Hot Housekeeping Posts — Page 13 of 22 « Housekeeping

How To: Unclog a drain without toxic chemicals

Don't call a pricey plumber! Anyone with a few tools can unclog a drain -- without even resorting to those strong, toxic chemicals. Most of the time, anyway. You will need baking soda, vinegar, rubber gloves, cleaning rags or duct tape, a rubber plunger, a plumber's snake, petroleum jelly, a bucket or pan, and a length of hose. WARNING: Do not try this if you have already used a commercial drain opener, as it can create harmful fumes.

How To: Polish a shoe with a banana skin

How to use a banana skin to buffer up and clean your shoes!! Use the oils from the fruit to buff your loafers. This is a quick, easy and economical solution or replacement for shoe polish. Plus you get a great snack to eat in the meantime.

How To: Make gelatin air fresheners for the Trailer Park

Make your own air fresheners! With gelatin on Trailer Park crafts with Jolene! Save your money and budget too! These super simple Air Fresheners are so easy to make, and it keeps you from having to pay eight dollars or more for oil refills! By using old baby food jars, you're also recycling too! What is your favorite scent?

How To: Clean a ring from your bathtub

Save hand-washing house guests the horror of having to stare at a line of dirt and dead skin ringing the bathtub.

How To: Clean a toilet tank

It's pretty obvious when you need to clean your toilet bowl, but it's easy to neglect your tank. Don't - that's gross!

How To: Fold a flat bed sheet

Whether you're in the army or just a fanatic about knowing the right way to do things, here's a technique that will bring you joy for years to come. You will need:

How To: Remove soap scum

If soap is so good for you, why does it leave behind that icky, gooey scum? Get rid of the gunk! Learn how to remove soap scum from your shower or bathtub.

How To: Organize a closet to save you time

Got an irrational fear of your closet? You're grown-up enough to know there's no boogeyman living in there, so you must be spooked by how disorganized it is. Summon up some courage and let's get to work organizing your closet.

How To: Insulate your windows with plastic

This winter, keep heat in and cold out by sealing your windows with plastic. You will need:

How To: Open cans as a one arm amputee with prosthetics

How to use a can opener with one hand or without a prosthesis. This is an adaptive equipment tutorial for handicapped, disabled or individuals that have lost limbs to amputation. This trick is important to ensure healthy living and daily tasks like opening food in the kitchen. Live without limits!

How To: Clean a shower curtain

Showering with a nasty, mildewed curtain is like doing your laundry in the toilet. You might be cleaner than when you started—but you really shouldn't be. Watch this video to learn how to clean your shower curtain.

How To: Load the dishwasher properly

A dishwasher makes clean up much easier, especially if you load it properly. Putting each item in correctly will help the water and suds do the dirty work for you. Make sure to scrape off all food before loading your dirty dishes. These housekeeping tips will help you properly load your dishwasher.

How To: Restore a brass lamp font with Simichrome Polish

Watch this video tutorial from the Polish Guy to see how to polish and restore a brass lamp font with Simichrome Polish. In this demonstration tutorial we use Simichrome to polish a piece of brass. The tutorial includes a detailed work instructions and best practices.

How To: Polish silverware using Cape Cod polishing cloths

Watch this video tutorial from the Polish Guy to see how to polish silverware using Cape Cod polishing cloths. In this polishing tip we polish silverware using Cap Cod Metal Polishing Cloths. The cloths are individually packaged in an attractive tin that includes a pair of reusable gloves and a buffing cloth.

How To: Polish an Andersen door handle using Simichrome

Watch this video tutorial from the Polish Guy to see how to polish an Andersen Door Handle using Simichrome. In this demonstration we use Simichrome to polish an Andersen Perma-Shield Frenchwood hinged patio door’s brass entrance handle. The tutorial includes a detailed work instructions and best practices.

How To: Polish a chrome faucet fixture

Watch this video tutorial from the Polish Guy to see how to polish a chrome faucet fixture. In this demonstration we use a Faucet & Fixture Care Kit that includes Simichrome and Flitz Faucet & Fixture Wax to polish a chrome bath tub faucet spout.

