Dishes
Instead of buying custom made food bowl covers, you can buy dollar bowl covers for picnics. For large bowls, disposable plastic shower caps work. (Evelyn)
Try to wash the dishes before you go out or go to bed. It helps when you get home and everything is in order and when you get up in the morning too. (Edna Melendez)
To get even wear on my stoneware dishes and bathroom towels, I try to put the clean ones on the bottom of the stack, instead of having them on top and using the same ones over and over. (Kat)
If you happen to get a small chip in a dish, rub the chip with an emery board or some fine sandpaper until smooth.
To get stubborn stains out of coffee cups and tea cups, add half a teaspoon of salt and a little water before scrubbing with a sponge. (Chrismac)
A little bleach and water or a little baking soda and water rubbed lightly in a coffee cup will help remove any coffee or tea stains.
Coffee Pots / Tea Pots
To remove mineral deposits in a tea pot or burnt spots on a coffee pot, put some ice cubes, cut-up lemon, and salt with a tad water and swish around and let sit overnight.
To remove hard water and lime build-up in a teapot or kettle, pour in two cups of vinegar and bring to a boil. Let simmer for about 10 minutes, then rinse well.
Place crushed ice, lemon slices and salt in coffee pot. Swish around and around. This should work to clean any coffee residue/stains from the inside of the pot.
Freezer
Keep this in mind, a full freezer stays colder longer. This is good to remember in case the electricity goes out for any length of time. (Anon)
Remove odors from many small items, (books, plastic bowls, etc.) by leaving them over night in a frost free freezer. (Anon)
Line the bottom of your chest freezer with a clean white sheet. When it is time to defrost, it acts as a giant towel and makes cleaning much easier. (Anon)
Microwave
To fix burnt popcorn smells, boil a cup half full of vinegar in the microwave. Let it stand and then wipe the inside of your microwave. (Charlie)
Take a microwavable bowl, place a slice of lemon in the bowl, then fill the bowl with water. Place the bowl in the microwave and run the microwave for about 2-3 minutes, enough to boil the water. Let sit for 5 minutes in the closed microwave. Remove the bowl and wipe out the microwave. It works great! (Victoria)
I keep a package of cheap paper plates in the drawer under my microwave. They fit nicely over any size bowl or plate to prevent splatters. Since they are so handy we remember to use them!! I've tried wax wrap, paper towels and lots of other covers, but paper plates have 'em all beat! (Dana)
Use coffee filters over small bowls and plates to prevent the food from splattering all over the microwave.
Freshen stale potato chips, cereal, or crackers, by placing them in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds.
To remove dried on food from inside your microwave, boil some water in a bowl for a couple of minutes. The steam loosens the dried on food.
Refrigerator
To help conserve energy make sure to clean the coils at the back of your refrigerator, and the area beneath your refrigerator once every few months.
To keep from having to clean the top or your refrigerator so much, take a damp sponge and wipe the top surface. Once wet, take "Cling Wrap" and cover the surface. When top gets dirty just lift of the cling wrap and dispose. (Crystal Ward)
Put a 5 lb bag of charcoal, half in fridge and freezer for 7 days. Odor will leave never to return! (Fivespeed)
Take small open container and put 2 to 3 tablespoons of fresh coffee grounds in it. Place this in your refrigerator or freezer. It will remove the odors and not leave an odor behind. This seems to work permanently by my experiences. Sometimes rinsing the inside with a baking soda solution helps, you can even use the coffee grounds to deodorize plastic bowls. (Barbara)
However old your refrigerator is, you may want to pull out the tray that is at the bottom of your refrigerator near the floor. The vent like item at the outside, bottom front of your refrigerator should pop off and then you can pull out the tray and clean it. Sometimes this tray can get pretty stinky. (Sheri)
Box of baking soda left opened may work to absorb odors also. (Wendy)
Line the vegetable bins in the refrigerator with newspaper to keep the vegetables crisper longer.
Glue clothes pins to magnets and place on the refrigerator to hang pictures, notes, etc. |
