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CLEANING:
Clean Hard Water Build-Up: To clean hard water build-up in appliances such as a steamer or a drip coffee pot, use vinegar and water. Run this combination through it's cycle in each appliance at least two or three times. Then run the cycle with clean water to remove any vinegar residue. The ratio of water to vinegar is about half and half, depending on how much you want to use.
Cleaning Basting Brushes: Wash brushes with soap and hot water; rinse and shake dry. Store brushes, bristles down, in a cup filled with coarse salt. The salt draws out moisture and keeps the brushes dry between uses.
Cleaning Blenders: The easiest way to clean a blender is to fill it half-way with hot water, add a few drops of detergent and blend on high for a few seconds. Rinse and dry.
Cleaning Can Openers: Force a folded sheet of paper towel through the can opener and twist the handle as if opening a can. The towel will clean both the blade and the gear; remove towel after finished.
Cleaning Mushrooms: To clean mushrooms, wipe them with a damp cloth rather than washing them under running water; they are like sponges and will absorb the water. Tip from Virago.
Cleaning Porcelain Sinks: Line a porcelain sink with a layer of paper towels and saturate them with household bleach. Let sit for an hour, remove the paper towels, and rinse clean.
Cleaning Stove Tops: Use white vinegar to clean stove tops for a streak-free shine. Note: The vinegar odor will disappear quickly.
Cleaning Toilets: To clean a toilet, pour a can of coca-cola into the toilet bowl. Let the "real thing" sit for one hour; then flush clean. The citric acid in the cola removes stains from vitreous China.
Cleaning Vases: To get rid of the slimy build-up at the bottom of a vase, add a few drops of automatic dishwasher detergent and fill with hot water. Soak overnight, and then rinse.
Dryer Sheet Uses: Use a dryer sheet to clean foods from a cooking pan. To do so, place a dryer sheet in the dirty pan, fill with water and let it sit overnight. The next day, sponge the pan clean. The anti-static agent weakens the bond between the food. Tip from Audrey De LaMartre.
Kitchen Cleanser: For cleaning up light spills without using expensive cleaners, make your own by combining 1/2 C each of ammonia and vinegar, 1/4 C baking soda and one gallon of warm water. For heavier cleaning, such as grease spills, apply a paste of baking soda and bleach on the affected area and scrub with a stiff brush. Make sure the surface is sturdy enough first and won't be scratched or damaged by the chemicals. Rinse. Note: Never mix ammonia and bleach together.
Removing Baked-On Foods: Foods burnt onto glass baking dishes can be removed by spraying dish with oven cleaner and letting it soak for thirty minutes. The burnt-on residue will be easier to wipe off.
Removing Beet Stains: To help remove beet stains, sprinkle the stained area with salt; rinse and then scrub with soap. The salt aids in lifting the beet juices away.
Restoring Shine to Aluminum: To restore the shine and color to an aluminum pan, boil apple peels in the pan for a few minutes, then rinse and dry.
Scalded Pan: To make your saucepan easier to clean when scalding milk, rinse with cold water before heating.
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