posted July 17, 2005 02:03 PM         

If you scrub them with Comet (speciffically... not Ajax, or any of the others) and a metal scratchy you will remove a good amount of hard water and all of the soap scum. Dry the door well, then buff with lemon oil. The lemon oil will give the wet effect to any hard water left on the door... it will appear to be gone. Also, it will work a like RainX. The water will bead up and roll off, keeping the hard water from building up any further.

Toilet Rings- Use your pumice stone. Yep... get one just like you use on your feet. It'll make your toilet bowl look like new. **Don't use a lot of pressure. The porcelain can scratch.

Mineral Deposits around faucets and drains- butter knife. Just chisel that yucky stuff right off.
**Don't use a lot of pressure. The porcelain can scratch.
Any little bits left after using the butter knife will scour right off with Comet and a green scratchy.

Floors- SUPER HOT water (and your favorite cheap floor cleaner/wood floor cleaner)... especially for wood... the hotter the better for shiny wood. Go with the grain. Hot water evaporates faster, and will not streak.

Mold & Grease- Hydrogen Peroxide. Actually, peroxide has SO many household uses. Its my favorite cleaning substance. It removes blood and other stains from fabric. Kills odors (like pet urine in carpet)... but the things I use it most often for are degreasing and removing mold (black & pink mold... not mildew... bleach for mildew).

The best glass cleaner around is Sprayway Glass Cleaner. It is Ammonia free. Safe on all surfaces, including marble and granite. Will not streak or leave any residue behind. Its SUPER cheap too. Cheapest one on the shelf. I get it at Costco or Fred Meyer (aka Kroger).

posted July 17, 2005 03:38 PM         

Pretty amazing stuff...
What would we do without WD-40 and duct tape??

When you read the "shower door" part, try it. It's the first thing that has cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! Then try it on your stovetop... Viola! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a "water displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.

The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas missile parts. The workers were so pleased with the product they began smuggling (also known as "shrinkage" or "stealing") it out to use at home.

The executives decided there might be a consumer market for it and put it in aerosol cans. The rest is history.

It is a carefully guarded recipe known only to four people. One of them is the "brew master." There are about 2.5 million gallons of the stuff manufactured each year. It gets its distinctive smell from a fragrance that is added to the brew.

Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.

Here are some of the uses:

~Protects silver from tarnishing
~Cleans and lubricates guitar strings
~Gets oil spots off concrete driveways
~Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery
~Keeps flies off cows
~Restores and cleans chalkboards
~Removes lipstick stains
~Loosens stubborn zippers
~Untangles jewelry chains
~Removes stains from stainless steel sinks
~Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill
~Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing
~Removes tomato stains from clothing
~Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots
~Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors
~Keeps scissors working smoothly
~Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
~Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide
~Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of ! handling on riding mowers
~Rids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises
~Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open
~Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close
~Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards and vinyl bumpers
~Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles
~Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans
~Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons and bicycles for easy handling
~Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly
~Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools
~Removes splattered grease on stove
~Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging
~Lubricates prosthetic limbs
~Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell)
~Removes all traces of duct tape
~I have even heard of folks spraying it on their arms, hands, and knees to
relieve arthritis pain.
~Florida's favorite use was cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers
~The favorite use in the state of New York -- WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty
from the elements.
~WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching
the big one in no time. It's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are
made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced
baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
~Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately, and stops the itch.
~WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with
a clean rag.
~Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a
tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40
and re wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!
~If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and
allow the car to start. (If I knew what a distributor cap was, it might help)
~WD-40, long known for its ability to remove leftover tape mung (sticky label tape),
is also a lovely perfume and air freshener! Sprayed liberally on every hinge in the
house, it leaves that distinctive clean fresh scent for up to two days!
~Seriously though, it removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor!
Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to
harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.
Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
~Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!

posted July 17, 2005 03:59 PM         

~Keeps flies off cows

posted July 17, 2005 04:21 PM         

Then, I will be working aproximately 1/5th as hard as I work now, but make the same amount of money .

posted July 17, 2005 04:22 PM         

Well, I got my can of WD-40 out and did my shower doors. It cut the soap residue right off..with a very light scrub..using a kitchen type scrubber. Even the heavy layer at the bottom of the door just disappeared. Guess I'll find out if it also prevents it from building up again. I love the smell too Hey, it's a guy thing.

posted July 17, 2005 04:34 PM         

I didn't know it took the sticky off from removed stickers... I usually use OK-Kiddo... this stuff my Dad introduced me to a couple years ago. Hhmmm....

posted July 17, 2005 04:51 PM         

Nasty dirty microwaves (it happens... 'specially with kiddos).

Generously spray your kitchen cleaner all over the inside of your microwave (glass cleaner, Simple Green... whatever... it really doesn't matter). Cook for 30 secs - 1 min (depending on the difficulty of the job). Revel in how amazingly easy the yuck wipes off.

posted July 18, 2005 09:07 AM         

And thanks jwhop, for all the info on WD-40.

I just happen to know what the ingredient is that people use for their arthritis: DMSO, which is the solvent used on horses and other animals for sore joints.

DMSO is available in a roll-on at any farm animal supply store. It's not been approved for human use, but there are some great doctors who have been recommending to their patients for years. One such is Dr. Whitaker, who has a monthly newsletter in which he sings the praises of DMSO, especially when used in conjunction with another product, "Penetran," which is a pain reliever.

Here's the thing about DMSO (and also WD-40); because it's a solvent, whatever is on your skin when you apply it, will be sucked inside yourself. So your skin must be clean when you use it. If you apply it with your hands (it also comes in a gel), wash them immediately after use.

I've used the combination of Penteran + DMSO (apply Penetran 1st)on my knee off and on for years. I'd hurt it years ago, and then a few years ago injured it again. It hurt so much I could barely walk, but within a day of using those two products I was 50% better, and in a few days, pain was gone. It resurfaces now and then, and I use those two products.

Dr. Whitaker and his wife carry it with them in syringes to be used in case of a head trauma, because it so immediately reduces swelling (like that which could occcur around the brain).

posted October 03, 2005 03:16 PM         

Does anyone know how to clean an iced tea stain from carpet? I tried steam cleaning it... didn't work.

Also, my cat likes to "use" one of my favorite plants downstairs for a litter box. I had to move it outdoors for the the time being... but winter is coming.

When I bring the plant back inside... how do I keep the cat out of it??

posted October 04, 2005 07:30 PM         

Im gonna have to try this microwave trick & Soap scum tip as well. Thanks again.

Jwhop - i never knew the history of WD-40!! And that there are so many uses.

1Scorp - My mother uses tin (aluminum)foil to keep the cats out her plants. She just takes small sheets, places them on top of the soil until all the soil is covered. Make sure no soil is showing or they will get in there again. The only hassle with that is when you water you have to remove the foil and then place it back on there again.

Also cats dislike Citris scents. You could get some orange oil and dab a lil on your finger and rub it along the rim of the planter.

posted October 05, 2005 09:51 AM         

I've never heard of the citrus thing. Interesting.

Lovely: I like them too.

posted October 05, 2005 04:57 PM         

1Scorp, for fabric stains I use this spray called Folex. You can find it in most hardware stores. Just spray, aggitate with your finger a bit and tab with clean towel.

It got a wine stain off my white (silk blend) upholstered chair as well as chocolate stains and ink from another chair.