Wash Your Windows Like the Professionals!

cleaning windowsWhile nobody really likes to do chores around the home, there are some that are admittedly easier than others.

  • Take out the trash? No problem.
  • Make the bed? Not bad.

But washing the windows? That can certainly be a pain.

Just think of all the times you sprayed window cleaner trying to clean it up and inhaled all those chemicals.

Not only does it not smell nice, there were often times fibers left behind from your paper towel!

Now that can be a pain!

However we have a method that is used by window cleaning professionals that will change how you clean your windows! This method will help get your windows completely clean.

Here is what you will need for window cleaning:

Here are the steps to cleaning your windows:

  • First, put a couple drops of the dish detergent into your container and add a few inches of water.
  • Dip the scrubby pad into the water and squeeze out.
  • Then, scrub the glass down.
    • Between the dawn and the scrubby pad, the dirt will come off and there will not be any residue.
  • Once you have scrubbed everything loose, use the squeegee on the window starting at the top.
  • Work your way down and wipe the squeegee off each time with your cloth.
    • The better quality your squeegee is, the less streaking there will be which will leave your windows looking cleaner.
  • You may need to wipe around the edges of the window in order to absorb leftover water and/or dirt.

You will see a noticeable difference with this method and your windows will come out much cleaner!

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Make Your Home Smell Great!

Tips for a fresh-smelling home. DIY

Nothing makes you smile quite like coming to a home that smells wonderful and inviting.

Luckily there are lots of simple DIY ways to achieve this that are inexpensive. Check out the do-it-yourself scent recipes below.  You may already have many of these item inside your home.

Taking just a little bit of time to improve the smell of your home can really do a lot for your mood!

See which of these options below works best for your home.

DIY Fresh Lemon Spray for Rooms and Home

A few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your house is all you need to do in order to give your home a great citrus scent. This simple DIY air freshener  is a fresh-smelling clean that doesn’t smell like harsh chemicals.

Directions: combine 1/8 cup of baking soda with 2 cups of hot water and ½ cup of lemon juice.

One you mix your ingredients, pour it into a spray bottle, shake well, and then spray the scent in the air.

Try Dried Lavender in a Jar to give your home a lasting pleasant smell

Combine equal amounts of dried lavender buds and baking soda into a jar.

  • Shake it up.
  • Add three drops (there will be 24 total) of lavender scented oil and then shake the jar.
  • Continue to do this until you reach 24 drops.

You can place the jar in a room to enjoy the scent, or you can add a lid with holes in it for a more subtle scent.

DIY Fridge De-Odorize – Oranges in the Fridge

Many people already have oranges that they buy- so why not use the peels?

  • Save any orange peels and place in a jar with salt.

The orange will give off a nice scent, while the salt will draw in the unpleasant ones. Use this inside your refrigerator to it smelling fresh.

Eucalyptus Leaves

Add a few sprigs of dried eucalyptus leaves in a vase or glass and place around the house. Not only will it smell nice, but it will look nice too!

Easy Lemon Trick for Destroying Foul Garbage Disposal Smells

Take the peels from three lemons and chop them up into small pieces.

  • Place them in an ice cube tray (2-3 pieces in each slot) along with 1 ½ cups of distilled white vinegar.
  • Place filled cube tray  into freezer.
  • Once your new garbage disposer cubes are frozen solid, transfer into a freezer bag and use whenever your garbage disposal needs a pick-me-up.

Not only will it smell good, but the ice helps sharpen the blades so it’s efficient, as well!

Consider the Season

Gather up some pine cones and drop in a few scents of your favorite essential oil.

To switch it up, think about the time of year. Cinnamon is great for fall, floral scents for spring, fruity scents for summer, and pine for winter- just to name a few.

Don’t Forget the Staples

For many, it’s easiest to go back to the basics.

Scented candles, incense, and reed diffusers are all very easy to use and all you have to do is pick them up at a store. Many of them even come in visually appealing options.

Find the Cause of the Smell

Your best bet is to figure out where the smell is coming from in the first place.

It something doesn’t smell quite right, there tends to be good reason for it!

Before adding additional smells into the home, take some time to assess where the bad smells are coming from. Sponge Outlet has many cleaning supplies that can help make it easier for you  to enjoy the better smells in life!

