Tag Archives: cleaning

Reader Tip of the Week: Shower puff gets 2nd life

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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

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Reader Tip of the Week: This reader tip makes great scents

Perfume sample pages from magazines.Credit: David Baratz for USA WEEKEND

We’ve had many readers suggest new ways to make the most of magazine inserts that waft perfumes. This one from Barbara O’Leary of Tucson shows that the samples should not be reserved for your pulse points. “Use the perfume sample … Continue reading

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Reader Tip of the Week: Squeaky clean reader tip for the kitchen

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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

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Reader Tip of the Week: Put a cap on this reader tip

Ketchup Bottle

Thanks goes out to Jo Ann Sichi of Mebane, N.C., who shares this friendly tip for removing that crusty ketchup that somehow always lands on our hot dogs and hamburgers. “My best friend gave me the greatest hint,” she writes. … Continue reading

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Reader Tip of the Week: Let cooler heads prevail!

3000000159_6 Quart Red Excursion¨ CoolerCredit: Coleman

Reader Tracy Britton of Los Angeles shares a grime-stopper for storing ice chests and other containers. After each picnic, party or trip, she rinses out the cooler, then leaves about an inch of water in the bottom with half a … Continue reading

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Reader Tip of the Week: Sparkling results, surprising source

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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 , , , , | 255 Comments | | |

Sock it to dust

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

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Clean bathroom surfaces to a shine with a bit of shampoo

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

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Use white vinegar and save on more expensive cleaning solutions

White Vinegar

Looking for an inexpensive chemical-free cleaner? Then look no further than your kitchen cabinets. Marcia Irvin of Post Falls, ID, writes: “For cleaning I use inexpensive white vinegar. It’s antibacterial, safe around children and pets, and cleans as well as … Continue reading

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Keep steel wool pads from rusting

Refrigerator

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

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Use lint roller tape for hard to reach areas

Lint Tape

Rozlyn Barkoff of Boynton Beach, FL., has found lint roller sheets to be useful for picking up more than just lint.”Tear off single sticky sheets from a lint roller, and use them to clean crevices and hard to reach areas,” … Continue reading

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A hassle-free way to clean BBQ grills

Who wants to spend time scrubbing BBQ grills when they could be enjoying some summer fun? Dan Irons of Fort Myers, FL has this time-saving tip: “To clean BBQ grills, put them in a large plastic bag, Pout 1 cup … Continue reading

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A new use for coffee filters glass surfaces will love

Coffee filtersCredit: David Baratz for USA WEEKEND

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.

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Quick Tip

Your dishwasher can be used to clean lots of surprising things, according to Real Simple: 869 New Uses for Old Things. Use the top rack, for instance, to clean action figures (put them in a mesh laundry bag), flip flops, … Continue reading

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