Household tips and tricks! - Are you having trouble getting the wine stains out of your carpet? Do you clean your cookware with something extraordinary? Come share!

[yoshikage]

Especially if you live in a cold climate. Really cold climate. A part of the toilet might launch itself across the bathroom or cold old pipes might crack downstream.

No matter how desperate you are, never clean your hair with pure dish soap. If you dilute just a little bit with lots of warm water and really ladder it up... it still won't work. Do the same thing but add a bit of olive oil to offset the effect and I'm still not going to try it I've learned my lesson.
If you want an experience and don't have anything going on for a couple of days I recommend washing your hair with dish soap. Your hair will audibly crackle with electricity and that really is something.

Spoiler: You will also look like this...

...and there is nothing you can do about it.
View attachment 3181602

Dish soap is way too harsh for hair, in a pinch you can use body soap. Even though you shouldn't do it all the time, it will get the job done if you absolutely need to. Best to condition after with conditioner or oil.

 

[Snusmumriken]

Some things I have learned from dorm living, if you ever find yourself in such an unfortunate position:

When you move in, report EVERYTHING that is damaged so they don’t try to charge you for it. Broken light switch, cracks in the wall, anything. My conspiracy for it is that they just refuse to fix it because they want to charge each new person that moves in for it.

Use a small trash can and take it out as soon as it gets full or whenever you deposit something stinky. You’ll be living in an incredibly smell space, and in all likelihood your neighbors can smell anything pungent coming from your room (also, get ready for people to knock on your door if you make popcorn.)

Do your laundry at least once a week. If possible, try to do it at night or any odd hours where you notice the laundry room isn’t so crowded.

Do your dishes as soon as you’re finished eating. It saves time and stress and again, the smell from dirty dishes builds up fast in a small space—chances are you aren’t cooking with large pots and pans, so skip the “letting it soak” excuse.

Always pick up after yourself. Again, small space, so even an outfit discarded on the floor will be a huge eyesore.

Don’t go overboard on move-out day. Sweep up, make sure the room looks like how you moved in, but don’t bother trying to wax your floors or anything.

 

[Fialovy]

When you move in, report EVERYTHING that is damaged so they don’t try to charge you for it. Broken light switch, cracks in the wall, anything. My conspiracy for it is that they just refuse to fix it because they want to charge each new person that moves in for it.

Often times, universities have a checklist when you first move in and you are supposed to examine it and report any damages anyways, I thought that was standard for every university.

I do think taking out your trash regularly is definitely good advice and it is amazing how many people don't follow it. When everyone left for winter break, the RAs would examine everyone's room and they would be surprised at how many people don't take out their trash and it is like, they knew there would be an inspection so they literally have no excuse and no matter how many times they would be reprimanded, they would still do it.

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

If you have a dollar store (or the equivalent) check there for measuring cups and spoons. Here in the US the chain Dollar Tree has both for $1.25 each. Every bit as good as the ones at Walmart or whatever for a TON cheaper. I have several of each, one gets lost or broken - no big loss.

Dollar stores also have scissors. Dollar Tree again has them for $1.25, the long blade ones. Not as sturdy as Fiskars, but still sharp enough to cut fabric well. I use one in my kitchen, one lasted at least six years of decently heavy daily use.

They also have cleaning supplies, check the prices but sometimes you can find those melamine sponges, plungers, cheap brooms, dust pans, small trash bags (good for cat litter scooping or dog poop), microfiber cloths, long gloves, small plastic bins. You never know.

I love dollar stores.

Edit: you can order from Dollar Tree online, but you have to buy a full case of everything you buy, which is usually 24 or 36. Most people probably don't need 36 sets of measuring cups, but if you can find friends to go in with you and you don't have one nearby that's a good option to have. No idea if they ship internationally.

 

[Poppavalyim Andropoff]

White vinegar

White vinegar kills mould

 

[glass_houses]

Dollar stores also have scissors. Dollar Tree again has them for $1.25, the long blade ones. Not as sturdy as Fiskars, but still sharp enough to cut fabric well. I use one in my kitchen, one lasted at least six years of decently heavy daily use.

I once spent $30 on a pair of scissors. That was fifteen years ago. I haven't even had to sharpen them yet, they're brilliant, I love them. I did get cheap scissors for the kitchen because my housemates would be using them; there's no way I'm sharing my good scissors with my housemates.

