Cleaning Tips To Help You Maintain A Clean And Organized Home.

Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough white distilled vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.

To clean a grease splattered oven door window, saturate it with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Keep the door open for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping with a sponge.

Get rid of calcium deposits on faucets by soaking a cloth or paper towel in white distilled vinegar and wrapping the area tightly. Let this sit for a couple of hours or overnight.

Get rid of stubborn bathtub film by wiping it with white distilled vinegar and then scouring with baking soda.

Clean shower door tracks by filling them with white distilled vinegar and letting it sit for a few hours. Pour hot water into the tracks and wash and scrub away the scum with a toothbrush.

Cleaning Tips You Haven’t Heard Before

The best way to dust blinds: Close them, then wipe up and down with an old dryer sheet. It’ll create an antistatic barrier that helps prevent dust from building up again.

The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is your friend. It will cut your cleaning time in half for bathtubs, sinks, countertops, and dirty walls.

Clean Glass and Mirrors, use coffee filters, not paper towels. They leave no streaks or lint — and they’re cheap.

Vacuuming Bathroom Mats is a nightmare. Toss them in the wash every week or two instead.

To damp-mop wood floors, use plain water or a water-based floor cleaner like Bona. Don’t use vinegar. The acid in it will pit your polyurethane finish, can void your warranty, and may reduce shine over time.

More Wood Floor Care Tips:

• Soak up liquid spills immediately as excessive use of water can cause permanent stains.
• Avoid wax, vinegar and “all-purpose” cleaners, since they dull the floor’s finish.
• Place mats or rugs near doorways and in high trafficked pathways to trap sand and grit.
• Do not move furniture or heavy objects across the floor – carry them or use gliding furniture pads instead.
• Use protective pads or caps on furniture
• Trim your pet’s claws to help avoid scratches on the floor.
• Avoid wearing high heels – they might dent the floor

Learn more about caring for your wood floors at www.bona.com

Tips For Organizing Your Home

Organizing Closets

Organizing your closet is the first step to organizing the rest of your home. Get rid of unused clothes and accessories, and organize the rest by how you get dressed in the morning and by color. Your closet will look appealing, and your everyday routine will be easier. Slip-on Solid Shelf Dividers ($7 for two, containerstore.com) keep stacks of shirts and sweaters tidy and can be repositioned.

The Drawers Have It

Keep laundry supplies and clothes waiting to be ironed and mended neatly tucked away in storage drawers adjacent to your washer and dryer.