*Before you work with any chemical, always wear hand and eye protection, and it’s always smart to do a test in a small area to make sure you are not going to cause an unwanted result.
Contents
- 1 1. Get Rid of That Pesky Ring in Your Toilet
- 2 2. Clean That Film Off Your Glasses and Dishes
- 3 3. Get Rid of That Stain Around Your Faucet
- 4
- 5 4. Remove the Tuff Grease Stain from your Favorite Garment
- 6 5. Clean That Gray Out of the Bottom of Your Tub
- 7 6. Get Those Hard Water Stains off My Outside Window
- 8 7. Remove Rust off Metal Surfaces
1. Get Rid of That Pesky Ring in Your Toilet
What can you do when you have tried everything to get rid of that toilet ring, and it just won’t go away? Sometimes, hard water builds up over time, and nothing seems to work, even the best acid bowl cleaner and toughest scrubbing pad you can find. Short of buying a new commode, the answer is a pumice stone. Just remember, the key to getting this to work well is don’t apply too much pressure so you don’t scratch the surface, making it easier for stains to build up again. So follow the directions, but the trick is to make sure it is constantly wet when scrubbing around the ring and scrub where the ring is with gentle back and forth motions. It will slowly go away, then rinse and flush. When done properly, it will make your toilet shine like new.
2. Clean That Film Off Your Glasses and Dishes
Over time it seems your dishes and glasses start to build up some residue even after running in the dishwasher. Pour one cup of white vinegar in your washer before you run it, and it will not only clean that film off your dishes, it will clean the inside of your dishwasher as well as get rid of that musty smell. It is also a very inexpensive product to use.
3. Get Rid of That Stain Around Your Faucet
To clean the stains around your bathroom and kitchen sink faucet, I use an old toothbrush and a mild acid toilet bowl cleaner. Just apply some evenly around the entire base, then let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub with the old toothbrush, then rinse with water. If the cleaner has too much acid, it can tarnish your fixture. Most of the cleaners you buy at the department store today are going to be safe to use. Just be aware so that you don’t use too strong of a cleaner by accident.
4. Remove the Tuff Grease Stain from your Favorite Garment
Do you ever get grease on your favorite piece of clothing, but the Spray and Wash won’t remove it? For years I have used citrus or orange-based degreaser like Goo Gone on those tough spots. I spray a little on the spot and let it soak for a few minutes before I throw it in the washer. Cleans it like new every time. Here is a link to the one I use.
5. Clean That Gray Out of the Bottom of Your Tub
These days, it’s hard to find a chemical that will work well to clean the bathtub base. I use a stiff brush with some old-fashioned powder Comet. I work it into a foamy paste and let it sit on the area for about 5 minutes. Then scrub and rinse; this takes a little bit of work, scrub in a circular motion, and only scrubbed the tub area where the slip-resistant pattern is. After this step, I apply a mild acid toilet bowl cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse. Comes out like new every time.
6. Get Those Hard Water Stains off My Outside Window
Sometimes the outside of your windows can develop hard water stains. I apply a little acid toilet bowl cleaner to a sponge scrubber. Make sure you don’t use the green or most abrasive sponge scrubber; I usually grab the mid-range; I think it’s blue or uses the white-backed one. I work it in a circular motion and cover the areas with the hard water stains. You will see that it’s working because the hard water spots will turn white. This is the acid breaking down the calcium. Keep it moist, but not so much that it creates runs. After a little scrubbing, the spots will disappear. Then rinse with water and do your normal window cleaning procedure. I’m confident you will be happy with the results.
7. Remove Rust off Metal Surfaces
For years I have used WD-40 to remove rust off of metal surfaces. It works particularly well on chrome or stainless steel. Just don’t use an abrasive pad. You don’t want to scratch the finish. Apply to a towel or white pad and gently wipe and scrub and you will see the rust disappear, then wipe or rinse clean.
These are tricks I have used for years to make cleaning easier, and for me, they work well but use these methods at your own risk. All chemicals say to follow label instructions.
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure Statement HouseLifeToday.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission if you purchase through one of our links.
