Hands For Hire | Handy Hints

Clogged Drains

To unclog drains from grease, pour a cup of salt water and a cup of soda into the drain, followed by a pan of boiling water. The grease will usually dissolve immediately and unclog and open the drain.

Allergies

Air condition your home, keep bathrooms free of mold and mildew, damp hard surfaces with a mop regularly, vacuum everything once a week, enclose your fireplace and invest in an ozone-free air cleaner!

Stains

To remove urine stains: soak in a sponge with a solution of 1 Tbsp. household ammonia in ½ cup of warm water. Rinse well. Now to remove food stains: sponge thoroughly with cold water first. Pour glycerin over, rub lightly between the hands and leave for half an hour. Rinse in warm water. Remove any remaining stain with chlorinated laundry bleach.

Painting – hard to reach areas

A cool way to paint hard-to-brush objects is to slip a plastic food storage bag over your hand and then an old white sock over the bag. Now dip your covered hand into the paint and apply it. You'll cover all the areas, including the nooks and crannies.

Painting – drying and storing brushes

A new way to dry and store paint brushes: using a handsaw, cut a slanted slice out of the handle from the hole toward the bristles. After cleaning, hook the brush over a coat hanger and hang it from a ceiling joist or high place.

Grease splatters

Make cleaning grease splatters on the wall behind the stove easier. First, clean the painted wall behind your stove. Then spray the entire area with a generous coat of furniture polish and buff well with paper towels. You will then be able to wipe future grease splatters away easily with a dry sheet of paper towels.

Preparing for winter

Drain exterior water lines, hose bibs, sprinklers and, if possible, pool equipment before a potential freeze. Caulk around pipes where they enter the house. Check doors and windows for proper caulking and weather stripping. Test windows and doors along the seams to see if any air is going in or out. Check the bottoms of doors for a tight seal or door sweep.

Dryer vent cleaning

It is very important to clean out your dryer vents. You can do this by pulling out your dryer and using a dryer brush which can be purchased at local stores. Brush out lint from the tube connected to your dryer to the wall. Then use the brush and clean the tube inside the wall as well. This will help prevent a fire and damage to the dryer.

Water conservation

1. Check your faucets for leaks. Just 1 drop per second will add
up to 2700 gallons a year.
2. Listen to your toilet. Do you hear water running or does it flush
on its own? All it may need is a new rubber washer or flap.
3. Adjust your sprinklers to ensure they are only hitting your
plants.