: To brighten whites, add 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle for a normal sized load.

Plastic food-storage containers: To bleach stains from tomato soup, rub lemon juice on the spots, let dry in a sunny place, then wash as usual.

Tips by Real Simple

Sparkle Fresh Shine

Tied the apron, pulled on the rubber gloves, and grabbed the sponge... ready, set, CLEAN!

If you are in the Los Angeles area and have had enough with your broom and windex... it would be my pleasure to take them off your hands! If you are interested in coming home from work to a sparkling clean house... 

email:  sparklefreshshine@hotmail.com