Leather Shoes

For a speedy clean and shine on patent leather, rub a tiny amount of petroleum jelly over your shoes and buff. Or use a spray-on glass cleaner.
For a quick shine, rub a dab of hand cream over your shoes and then buff. And give your wooden shoe heels a shine with an application of lemon oil or furniture wax.

Cleaning Pots and Pans

To brighten darkened aluminum, cook and acidic substance, such as tomatoes, rhubarb, apples, or vinegar in the pan. Try removing stains or discoloration by boiling 2 tbs cream of tartar in 1 quart water in the pan.



Check the majufacturer's care instructions before washing enamel cookware int he dishwasher. Use only nonabrasive cleaners to remove cooked-on food on emanel. Soak stained white enamel pans in warm water and a smal abount of chlorine bleach.



Remove coffe and tea stains from glass or ceramic pots by soaking them ina solution of 2 tbs chlorine bleach per 1 cup water. Another method is to soak the stained cookware over nigh tin a solution of 2 tbs automatic dishwasher detergent to 1 pot warm water.



Remove stains from a pa with a nonstick surface by boiling a solution of 1 cup water and 2 tbs bakign soda in it. Wipe the surface lightly with cooking oil or shortening before using again.



To remove burned-on food from a pan,s crape off as much of it as possible with a wooden spoon. Then fill the pan with hot soapy water, let it soak, and later scour it with baking soda or a nonabrasive cleaner on a plastic scouring pad. Or you can bring water to a boil in the pan, and while the water simmers, scrape off scroched bits with the wooden spoon. After 10 minutes, pur out the water and scour the pan. Repeat the procedure until the pan is clean.

Pots and Pans

To prevent rusting, store cast-iron pots without lids, adn stack between paper towels.

Kitchen Smells

TO make your garbage disposal smell frsher, drop in half of a used lemon, then run the motor until the lemon is pulverized and washed down the drain.



To get rid of refrigerator aromas, dampen a cotton ball with vanilla extract and put in the refrigerator inside a small bowl.

Cleaning Jewelry

Amber: Put 2 drops of linseed oil on a cotton ball and rub into the amber; remove oily residue.



Amethyst, aquamarine, emerald, garnet, jade, sapphire, ruby, topax, tourmaline: Add 1 tbs ammonia to 1/2 cup warm water; immerse jewelry and scrub with a soft toothbrush. Rinse in clear water and dry on a lint-free cloth.



Diamonds: Mix 1 cup hot water with 1/4 cup ammonia and 1 tbs detergent. Soak diamonds in the mixture for 20 minutes; scrub firmly but slowly with a toothbrush. Rinse in hot water, then dip in rubbing alcohol and airdry or dry wiht a lint fre cloth(do not rinse off alcohol).



Gold: Mix 1 cup warm water with 1/2 cup ammonia. Soak jewelry in this mixture for 10-15 minutes; gently scrub with a soft toothbrush, then rinse in warm water. Let dry on an absorbent towel.



Lapis, malachite, turquoise: Use detergent (not soap) in cool (never hot) water and clean with a soft brush.



Opals: Clean with detergent (not soap) and water; handle carefully since opal is very fragile. When ot worn, opals should be sored in a humidor.



Pearls: Soak pearls in a milkd soap and water solution. Rinse and buff with a flannel cloth. Do not soak a string of pearls, clean each one individually. For greater luster, wear pearls often so that they can absorb natural skin oils. For the same effect, rub a little olive oil over pearls and wipe dry with a chamois cloth.



Silver: Rub silver with silver polish, toothpaste, or a dry cloth dipped in baking soda; use a toothbrush to get into holes or crevices. Then rinse and towel-dry. For a quick clean, rub dry ashes over silver.

Jewelry Knot

Have a knot in a gold chain? Dust it with a little talcum powder and then try to unkot it. If the knot is really stubborn, place a drop of baby oil on a sheet of wax paper. Lay the knot in the oil and work it out with two pins; then clean the chain in ammonia or warm sudsy water.

Cleaning leather gloves

Remove stains on leather gloves by rubbing an art-gum eraser or white cornmeal on them. If they are oily stains, dust them with cornstarch and leave the mixture on over night before brushing off the residue.

Scratches on Wood

To fill a scratch in wood furniture, rub it with a crayon softened by a hairdryer.

Couch Dust

An artist's brush can lift dust from the tufted areas and pleats in leather furniture.

Scuff Marks

To remove scuff marks from vinyl flooring, smear one drop of baby oil over the mark wait a few minutes, and wipe away with a cleaning rage. If they are on a hard wood floor, you can dab soe mineral spirits on the corner of a rag and rub until they disappear.

Copper

Small copper items can be cleaned by boiling them for an hour or more in a pot containing a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and 1 tbs salt per quart of water. Wash with soap and water, rinse and dry with a lint free towel. Use commercial copper polish on larger items. Just be sure to thoroughly wash the items afterward with soap and water to completely remove all the polish residue. Otherwise, it will leave a green stain.



Slightley tarnished metals can be cleaned with a homemade paste of equal parts of slat, vinegar and flour. Rub it on with a soft cloth, rinse and buff. For stuborn stains, rub the copper with salt and vegar or lemon juice.

Dusting the Ceiling

To dust hard to reach corners, slip and old sock over a yard stick and secure with a rubber band.

Wax buildup

An hour in the freezer will harden the wax on candlesticks, and make it easier for removal.

Cleaning the bathroom

The best time to clean your bathroom is right after taking a shower or bath. That's because steam will have loosened the dirt, and al lyou have to do is wipe off the damp surfaces.

Decluttering the File Cabinet

Keep Long Term:

One copy of your resumes; diplomas and certificcates; school transcrpts; receipts for car repairs and large purchases; mortgage and real estate documents; home-improvemen records; annual statements of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRA's or 401(k)s; and legal ducuments (leases, trust papers, etc).



Keep Seven Years:

Tax returns, bank statements, canceled checks and credit card statements.



Keep only the most recet:

Paycheck stubs, utility bills, mortgage payment, mututal fund prospectus, insurance policy. As you file the latest, throw out the last.

Stuck Glasses

When one glass is stuck inside another, fill the top one with cold water and dip the bottom glass in hot water. The cold water will make the top glass contract while the hot water makes the bottom one expand. Give the water temperatures a minute to work, then getnly pull the glasses apart.

Napkins

I am a thief. I steal napkins. Well, I don't know if it's technically stealing since most of the time they're out there in the open and they want you to take them. I just usually take more than the average person. Whenever I go out to a fast food place, whether I go into the establishment or do the drive thru, I always get or ask for extra napkins. These are free and are great to have around. I have a stash in my car glove compartment, and they occupy my napkin holder on my kitchen counter. They cost me nothing, and are easily disposable. Great bargin in my book.