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4 Superfast Cleaning Secrets For Around The House

* Keep Dust Off Plastic Surfaces (televisions, stereo equipment, etc.). Wipe them with a lightly moistened antistatic dryer sheet, such as Bounce. The sheet not only picks up dust - it also contains compounds that eliminate static cling. That disrupts the magnetic-like attraction that plastic surfaces usually have for dust particles, meaning that you will need to dust less frequently.

* Keep Curtains Fresh. Every three months or so, toss them in the dryer on the "air-fluff" setting, with no heat. The tumbling loosens dirt and dust, transferring it to the dryer's filter. Then you simply pull out the lint screen and toss away the layer of debris that it has collected.

* Get Dirt And Dust Off Venetian Blinds. Submerge them, fully extended, in a bathtub filled with warm water and one or two cups of powdered dishwasher detergent. Dip them up and down to clean. Then wipe them with a cloth or kitchen scrub brush. Rest on old towels to dry. This takes half the time and creates much less mess than cleaning them slat by slat.

* The Gas Grill Cleans Itself. Place a double layer of aluminum foil over the cooking grate, so that it is completely covered and drapes over the sides of the grill. Close the grill onto the foil, to seal. Set the grill at a high temperature. Keep covered, until all smoke dissipates. Any burnt-on food will be reduced to a soft, powdery ash that you can whisk away with a small broom and dustpan.

Advice from Clean It Fast, Clean It Right

If you don’t have the luxury of hiring a housekeeper, here are some suprisingly simple shortcuts for dealing with some of the most time-consuming household tasks...

AROUND THE HOUSE Keep curtains fresh. Every three months, toss them in the dryer on the “air-fluff�?setting with no heat. The tumbling loosens dirt and dust and transfers it to the dryer’s filter. Then you simply pull out the lint screen and toss away the layer of debris that it has collected. Get dirt and dust off Venetian blinds. Submerge them, fully extended, in a bathtub filled with warm water and one or two cups of powdered dishwasher detergent. Dip them up and down to clean. Then wipe them with a cloth or kitchen scrub brush. Rest on old towels to dry. This takes half the time and creates much less mess than cleaning them slat by slat. Keep dust off plastic surfaces -- televisions, stereo equipment, etc. Wipe them with a lightly moistened antistatic dryer sheet, such as Bounce. The sheet not only picks up dust -- it also contains compounds that eliminate static cling. That disrupts the magnetic-like attraction plastic surfaces usually have for dust particles, meaning you can postpone your next dusting session.

BATHROOM Keep soap scum and mineral deposits off shower walls. Apply a thin coat of clear furniture wax or car polish to the tiles. The slippery finish makes water bead up and roll off rapidly before it has a chance to evaporate and leave behind hard-to-remove residues. Important: Don’t apply the polish or wax to your tub or shower floor. To clean: Use a sponge and all-purpose bathroom cleaner. Then reapply the polish or wax.

KITCHEN Keep silver from tarnishing. Store silver in zippered plastic food bags to keep out air and moisture. Wrap pieces first in soft cloth or anti-tarnish flannel bags before putting them in plastic bags to help prevent scratches. Important: Don't use newspaper or rubber bands to wrap silver. Both contain carbon, which reacts with silver -- turning it black and pitting surfaces. Clean cloudy glass vases, carafes and other glassware. Fill with warm water, and add an effervescent denture-cleaning tablet. Then shake. The fizzing scours away the residue. Rinse or let stand before emptying for sparkling results. If the vase or other item has a very narrow neck, break up the denture tablet first.

For most busy families, house cleaning is a low priority by choice or time constraints. But almost everyone can save time with house cleaning by being more efficient, said Mary Longo, family and consumer sciences agent for Ohio State University Extension in Marion County. She offers these tips:

Use both hands when cleaning. Finish a step with one hand while starting the next step with the other hand.

Go ahead and splurge on attractive cleaning tools. You'll be more likely to use them.

Put supplies in a bucket to carry from room to room.

If something is not dirty, don't clean it. Vertical surfaces collect dirt much slower than horizontal surfaces.

Put a pretreatment substance for stains in the bathroom or each bedroom so every family member can take responsibility for their clothing care everyday.

Give children responsibility for putting away their belongings. Provide a large box or basket to make it easier.

Delegate jobs to the rest of the family, and be willing to adjust your "white glove" standards.

Have a challenge to see who in the family can do their job the quickest and with the best quality. The winner doesn't have to clean the next week and gets to be the judge.

Keep up with cleaning all year rather than exhausting yourself right before a major holiday or family event.

Set a time limit for your cleaning. When that time is up, stop! You have other (better?) things to

Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost
immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional
"pain relievers."

Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with
mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids
peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in =
cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a
massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.

Sore Throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1
tablespoon six times a day.
The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets
in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer
begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly -- even though
the product was never been advertised for this use.

To remove eye puffiness, all you need is a dab of preparation H, carefully
rubbed into the skin, avoiding the eyes. The hemorrhoid ointment acts as a
vasoconstrictor, relieving the swelling instantly.

Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a band-aid over it. Honey
kills the bacteria, keeps the skin, sterile, and speeds healing. Works
overnight.

Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine
mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy
again.

To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of
clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with
Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what
gets the job done.

If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you
can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the
ground instantly.

Pour a drop of white glue all over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried
glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Cover a boil with tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes
soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine, a powerful
antiseptic.

Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour.
The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

Kills fleas instantly with dish washing liquid. Add a few drops to your
dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin
irritations. Goodbye fleas.

Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with
any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

Eliminate ear mites. All it takes is a few drops of corn oil in your cat's
ear. Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3
days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates
healing.

To prevent troublesome hair balls, apply a dollop of Vaseline petroleum
jelly to your cat's nose. The cat will lick off the jelly, lubricating any
hair in its stomach so it can pass easily through the digestive system.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief...It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2
cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave
for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for
soothing relief from arthritis pain.

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