Cheaper, Better, Faster

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Book: Read Cheaper, Better, Faster for Free Online
Authors: Mary Hunt
Tags: BUS050000
gallon hot water and 1 cup vinegar—no soap. The floor will shine andsparkle like new. No rinsing is required. While hot water might work to remove dirt, it will have a dulling effect because of the minerals left behind in the water. Vinegar cuts and removes those minerals, getting rid of that cloudy film.
    Floors—hair spray removal
    To remove hair spray from a no-wax floor, mix ¼ cup ammonia with a gallon of warm water. If you are not sure about the durability of the floor’s finish, test this mixture on an inconspicuous part of the floor.
    Floors—no-wax linoleum
    To clean a no-wax linoleum floor quickly, mist with a foaming bathroom spray and let stand 5 minutes. Damp-mop the floor to remove the cleaner.
    Floors—scratches on resilient flooring
    Get rid of light scratches in resilient flooring by rubbing with a soft cloth moistened with a small amount of paste floor wax.
    Floors— wax remover, homemade
    Mix 3 parts rubbing alcohol to 1 part water for an excellent floor wax remover.
    Framed art
    When you wash the glass that covers framed art, spray the cleaner on your cloth, not the glass. Otherwise the liquid may work its way inside the glass, damaging the mat or the artwork itself.
    Freezer
    If your refrigerator isn’t frost-free, use a hair dryer to quickly defrost it. Or rotate two pans of boiling water: one goes into the freezer compartment while the other goes back on the stove for reheating. When you’ve completed defrosting the freezer, spray a few coats of cooking spray on the top and sides of the freezer. The next time you defrost, the ice will fall right off.
    Furniture polish, homemade
    Mix 3 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice or vinegar in blender. Blend on high to emulsify, and apply with a clean, soft cloth.
    Garbage disposal—ice cubes, citrus, baking soda
    Mix 1 cup chopped lemon, orange, or grapefruit (rind and all); 1 cup baking soda; and 1 ½ cups water. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid. Remove cubes, place them in a resealable plastic bag if you don’t intend to use them immediately, and label them. To use, turn on your disposal unit, dump in 6 to 10 cubes, and let the machine grind them up. Rinse with cold water.
    Garbage disposal— ice cubes, vinegar
    To clean the garbage disposal, dump in a tray of ice cubes made from white vinegar and water. Turn on the water and operate the disposal as usual. Or dump in a tray of regular ice cubes and a handful of lemon rinds and operate the disposal as usual.
    George Foreman grill
    You love your George Foreman grill. If only it was self-cleaning! Here’s the next best thing: Throw a soaking wet folded paper towel on the grill after you unplug it, but while it’s still hot. Close the lid. It will steam clean itself. When cooled, just wipe off the residue.
    Glass—coffeepot
    Coffee burned on the bottom of your glass coffeepot? Try this old restaurant trick: Fill it with a handful of ice cubes, add 2 teaspoons of salt, and swirl the pot around for a few minutes to remove the coffee stains.
    Glass— decanter
    Rub a glass decanter with a lemon or lemon juice to renew its shine. Dry with a lint-free cloth.
    Glass—fireplace doors
    To clean those dirty glass fireplace doors, mix some wood ashes with a little water. Apply this paste with a sponge in a circular motion and rinse off.
    Glass—light globes
    Clean the glass globes of your light fixtures in the dishwasher.
    Glass—shower doors
    Mineral oil will remove stubborn scum from the inside of glass shower doors. Give the tiles, faucets, and outside of the shower door a final once-over with glass cleaner to make them really shine.
    Glass—thermos
    To clean the inside of a glass thermos bottle, place a denture-cleaning tablet in it, fill with warm water, and allow it to sit overnight before rinsing thoroughly.
    Glass cleaner, homemade
    Add 2 tablespoons cornstarch and ½ cup white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm

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