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Cleaning Trade Secrets

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Panty Hose - Panty hose manufacturers really don't like me for divulging their trade secrets - tough! Place your panty hose in a zip lock plastic bag, fill with water and freeze until it's frozen solid. Thaw the bag at room temperature. Freezing hardens the fibers extending their life tenfold.

When they do run cut off the leg just under the panty line and just above the knee. Slide over your dust mop for a nifty "Swiffer". It's reusable and cheap. Slide your soap slivers down into the toe part and tie that end around an outdoor faucet. You have an easy way to wash your hands outside. We're not finished. Use the panty section to polish your shoes. You've just saved around $25 per pair of panty hose.

Summer Treat - Frozen grapes make a delightful and healthy treat.

Stuck Oil Filter - When you change the oil in your car and the filter sticks worse than a Kansas chigger inside your sock, don't jab a screwdriver through the filter to remove it like the manuals say. You just disabled your car. Set your hair dryer to the hottest setting and heat the filter. The heat expands the outside metal and the filter pops right off.

What is a Kansas chigger? Ever get bit by a mosquito? Chiggers are nearly invisible yet they deliver a bite and accompanying itch that annoys for days.

Utility Knives - Expensive to replace so sharpen them with your knife sharpener.

Ants - Sprinkle automatic dish soap around where the ants enter. It's a most unwelcome doormat and they leave.

Sticky Iron - If your iron sticks run it back and forth across plain paper with salt sprinkled on it. Use only a plain paper bag with no printing.

Fertilizer - Cooled coffee grounds are wonderful fertilizer for plants. Catch rainwater to water houseplants. They will love you!

Scuff Marks on Shoes - Cover them with white correction fluid before polishing.

Cereal Boxes - have water proof liners. Use them as a shake and bake for chicken etc. The crumbs left at the bottom make a wonderful coating.

Jewelry - Add a piece of chalk to your jewelry box to prevent costume jewelry from tarnishing.

Drying Clothes - Place a spring loaded towel bar across the ceiling of your shower for an easy way to drip dry clothes .
Mary Findley spent 12 years professionally cleaning homes and answers your questions as moderator of our
DoItYourself.com Cleaning Forum. Visit her website at www.goclean.com for her free bimonthly cleaning tips.

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