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A Guide for Cleaning Your Basement

Basements are notorious for being dark, damp, and sometimes even a little spooky.

But if you clean them up and organize them, you might find they aren’t quite so bad.

Here are some of the things that you will need to clean a basement:

  • Sponges- 1 regular sponge & 1 eraser sponge handy
  • White Vinegar
  • A Soft cloth
  • Dish-washing liquid
  • Bucket
  • Ammonia
  • Drop-Cloths
  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • Tools like vacuum, broom, dustpan, mop
  • Baking soda
  • Batteries
  • Clay cat litter and pan

Begin cleaning the basement by gathering up your materials and keeping them in one place.

Consider listening to some music while you work.

dirty basementThe first thing you should do is tackle anything that was covered up with dust covers.

Take them outside to get rid of the dust, and then throw them in the washing machine. Wipe down any items that were covered.

Next, wipe down the outside of the furnace and the hot water heater with either sudsy water or equal parts water and vinegar.

  • If you want to make sure that all of the dirt and debris are off, however, we suggest using an Eraser Sponge.

Then, mix together a gallon of warm water, a cup of ammonia, and a teaspoon of mild dish soap.

  • Put down a drop cloth near one of the walls and clean them using the mixture you just created.
  • If you happen to find mold, clean it with hot soapy water. Make sure it is thoroughly dried afterward! Do this to all the walls.

Once you have done that, clean the windows.

  • If you don’t wish to use a window cleaner, you can use a mix of 1 pint rubbing alcohol, 2 tablespoons ammonia, and 2 tablespoons of dish soap. Then, wash the windows.
  • Rinse them and buff them dry.

Next, move your attention to the floors.

  • You can use baking soda on hard floors and carpets. This will neutralize odors.
  • Once the area is covered, you can sweep it/vacuum it up, and then throw it out.

While you have your vacuum out, take a moment to gently vacuum the smoke detectors and get rid of any dust that might be on it.

  • This layer of dust could affect their sensitivity and how well they work.

To make your floors shine, mop them.

  • If you really want to detail clean it, scrub it by hand, starting on the outside of the wall going in toward the center of the room in small, circular patterns.
  • This is also an excellent time to use an Eraser Sponge!

What valuable tips have we left out? What do you do in order to clean your basement?

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Eraser Sponges: Room by Room Cleaning

cleaning your homeCleaning your home can be fun and rewarding again!

Using an Eraser Sponge, you can clean and see results immediately.

We have compiled a room-by-room cleaning list for areas you may want to use your next shipment of eraser sponges on:

Kitchen

  • Set in tea and coffee Stains on mugs, pots and maybe even counter tops
  • Small nooks and crannies of small electronics such as can opener or hood of stove
  • Microwave inside and out
  • Grout of backsplash or tiled flooring
  • Refrigerator handles and doors
  • Remove cooked on stains of pots and pans

Living Space

  • Baseboards or floors of scuff marks or stuck on grime
  • Coasters and end tables
  • Dried paint from door hinges

Bathroom

  • Build up of mildew, hair care products, and toothpaste from sinks, cabinets, floors, and tubs
  • Rust and corrosion of pipes under sink
  • Remove stains on toilet seats and in toilet bowls
  • Nail polish spills or stains
  • Hair dye stains
  • Bathroom mirrors

Bedrooms

  • Scuff on walls and baseboards
  • Carpet stains
  • Stuck on grime and stains of dressers
  • Removes adhesive from stuck on stickers
  • Clean doll faces

Outside

  • Clean pool steps before storing for the winter
  • Clean plastic coolers inside and out
  • Clean lawn ornaments from the weathering of leaves and mildew
  • Shelves and grates of grill
  • Green algae on bird baths, sidewalks or other cement items
  • Clean boats and outdoor furniture
  • Bicycle including tires and handle bars
  • Inside your car including dash and steering wheels
  • Brake dust on car rims
  • Soap scum and oils from hot tub
  • Bugs on windshield and grill
  • Small scratches on car

 

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Deep Cleaning Your Bathroom

magic eraser cleaning a bathroom sink

Deep Cleaning Your Bathroom with help from Eraser Sponges

A new year means a new start at making this year better than last year.

One of the best things you can do for yourself is give yourself a clean house.

It won’t happen overnight but you can start with one room at a time. First let’s start with the bathroom.

