Robin's FYI

Rumor has it... Tips and Tricks For All The Little Problems In Life
 

Rumor has it...Tips and Tricks to Cleaning & Fixing

According to the dictionary a rumor is, " Unverified information of uncertain origin usually spread by word of mouth".  An expert is a person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject. Who is to say that some rumors didn't originate with a expert. 

The following are tips and tricks that I have picked up here and there. Some I have tested others not. I don't take any responsibility for any of these tips, but thought you might be interested. 

By the way if you have a rumor, feel free to send it in

Sign My Guestbook   View My Guestbook

 
 

Rumor has it...

Carpets and Rugs

You can stop a rug sliding around on the vinyl or hardwood floor. - Dig up an old hot water bottle, and cut out four square pieces. Sew one piece to the bottom of each corner of the rug. 

You can stop rugs that are placed on a carpet keeps moving too. - Sew a mesh fishnet to the under side. 

Someone dropped a cigarette. Dig out a piece of fine sandpaper, a clean rag, and mix 2 tablespoons of borax to 2 cups of water. Remove the charred fibers, by gently rubbing them with the sandpaper. Then dip the clean rag into the borax mixture, and gently rub on burn. Let set for 5 minutes. Rinse by using a rag and clean water. 

The neighbor's kid dumped his french fries (grease stain). Grab the baking soda. Cover the grease with dry baking soda leave on for at least 1 hour. Gently scrub with brush.  Vacuum. 

While you were out, Fluffy watered the carpet. Wipe up excess with paper towel or old rag. Without soaking carpet, wipe area with warm water and a sponge or old rag. Let dry. Mix 3 tablespoons white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of liquid laundry soap. Pour mixture over spot. Leave for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and sponge or rag. Dry with old towel.


Cleaning

 

Brass can washed with soapy water then polished with a chamois cloth. If very dirty, boil it for a couple of hours in a mixture of water, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup white vinegar. Or make a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar. Rub on, let sit for 5 minutes, than wash off, and dry. If stained rub gently with a paste of lemon juice and salt. Immediately wash off with hot soap and water, dry. 

Bronze can be polished with a little linseed oil (warmed) and a chamois. 

Copper items can be cleaned several ways. Hot soapy water and rubbed dry with a soft cloth or chamois. If very dirty, boil it for a couple of hours in a mixture of water, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup white vinegar. If tarnished make a mixture of salt white vinegar, clean with mixture than immediately wash off with soap and water, and dry. If you are out of vinegar a half of a lemon dipped in salt will do the same thing. Small pieces can be cleaned with Noximea, rinsed and dried.

Silver items can be a pain in the rear to polish. If you are out of polish, good old fashion toothpaste (not gel) will do the job. However each time you polish, you remove a little bit of the silver, so I perfer to dip it. Less work, and kinder to my sliverplated items.

Line bottom half of conaintor with alum foil (shinny side up), add two tablespoons salt, two tablespoons baking soda and fill with very hot water. Leave silverware in dip for 2 minutes and rinse thoroughly. 

If you don't use your silver very often, use a food vacuum sealer, to keep it shinny for the next time.
 

In The Kitchen

Silverware - to remove egg stains rub salt on stain and rinse well 

If you left on the coffee pot on and scorched the coffee, fill with crushed ice and salt. Slush around, add a little water, and slush a second time. Rinse. 

Thermos bottles - if musty fill 3/4 with warm water and a teaspoon of baking soda. Shake well, let sit for 5 minutes, rinse.  --  Coffee stained glass lined thermos bottle, pour 1/8 cup bleach, and fill neat top with cold water. Let sit couple of hours, rinse very well.

Cooking  cabbage - If you add a little lemon juice to the water while cooking it will decrease the smell


In the Bath

Natural sponges and loofahs can be soaked in a strong mixture of vinegar and water for 24 hours than rinse very well. Let dry.

Around the house

Windows, mirrors, and fish tanks can be cleaned with white vinegar and a paper coffee filter or newspaper.

Jewelry 

Electroplate - Mix a little ammonia with warm water, wash piece in mixture. Polish with soft cloth. 

 

 

 

 

  Footer