Getting smells out of a stinky sink drain
1/2 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
Pour the baking soda down the drain, then follow it with the vinegar. Once it has foamed and bubbled, turn on your cold water, and let it run for 30-60 seconds, or until the baking soda and vinegar seems to have all washed through. Your sink should be smelling great again.
How to clean a smelly dishwasher
To clean it, pour 1/2 gallon to a gallon (depending on how strong the smell is!) of vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher. Allow it to sit and soak for an hour, then run a normal wash cycle (use the full cycle not the quick clean function). You may need to repeat this more than once if it is extremely strong smelling, then repeat every month or so to keep it smelling fresh. If this does not resolve it, you might consider calling a plumber in case the issue is something to do with the way it was plumbed originally.
How to remove water rings & marks from tables
First, rub the spot to completely dry it. Then cover with mayonnaise about ½" thick. Allow it to sit overnight and then ripe clean. The rings should be gone.
Preventing dust on glass and televisions
Combine four parts water with one part liquid fabric softener. Using a clean cloth, dampen with solution and wipe on glass surfaces that attract dust. Repeat as needed.
Removing underarm sweat stains from white shirts
Pour a small amount of vinegar onto the stains and then GENTLY scrub. If you scrub too hard you may damage the fabric. Then allow to sit 30 to 60 minutes then wash as usual. You may need to repeat for very yellow stains or stains that have set for a while.
Removing badly burnt-on food from a saucepan or skillet
Pour one cup of cola into the saucepan or skillet and bring to a boil for two minutes. Repeat if necessary. You can also allow the pot to soak overnight with a cup of cola as well, although this might not remove the stubbornest stains. You can also use baking soda.
How to get white laundry clean without using hot water
Washing your whites in cold water is easy. You will want to soak your laundry overnight first. So in the evening, throw your white laundry in and allow it to soak overnight in the water with your laundry detergent and a small amount of bleach. Then in the morning, run your load of laundry as usual.
If you are washing cloth diapers though, it is recommended they are soaked first in cold water for 30-60 minutes, then do the regular wash cycle with warm or hot water to get them clean and sanitized enough.
Keeping brightly colored shirts looking new
First, always wash bright t-shirts inside out. That way, the general wear and tear caused by the washing machine and dryer will occur on the inside of the shirt, where no one will ever see it! Second, throw in a couple tablespoons of salt in with the laundry. This also helps keep colors bright and prevent fading.
How to Un-shrink a Sweater
Fill you tub with a few inches of warm water and add a generous amount of hair conditioner. Gently work the solution through the entire sweater, kneading the sweater as you go. Pull it out of the water and place on a stack of bath towels (since the sweater will be soaking wet) and then gently stretch the sweater into the former shape. Allow to dry in a cool room - DO NOT use any heat to dry the sweater. Repeat if needed. Then wash again as usual, being sure to rinse fully to remove the conditioner, and lay flat to dry.
Stretching your fabric softener sheets
Brand name fabric softener sheets are usually stronger than the no name brands, so you can use one piece for two loads of laundry.
How to remove grass stains from clothing
There are a few things you can do to treat grass stains.
First, don't immediately launder and treat with a stain spray, as this can actually set grass stains! First, if the fabric is colorfast, you can soak the clothing in white vinegar - ALWAYS check on a hidden part of the garment first, such as on an inside hem. The stain will usually come out immediately, but tougher grass stains might take up to two hours in the vinegar. If the fabric is not colorfast, use a solution of half water and half white vinegar instead.
Removing gum
If the gum is on clothing, simply place the entire garment into your freezer. Once it is frozen, you can pull it off. If the gum is on something you can't place into the freezer (carpet, hair, furniture), place an ice cube into a plastic bag, then place it on the gum. Once it is frozen, you can pull it off.
Remove coffee stain from clothing
First, immediately blot the stain with paper towels to life the surface coffee. Then sponge the stain with cool water. Saturate the stain with a stain remover then wash in the washing machine. Hang to dry.
Remove ink stains from clothing
With a wet sponge or folded paper towel, dab the stain until surface ink is removed . Then allow to air dry. Next, put a paper towel under the fabric the stain is on, spray the ink stain with hairspray and place another paper towel on top of the fabric (the fabric with the stain is sandwiched in between the paper towels). Working from the backside of the fabric, dab at the stain (the ink will go onto the front paper towel). Saturate the remaining stain with laundry stain remover and wash in warm water. Hang to dry.
How to remove water rings & marks from tables
First, rub the spot to completely dry it. Then cover with mayonnaise about ½" thick. Allow it to sit overnight and then ripe clean. The rings should be gone.
Clean your toilet
Pour 1 C of vinegar in the toilet bowl and let it sit for five minutes, then flush.
Clean windows or mirrors
Use coffee filters to clean your windows and mirrors. They're lint-free so they will leave them sparkling.
