"God created company so that the house would get cleaned." - Rita Emmett

Cleaning Tips from Directly from the "Queen of Clean"

Cleaning the Smallest Room in the House.

Cleaning fiberglass showers and tubs:

Heat white vinegar until it is hot, but not too hot to pour into a spray bottle and work with. Spray it on the shower and tub heavily. Wait 10-15 minutes and then moisten a scrubbing-type sponge with more of the vinegar and scrub down the shower, using additional heated vinegar as necessary. Rinse well and dry.

Removing hard-water marks:

Many plastic-type tubs have dimpled slip-proof bottom that defies cleaning. I have found that using a good gel cleaner or a mild cleanser, and a piece of fine drywall sandpaper (looks like window screen) works the best. Cut the sandpaper into a workable size, apply the cleaner and rub. Use this only on dimples in plastic and Fiberglas tub and shower bottoms.

Stubborn spot remover for showers:

For stubborn shower spots and scum buildup, use a dry soap-filled steel wool pad on a dry shower. Do not allow water to become involved in this process, as it will cause the steel wool pad to scratch. Follow up with the vinegar process described at the beginning of this chapter.

Cleaning porcelain tubs:

To clean and polish a porcelain tub and remove stains, make a paste of powered alum (available in drugstores) and water. Rub well, as if using cleanser. For stains, male a paste of powdered alum and lemon juice; apply and let dry, then moisten with more lemon juice and rub well. Rinse thoroughly. Tip: Borax and water makes a great cleaner for porcelain. Make a paste and rub well, then rinse.

Keeping tile and grout clean:

You can keep ahead of grout cleaning if you use a dry typewriter eraser on dry grout to remove mildew and stains as they appear. For bigger problems, make a paste of baking soda and chlorine bleach and apply to the grout. Let dry and then rinse. Do this in a well-ventilated area, using care near carpet or fabric. Even the fumes of chlorine bleach can remove color from towels left hanging in the tub area.

Tile and grout cleaner:

Combine 2 parts baking soda, 1 part borax and 1 part hot water, adding additional water as necessary to form a thick paste. Apply to the tile and grout scrub with a soft brush. Rinse well.

Cleaning soap scum and mildew off plastic shower curtains:

Put the shower curtain in the washing machine with one cup of white vinegar, 1/4 to 1/2 cup of your favorite liquid laundry detergent, and several old, light-colored towels. Fill the washer with warm water and run through complete wash and rinse cycle. Remove from the washer and hang on the shower rod immediately.