Broom for Improvement

When you're sweeping a room, work from the outside edges in toward the center, this way you'll be sure to get all of the cracks and crevices around the perimeter.

1. : Before you use your dustpan, wipe it down with a used fabric softener sheet. Eliminating the static from the dustpan will help the dirt slide off easily into the garbage and not end up back on the floor or in the broom closet!

2. When you're finished clean your broom. Sound strange? Well, think about it, you would never not rinse a mop or a cloth so spend a minute on the broom. I keep an old comb in the broom closet for quick removal of dust bunnies and dirt. Once a week of so, rinse the bristles under cool water in a utility sink. This will keep the broom in better condition and help it to last.

3. Finally, never store your broom on its bristles, it will bend them and then they won't work as well. Hang the broom in storage to keep it in tip-top shape.

Crafty Stains

Craft projects are fun and fulfilling but they can be messy, I have some tips for dealing with crafty messes at your house.

1. Acrylic paints yield great results unless you get them on your clothes: the key, act quickly! For acrylics on clothes, lay an old towel under the item and then dab the stain with a white cloth and cool water until no more color comes off. Treat any remaining stain with rubbing alcohol. Then launder in warm water. Remember don't toss it in the dryer until the stain is gone.

2. Glue guns are notorious for dripping. To prevent messes on your work surface, rest your gun on a metal tray or old cookie sheet when you're not using it. If you did get some glue on your work surface, use a hairdryer to reheat it and then peel it away, don't try to chip hardened glue off of a surface it will take the finish with it!

3. Like glitter, hate the mess? Apply adhesive to the item and then place it in a shallow cardboard box, like the ones that canned goods come in. Then apply your glitter in the box, this way excess will stay in the box and not on your work surface where it can be spilled and tracked all over. If you get glitter on a carpet or your clothing use a sticky lint roller to clean it up quick!

Cleaning Upholstered Furniture

Do you clean your upholstered furniture regularly? Don't wait until you can see the dust and dirt, add it to your weekly cleaning routine.

1. Look over the pieces carefully, if you see any spots or stains treat them immediately. Test any cleaning solution on a hidden part of the upholstery for colorfastness before trying any spot treatments.

2. For a generic spot treater, whip together two teaspoons of clear dish soap and a half a cup of water until it's nice and foamy. Use a damp white cloth to dab the mixture onto the stain. When you can see that the stain has lifted, dab the soap out with a second cloth and clean water.

3. Club Soda is a quick spot treater when you're entertaining and don't have time for a full treatment. Just dab some on and treat the spot later.

4. White shaving cream is a great spot treater. Use very little on a damp white cloth to treat all kinds of mystery stains. When the stain is gone, dab with a second cloth and clean water.

5. If you have a stain on a cushion, don't pull the cover off and throw it in the wash. This could cause damage and shrinkage. Unzip the back and put a towel in between the cushion and the fabric cover, then treat the stain.

Beautiful Stains

Beauty products are a part of life, but they can also cause spills and stains, I have some tips to get rid of these "beautiful" stains. If you think hair dye stains are permanent, think again. If you act quickly you can get rid of them. Spritz liberally with hairspray and allow it to dry for a couple of minutes. Then rub the area with some shampoo and wash it in cold water. For make-up stains from foundation to mascara grab a bar of soap. Put the stain face down on an absorbent white cloth, an old diaper works great for this. Dampen the soap and rub it into the back side of the stain. This will push the make-up out of the fabric rather than sending deeper into the fibers. Move the stain to different parts of the diaper so it doesn't re-absorb them. Wash it in cool water. For greasy stains like lotions and baby oil, blot as much as you can with a cloth and sprinkle with some cornstarch. Let it sit for ten minutes, shake it out and dab with white vinegar to break up the grease. Then launder. For hairspray build-up on walls, floors and mirrors dip an old washcloth into some rubbing alcohol and wipe it away. Remember the two primary rules of stain removal: Always test for colorfastness in a hidden area first, and never put your item in the dryer until you're sure the stain is gone.