2.       Chocolate – remove as much of the stuff by hand. Mix together a solution of a neutral detergent in a cup of warm water. Blot the solution on to the carpet.Press a cloth dampened with clean water on to the affected area. A solution of ammonia in water is prepared by adding 1 volume of ammonia to 5 or 8 volumes of plain water. Dab this mixture onto the chocolate spot. The dab the affected area with plain water. Repeat the entire process if necessary.

3.       Cat urine stain and odour removal. – Absorb as much of the liquid as possible with a cloth for about 30 seconds. Rinse the area with plain water. Blot away excess water. To get rid of the odour sprinkle the area with baking soda and rub it in. Or, pour a solution of vinegar in plain water onto the area. Cover it with a towel and place a heavy object on top to apply pressure.

4.       Port wine – Blot the area with a sponge full of carbonated soda water. The apply a solution of detergent in water with a cloth. If the stain still remains, mix up a solution containing equal volumes of glycerine and water and apply to the area for an hour, after which it is rinsed and blotted. Apply shaving cream to the stain followed by rinsing with cold water can also work.

5.       Oil and grease. – Blot as much oil from the carpet as possible with paper towels. Apply cornmeal to absorb the remaining spill. Alternatively, use talcum powder. It is then removed with a brush. A commercial dry cleaning solvent is then sponged onto the grease or oil spot, followed by the application of a dry spotter. A dry spotter can be prepared by mixing one volume of coconut oil with 8 volumes of dry-cleaning solvent. A\pad moistened with dry spotter is placed over the stained area until the stain continues to be removed. Then flush the stain with a dry cleaning solvent. If the stain continues to be visible, sponge it with water and then apply a wet spotter and white vinegar. A pad containing wet spotter is placed onto it ubtil the stain vanishes. It is then washed and dried.

6.       Red wine stains – Absorb as much of the liquis as possible with paper towels. Prepare a cleaning mixture by adding carpet shampoo in an amount of 1 teaspoon to a cup of hydrogen peroxide. A sponge is soaked in this mixture, squeezed and then used to absorb the wine stain. The affected region is then sponged with warm water. A paper towel is used to blot the region in order to dry it.

7.       Coffee stains – Blot the stain with a dry cloth to soak up as much liquid as possible. Start by blotting the edges and then move towards the centre to prevent the stain from spreading further. Prepare a detergent solution by adding 1 teaspoon of detergent to a cup of warm water. A mild dishwashing liquid is ideal as a detergent.  Sponge the affected area with the prepared solution and blot. Prepare a cup ful of 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water. Sponge this vinegar solution and then blot the stain with a clean cloth. Make sure you use a white cloth so that its own die does not stain the carpet. Avoid rubbing as this will cause the stain to spread.

8.       Picking up animal hair – An easy and quick way to do this is to wear a rubber glove, wet it and run  it over the surfaces where the hair is. The hair should stick right to it.

9.      Gum stuck on carpets – Spray on WD-40 

WALLS

0. Regular cleaning is the best way to avoid dirty walls.  If your walls are painted with flat paint then these are difficult to keep clean. Consider painting your walls with washable paint and regularly wipe them down.
0.  Mould removal – a solution of one part rubbing alcohol and one part water, or two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water or 1 cup of bleach in one gallon of water.  Wet the surfaces with the solution, then rinse thoroughly. Repeat if necessary.
0.  Wallpaper cleaning – to remove stains try scrubbing gently with baking soda.

CLEANING DIFFERENT HARD SURFACES

1.        Stainless steel – to remove finger prints from stainless steel, use a lightly dampened microfiber cloth. For extra stubborn stains or finger prints, use a mild window cleaner with a microfiber cloth. Avoid using scouring powders on stainless steel.  For all-purpose cleaning, use plain dish detergent and make sure water spills are wiped away as water is harmful to the finish of stainless steel.

2.        Granite. Very good to look at and extremely hard and not resistant. Problem is getting it to shine again, especially that beautiful, deep black granite. To clean, dampen the cloths with a spray bottle filled with regular tap water. Avoid using window or ammonia-based cleaners. These will harm the granite and its finish.

3.        Ceramics and smooth top cookers and stoves – these usually require a special liquid paste for cleaning. They should be regularly cleaned (about weekly) with this paste to polish the surface. For daily cleaning use a microfiber cloth.

CLEANING WITH HOUSEHOLD  PRODUCTS

BAKING SODA  - Baking soda is mildly alkaline which makes it useful for neutralising mild acids such as lemon juice. It can be a versatile cleaner, stain remover and deoderizer.