How To: Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Fruit flies are nasty little pests, and an infestation—large or small—is an unwelcome sight in the kitchen. Aïda Mollenkamp demonstrates a quick, easy way to lure fruit flies away from your food in this home and garden how-to video.

How To: Unlock a zip tie

While zip ties are great tool for taming unsightly tangled cables and wires, most would agree they're not very reusable. But were you aware it's possible unlock a zip tie in a matter of a few seconds using a needle? You can and this tutorial will show you how. For step-by-step instructions on undoing zip ties, take a look. Unlock a zip tie.

How To: Clean a pan of hardened caramel

Love cooking desserts with caramel but dread cleaning up the hardened caramel left on the pot? Then watch this Cooking Light magazine how-to to learn the quick and easy way to clean your pan. All you'll need to do is add water to the pan and bring it to a boil. For step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Unshrink clothing

This instructional housekeeping video shows you how to take those old shrunken clothes you have and make them wearable again. You will need white vinegar, a sponge and a zip lock bag. Coat the entire t-shirt in the vinegar and load the shrunken shirt and wash it in a hot wash, after a few minutes, add detergent to wash out the smell of vinegar. After throwing the t-shirt in the dryer for about thirty minutes, the shirt should have expanded several inches in every direction. Don't throw away c...

How To: Fold a t-shirt like an engineer

Are you not satisfied with haphazardly folded laundry? Learn how to make a handy tool out of cardboard and fold a t-shirt with exactitude. Make sure every t-shirt you fold is perfect.

How To: Clean with Alka-Seltzer

Dirty House? Clean it up with Alka-Seltzer! Who knew the same product that has provided indegestion relief and humorous explosions for millions of people world wide could be used to do some of your most basic household chores. Alka-seltzer can get rid of lots of stains, in toilets, sinks, pots, pans, and lots of other household surfaces, without using elbow grease. Watch this video housekeeping tutorial and learn how to clean with Alka-Seltzer.

How To: Clear a choked basin

Suffering from a clogged drainpipe? In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to clear a choked basin the smart way. Keep in mind, however, that this method requires that you confront the things clogging your sink. As such you should be prepared to dirty your hands and smell and see terrible things! To learn how to clear a choked basin, watch this simple plumbing how-to.

How To: Freshen up any room with dryer sheets

Tires of buying those air fresheners that don't work? Then try something you already have at home. In this home and garden how to video our host shows you how to use dryer sheets and a fat to give any room a fresh clean sent. If you don't have a fan its ok, use any vent and two dryer sheets to get rid of stale smells.

How To: Fold a kimono

This is a video that shows how to fold a kimono or yukata. As the traditional folding patterns are not that intuitive, so having this video helps. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to fold a Japanese kimono.

How To: Clean up white sneakers with Raven-Symone

Disney star Raven shows us how to make our sneakers white and new again using toothpaste. All you need is whitening toothpaste, an old toothbrush, and a bowl of water, and those shoes will look fresh and clean again. Watch this video housekeeping tutorial and learn how to clean up old sneakers by following along with Raven-Symone.

How To: Clean a pair of white Nike Air Force Ones

Those genuine Nike Air Force Ones might look stylish in white, but once they get dirty, they start looking less than fresh. Fear not, there is a way to keep them looking brand new. You will need bottled water, a bleach pen, and a toothbrush. Watch this video housekeeping tutorial and learn how to clean a pair of white Nike Air Force Ones.

How To: Organize your desk area with a plastic dish drainer

This is a cheap way to Keep your desk organized, especially if you have so many things and your space is limited. Find out how by watching this video. A simple dish rack is a great storage unit, as well as a way to dry out your dishes. Watch this video housekeeping tutorial and learn how to keep a desk organized.

How To: Find a lost contact lens

This video shows you how to find lost contact lenses and other small things very easily.

How To: Improve air quality in a basement

Winter and springs rains may leak into your basement and cause damp and moldy air. This how to video shows you the DIY basics on making seasonal improvements to your home. Watch and learn how easy it is to keep the water out and the air nice and clean.

How To: Do your laundry

Doing laundry can seem simple, but washing clothes correctly can save money and wear and tear on clothing. Learn to wash different types of clothes, including men's, women's, ties, darks, silks and more, from a professional cleaner in this free laundry video series.