Cleaning by the book

The editors of “Real Simple Cleaning” (Real Simple Books, $21.95), leave us no excuse not to stay spring clean during any season of the year. Did you know ketchup can shine faucets?

Writer Kathleen Squires and photographer Monica Buck do, and they’ve produced a crisply organized text following the pristine design of parent Real Simple magazine.

“Short of time? Follow the 10-minute-clean routine in the laundry room while the spin cycle runs out.

“For recaulking bathroom tile, you’ll put on rain boots, fill the tub with water and stand in it — don’t worry, the book takes you step-by-step through the rest of the drill.

“One person’s spick-and-span is another’s squalor, Kristin van Ogtrop, Real Simple’s managing editor, says in the introduction. “Whether you want to cover just the basics (floors, windows) or spend hours on every nook (inside the oven, anyone?), this book has a cleaning strategy for you.”

“As for all those tools piled high in hardware stores, Squires says, “there’s a gizmo on the shelf for nearly every cleaning problem, most promising to work miracles while you lift nary a finger.”

But what really works and which do you really need?

Squires lists just 20 components, not forgetting a vacuum and baking soda, for a cleaning kit that will clean your entire place; she lays out cleaning plans for every room in the house, and advises on removing stains and organizing closets.

Some of the full-page photos accompanying the text look scarily bleached out, but most of us will not go that far in our zeal to clean.

* * * Tips for Moving Plants

When you move house, you don’t have to leave behind Grandma’s heirloom roses or the silver fir you planted when Junior was born.

It’s possible to pack and move plants, too. Here’s advice on how to approach it from Tony Fulmer, retail manager at Chalet, garden center in Wilmette, Ill.

“When selling your home, respect and work with your buyer. If it’s a major plant you want to take, write it into the contract.

“Think about the seasonal and geographic implications of your move. If you wouldn’t ordinarily plant the “movee” from a garden center at this time, think twice before moving it.

Redbud, birch, magnolia and Japanese maple prefer spring through early fall planting. Moving a plant in the Midwest after late October might well be its death sentence. Most perennials are best moved in spring before too much growth has occurred; iris, oriental poppies and peonies are among exceptions.

“The larger the plant and the more advanced the growing season, the larger the root ball must be to succeed.

If you know well ahead of time — at least two months or more, Fulmer says — that you’re going to move a tree or shrub, consider root pruning. Decide how large a soil ball you’ll be moving later, take a sharp spade and cut straight down to one spade depth, severing the roots. This will promote the growth of denser, more fibrous roots in the future root ball.

“Water the plant thoroughly, at least 24 hours before the move. A well-hydrated plant will handle the stress of moving better. A moist root ball also is more likely to hold together when it’s removed from the hole.

“Never pull or lift a plant out of the hole by stems or branches. Make sure all the roots on the side and bottom have been severed before moving. Use your shovel or spade as a lever to remove the plant from the hole. Lift by the root ball.

“Mark the north side of a tree trunk with a small “X” in marker or put a ribbon on the north side of a shrub. Plant it facing the same direction it’s been growing, to reduce potential for scalding of trunk or foliage.

“Have suitably sized containers ready to put plants into. If the plant is not going to be moved quickly (within a few hours) fill the space around the roots with potting soil or sphagnum moss (not peat moss). This will help keep roots moist and prevent exposure to the air’s drying effects.

“If it’s summer and there’s a time lag from uprooting to replanting, move the potted plant to at least partial shade to reduce heat stress. Keep soil moist and replant quickly.

“BUT: Before you do any of the above, consider the plant’s age, size, rarity, replacement expense and sentimental value. Worst-case scenario: Would you rather try to move it and have it die, or let it live but not own it?

* * *

New Tool

What it is: The SeeSnake micro inspection camera, from RIDGID.

What it does: A hand-held tool that lets you easily make visual inspections in hard-to-reach or dark areas. Its high-resolution camera sits at the tip of a flexible 3-foot cable and relays images back to a 2.4-inch color screen attached on a pistol-grip handle.

It comes with three separate attachments: a Hook Tip that lets users pick up or pull small objects; a Magnetic Tip that can pick up metal objects; a Mirror Tip that lets users look around corners.

Weight: A little more than 1 pound.

Suggested retail price: $239.

More information: www.ridgid.com/seesnakemicro