Fully Cleaning the Shower

Take the shower head off the wall and place in a bag with white vinegar.

  • Tie up the bag and let set overnight.

Take down your shower curtains and wash them in your washer with a few towels.

  • The towels will act as micro scrubbers.

Then use your eraser sponges to clean all the nooks and crannies of your shower, including doors and tiles.

Use an Eraser Sponge on the Walls

Use the Eraser Sponge to remove all mildew spots from tiles and grout.

If you come across very stubborn spots use a tooth brush with bleach to get it all clean.

Scrub Down the Toilet with Sponge Eraser

Put a cup of baking soda into the bowl and let sit for a few minutes then flush.

  • All spots should be gone, if not use a piece of an eraser sponge to get stuck on spots.
  • Then you can continue to use other parts of the eraser sponge underneath the toilet seat and on the outside of the toilet.

Now you need to clean that toilet brush- using the toilet seat to hold it between the bowl and the seat, pour bleach on top of it. Then clean out the brush holder by letting it soak in soapy water.

Get spots and grime off of the Sink

deep cleaning bathroomUse white vinegar to pour down the drain and flush with hot water.

  • Then use eraser sponges to clean the faucet and vanity top.

To get into the tiny cracks under the faucet handles use dental floss to pull out all grime.

Hand Towels

Use the sanitizing setting on your washer to clean them. Or even better just replace them every 3- 4 days.

Tackling one room at a time will help you start to see a visible difference in your home.

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Unique Uses for Eraser Sponges

Melamine Eraser Sponge
We have yet even more unique uses for your Eraser Sponge!

  • Clean Cell Phones and iPods
    • Because eraser sponges don’t require much liquid you can safely clean your iPod and cell phones.
    • Place a small piece of sponge in water then squeeze all excess liquid off and gently rub to remove smudges or dirt spots.
  • Scuffmarks on Cars
    • If you accidentally hit something in the driveway don’t run off to the body shop before your spouse gets home. Use an eraser sponge to clean the small scuffmark away.
  • Food Stains on Clothes
    • Place a towel under clothes and use dampened eraser sponge to gently blot away stains!
  • Leather Upholstery
    • Place the whole eraser sponge in water, squeeze all excess water then gently rub leather. Test an inconspicuous area first to ensure your leather will not adversely react.
  • Tea Stains
    • Clean your favorite teapot or tea cup with eraser sponge to make it shine like new.
  • Computers
    • Use the eraser sponge to clean your computer monitor, keyboard and mouse. These items buildup with grime from hands and can carry bacteria.
    • Keyboards are known to have more bacteria than handles or toilet seats.
  • Tarnish From Silver
    • Rub tarnished areas with the eraser sponge, then thoroughly wash and dry it to have a shiny new silver finish
  • Bugs From Car
    • Use the eraser sponge on the grill, windshield and bumper to clean on stuck on bugs from your last road trip to the country. Please note that you should test in an inconspicuous area first!
  • Steering Wheel
    • While you are cleaning the car open the door and clean off the steering wheel with your eraser sponge.
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Cleaning Your Boat before Winter Storage

cleaning your boatWhether you’re using your boat on the lake, the ocean, or in a really, really big puddle you found, you will want to make sure you keep it clean; especially before winter storage.

Salt or other forms of grime can build up and damage your investment.

So, especially before you put it away for months waiting for the warm weather to come back around, you will want to clean your boat and make sure it looks like new when you take it out on the water again.

The first thing you want to do is make sure you spray down your boat so that everything gets wet.

If there is salt, give it a few minutes to let everything dissolve. Then, hose it down again. For the final rinse make sure you are starting from the top down, doing the hull sides last.

  • It is best to have your boat lifted in order to get to the undersides as well and spray down the engines.

As for the cleaning products you use, you will want to make sure you use something that will be tough enough to get the job done.

This is where the Sponge Outlet products come in.

They are powerful enough to lift dirt, grime, and just about anything else that is on it. It is suggested that you first test it out on an inconspicuous area first.

In places that a sponge cannot reach, use a power washer. This will help get in the little nooks and crannies to make sure no salt or grime build up ruins one of your prized possessions.

Make sure you give your boat a good wash down a handful of times a year to ensure that there is not any hardware damage.

