ThriftyFun News
Spring Cleaning Tips
Volume Seven, Number 14 April 1, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
Today's issue is about spring cleaning. If you have any more spring cleaning tips to offer feel free to submit them on the contest form. We started two new contests today. For the tip contest we are giving away $50.00 gift certificate and for the photo contest we are giving away a Fuji Digital Camera.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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This newsletter contains:
- Window Cleaning Recipe
- Cleaning Window Tips
- Removing Black Soot from Woodstove Window
- Cleaning Blinds
- Stubborn Oven Cleaner
- Cleaning Walls
- Homemade Fireplace Cleaner
- Cleaning Windows Outside
- Get Some Boxes at The Grocery Store
- Cleaning Window Screens
- All-purpose Cleaners
- Donating Your Extras
- Vacuum Refrigerator Coils
- Spring Cleaning: Linen Closet.
- One Cleaning Project Per Day
- Quick and Easy Spring Cleaning
- Four Easy Steps to An Organized Closet
- The Best Way To Clean Window Blinds and Shades
- Spring Cleaning - Cars
- Spring Cleaning the Frugal, Natural Way!
- Spring Cleaning ~ The Frugal Way
- Spring Cleaning for your Computer
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Spring Cleaning Tips
Window Cleaning Recipe
Wash windows with the following recipe:
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup ammonia
2 tablespoons corn starch
Mix these three ingredients in one gallon of hot water.
By truerblue
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Cleaning Window Tips
Tips for cleaning windows. Post your ideas.
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Removing Black Soot from Woodstove Window
I've found that when cleaning wood burning stoves that FANTASTIK works very well for cleaning the soot off of the windows while it's still warm but NOT HOT.
By PammyD
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Cleaning Blinds
To clean venetian blinds. Fill bath tub with enough warm water to cover blinds. Add equal amounts of Tide and Spic & Span. About 1/2 cup of each. Soak blinds for a short time (10 to 15 minutes). Blinds & cords come out clean without any scrubbing. Re-hang the blinds and put towels on the window sill to catch any drips until dry. There is no danger in combining the two cleaning agents.
By Helen G.
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Stubborn Oven Cleaner
Recipe By: Natural Cleaning for Your Home by Casey Kellar
1/4 cup ammonia
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup white vinegar
Preheat your oven to its lowest setting; once the light goes off, turn
off stove. Put ammonia in a bowl or pan and let sit in the closed oven for 4-6 hours. Remove the ammonia and add vinegar and soda to make a paste. Use the paste and a heavy duty sponge to scrub most stubborn areas. Mist the oven with water and wipe clean. This cleaner also works great for cleaning your barbecue grill.
This is cheaper and better for you then bought oven cleaners.
By paula
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Cleaning Walls
Tips for cleaning walls. Post your ideas.
Use a sponge mop for the walls. It's easier than climbiing up and down a ladder.
By Rene
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Homemade Fireplace Cleaner
With spring in full swing, here is a recipe to help you clean out your fireplace. This solution is good if you have a brick or stone fireplace.
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Hot Water
- 1 Bar Fels Naptha Soap
- 1/2 Pound Powdered Pumice
- 1/2 Cup Ammonia
Powdered Pumice can be purchased at many hardware stores and nurseries. Call around, the price can vary quite a bit. Fels Naptha Soap can be purchased at most grocery stores in the laundry or hand soap section.
Grate Fels Naptha Soap into a bucket with hot water. Then add Pumice and Ammonia. Mix all ingredients well. Wear gloves and make sure you have adequate ventilation when using this solution. Scrub fireplace with this solution and then scrub with water to rinse.
If you have any fireplace cleaning tips be sure to post them below.
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Cleaning Windows Outside
Tips for cleaning windows outside. Post your ideas.
Use a string mop, it has a long reach and it gets the corners really good. A drop or two of dish soap in a bucket, scrub, then rinse with hose, let air dry!
By Rene
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Get Some Boxes at The Grocery Store
This year my spring cleaning is even more detailed than usual with two graduations and a wedding coming up soon! We will have lots of people coming in and I want things to look as nice as they can. The best thing I do is to get some nice boxes from our local grocery store and throw all my "junk" that I don't use or have room for anymore into the boxes so they can easily be taken to Goodwill. The boxes don't cost anything as our grocery store puts them out in bins twice a week, free for the taking. Most stores, even if they don't usually keep boxes around, will keep some back for you if you call them and ask.
