When you spill a glass of wine on the couch, do you immediately spring into action—grabbing a damp towel, club soda, or stain stick? Next time, take a precautionary measure: Turn over the cushion and take a look at the label. You see, upholstery labels generally bear one of four markers that shed light on how the fabric should be […]
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How Much Time do You Spend Re-doing Your Partner’s Chores?
Did you know that the average British woman spends three hours each week redoing her partner’s housework? That number comes courtesy of Sainsbury’s, a retail chain in the United Kingdom. (And we have a feeling American women are giving those Brits a run for their money.) Cleaning the kitchen and fluffing the couch cushions were the primary chores that men […]
Banish Crayon Drawings (on Your Walls) with Baking Soda
This dilemma came up for one of my friends with kids the other day. Her daughter drew all over the walls with crayon. And as much as she might have liked the abstract masterpiece, she would have preferred for it to be on paper hanging on the wall rather than on the wall itself. Luckily, there’s an easy way to […]
What’s the Dirtiest Place in Your Office?
A recent study by University of Arizona microbiologist Charles Gerba shows that it’s none other than my favorite spot: The break room. About 75 percent of break room faucet handles contained a high level of microorganisms—such as mold, yeast, bacteria—and just under 48 percent of office microwave handles suffered the same grimy fate. (Only about a quarter of keyboards, by […]
Clean Your Garden Tools with Tea
After you plant your bulbs and before you put your garden tools away for the fall and winter, use a pot or two of strongly-brewed black tea to clean your trowels and spades. Let the tools soak in the tea for a few hours and any grime (including rust!) will wipe away with a cloth. Just be sure to wear […]
Four Things You Didn’t Know Oven Cleaner Could Clean
Think your bottle of oven cleaner is a one-hit wonder? Think again. You can actually use it to clean the following four things: 1. Stained Pyrex dishes: Spray on the oven cleaner and place the dish in a tightly sealed garbage bag overnight. In the morning, scrub away the stains and wash the dish thoroughly. 2. Your curling iron: Remove […]
How to Remove Broken Glass from Your Dishwasher
It happens to the best of us. A glass that wasn’t properly loaded breaks in your dishwasher’s rinse cycle. Luckily there’s an easy and safe way to remove the glass without getting your fingers sliced. Start by grabbing a flashlight and turning off the lights in your kitchen. Shine the flashlight in the bottom of the dishwasher. Any pieces of […]
Quick Fix: How to Clean a Bathtub Stains
If you’re constantly fighting off rust stains in your bathtub, here’s a cleaning combo that’s sure to do the trick. Mix together equal parts baking soda and cream of tartar. Then add enough lemon juice to make a paste. Rub the paste onto the stain with your fingers or a microfiber cloth, and leave it to sit for about 30 […]
Stay on Task with This Decluttering Strategy
One of the hardest things about tackling an organizing project is staying on task. But following this decluttering strategy will help you maintain your focus and get the project done. Wherever you’re organizing (whether your closet, desk, or kid’s room), start in the upper left-hand corner and work your way down and to the right. That way, you won’t be […]
