About.com Housekeeping

10 Laundry Disasters and How To Fix Them

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:38:40 +0000

I'm sure you've had the frustration of opening a washing machine or a dryer and seeing an unpleasant surprise inside. Major mistakes with your laundry may seem difficult to repair, but it is possible to fix whites that have been turned pink, sweaters that have shrunk, stains that have been dried, and many other laundry disasters.

Baking Soda Tips for Pots and Pans

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:46:29 +0000

Find ways to keep your pots and pans shiny and clean with baking soda. Baking soda is just abrasive enough to clean tough areas, without damaging most dishes, pots, and pans.

How To Clean a Sink

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:01:27 +0000

Is your bathroom sink a magnet for toothpaste blobs? Do you remember what your kitchen sink looks like when it's not piled high with dishes? Are you blessed enough to have a laundry sink, but can't remember what color it is underneath the soap scum? Find out how to clean a sink and maintain it, keeping it ready to use.

Removing Candle Wax From Furniture

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:13:28 +0000

Beautiful scented candles can add a beautiful touch to your home. In fact...I'm a little obsessed with them. At the end of a hard day, I can light my favorite candle and get a hint of a sweet smell. But what happens when a candle drips on your nice wood furniture?

Mud Stains

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:17:28 +0000

You wouldn't think that T-Ball could generate as much mud as a major league game, but I have proof that the little kids make some mud stains the big leaguers would be jealous of. The thing about mud, is that it smears, dries, and stains in a matter of minutes. So what's the first step to removing mud stains? Believe it or not, the first step is to let it dry.

Cleaning Electronic Devices

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:09:06 +0000

Yesterday, I was on power cord overload. My daughter couldn't find her Nintendo DS charger. My cell phone cord was missing. The laptop cord was showing signs of wear and tear. And the iPod dock cord for my husband's MP3 player wasn't docking. Sometimes it feels like electronic devices have taken over our home. With how much we rely on them, it's a good idea not to forget that they need cleaning, too.

How To Clean a Dryer

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:57:41 +0000

You wash clothes. You throw them in the dryer. You expect that when the dryer buzzes, your clothing will be ready to pull out and fold neatly. Have you ever wondered how to clean your dryer? Does it need to be cleaned? The drum of your dryer may need to be cleaned occasionally. And accumulated lint can cause dryer fires. Find out how to give your dryer a little extra attention.

Cleaning Countertops

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:07:35 +0000

When my parents were remodeling their kitchen, they had a hard time deciding on what type of countertops they wanted. They finally opted for laminate in part due to the wide variety of choices available. My dad was in charge of getting a few different samples for my mom to choose from. He came home with two samples for her to look at, varifleck and multifleck. They were nearly identical. We laugh about it now because neither one of them can remember which one they actually chose to install. No matter what type of countertops you've chosen for your kitchen, there are some basic countertop rules to follow that will keep them looking like new for longer.

10 Ingredients for Homemade Cleaners

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:50:29 +0000

Baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, cornstarch, salt, and toothpaste. It sounds like a 3rd grade science experiment gone horribly wrong. But in reality, these are just a few of the common items around your home that are actually ingredients for your own homemade cleaners.

Which Floor Care Tools Do You Need?

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:41:37 +0000

Looking for the right tool for the job? If you are trying to figure out which tools are really necessary for floor care, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. There are multiple sizes, special features, and surprises when it comes to the tools that help us vacuum, mop, and sweep our floors. Find out which floor care tools are really best for your home.