Common Sense Cleaning

 

Common Sense for Cleaning Floors

Carpet

Lower humidity makes vacuuming carpet much easier. It is best to vacuum carpet on dry days when humidity is low, than on hot muggy days when the humidity is high. One way you can tell when the humidity is high, and all vacuum filters and canisters are clean, is when it takes a lot of effort to push the vacuum cleaner. Moisture glues dust particles to carpet fibers, which makes the particles harder to remove with suction. On dry days the particles have more freedom to move about, such as those seen in sunlight on sunny days. 

I use a Shark Navigator Deluxe Upright Vacuum, available on Amazon and at Wal-Mart. The Shark is the strongest on the market, based on my experience and I’ve tried them all. Shark makes the same claims Dyson does.

Hardwood Floors, Linoleum, and Wood Furniture 

Humidity is your friend when cleaning wood surfaces because the moisture makes dust particles stick better to friction, such as a cloth or mop. However, vacuuming wood floors may not be as effective on humid days because the dust particles cling to moisture, making them harder to remove with suction. On low humid days, dampening rags with a little lemon juice, vinegar, or Murphy's Oil Soap works very well. 

I use the Rubbermaid Self-Wringing Ratchet 54-inch Twist Mop with Blended Yarn Head and Rubbermaid Reveal Twist Action Mop Blended Yarn Head Refill 4 Pack, which you can clean in the washing machine and dryer. 

For stubborn gunk on linoleum, I use 3M Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scour Pads.  All are available on Amazon and at Wal-Mart. 

Use Newspaper for Streak-free Window and Glass Cleaning

Photo by Martha J. Rogus

SUGGESTION: Wear rubber gloves as newsprint ink turns hands black and is stubborn to wash off. 

I heard this from a Swedish woman many moons ago. Use any type of cleaner, like: hot water & vinegar (my favorite), window cleaner, or hot water and dish detergent (another one of my favorites, the blue kind). 

Wash window with a rag soaked in the solution you choose and clean window. Use a scrubbie to remove sticky things. Coconut oil and a scrubbie work to remove glued-on labels. 

WHILE THE WINDOW IS STILL WET, ball up black & white newsprint and rub glass until dry.

I find this also works well for car windows and picture frame glass, as well.