Simple Tips Can Help You With Spring Cleaning Chores

Summer’s coming. Smudges, stains and outright grime have to go.

To the rescue are these cleaning tips your mother never taught you - “or she told you, but you weren’t listening,” says Mary Ellen Pinkham, an Edina, Minn., woman who has made dispensing household hints her profession.

Most of the cleaning tips come from Pinkham, who has written books of household hints and hosts “TIPical Mary Ellen” on HGTV, and Common Sense Services, a South St. Paul, Minn.-based organization that, among other things, cleans houses for the elderly.

Floors and carpeting

Black heel marks on hard-surface floors: Rub with a pencil eraser.

Tracked-in tar: Use paste wax, rubbing it on and then off with a cloth.

Wood floors: Plain water and a mop work best for cleaning them, but don’t soak the flooring. Rather, spray water from a bottle and mop it up immediately.

Food stains on carpets: Scrape off excess with a spoon or table knife. Apply warm water liberally, then blot with white towels (don’t rub). Make a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon liquid dish detergent in 1 cup warm water (not too soapy). Spread it on the spot and let it soak for 5 minutes. Blot up with white towels. Rinse area thoroughly, blotting up until no moisture shows. Vacuum or brush to restore pile texture.

Coffee, tea or cola stains on carpet: Soak the area with a mixture of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to 1 quart of water; blot, rinse and blot again, as above.

Chocolate stains on carpet: Scoop up any excess, then blot warm water liberally on the stain. If any chocolate remains, apply a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon liquid dish detergent in 1 cup water, followed by blotting. Then rinse with a solution of 2 tablespoons of white vinegar in a quart of water, blotting until dry. Vacuum or brush carpet pile.

In the kitchen

Cleaning refrigerator doors with a textured surface: Spray with a “scrubbing bubbles” bathroom cleaner, then wipe.

Smelly garbage disposal: Spoon in a small portion of baking soda (about 1/2 teaspoon) followed by a dose of white vinegar. Let disposal run briefly.

Refrigerator vent: If it’s in back, pull out the fridge and vacuum any dust. With a front-mounted vent, either vacuum dust, or dampen a light cloth and wrap it around a ruler to use as a cleaning tool.

Sink stains: Powdered borax and lemon juice do wonders. For lighter stains, rub a cut piece of lemon over the area. If a white sink looks dingy, soak paper towels with bleach and spread them in the sink for about 20 minutes.

Dishwashing: Add 1 tablespoon baking soda to water with dish detergent to cut grease and keep hands soft. A tablespoon of bleach will discourage bacteria.

In the bathroom

Toilet bowl: Drop in 2 Alka Seltzer tablets, let sit for 20 minutes, then brush and flush.

Shower door: Wipe down with a damp sponge soaked in white vinegar.

Mold in the shower or grout: Try trisodium phosphate (available in hardware or paint stores) mixed with water. It’s a strong cleaner; use sparingly, following label directions for amounts. Then, to keep the shower clean after it’s been thoroughly scrubbed, spray with a light bleach solution after each use.

To reduce deposits on the shower door: Buff it with furniture or car wax.

General cleaning

Crayon on walls: Spread white toothpaste on the mark and allow it to work for 30 minutes, then wipe away with a dry cloth. A touch of turpentine on a cloth also will erase unwanted artwork.

Chandeliers: No need to dismantle the crystals. Place newspaper or other absorbent material underneath. Spray liberally with glass cleaner or with a mixture of 2 teaspoons rubbing alcohol in a pint of warm water. Wipe off drips.

Removing candle wax: Use a hair dryer to soften wax, wipe away as much as possible with paper towels, then wash with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Wipe dry.

Marble: For stubborn stains, such as wine, use straight hydrogen peroxide. To prevent future stains, put a sealer on the marble, either a special marble sealer or a coat of best-quality auto polish.

Nonwashable wallpaper: Rub spots with a piece of white bread.

Ornate woodwork: Blow out dust with a hair dryer, or vacuum with a small brush tool. Piano keys: Use white toothpaste and baking soda in equal parts.

Picture frames: Don’t use spray products that might seep behind the glass. Use a little oil on a cloth for wood frames or a cloth moistened with milk for gilt frames.