Zapping Red-Wine Stains

“A dab of foaming shaving cream can help remove many red-wine spills from carpets.”

Eliminating Pet Hair

“To pick up cat hair, put on a wet rubber dishwashing glove and wipe your hand over surfaces. The hair will stick right to it.”

Storing Supplies

“Keep cleaning products in a shoe holder over the back of your laundry room door. They’re easy to see and access, and it saves space.”

Picking Up

“Leave a basket at the foot of the stairs and toss in any toys or miscellaneous items that were brought downstairs during the day. Whenever you go upstairs, take the basket with you and unload. It beats running up and down the stairs all day.”

Cleaning for Guests

“If you can clean only one room before company arrives, tackle the bathroom. This is the only room where people spend time solo and may have the time and tendency to notice a mess.”

Removing Food Odors

“When your plastic storage containers start to smell like the food that was in them, wash them with hot water and two tablespoons of baking soda.”

Dusting Lamp Shades

“If your vacuum attachment doesn’t work on cloth lamp shades, dust the shades with a lint roller.”

Wiping Up

“Baby wipes are useful for quick surface cleanups in kitchens and bathrooms. They also are great for cleaning up after craft projects.”

Removing Stickers

“To remove stubborn price tags from items like dishes and glassware, use a cotton pad or Q-tip soaked with rubbing alcohol. The alcohol dissolves the sticky glue and doesn’t mess up manicure.”

Eliminating Wax Spills

“To remove hardened wax from fabric, place a paper towel or a brown paper bag on top of the wax and press with an iron on low heat. The paper absorbs the wax, and your iron stays clean.”

Cleaning Glass

“Use old newspapers instead of paper towels to clean mirrors and windows. They are the best!, work great, and you’re recycling.”

Maintaining Tidy Rooms

“During the week, the rooms that matter most to you are the ones to keep neat. If you worry about all the rooms all the time, you’ll spread yourself thin.”

Washing Ceramic dishes

“Make a paste of baking soda and water to clean discolored teacups and teapots. It’s gentle enough for most fine china, and it’s easy on the hands and the wallet.”

Cleaning Glassware

“When you’re washing narrow-necked glass vases and decanters, add a little uncooked rice to the water. Your glassware will sparkle.”