1.        Use on a damp sponge to remove grease easily from your stove, back splash etc

2.        Great for carper deoderising, just sprinkle onto carpet before going to bed and vacuum in the morning

3.        Use for many jobs around the house, scrubbing sinks, bath top, stove, fridge, and laundry.

4.        Keep pipes clean under the sink – pour about one quarter cup of baking soda down the sink with about 1 cup of vinegar, this makes a chemical reaction, then pour some hot water down the drain.

5.        To minimise odours in your fridge, remove top from box of baking soda and place it on one of the shelves. From time to time stir contents.Use with hot water to clean hair brushes and combs.

6.        Remove stains from silver cutlery by dipping a damp cloth in baking soda and rubbing over the stain.

7.        Freshen up a mattresss by sprinkling a mixture of baking soda and aromatic talcum powder over it. Leave for 1 week then vacuum.

8.        Worried about bacteria on the worksurfaces? Use microfibre cloths. These have fibres small enough to pick up bacteria according to latest tests that compared cleaning with microfibre and water versus a sponge and disinfectant.The microfiber tested cleaned 96% of bacteria – cleaning as well as the sponge and disinfectant did.

FRESH LEMON/JUICE -  The acidic nature of lemons make the juice useful as a mild bleach, disinfectant and cleaning agent. Efficiency and strength are enhanced when used with Baking Soda.

         1. To remove stains from marble, sprinkle salt on a fresh lemon. Rub very lightly over stain. Do     not rub hard or you will ruin the polished surface. Wash off with soap and water.

2.Use lemon juice and newspaper to clean inside shower.

            3. Clean glass table tops by rubbing with a little lemon juice, dry with paper towels and polish with

ALKA-SELTZER

1. .3 tablets down the kitchen sink followed by a cup of white water. Leave for a fe minutes then run hot water. Clean pipes.

2.  4 tablets in the toilet will bring the bowl up aparkling clean. Leave for an hour then brush.

3.  1 tablet in a cup of warm water – drop in your metal jewellery and leave for a few minutes. Sparkling.

1.        Port wine stains – Blot the spill with a cloth. Applky carbonated soda water using s stain. Stretch the area and pass hot water through it. Then wash the garment.

2.        Oil and grease stains on cotton – essentially the same as for carpets except that ammonia drops are used instead of white vinegar, in combination with the wet spotter.

3.        Oil and grease on suede and leather – Prepare a thick paste of fuller’s earth with water. Rub the paste into the grease stain. After the paste has dried out the resultant powder is removed with a brush. If it doesn’t serve the purpose well, commercial leather cleaner may be employed. An oil stain on a suede surface can be treated first with lemon juice and then with steam, followed by scrubbing with a brush.

4.        Red wine fabric stain – Pour boiling water over a red wine stain . The stain should completely disappear if it is a fresh one. If the stain has dried, it should be soaked in white wine, which serves to bleach out the red colour. Cover the area with baking soda and wash after a few hours

5.        IN case of a red wine stain on silk and wool, the sugar deposit left by the wine should immediately be cleaned before it leads to the formation of a permanent stain. The paper towels used for blotting purposes should be white because coloured ones can result in staining the fabric. Scubbing the stain can result in setting it deeper into the fabric and should therefore be avoided.

6.        One for the guilty man! Lipstick stains on fabric. Spray the area with a hair spray and wipe with a cloth after a few minutes. This helps remove the stain. Another method that can serve to remove lipstick stains is the use of white toothpaste. Rub it on the stain with your fingers and rinse using cool water.

7.        Another method is to rub Vaseline onto the area and allow it to set for about a minute. Apply liquid detergent and allow this to set for a while. Wash the area with water as hot as the material will allow. Dont dry the garment in the dryer until the stain completely disappears.

8.        Marker stains – water based marker pen stains can be cleaned by placing the stained area over a dry towel.  Dampen the stain with water and blot with another cloth to remove the stain. Apply a liquid detergent to the stain for about 3 to 5 minutes. Wash the fabric with water at the highest recommended temperature for that garment. Repeat the process if the stain has not been completely removed.

9.        Permanent marker pen stains are more complicated to remove as you would imagine. Place the fabric over a white towel and apply some rubbing alcohol. After the stain has been absorbed by the towel, wash it thoroughly. Repeat the process using nail polish remover and then use acetone instead of rubbing alcohol. A solution of baking soda in water is then applied to the fabric. If the stain still remains, treat it with a commercial stain stick or a stain gel.

10.     Ballpoint pen/ink stains – Use a wet sponge to absorb as much ink as possible. After the stain has been dried in the air, apply hair spray. Cover the area with a paper towel at the top and another one underneath. Push the stain with the towel placed underneath into one placed above the fabric. A stain remover is then applied. Wash the fabric in warm water and allow to dry.

11.     Felt tip pens – Push a paper towel into the stain to absorb as much of the ink as possible. Apply denatured alcohol to the stain with a cotton swab. Wash the fabric.This process needs to be carried out as quickly as possible.