Speaking of things that never need sharpening, consider switching at least some of your steel kitchen knives to ceramic knives. There are downsides to ceramic knives, but I've been using the same three ceramic knives for ten years and they still have an excellent edge and have yet to need sharpening.


Oh wise housekeepers of kf, I have a question for you: how do I get mould stains out of a white cloth shower curtain? There is also a slight problem in that asthma has been giving me gyp lately, so I need to limit my exposure to triggering chemicals, if at all possible.

 

[Hare Trisha]

If you're having issues with bathroom sink drainage, or you lost an earring to the sink, it is so easy to unattach the S Pipe and clear it out. There's tons of youtube videos to help you out. I don't bother with other unclogging methods or caustic cleaners anymore I just go straight to the pipe. Fucking vile and I hate it, but man is it worth it.

I first take the S pipe and rinse it out into a bucket or the toilet, and then use gloves and some disposable instrument (like a chopstick) and get up into the drain area underneath the sink. You're gonna want to put a bucket underneath to catch all the gunk, and then run some water through occasionally to help clear it out.

If you're doing this because you lost an earring, rinse everything into a bucket and keep an ear out of the sound of something solid falling in. Both times I've lost an earring it's been stuck before the s pipe, right under the drain, so you'll have to do some fishing. Sometimes it takes a few minutes to find it so don't get discouraged immediately, it's in there.

 

[Motherf*cker]

When I moved into my current place, I had issues with the dishes in the dishwasher smelling like wet dog forever. Almost everything the internet told me to do failed except using white vinegar in place of rinse aid. You should also avoid putting anything that had egg on it in there if you can, but if I have to hand wash the dishes I’ll die, so in the vinegar goes.

Also before you put your dishes into the dishwasher, make sure to really rinse crumbs, and sauces off, it'll save the issues from smells and prolong your dishwasher from getting clogged up.

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

If you make drinks that require crushed ice a lot, or want to make snow-cones at home, or just use a blender a lot invest in one of the high powered blenders. The cheap ones aren't really designed to blend ice much and will probably crap out on you pretty quick, especially if you're a heavy user in general.

I recommend the BlendTec brand. Vitamix is good too, but BlendTec has a shorter overall height, which means it's easier to fit under cabinets. It also has dull blades, so on the rare occasions you have to reach in there to clean it (typically you fill it partially with hot water, a little soap, and run a short cycle - rinse and it's clean) you won't cut yourself - also good if you have kids. Otherwise the two are about the same in features, quality, and price (at least when I bought mine several years ago).

The standard non-ice cycle on my BlendTec makes very finely chopped ice in about ten seconds which is awesome for snow cones. The ice cycle takes longer but doesn’t seem to make better chopped ice. Syrup is available on Amazon in all kinds of flavors.

Edit: also check out YouTube for the BlendTec "Will it Blend" series of videos. They are basically a series of ads for the blender, but holy shit are the funny. They take really random things, throw them their blender and see if they blend or not. Spoiler: An iPhone blends. But a crowbar (!!!!) does not. I don't know if they're updating them anymore, but I used to laugh my butt off at them, long before I got one.

----

The pumice stone worked great! I'm not done yet, but my toilet looks so much better. Thanks! Also, it was harder to find a real pumice stone than I thought it would be. I went to three stores when I used to see them everywhere. Guess the new thing is fake plastic "stones".

 

[Motherf*cker]

If you have a dollar store (or the equivalent) check there for measuring cups and spoons. Here in the US the chain Dollar Tree has both for $1.25 each. Every bit as good as the ones at Walmart or whatever for a TON cheaper. I have several of each, one gets lost or broken - no big loss.

Dollar stores also have scissors. Dollar Tree again has them for $1.25, the long blade ones. Not as sturdy as Fiskars, but still sharp enough to cut fabric well. I use one in my kitchen, one lasted at least six years of decently heavy daily use.

They also have cleaning supplies, check the prices but sometimes you can find those melamine sponges, plungers, cheap brooms, dust pans, small trash bags (good for cat litter scooping or dog poop), microfiber cloths, long gloves, small plastic bins. You never know.

I love dollar stores.

