Callin' Cuzin's Cleanin' ?

Please use the methods explained here at your own risk. We cannot assume responsibility for damages incurred. Not all materials are the same. While these methods are in popular use your personal situation and circumstances may differ.

Ok, so we all know you're not going to call us to get gum out of your hair or ink blotches off of your favorite jeans, so here it is, courtesy of Cuzin's Cleanin', cleaning tips for the do-it-yourself pros.

Cleaning crayons and scuff marks off of your walls

There are a couple of ways to go about accomplishing this, mainly you will want to concern yourself with the environmental impact and activity involved with using certain products.

You may use 1 tablespoon of TSP (trisodium phosphate) to a quart and a half of water to clean scuff marks or crayon marks off walls. TSP can be found in the paint department of a hardware store. Wear gloves and do not use on semi-gloss or gloss paint or wood surfaces.

(more info - see bottom of page for the environmental impact of using TSP as a cleaning agent)

Removing blood from clothing and fabrics

Use hydrogen peroxide to remove blood from clothing or other fabrics. Corn starch can also remove blood. Rinse the stain in cold water, then rub in moistened cornstarch

Removing gum

Gum can be removed using ice. Press the ice on the gum until it hardens, then use a dull knife to remove by scraping. (of course, if your kid doesn't mind you can just shave his/her head).

Removing ink

Hair spray will remove magic-marker ink from many surfaces.

Heavy Duty Cleaning Jobs

Cleaning a fireplace

It is best to tackle the cleaning of a fireplace soon after the winter season, before residue has a chance to set in. You will need to take steps to insure that the area around the fireplace is protected as dust and debris can easily spread throughout your living space.

Take extra care to protect yourself before you begin cleaning. Wear gloves, goggles and a mask to protect yourself from breathing in substances or injuring your eyes, nose and lungs.

Make sure your area is clear of obstacles before you begin work.

Supplies

You will need a bucket of water, a cleaning brush, dust pan and waste basket.

Position a heavy cloth or trash bag under the fireplace to catch waste and begin to scrape away soot and debris with a solid cleaning brush. Take precaution to protect your eyes, ears and body from falling material. Having a cloth or trash bag position under the area you are cleaning will help you to quickly remove dirt rather than having to sweep or vacuum after you are done you can simply wrap it up and dump it in your trash receptacle (should have been positioned nearby).

Once materials have been scraped away. Moisten walls with soap and/or foam cleaning agent. It is best to work on small areas so that you can scrub the walls of the fireplace while it is still wet/damp. It is also best to work from top to bottom to avoid double work.

Once the majority of the fireplace has been cleaned you may either dry the area with old cloths or just allow it to air dry.

Fireplaces should only need to be cleaned once a year.

Cleaning upholstery and removing bad odors

Odors will undoubtedly settle on upholstery. Some odors may be caused by cigarette smoke and spills others may be caused by mold or from cooking.

Two very popular solutions include vinegar and baking soda. You can choose to use either one or the other.

Using baking soda to remove odors from upholstery

Sprinkle baking soda on the fabric and allow it to settle for 30 minutes before vacuuming it off.

Using vinegar to remove odors from upholstery

mix vinegar with three time the amount of water as vinegar (more or less). Dampen a sponge and ring out excess water (the point is to clean the surface and avoid getting water deep into the fabric where it will be difficult to dry).

Once you have completely wiped down the material you should place it out in the sun (perhaps the cushions). The ultraviolet rays will help to kill mold and bacteria that may have settled on the fabric (which may be the cause of the odor).

You may combine these efforts and repeat as necessary for hard to remove odors.

Environmental impact of using TSP for cleaning

TSP was once the major component of laundry and dish washing detergents. The phosphate contained in these products was not removed from waste water during treatment and led to algae blooms and other environmental issues. The Clean Water Act limits the use of these products.

Products sold as TSP substitute, containing soda ash and zeolites, are promoted as a direct substitute. The sodium carbonate is not as strongly basic as trisodium phosphate and less effective in more demanding jobs.