By Robin
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Cleaning Window Screens
To easily clean your window screens, use a vacuum cleaner to suck all that dust out!
By sandykza
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All-purpose Cleaners
I was doing a site search for this cleaner that I have heard so much about and I cannot find it.
Editor's Note: Here's the recipe we have. Please everyone, if you have others, post them here.
All Purpose Cleaner
A good cleaner for spills and general, light cleaning.
1 spray bottle
1 teaspoon borax
1/2 teaspoon washing soda
2 teaspoons vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
2 cups hot water
Mix all ingredients and put solution in a spray bottle. Use
on stains or quick clean ups in the kitchen.
Like most cleaning solutions, this might irritate some
people?s skin. Use with rubber gloves.
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Donating Your Extras
If you are cleaning your closets, basement, or garage now, consider donating your unwanted items to the Goodwill, Amvets, Salvation Army, or some other worthy charity. They will give you a receipt for your goods if you ask, as your donations are tax-deductible if you itemize your return. Even if you don't use the deduction, you are doing a good deed, AND cleaning up your home!
By Ness - Lakeview, NY
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Vacuum Refrigerator Coils
If you vacuum your refrigerator coils twice a year you will keep the compressor running efficiently.
By Robin
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Spring Cleaning: Linen Closet.
I cleaned out my linen closet and came up with a few ideas on what to do with stuff I don't need anymore.
Tablecloths can be sewn to make great curtains. If you can sew a straight hem, you can make simple curtains that slide over a rod. My mom has made tablecloths into nice kitchen curtains for years, and they look great.
Old vinyl shower curtains make good drop cloths for painting, and also can be used as row covers for tender spring plants (when a cold night threatens).
Old hankies can be sewn into cute dollie dresses. Also they can be used for making small pillows, sachets filled with potpourri, and quilts.
Old sheets make nice backs for quilts. They also can be turned into curtains.
Old towels and old rugs can be donated to the local animal shelter. Old rugs can also line the bottom of your cat's or dog's sleeping basket (and they are easily washable).
Anything of decent quality (sheet sets, curtains, bedruffles, etc.), that you just can't use anymore can be given to a local charity or thrift shop, or sold at a garage sale.
Just a few ideas, but now my linen closet is much cleaner!
By Ness - Lakeview, NY
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One Cleaning Project Per Day
Instead of spring and fall cleaning, which overwhelms me and doesn't get done, I'm working my way through the house with one cleaning project per day. Each day, I choose one shelf, drawer, window, or section to super-clean. It only takes about ten minutes, and I'm keeping track of the list, so I can start at the beginning again, once I get it all cleaned.
I feel so good about accomplishing something each day that makes my life cleaner and brighter! Can't wait for spring!
By zballoongirl
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More Spring Cleaning Information
Quick and Easy Spring Cleaning
By Sarah J Doyle
Spring cleaning is a "must", so it is always nice to have a few short cuts to get the cleaning done a little faster in order to get back to the sewing room!
View Article: Click Here
Four Easy Steps to An Organized Closet
By Bridget Messino
The National Association of Professional Organizers has dedicated January to clean out those closets, but don't wait for January -- now is the time. Exciting this task is not, but by devoting a couple of afternoons this month you can reduce unnecessary search time and you may even find some extra storage in the process.
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The Best Way To Clean Window Blinds and Shades
By Jay Steinfeld
When it's time to clean your blinds and shades, even your best friend is hard to find. But there are some simple and effective ways to clean blinds and shades with minimal effort.
View Article: Click Here
Spring Cleaning - Cars
By Susan Sanders-Kinzel
With spring on the horizon, it's a good time to think about getting our cars clean. Regular cleaning of your car will help protect the finish and increase it's resale value.
View Article: Click Here
Spring Cleaning the Frugal, Natural Way!
By Cyndi Roberts
Remember the days when Spring meant cleaning the
house from top to bottom? Well, actually, I don't
either, but I have read about it and seen it done
in old movies!
View Article: Click Here
Spring Cleaning ~ The Frugal Way
By Ashley Ocampo
Well, spring is, once again, upon us. With it comes sunny days, balmy breezes, blue skies and that dreaded household chore -- spring cleaning.
View Article: Click Here
Spring Cleaning for your Computer
By Mike McDaniel
At least once a year, better twice, take a few minutes to clean your computer. Inside and out.
View Article: Click Here
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