Category Archives: housework
Diane Spotilla of Hobart, Ind., has found a sparkling way to get more out of those little net shower puffs used to wash your skin: She hangs old, out-of-shape ones on an extra hook and has a soapy good time … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, housework, print, reader tip, reuse, usaweekend.com
Tagged cleaning, shower, shower puff
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Alice Gottlieb of the Bronx, N.Y., shares her household secret for cutting one of the unwanted after-effects of an aromatic meal. Since fish and onion odors can linger on plates and silverware, she found an easy way to get rid … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, housework, print, reader tip, usaweekend.com
Tagged cleaning, dishes, kitchen, odor
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Despite its amazing reliability, this tip from online reader Ruthie Harrell of Dickson, Tenn., still strikes us as a bit of a magic trick: “To clean your windows and glass — such as on your car — use old newspaper … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, house and home, housework, print, reader tip, usaweekend.com
Tagged cleaning, cleaning windows, Dickson, tennessee, windows
255 Comments | | |
Reader Cathy Truesdale of Wheaton, Ill., is a fan of using natural ingredients. “My recipe for soft, sweet-smelling clothes is ¼ cup each of baking soda, washing soda and borax mixed with phosphate-free laundry soap,” she e-mails. “For clothing with … Continue reading
Posted in chores, cleaning, housework, print, reader tip, usaweekend.com
Tagged Illinois, laundry, Wheaton
287 Comments | | |
When Christine Haemmerle of Forked River, N.J., needs to dust around tight spaces, she puts an old cotton sock on her hand, sprays it and gets to work. “My fingers are good to go around rungs and spindles and other … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, housework, print, reader tip, usaweekend.com
Tagged cleaning, dust, Forked River, New Jersey
240 Comments | | |
Donald Toll of Milwaukee, WI offers this easy way to clean bathroom sinks, tubs, showers and tiles: “Go out and find the cheapest shampoo. Apply it to an old nlyon shower puff. You will find that the shampoo cuts through … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, house and home, housework, quick tip, reader tip, saving, usaweekend.com
Tagged bathroom, cleaning, Milwaukee, shampoo, tub
38 Comments | | |
A little prep and a few precautions on your next home improvement project can save money and help you avoid having to do the job over again. Here are a few tips from Jacquelyn McGilvray of DIYnetwork.com: Rule #1: safety. … Continue reading
Posted in home and organize, house and home, housework, print, safety, saving, shopping
Tagged DIY, Home maintenance
35 Comments | | |
Donna Kuper of Everett, WA., suggests tossing your soap-filled steel wool pads in the freezer to keep them from rusting. “It only takes a few seconds for the pad to thaw,” she writes. “Or it can be used immediately when submerged … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, housework, reader tip
Tagged cleaning, dishes, everett, rust, steel wool, washington
34 Comments | | |
Coffee filters find a new use at Mary Allen’s house in Louisville. She uses them instead of paper towels to clean glass tops on tables and desks. “It leaves no residue behind like paper towels do,” she attests.
Posted in cleaning, housework, print, reader tip, usaweekend.com
Tagged cleaning, coffee filter, glass, paper towel, reader tip
3 Comments | | |
Does your kitchen sink get stopped up? Shekinah Hannah of Mesa, Ariz. has a solution. For cleaning kitchen drains, try pouring an extra-large stock pot of boiling water into the stopped-up sink. Most kitchen clogs are due to grease or … Continue reading
A regular weekly, monthly and annual schedule of preventive home maintenance can thwart a host of expensive problems down the road and keep your house in tiptop condition.
Posted in chores, house and home, housework, print, usaweekend.com
Tagged Home maintenance
12 Comments | | |
Children love sandboxes, but getting a a permanent one at your home just isn’t reasonable for most. Jessica Merz of Berkley, Mich. made a portable one for her kids. Take a tarp or blanket and pour sand on it. It … Continue reading
Posted in housework, kids and family, reader tip
Tagged Berkley, Michigan, sandbox
24 Comments | | |
That nook under your appliances can get messy as crumbs and other miscellaneous items slip underneath. Don’t try and move the massive machine to clean out the grime. Just use this tip from Joyce Martin of Las Vegas. To clean … Continue reading
Helen Gallucci of Titusville, Fla. has a redecoration tip that’ll save time and money, but even better tons of space! I have two bedrooms but am short on storage space. So I only buy reversible bed spreads in neutral or … Continue reading
Posted in home and organize, housework, reader tip, reduce
Tagged Florida, Titusville
14 Comments | | |
To shine silver, line your sink with aluminum foil, fill it with hot-hot water, add a cup of baking soda, then put your silver in and wipe it off for instant tarnish removal. Thanks to Sally Grzesiak of Watertown, N.Y. … Continue reading
“Periodically, I pour white vinegar into my electric teakettle to dissolve mineral deposits left behind from water,” says Marsha FitzGerald of Bridgewater, Va., “then I pour the white vinegar from the teakettle onto weeds in the flower garden out my … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, housework, reader tip, reuse
Tagged Bridgewater, Virginia, white vinager
22 Comments | | |
Looking for a better option? Ellen Rusten of Ann Arbor, Mich. says, “Use hydrogen peroxide as a laundry booster and stain remover for colored laundry. It sanitizes and costs only about $1 a quart. In addition, it is not toxic … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, housework, reader tip, saving
Tagged Ann Arbor, laundry booster, Michigan
21 Comments | | |
When the ceramic shade that goes over candles becomes covered with soot Sandy Castelli of Sterling Heights, Mich. knows what to do. Take an old sponge or rag and dampen it with warm water, then use a little liquid dishwasher … Continue reading
Peggy Emerson of Bailey, NC, says, “I have found that I can tear dryer sheets in half and they are just as good as a whole sheet. This way, I can save money and still get soft, static free laundry.” … Continue reading
Posted in chores, cleaning, house and home, housework, reader tip, saving
Tagged Bailey, dryer sheets, laundry, North Carolina
18 Comments | | |
A clean and green solution from Araceli Gotera from San Francisco, CA: Worried about the harmful chemicals in most cleaning solutions? Here are the simple ingredients for a natural and fragrant multi-use cleaner: Spray Bottle 2 cups of cold water … Continue reading
Posted in cleaning, housework, reader tip
Tagged baking soda, California, green, lemon, San Francisco, vinegar
20 Comments | | |