Edit: you can order from Dollar Tree online, but you have to buy a full case of everything you buy, which is usually 24 or 36. Most people probably don't need 36 sets of measuring cups, but if you can find friends to go in with you and you don't have one nearby that's a good option to have. No idea if they ship internationally.

Yes! Here it's a called Dollarama but things like garbage bags, household cleaners, brushes and scrubs, various things for the kitchen, there are some really good finds if you look around.

lotta bloodstain experts in this thread

Or true crime fans?

 

[Fialovy]

Lawncare I guess counts, but one good piece of advice is in the spring and fall when you are raking leaves and cleaning out the flower beds, don't remove all of the leaves, leave some leaves in the flower beds because leaves help with the soil quality.

Another thing, is when mowing the lawn, I find it more efficient to get the perimeter of the yard first

If you grow hydrangeas, one trick my grandma always taught me is if you add pennies around them, you can manipulate their color since the color depends on the pH of the soil.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

Or true crime fans?

My money is on indoor free-bleeders.

You probably don't need a $200 knife, a $15 IKEA knife and the kind of sharpener you should never use on an expensive knife is fine for most people. Maybe one day you want to upgrade but at that point you probably understand what you are upgrading to.

On the topic of knives, if you are cutting an onion and it makes even the tiniest crunching sound as it cuts it means the knife is dull and needs sharpening.

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

My money is on indoor free-bleeders.

You probably don't need a $200 knife, a $15 IKEA knife and the kind of sharpener you should never use on an expensive knife is fine for most people. Maybe one day you want to upgrade but at that point you probably understand what you are upgrading to.

On the topic of knives, if you are cutting an onion and it makes even the tiniest crunching sound as it cuts it means the knife is dull and needs sharpening.

A good place to get good knives at decent prices (when you're ready to get a good knife) is a restaurant supply store. Also a good place to get solid dishes and just about any kitchen gadget you could want. Like, say an onion chopper that will dice an onion in seconds and not break like those plastic ones do. I don't have one yet because $$$ but drool.

I really like 1/4 quarter and 1/8 metal food line pans for casseroles and loaves. They have lids (some lids have slots for a spoon which is awesome), stack neatly, and are unique enough that you know which dish is yours at a potluck (you can also engrave your name on them). You can't break them either!

Use liquid lethicin on casserole dishes and a pastry brush and food will never stick and you won't get nasty build up like cooking spray does. A tiny tiny tiny bit goes a long way. Just paint a very thin layer over the whole pan. I don't know where to get this, Amazon I assume. I was given some.

 

[StrawberryDouche]

The pumice stone worked great! I'm not done yet, but my toilet looks so much better. Thanks! Also, it was harder to find a real pumice stone than I thought it would be.

Look for this. They're sold everywhere.

You can find pumice stones in bulk on Amazon. Those things changed my cleaning life and made it so much easier.

 

[Character from a movie]

White vinegar kills mould

Bleach kills mould too.
Well, it kills everything.

 

[one_time_user]

I don't know how, but I have a ton of nasty, hard, raised, build up in my toilet. It's super gross and nothing will touch it. Not even elbow grease and clr! Any suggestions? I'm desperate.

Edit: and this probably should have been a pm. Oh well, mock away.

I had this too. I did the sandpaper , it worked ok but not great. I used borax and vinegar, ditto. I used barkeepers friend and BAM shiny, smooth and clean. I promise.

 

[Motherf*cker]

I have another suggestion for those with pets, A Dutch or Rubber broom with a squeegy side. The rubber is a hair magnet and if you use the squeegy side on the floor it really drags the hair so you can pick it all up. I also use the squeegy to clean my windows and when I mop the floor I can move the water around to collect it. Also a hand broom that has a straight line of bristles, I got mine at my Dollarstore but it's awesome to get underneath the front of furniture and get that hair that lurks there.

 

[NoReturn]

Not sure if 100% true, but I've heard heat activates some enzyme in blood that makes it bond to fibers

Part of it is the protein in blood cooking to the fabric.
Fun fact: You can use blood as a 1:1 replacement for eggs when baking for this same reason.

Those cheap pumice stones sold for pedicures actually do really well for hard stains in toilets.

They can also be used to remove pet hair from furniture and clothing.