12.     Grass stain removal – Apply a teaspoon full of liquid detergent to the affected area. You can use an enzyme bases pre-soak product instead if you like. The applied product is rubbed vigorously into the stain and washed. If some of the stain still remains, don’t put the garment in the dryer as this will set the stain. Sponge the area and then apply rubbing alcohol, cleaning the stain in the process. The fabris can then be treated with chlorine bleach, if it is able to stand it. Otherwise use mild bleach instead.

13.     Grass stains on washable fabric involve initial sponging of the fabric with water. Rubbing alcohol is then sponged into it, which is allowed to dry. Alcohol should not be used for silk and woollen fabrics. Then sponge the fabric with cold water followed by liquid detergent, after which the affected area is rinsed with water and allowed to dry.

14.     Blood stains – Use ordinary meat tenderizer and make a paste out of it with cold water. Rub the paste onto the blod stain and let it stand for half an hour. Rinse the fabric thoroughly in cold water and then wash.

15.     Dirty rings around shirt collars – Rub shampoo on them like you would wash your hair. Shampoo is specifically made to remove body oils. A cheap bottle of shampoo kept by the washing machine is handy for all sorts of clothing stains.

KITCHEN

1.        Cooker hood screens – First spray it down with a regular household cleaner that has a degreaser in it. Next, put it in your dishwasher on its own and run it through a wash cycle. Be sure to add dishwashing detergent as this will give the hood screen a double dose.

2.        Oven cleaning – If your oven is not self cleaningbegin by removing all the racks and washing these first with warm soapy water. Rinse well and allow to dry. Then sprinkle some baking soda inside the oven and spray in a small amount of white distilled vinegar. Be careful as there will be a chemical reaction. Leave for a while and then wipe well. Scrub any areas that are heavily soiled. Be sure to rinse well. If any residue remains, spray with some white distilled white vinegar and wipe well.

3.        Restoring shine to old stainless steel sinks – Use a fine sanding sponge then wax it with a good car wax to extend its life until the next time.

4.        Cleaning and deoderizing waster food disposal units – Be sure to run it after washing dishes to keep any food from sitting, thus causing odours. Once in a while, drop a quartered lemon into the disposal and run for 30 seconds. Also, put some baking soda down the drain and let it sit for a while, even overnight. This will help freshen it and remove bad smells.

5.        Cleaning your wooden chopping /food preparation boards – These are notorious for harbouring bacteria – wash it with some mild detergent and let it air dry thoroughly. Next rub salt into the block to draw out any moisture which may be in the crevices of the board. Apply a very light coat of mineral oil into the wood after each cleaning.

6.        Tarnished copper – Mix some lemon juice with salt into a paste. Dab some of the paste onto a swab and use it as a mild abrasive to restore your copper back to its as-new condition.

7.        Odours in deep freezers – Consume the food as soon as possible. Next unplug the freezer and allow to defrost. Wipe it down with white vinegar. If the odour is still lingering either place baking soda of coffee grounds in the bottom of the freezer and let it sit for two days.

8.        Dirty microwaves – Take a glass container and put one cup of water and one cup of vinegar in it. Place it in the microwave and cook it for 3-5 minutes. Remove the bowl once it has colled and wipe the goo out of your microwave.

9.        Cleaning dishwashers – Pour some distilled vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher. Run a regular cycle. Afterwards, wipe down all surfaces inside and out. White vinegar helps to remove hard water deposits inside the dishwasher.

10.     Killing germs in washing machines – Run a full hot water cycle and add a cup of chlorine bleach. This will kill germs and amke it look, feel, and smell sparkling clean.

11.     Kettle cleaning – boil one part vinegar and one part water in the kettle. Leave overnight. Next morning your kettle will be clean as a whistle.

OUTSIDE

1.     Oil and grease stains on the driveway.   Cover the area with Portland cement so that it sucks up the affected area. Carry this out several times. Wet the stain and spray with an engine degreaser or apply a full strength concentrated cleaning powder. Scrub the driveway with a hard brush and wash down with a water hose.

2.     Oil stain removal from decking – Vegetable oil stains should go if washed with mineral spirits.  Depending on the finish of your decking you could try paint-thinner. Test on a non-visible area first.

3.     Plastic furniture – spray with the garden hose and then scrub with a mild detergent and warm water. Rinse thoroughly. Silicone car wax is an excellent surface protector, repelling both moisture, dust and grime.

4.     To remove tar spots from your car. Use baking soda and enough water to make a paste, then rub it on.

5.     Canvas awning/tent – first vacuum or brush soiled areas to remove any excess dirt. Wash the affected area with a solution of ½ cup Lysol to a gallon of hot water. Rinse with a solution of 1 cup lemon juice and 1 cup salt to a gallon of water. Allow the canvas to air dry in the syun.