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Q: My summer resolution was to make sure my kids get plenty of outdoor exercise. In addition to limiting their indoor activities, as a family, we've been doing lots of weekend picnicking and hiking. The downside is that our clothes are full of grass, dirt and sweat stains. How do I get rid of them?
A: For grass stains, pretreat the stains with a prewash stain remover or rub liquid laundry detergent into the stains. Launder, using the hottest water that's safe for…
March 11, 2019
Q: This holiday season, I’ll be hosting several overnight guests from out of town. Do you have any tips for getting my home and guest room ready?
Having guests for the holidays is a great excuse to spruce up your home. Focus first on the bedrooms, bathrooms, and other shared spaces. Here are my top ten tips for preparing your home for guests.
Put mats and throw rugs in all entryways. This will help prevent dirt from being tracked into your home.
Keep a boot tray near the door for rain or…
December 5, 2018
If you have the Owner's Manual, follow the cleaning instructions. If you don't have the Manual, just follow these easy steps:
INTERIOR
(note: do this before going to the grocery store for your weekly shopping)
Unplug the fridge and slide a coil brush under the unit’s kick plate to remove dust.
Empty the contents of the entire fridge. Toss anything past its prime.
Remove the drawers and scrub with a sponge, warm water and liquid dish soap.
Spray the (now empty) interior with a…
February 8, 2019
How does odor neutralization work and how is it different from fragrance?
Great question! We asked Sammy Wang, MSE, a senior scientist at Procter & Gamble and here's what she told us:
Odor neutralization works by essentially reducing bad scent, which typically involves modifying odor compounds so they no longer smell bad. This can be accomplished in different ways – for example, by trapping the odor, by changing the odor’s…
May 17, 2023
The American Cleaning Institute suggests these tips for more sustainable and better living:
Simply Sustainable
Avoid Wasting Product:
Read labels and use the recommended amount of cleaning product.
Use cleaning products until they are finished, to reduce unnecessary waste.
Reduce Water and Energy Used:
Turn off the water tap between tasks.
When doing your laundry or running the dish washer, wash full loads.
Choose a lower water temperature when…
December 5, 2018
Q. I love my dog, but don’t always love the smell that seems to take over my home. How can I ensure that it’s just my dog that greets guests at the door, and not an odor?
A. The dog days of summer, don't mean that your house has to smell like a dog - or a cat for that matter. You can take these steps to help minimize any smells:
Wash your pet food and water dishes daily
Protect the furniture with a towel or washable blanket or throw
Use a fabric refresher on upholstery…
March 11, 2019
The key to a clean house is finding a system that works for you and your schedule. What worked before you had kids may need some modifications. And empty nesters may have a busier schedule than before the days of carpools and kids sports.
Cluttered Kitchen? Just Say No
It’s tempting to let the dishes "soak" while you relax after dinner, but you have to do them anyway so why wait. Put the dishes in the…
February 8, 2019
To remove most lipstick stains from napkins, put the napkin stain down on top of a couple layers of paper towel or absorbent towel. Dampen another towel with rubbing alcohol (70 or 90 percent), then dab, dab, dab the stained area. Look underneath and you should see lipstick on the paper towels. Keep at it until all of the stain is gone. Some long-lasting lipsticks may need more work to get off.
You also can spritz a prewash spray onto both sides of the fabric, let set for a few minutes to let…
February 8, 2019
Q. My New Year’s resolution is to stop smoking. But how can I make my rugs, furniture and draperies stop smelling like cigarettes?
A. Open up the windows and let the fresh air in. For items like throw blankets, pillow covers and curtains that can be laundered, wash them or take them to the drycleaners. Vacuum the floor and carpet, window treatments, upholstery and lamp shades. Then spray fabric refresher on all the fabric surfaces. Smooth surfaces, such as mirrors, floors and…
March 11, 2019
Treat and wash stains promptly!
Holiday entertaining is fraught with potential disasters. But a cool head and the right products will keep a mini-crisis from becoming a major problem. Here are some quick and easy remedies from the American Cleaning Institute:
Stains
Turkey, gravy, butter, and salad dressing (oil-based stains): Pretreat with a prewash stain remover. Launder in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric.
Cranberry sauce, apple cider, and pumpkin pie (fruit-…
February 8, 2019