Archive for the ‘clean it’ Category

I just ran across the most wonderful tutorial and it couldn’t have been more timely.  I have been using a Swiffer duster (a large package bought from Costco) but was at the end of my stash.  I didn’t want to buy another package because well, using disposable dusters just isn’t “Make it Do” or earth-friendly.  I think I bought them out of desperation.  Living in a semi-rural community, near the mouth of a beautiful canyon has it’s perks, but dust isn’t one of them.  I need to dust all the time!  Anyway, I have liked the way the Swiffer works, easy to dust around things and such… but I didn’t want to spend the money to replace them.

But just when I was out of disposable dusters, I found a great tutorial on making a reusable, washable duster.  I whipped one up in no time.

I used a microfiber cloth purchased in a bundle of 4 for $5 from TJ Maxx.  One towel made one duster.  My only complaint was how messy it was to cut up the microfiber… be prepared for little pieces to be everywhere.  But once finished, I shook it out really well over my large garbage can and it stopped shedding.  I went through the house dusting everything and it works like a charm.

I use my Swiffer for quick dusting or for dusting my doo-dads, picture frames and blinds.  For more thorough dusting of my wood furniture, I fill a spray bottle with water, add a few drops of essential oil… (you know I love lavender) and give it a good shake.  Then I spray it onto a soft cloth (I use cloth baby diapers) and wipe down the furniture.  I launder the cloth after each use.

When my wood furniture needs a really good cleaning, polishing and conditioning, my mom introduced me to The Original Beeswax Furniture Polish.  It is a bit expensive, but you don’t need to use it often, maybe once every couple months, and so it lasts a really long time.  For those living in Utah, it can be purchased in Salt Lake City at the Silver Star Hardware.

One other quick tip, if you find that you need to dust more than usual, check your air conditioner/furnace filter, you might need to replace your filter.

Now I better get back to cleaning, because I think I can write my name in the dust on my dining table!

Summer fun can turn those bright, white tennis shoes to dingy gray.  But when you are “Making it Do”, you don’t just throw them away… and luckily you don’t need to go around looking grungy either.

It’s “Magic” Shoe Cleaning Formula to the rescue:

This recipe is for a top loading washing machine:

• 1 cup laundry detergent
• 1 cup dishwasher soap (granulated, not liquid)
• 1 cup bleach

1. Set washing machine on lowest water level (mini, small, etc.) and fill with water
2. Add magic formula ingredients, one at a time to the water
3. Put shoes in washer (more than one pair make the formula more effective as they bump into each other and helps make them more clean.)
4. Agitate shoes on the longest wash cycle.
5. IMPORTANT: Make sure to double rinse shoes.
6. Put shoes outside to dry or air dry over a floor vent in your home.  (I recommend stuffing wet shoes (particularly leather) firmly with newspaper as they dry.  This keeps them from shrinking.  The same goes for shoes caught in rain storm.)

I have a front loader washing machine…. and needed to adapt the recipe to work for me.  Front loaders use a lot less detergent generally,  so I halved the amounts of the dish soap and laundry detergent.  And instead of adding everything directly to the tub, I put the ingredients in the detergent tray.  I filled my bleach tray to the max line… but I’m not sure how much that was.  I would guess roughly 1/3 cup.

These tennies don’t look brand new… but they look awesome compared to before.  Another “Make it Do” way to spruce up old tennis shoes is to get new laces.  This really gives them a new lease on life.  Now let’s hit the courts.