Cure for Scaly Mineral Build-Up
More Nontoxic Cleaning Solutions
By Annie B. Bond, Executive Producer, Care2 Healthy Living Channels.
Water that has been left to sit in glass can leave rings of
discoloration and a residue of what is called "scale." This happened to
me recently, both on a crystal champagne glass that I didn't want to
abandon (it looked ruined with the scale), and a glass cooking bowl
that
had been used outside for a project. I had a senior moment, forgot what
I know about how to clean this problem, and scrubbed and scrubbed to no
avail (you realize why the residue is called scale!), and even sent
them
through the hot dishwasher, thinking for sure that heavy duty detergent
and heat would work, but no such luck.
When I remembered what to use for scale, it of course worked
immediately
and like magic! This trick can be used anywhere hard water minerals
build up, such as in the shower.
Vinegar performs the magic! All you need to do is pour straight
household vinegar into the bowl or glass with scale and it instantly
dissolves the minerals and it is crystal clear clean. For the shower
stall or around a sink faucet, soak a washcloth in straight vinegar and
lay the cloth over the area for as long as needed.
Heinz white distilled vinegar is made of vegetables, not petroleum. For
glass you can use organic apple cider vinegar, but this can stain
fabrics, so use with care.
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/799
***
Melted Candle Wax and Sloshed Red Wine - More Nontoxic Cleaning
Solutions
By the Care2 Staff.
The aftermath of a festive holiday meal can bring on a headache for
more
reasons than one. Melted candle wax may have flowed down the candle
sticks onto your best linen tablecloth, and you fear red wine stains
may
forever mark the spot where a glass was overturned.
We can come to the rescue with some magic-like common sense solutions
to
these and other holiday cleaning crises, here!
How to Remove Red Wine Stains
My friend Susan, the hostess of a dinner party I once attended,
astonished us all by her actions when one of the guests spilled a glass
of red wine on the white tablecloth.
She jumped up and first put a full kettle of water on the stove, then
removed everything from the table, took up the tablecloth, and
stretched
the fabric over a pan in the sink. Once the water was boiling, she
pulled a chair up to the sink, stood on it with the kettle, and poured
the boiling water over the stain from a height of three to four feet.
This stain removing technique worked like magic!
It isn't everyone who would be willing to disrupt their dinner party by
removing all the food, plates, and utensils, but I've since learned
Susan's tip works most successfully when the stain is fresh. If the
stain is dry try soaking the red wine in white wine to bleach it out.
Finally, cover the stain with a thick baking soda paste, leave it for a
few hours keeping it moist by spraying it with water from a spray
bottle. Wash as normal.
*
How to Remove Dripped Candle Wax
More Household Hints Solutions
by Annie Berthold-Bond, Care2.com Producer, Green Living Channels
One of the best ways to remove candle wax that has dripped onto Hard
surfaces is to melt it with a hair dryer. Wipe up the wax as it melts
with an absorbent towel or cloth.
Whereas a hair dryer is great for removing wax on a hard surface, many
people ask me about how to remove wax from table cloths, carpets, and
other fabrics. An iron is the solution for removing wax from fabric.
Place newspaper on both sides of the fabric (or on top of the carpet),
to blot up the wax once it melts from ironing over the newspaper with a
medium-hot iron. Replace newspaper as needed.
Note that you don't want to use a hair dryer or iron on anything
flammable.
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/2607
***
More Nontoxic Cleaning Solutions
By Annie B. Bond, Executive Producer, Care2 Healthy Living Channels.
Water that has been left to sit in glass can leave rings of
discoloration and a residue of what is called "scale." This happened to
me recently, both on a crystal champagne glass that I didn't want to
abandon (it looked ruined with the scale), and a glass cooking bowl
that
had been used outside for a project. I had a senior moment, forgot what
I know about how to clean this problem, and scrubbed and scrubbed to no
avail (you realize why the residue is called scale!), and even sent
them
through the hot dishwasher, thinking for sure that heavy duty detergent
and heat would work, but no such luck.
When I remembered what to use for scale, it of course worked
immediately
and like magic! This trick can be used anywhere hard water minerals
build up, such as in the shower.
Vinegar performs the magic! All you need to do is pour straight
household vinegar into the bowl or glass with scale and it instantly
dissolves the minerals and it is crystal clear clean. For the shower
stall or around a sink faucet, soak a washcloth in straight vinegar and
lay the cloth over the area for as long as needed.
Heinz white distilled vinegar is made of vegetables, not petroleum. For
glass you can use organic apple cider vinegar, but this can stain
fabrics, so use with care.
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/799
***
Melted Candle Wax and Sloshed Red Wine - More Nontoxic Cleaning
Solutions
By the Care2 Staff.
The aftermath of a festive holiday meal can bring on a headache for
more
reasons than one. Melted candle wax may have flowed down the candle
sticks onto your best linen tablecloth, and you fear red wine stains
may
forever mark the spot where a glass was overturned.
We can come to the rescue with some magic-like common sense solutions
to
these and other holiday cleaning crises, here!
How to Remove Red Wine Stains
My friend Susan, the hostess of a dinner party I once attended,
astonished us all by her actions when one of the guests spilled a glass
of red wine on the white tablecloth.
She jumped up and first put a full kettle of water on the stove, then
removed everything from the table, took up the tablecloth, and
stretched
the fabric over a pan in the sink. Once the water was boiling, she
pulled a chair up to the sink, stood on it with the kettle, and poured
the boiling water over the stain from a height of three to four feet.
This stain removing technique worked like magic!
It isn't everyone who would be willing to disrupt their dinner party by
removing all the food, plates, and utensils, but I've since learned
Susan's tip works most successfully when the stain is fresh. If the
stain is dry try soaking the red wine in white wine to bleach it out.
Finally, cover the stain with a thick baking soda paste, leave it for a
few hours keeping it moist by spraying it with water from a spray
bottle. Wash as normal.
*
How to Remove Dripped Candle Wax
More Household Hints Solutions
by Annie Berthold-Bond, Care2.com Producer, Green Living Channels
One of the best ways to remove candle wax that has dripped onto Hard
surfaces is to melt it with a hair dryer. Wipe up the wax as it melts
with an absorbent towel or cloth.
Whereas a hair dryer is great for removing wax on a hard surface, many
people ask me about how to remove wax from table cloths, carpets, and
other fabrics. An iron is the solution for removing wax from fabric.
Place newspaper on both sides of the fabric (or on top of the carpet),
to blot up the wax once it melts from ironing over the newspaper with a
medium-hot iron. Replace newspaper as needed.
Note that you don't want to use a hair dryer or iron on anything
flammable.
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/2607
***
