Cleaning
Tips on Cleaning with Everyday Household Items
By
Jun 1, 2006, 23:05

(NewsUSA) - Have your household cleaning rituals become increasingly monotonous, or do you often find yourself running out of a key cleaning product right when you are planning on tackling a mess? The experts at Merry Maids, the nation's largest home cleaning provider, offer a creative twist on routine household chores.

Remove stains with fragrant citrus fruits:

* For marble countertops, dip a grapefruit half into a dish of salt and rub across the stain, being sure to immediately wipe down with fresh water and a dry towel in order to avoid citric acid buildup on the countertop.

* To remove stains from plastic or smooth wood cutting boards, rub a sliced lemon onto the surface, letting the citric acid sit for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Deodorize with simple household staples:

* Lemon, grapefruit and orange rinds are wonderful kitchen sink disposal deodorizers. Simply drop the peel down the disposal, run it for a few seconds and the citrus smell will permeate your kitchen in no time.

* Pull the baking soda out of your pantry and sprinkle into toilet bowls in order to maintain a fresh odor in bathrooms.

* To keep shoes smelling fresh, ball up one or two dryer sheets and place them inside your shoes overnight. For rain-drenched shoes, wad up pieces of newspaper and stick them into the toes to absorb the moisture.

Polish tarnished silver with convenient around-the-house products:

* Mix a 2:1 solution of baking soda and water; coat silver thoroughly with baking soda paste and rub into the surface. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth.

* Squeeze toothpaste onto the piece of silverware so as to sufficiently cover it. Run warm water over the item, gently scrubbing with an old toothbrush to create a foam. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth.

For more information on residential cleaning, visit the Merry Maids Web site at www.merrymaids.com or call (800) MERRYMAIDS.

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