Dishwasher cleaner is really good at cleaning toilets.

And toilet cleaner is good for cleaning showers.

Water your houseplants from underneath from a dish; don't pour water directly into the soil. This will drastically reduce your odds of getting fruitflies indoors as well as protect your plant's health.

And prevents root rot if you're a frequent over-water-er.

-Clean bongs and pipes with rubbing alcohol (I find 91% works best) and salt.

Apparently bong water is great for plants, but I've not tried this myself.

I once spent $30 on a pair of scissors. That was fifteen years ago. I haven't even had to sharpen them yet, they're brilliant, I love them. I did get cheap scissors for the kitchen because my housemates would be using them; there's no way I'm sharing my good scissors with my housemates.

Speaking of things that never need sharpening, consider switching at least some of your steel kitchen knives to ceramic knives. There are downsides to ceramic knives, but I've been using the same three ceramic knives for ten years and they still have an excellent edge and have yet to need sharpening.


Oh wise housekeepers of kf, I have a question for you: how do I get mould stains out of a white cloth shower curtain? There is also a slight problem in that asthma has been giving me gyp lately, so I need to limit my exposure to triggering chemicals, if at all possible.

What have you tried so far?
Also, if you haven't yet, I strongly recommend washable cloth shower liners to everyone. I'm never going back to plastic. Keeps things much nicer, protects the shower curtain, no weird moisture buildup... It's great.

Bleach kills mould too.
Well, it kills everything.

Vodka too.

 

[Accept Only Substitutes]

I got old, nasty sweat stains out of sheets yesterday. In "unrelated" things, I appreciate washing machines a lot more now.

Spoiler: Autisticlly Spelled Out Directions

You need:
Rubbermaid tote/container for sheets/water, lots of really hot tap water (not boiling), 1/2 C borax, 2 tablespoons of dish soap (I use Dawn; if it's good enough for cleaning up animals after oil spills, it's good enough for me).

Fill container partway with water, dissolve borax and soap, add sheets, add more water as needed - sheets should be covered, but don't fill it all the way, you've got to move the container at least once to drain it. Doing this outside or next to/in a sink is a Very Good Idea. Kind of stir the sheets in there to make sure borax/soap goes everywhere.

Don't let it soak too long, this will strip some of the dye. My bright red sheets look the same as they did before soaking but the water was tinged pink. They're sheets though, so if they fade a little who cares?

I soaked mine for 15 minutes before wrangling them into the sink. This is the part that will make you appreciate modern amenities. I didn't try to rinse them, just wrung out as much water as I could and threw them in my washer. I have a front loader and two sets of heavy, soaking wet, king size sheets; one sweatshirt(?); and three pillowcases didn't throw it off balance - unlike one pillow does. (Stupid pillows)

Also, if you have a front loader you may or may not know that excess suds will damage it. The two tablespoons of soap is diluted by several gallons of water. It sudsed up a bunch in the tub at first but by the time the sheets were submerged I didn't see any suds. I don't think it would be a problem, but if you're worried rinse then in the sink first. I don't want to get a lolsuit because I gave you advice that broke your machine! Other sites on the web have you putting several tablespoons of dish soap directly into the washer without saying it is or isn't safe for front loaders, so I suspect this is fine.

I ran my machine on rinse&spin cycle with nothing extra added, then a full wash cycle with detergent, then threw them in the dryer. They came out looking almost brand new. No sweat stains to be found. Other stains were gone or mostly faded as well.

I don't know about other methods of removing sweat stains, but this method works and other than wrestling heavy sheets and big totes half full of water is pretty easy. I 100% vouch for this method.

Now, smart Kiwis, how do I keep sweat stains from coming back? Oxiclean? I'd rather not do this often, since it does strip some dye and probably isn't good for the fabric.

 

[MightyMorphin'Willbender]

Person I share the laundry room with has been consistently complaining about some black ...something (they don't quite explain) that's left in the sink after I use the laundry room.

Now, I don't even use the sink most of time because fuck hand-washing, but said person's reasoning is the laundry machine dumps water in the sink after a cycle. Don't know much about washing machines but never heard anything like that before and never had such an issue either.

Other than having to admit I might be a goth person (easily 70% of my clothing is dark colored) what is going on?
Honestly feels like I am getting fucked with.