Closet Smells

Fill an old nylon stocking with cedar chips for a sweet-smelling closet. This also will serve as a moth repellant.

Closet Dampness

If you have a problem with dampness in closets, fill a coffee can with charcoal briquettes. Place container on floor, punch holes in the cover. For larger closets use 2 or 3 one-pound cans. Chalk will also help cut down on dampness. Tie 12 pieces together and hang in closet.

Household Tips

Ring around the collar

Dirty neck rings around shirt or blouse collars can be removed by putting shampoo on them. Rub the shampoo in like you were washing your hair. Shampoo is specifically made to remove body oils. A cheap bottle of shampoo kept by the washing machine is handy for all kinds of stains in clothing. Don't forget this trick when you are traveling.

Cleaning Scuff Marks
Use 3 tbsp. Of TSP (trisodium phosphate) to a gallon of water to clean scuff marks or crayon marks off walls. TSP can be found in the paint department of a hardware store. Wear gloves and do not use on semi-gloss or gloss paint or wood surfaces.

Removing Blood from Furniture

Use hydrogen peroxide to remove blood from clothing or furniture. Rub gently.

Dusting Tip

Use paint brushes to dust cracks and hard to reach places in telephones, stereos, etc.

Removing Candle Wax from Walls

Candle wax can be removed from walls or other surfaces with an iron and facial tissue. Set the tissue over the wax and gently iron. When the wax seeps through or the tissue begins to brown, apply a new tissue.

Cleaning Chrome

Club soda or seltzer water will clean chrome.

Removing Blood Stains

Corn starch can remove blood stains. Rinse the stain in cold water, then rub in moistened cornstarch. Place the item in the sun.

Removing Gum

Gum can be removed using ice to harden and a dull knife to remove.

Removing Magic Marker Ink

Hair spray will remove magic-marker ink from surfaces.

Cleaning Window Screens

Nylon covered sponges are great for cleaning window screens.

Removing Smoke Odor

Place a bowl of vinegar out to absorb smoke odor.

Unstick That Door

Car wax applied to a sticking door will ease opening and closing.

Repairing Cigarette Burns in Carpets

Cigarette burns in carpeting can be repaired by cutting the blackened fibers from the hole. Squeeze liquid glue into the hole and fill with fibers trimmed from carpet remnants.

Repairing Small Holes in Window Screens

Clear nail polish will repair small holes in window screens.

Killing Flies

Hair spray will kill flies.

Window Painting Tip

Newspaper strips when wetted can be used around windows when painting, in place of masking tape. Remove strips before they dry out.

Drying Out Wet Magazines or Books

Place paper towels on both sides of a wet page to absorb the moisture and prevent wrinkling.

Sink Sprays and Diverters

A kitchen sink spray has a spray head attached to a hose, which is connected to a diverter valve in the faucet body. When you squeeze the spray head handle, the diverter valve reroutes water from the faucet to the spray head hose.

• If the flow is sluggish, make sure the hose isn't kinked.
• Clean the aerator in the spray nozzle.
• Continued sluggishness may indicate diverter valve problems.
• Clean the valve or replace it.
• If the spray head leaks, remove it from the hose and replace the washer.
• For a leak at the faucet end of the hose, tighten the hose coupling.
• If the hose itself leaks, it's probably cracked. Replace it.

My Lot

myLot User Profile

Tub Faucets

Like sink faucets, tub faucets can be compression style or washerless. To take apart any style tub faucet, pry off the cap, unscrew the handle, and remove the escutcheon. In a compression faucet, you'll see the stem and packing nut. You may need to use a deep-socket wrench to grip and loosen a recessed packing nut. To repair a washerless tub faucet, remove the stop tube and draw out the retainer clip to get at the cartridge.