how to

To clean dirt off the iron’s plate, put some salt on a paper towel or a cotton towel and run the iron over it while it is on the highest setting with steam turned off. The dirt shall stick to the salt, thereby leaving your iron sparkling clean.

In case there is molten plastic stuck on the sole plate, sprinkle some salt on a piece of aluminium foil and iron it. This shall help loosen the plastic from the bottom.

If it is something waxy that you need to get rid of, then turn the iron to the highest setting and run it over a newspaper. To remove oily substances, soak a small amount of ammonia on a clean rag and wipe the plate with it, followed by a wipe down with a damp cloth.

Needless to say, you can also use commercially available iron cleaners. The ones mentioned above, however, are inexpensive, natural, easily accessible and safe to use.

What You Need

Materials

  • 1 lemon
  • Small microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup
  • Clean, dry dishtowel or cleaning rag
Equipment

Microwave

Instructions
  1. Pour water in the bowl: Measure about a half cup of water into the bowl.
  2. Squeeze the lemon: Slice the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the water. Drop the lemon halves into the bowl.
  3. Microwave for 3 minutes: Place the bowl in the microwave. Microwave on high power for 3 minutes so the liquid comes to a boil.
  4. Let stand for 5 minutes: Do not open the microwave door. The steam trapped inside will help loosen food gunk. Let stand for 5 minutes.
  5. Wipe the microwave clean: Open the door and carefully remove the bowl with the lemons. If your microwave has a turntable, lift it out and wipe it clean. Wipe the inside of the microwave clean starting with the ceiling and the sides. Finish with the floor, sweeping any crumbs into your hand. Don't forget the door!
  6. Cleaning stubborn spots: If you come across stubborn spots that won't easily wipe away, dip the corner of your dishtowel in the lemon-water and scrub until the spot comes away.
What You Need

Materials

  • 1 cup of white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of baking soda
  • 1 cup of water (give or take depending on the size of your pan)
  • A burnt stainless steel pan that was left empty and unattended on a heated hot plate. oops!.
  • A scourer, because I can't find any way to avoid it entirely
Instructions
  1. Fill the bottom of the pan with a layer of water.
  2. Add the vinegar.
  3. Bring the pan to the boil. It should be looking a bit cleaner already.
  4. Remove the pan from the heat and add the baking soda. Expect fizz!
  5. Empty the pan and scour as normal; if necessary add an extra bit of dry baking soda.
  6. If there are any super stubborn marks that don't come off with scouring, make a paste of baking soda and a couple of drops of water. Leave the paste on the marks for a while and return to clean as normal.
  7. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy the many hours you saved yourself standing over the sink.

Red wine will stain fibers that it sinks into for too long and they become permanent if heated in a dryer as they will then "set." The goal then is to "lift" the red wine off of the fibers by diluting it and wicking it away. Scrubbing is therefore shouldn't be done.

It is good to treat a stain right away:

  1. Dab stain with paper towels to absorb as much wine as possible
  2. Do not rub it!
  3. Apply liquid solution to begin working on what remains (see below for choices)

Getting moisture into the area is the quickest way to break it up and keep it from settling. Depending on whether you're dealing with a sofa, rug, shirt or tablecloth, you will be limited in which options you can use, but there are many approaches here and one will certainly do the job.

The oldest and simplest solution is this:

Pour salt all over the stain and let it dry. The salt will absorb the red wine not allowing the wine to sink into the fabric. Then wash with warm water and detergent or baking soda. The stain should disappear and problem solved.

After this treatment is complete, wash the garment as normal on a cool wash with a laundry detergent. Avoid a hot wash or tumble drying on high heat, as heat may set the stain.

Please note these stain removal tips are designed for treating stains on common fabrics, such as cotton and polyester. If you stain a more delicate fabric, such as silk, it might to be advisable to have the item professionally cleaned. Always refer to care instructions on the clothing label to check the suitability of different cleaning methods, especially when using chemical cleaning solutions. Also, remember that the sooner you can start to treat a stain, the better the outcome.

Red wine stains don’t have to be the end of the world. With these tips under your belt, the biggest thing you’ll have to worry about if you knock over a glass of cabernet sauvignon will be momentary embarrassment, rather than how to get rid of the stain.

Follow these easy steps:

1. Read over your machine’s manual for instructions on how to clean your machine. Some manufacturers discourage the use of de-scaling or products or cleansers in their machines. Doing so may invalidate your warranty so make sure you double check.

2. For front-loading machines, remove the detergent drawer (your manual may have instructions for how to do so). Soak it in boiling hot water and use an old brush to remove any residue or mould. Rinse it thoroughly and let it dry before putting it back.

3. Set your machine for a hot cycle and add a cup of white vinegar to the drum. The vinegar will help to sanitise your machine.

4. Let the cycle finish. Open the door and air-dry the inside of the drum. If any bad odour or residue remains, repeat the process.

5. After, take a damp cloth and wipe around the rubber seals of the machine, being careful to lift them away from the metal where possible to get any residue that’s hidden away. Wipe the surfaces of your machine, too.

6. Your washing machine should now smell fresh and clean!

Here are some helpful tips to keep your washing machine smelling Klean and Fresh!

• Use only as much detergent as really necessary: follow the guidelines on the packaging, as excess detergent can build up inside the machine.

• Rinse off excess dirt from soiled clothing before putting it in your machine.

• Use a home water softener attached to your in-flow pipe, or tablets in your machine, to minimise the build-up of limescale deposits.