Guardian

SOME simple items can be used in handling home problems. To freshen up the home, rather than go for commercial fresheners, which have the tendency to mask one odour with another, open up windows and doors for some time for ventilation.

Fill some small containers with vinegar and place around the room. Alternatively, prepare potpourri from favourite herbs and spices. Place the potpourri in a small basket or jar or in a small sachet bags.

For garbage:

Empty the garbage frequently and clean the can as needed. To inhibit growth of odour-producing moulds and bacteria, sprinkle half cup of borax in the bottom of the garbage bin.

For grease spots:

Immediately pour salt on the grease spot to absorb grease and prevent staining.

For scratches:

Mix equal amount of lemon juice and salad oil. Rub into scratches with a soft cloth until scratches disappear.

For Water spots:

Remove watermarks by rubbing gently with toothpaste on a damp cloth.

Window and glass cleaning:

Do not wash windows while the sun is shining on them because they dry too quickly and leave streaks. When polishing windows, use up and down strokes on one side of the window and side-to-side strokes on the other to tell which side requires extra polishing. To polish windows or mirrors to a sparkling shine, try a natural linen towel or other soft cloth, a clean, damp chamois cloth or crumpled newspaper.

One word of warning about newspaper: while newspaper does leave glass lint-free with a dirt-resistant film, persons with sensitivities to fumes from newsprint may wish to avoid the use of newspaper as a cleaning tool.

Adapted from Products Around The Home