Cleaning & Laundry : Home & Garden

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How to Seal a Cement Patio

How to Seal a Cement Patio

Sealing your patio every few years keeps grease, dirt and grime from penetrating through the cement. If not properly maintained with a protective water barrier, water can seep through the pores of the cement, freeze during the winter and melt during warmer weather. This can cause the patio to crack.
How to Remove Toilet Bowl Stains Using a Home Remedy

How to Remove Toilet Bowl Stains Using a Home Remedy

Removing unsightly toilet bowl stains can seem like a daunting task. According to the Center for Science and Environmental Outreach at Michigan Technological University, liquid toilet bowl cleaners contain dangerous chemicals such as hydrochloric, phosphoric or oxalic acid to dissolve minerals and r
How to Boil Laundry With Washing Soda

How to Boil Laundry With Washing Soda

Before washing machines were invented, people washed their laundry by hand. Boiling laundry was the common method used for washing items that needed heavy disinfection, were hard to clean or had tough stains. Many people still boil their laundry for these reasons. Knowing how to boil your laundry wi
How to Clean Brass Cheaply

How to Clean Brass Cheaply

Brass items often have a discoloration much like silver, and there are different methods for cleaning brass, silver, and pewter. Cleaning metals cheaply is important to the reseller, since expensive cleaning methods just add to the resale price. This method works for brass. It is not
Venetian Blind Cord Repair

Venetian Blind Cord Repair

Horizontal venetian blinds that operate with slats and a string ladder system are one of the most common window treatments. These are available in a variety of styles and colors to coordinate with your home decor. After continued use, however, the parts may begin to wear out and fray, and you may ha
Ripping Out Bathroom Carpet

Ripping Out Bathroom Carpet

Bathroom carpets experience a lot of wear and tear. Stains, mildew and frayed carpet areas ruin the overall aesthetics of the room. Furthermore, older homes may have carpeting that does not fit the decor of the rest of the house. To change up the entire look of the room, rip out your bathroom carpet
Removing Mold Smell From Clothes

Removing Mold Smell From Clothes

Your nose will likely be the first indicator of mold in fabrics, as the fungus quickly develops a distinguishing odor. Mold will generally appear on clothing as well, in the form of small, dark spots that may be green or gray in color. To tackle mold in the home, many consumers use chlorine bleach,
How do I Remove Motor Oil From a Carpet?

How do I Remove Motor Oil From a Carpet?

Motor oil is used to keep the various parts inside your engine lubricated. It is not uncommon to accidentally transfer motor oil from your hands to other areas. Unfortunately, motor oil can easily stain clothing, upholstery and carpet. If motor oil comes into contact with your carpet, remove it as s
The Best Ceramic Stove Top Cleaners

The Best Ceramic Stove Top Cleaners

Ceramic stovetops are a common type of cooking surface in today's kitchens. These smooth-topped shiny ranges have begun replacing the coil heating element style that was the standard for so many years. They stay looking cleaner because there are no drip trays to catch spilled food and no...
How long should it take for a mini fridge to get cold when plugging it up?

How long should it take for a mini fridge to get cold when plugging it up?

Mini refrigerators may require up to 24 hours to fully cool.contents of fridge image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.comManufacturer GuidelinesFrigidaire advises that their compact refrigerators need a cool down time of at least 4 hours for best performance. After the initial set up, the...
The Best Ways to Paint Softwood Floors

The Best Ways to Paint Softwood Floors

Pine, fir, alder, cypress and spruce are the most common materials used for softwood floors. Painting your softwood floor is a good way to give your home an updated look without replacing the flooring altogether. According to HistoricNewEngland.org, individuals in the 18th century painted soft wood
How to Clean Burnt Milk Off a Ceramic Top Oven

How to Clean Burnt Milk Off a Ceramic Top Oven

If you heat milk on a stovetop for too long it can overflow and burn on the surface of the oven. Burnt milk and other spills can be especially tough to remove if you have a ceramic stovetop. Ceramic stovetops are generally made from glass ceramic and they have a smooth and flat top. These stovetops
How to Polish Aluminum Cookware

How to Polish Aluminum Cookware

Aluminum is a commonly used metal for cookware. New aluminum is shiny but the metal dulls over time and can become discolored with everyday use. Cleaning aluminum cookware with soap and water removes grime but does not restore its luster. You do not need a commercial metal polish to polish your alum
How to Deal with Bed Bugs in Your Laundry

How to Deal with Bed Bugs in Your Laundry

Learn how to handle laundry properly after a bed bug infestation to help remove bed bugs and prevent reinfestation.
How to Clean the Le Creuset Grill Pan

How to Clean the Le Creuset Grill Pan

Le Creuset offers a vast array of cookware and bakeware. One of Le Creuset's cookware lines consists of enameled cast iron pots, pans and grill pans. Le Creuset grill pans are made of enameled cast iron and are versatile, affording you the opportunity to cook food that tastes like it was grilled out
How to Treat Rusted Steel

How to Treat Rusted Steel

Steel is one of two metals (the other being iron) that rust. All other metals corrode. Many manufacturers use steel to make cars, large and small appliances and residential and commercial buildings. It is a strong and durable metal, but it rusts in continued exposure to water or moisture. Though mo
How to Remove Green Vinyl Siding

How to Remove Green Vinyl Siding

Green vinyl siding can indicate that there is mold on the siding. The siding on a house is exposed to harsh weather elements that can cause it to become warped and moldy over time. This leaves the exterior of your home looking dingy and unattractive. Removing green vinyl siding from the house and re
How to Remove Pet Odor From Carpet and Padding

How to Remove Pet Odor From Carpet and Padding

Pets leave "scent" marks that are the result of enzymes that their body produces and secretes through their glands and and skin into their fur and then onto your floors and furniture. These enzymes are difficult to clean with normal chemicals because the enzymes bind with fabrics. This means you w
Why Does My Kenmore Dryer Stop?

Why Does My Kenmore Dryer Stop?

Kenmore dryers are widely sold at Sears department stores, as well as other appliance and department stores and online. The dryers come in various colors and sizes, as well as with features that vary from standard time and temperature options to steam dry and automatic moisture sensors. If your Kenm
How to Remove Stains From Vinyl Seats on Boats

How to Remove Stains From Vinyl Seats on Boats

Vinyl boat seats can develop stains from a number of sources: formation of mold and mildew, salt water left to dry on the seats, and fish blood, to name just a few. If the seats are not cleaned immediately after exposure, the liquids penetrate the vinyl and form ugly stains. Vinyl, like leather, is