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Make Your Painted Walls Spotless!

eraser spongeHave you taken a look at your walls lately?

If not, you might be surprised about what wound up on there.

Here is a simple step by step instruction of how to remove any sort of mess off your walls and make sure they look great!

Step One: Cobwebs

This is a part of cleaning we don’t like to think about, since cobwebs tend to mean spiders are afoot.

However, getting rid of huge clumps of dust, dirt, or lint will make it easier for you to get at the stickier messes.

  • Use a cloth or a vacuum, depending on where the location is.

Step Two: Spot Cleaning Crayon Marks

For those who have kids, crayons can go missing or get used for the wrong purposes. Check to see if you see any crayon marks.

If you do, the first thing you want to do is make sure there are no clumps of it on the wall. Smearing large chunks can make your mess bigger.

Step Three: Spot Cleaning Marker and Ink

This is an accident that anyone in the home can be guilty of. Since this process is slightly different, it should be treated as a separate step.

  • First try spot cleaning with your eraser sponge.
  • If you have a textured wall, the heavy duty version should work better.

However if for some reason this doesn’t work, there are some other tricks to try.

  • If you have hairspray handy, you can spray the stain with it, and then gently rub the wet spot with a paper towel or rag.

This process may have to be repeated more than once. If this doesn’t work either, then covering the stain with plain toothpaste for ten minutes might lift it. Wipe it clean!

Step Four: Removing Beverage Stains

If you have a magic eraser, try this first.

It will save a lot of time and scrubbing. If not, then a mild detergent will be gentle enough to be used on stained walls. You don’t need much, though!

Step Five: Clean What Remains

You might get done treating these individual stains and notice your walls look blotchy now.

Do a gentle but thorough wipe down of your walls to ensure you didn’t miss anything. If you have stubborn grime on your walls, eraser sponges work great for that too!

You will find after all this hard work, your walls will look like new!

 

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Eraser Mops: Making Floor Cleaning Easier!

eraser mopWe spend a lot of time talking about our Eraser Sponges.

They just have so many awesome uses!

They clean up stains and dirt and anything else you can think of, and it doesn’t have that horrible chemical smell.

But what you didn’t know is that there are also Eraser Mops.

These are made of the same material as the Eraser Sponges, but they are actually pads that fit on your Doodlebug cleaning system.

No more getting on your hands and knees to scrub!

This product allows you to stand and clean your floors with the same strength as the Erasers.

You only need to use water in order to activate the cleaning power of your Eraser Mop.

Many of the toughest stains that we need to tackle are on the floor- whether it’s on tile, hardwood, or concrete.

How often do you spill something on the floor, only to find out later that you only got part of it up with your paper towels?

  • By then it is surely sticky and a nuisance.

Use your dual-layered Eraser Mop to clean it all up for good!

This product is also great for the elderly who are living in their own.

Instead of having to get down to clean the floor, they can just use the convenient handle.

This will allow them to get into hard to reach places without having to strain themselves unnecessarily.

If you have any other questions about our Eraser Mops or any other cleaning products we have, feel free to contact Sponge Outlet today.

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Use Eraser Sponges to Help with DIY Crafts!

diy craftToday, we live in a world where we try to recycle and upcycle materials as much as possible.

What does this mean?

It means using old materials to create something new.

If you have ever taken a look at Pinterest, you will see that there are tons of crafts on there that require removing labels from bottles, jars, and other containers.

The problem that most people run into here is that when they remove the label, there is adhesive left behind and everything is sticky.

You really don’t want to try to paint something that had leftover adhesive on it. Not if you want to keep your paintbrush in one piece, at least.

Luckily, Eraser Sponges are great removing adhesive and other materials!

Here are some instances where this might be handy:

  • Removing labels from wine bottles, jars, plastic containers, in order to create something new. This will give you a clean surface to create a masterpiece with.
  • Removing spilled glue from a surface (it’s recommended you use a small piece for this, so you don’t remove anything besides what you’re meaning to remove). It can be tough to judge how much glue you will need, but it can be easily removed if it spills over!
  • Removing marker, crayon and pencil markings from surfaces. Especially with young children, it is a good idea to have cleaning supplies ready.

Regardless of the project that you are working on, messes are bound to happen.

Why not use a product that is going to quickly clean it up with no mess and no odor? Check out Sponge Outlet today!

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