Classy and Opinionated Lifestyle Mom Blog
We spend a lot more time in our homes during the Covid-19 pandemic due to lockdown measures. Of course, as much as we all enjoy a nice clean home, it is also really important during this time to keep on top of the cleaning more …
Grilling is a favorite pastime for many, but most people only grill during the warm summer months when the weather is more suitable to have barbecues. Lack of utilization during the winter months can cause your grill to become rusty, worn out, and dirty, and …
Cleaning and disinfecting the kitchen trash can be a messy, but necessary task. It’s important that you clean, disinfect and deodorize it regularly. Make it part of your regular cleaning routine. The more often that you clean it…the better things will be. I personally clean mine once every 2 weeks (deep clean) and spray the inside every time I remove the bag with Lysol spray disinfectant.
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Outside Cleaning:
If possible take the trash can outside for cleaning. Use a garden hose to spray it down (inside and out). Fill it up with about 6″ of water. Pour in 1/2 to 1 cup of white distilled vinegar. Let it sit for 1-2 hours. Put on rubber cleaning gloves and use a sponge to wipe down the inside of the can with the vinegar & water solution. If you’re not a fan of cleaning with vinegar you can certainly use liquid dish washing soap. Dump out the solution. I don’t dump it near the house, garden or flower beds. I take it to a weedy area and dump it out. Use the garden hose to rinse it out.
Follow-up the cleaning process by using a disinfecting wipe to wipe down the outside and lid of your can. I typically will use two wipes to get the coverage that I need. Let air dry. Don’t add your trash bag until the can has completely dried.
Inside Cleaning:
Pour 1/2 cup to 1 cup of white vinegar into your trash can. I use the kitchen sink sprayer to add water. Shut the lid and let it sit for 1-2 hours. Let it sit for 1-2 hours. Put on cleaning gloves and use a sponge to wipe down the inside of the can with the vinegar & water solution. Dump the water down your sink drain. Use your sink sprayer to add clean water and rinse out 2-3 times. I like to turn it upside down and sit it over my double kitchen sink to let the water drain out.
While it’s sitting upside down and at a higher level I use 1-2 disinfecting cleaning wipes to wipe down the outside of the can. Let it air dry (completely) before re-bagging.
Deodorizing:
If you have stinky odors that don’t seem to go away here are a few things you can try:
Baking Soda: Sprinkle baking soda into the can and let it sit overnight. Rinse out the following day.
Lemon Juice: Pour 1/4 cup of bottled lemon juice into the bottom of the can and let it sit overnight. Rinse out the following day.
Orange Essential Oil: Mix 2 teaspoons of orange essential oil with 2 cups of water. Pour into the can. Shut the lid and let it sit overnight. Rinse out the following day.
Febreze: Febreze is great at removing household odors. Spray it in your can, close the lid and let it sit overnight before re-bagging.
Cleaning Stubborn Stains:
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser: I’ve often used the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove light stains from the inside of our trash can.
Comet Cleanser: I’ve been able to remove some touch stains by sprinkling Comet Cleanser onto the stain & letting it sit for an hour. I then go back and scrub with my brush or sponge. Rinse with water once you’re done.
Additional Tips:
I keep old tooth brushes and a few bottle brushes in my cleaning kit. An old tooth brush is great for removing debris around the hinges and a bottle brush can get into those nooks and crannies (where the bottom of the can meets the walls) to remove debris.
Buy an inexpensive toilet bowl cleaning brush and use it to scrub the bottom of your trash can. It’s great for those hard-to-reach areas!
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If there’s one thing the recent health crisis has brought into sharp focus, it’s just how easily germs can spread. Now that we’ve become accustomed to sanitizing everything in sight, there’s a stronger focus on cleanliness than ever before. So, if you’re wondering how you …
Did you know that cellphones are one of the germiest items that you come into contact with on a daily basis? That’s right…they’re loaded with germs and bacteria. They come into contact with dirty counter-tops, tables, car seats, the bottom of your handbag, desk drawers, …
You’re throwing a party at your house over the weekend. As you look around your home, you’re noticing a lot of stains on your carpet that you haven’t seen before. Judging on how they look, they’ve been there for quite a while.
You try scrubbing at the carpet but no matter what you do, some of them just won’t come out. You’re not sure how to remove old stains from carpet so dish liquid and water is all you’ve got.
We can help you get your carpets squeaky clean before the party. Check out this guide to learn what you can do.
Find Out What Kind of Stain You’re Working With
Before you can clean the stain, you have to find what it is. There are two types of stains that you’ll run into. Water-soluble and special-soluble.
Special-soluble stains are your red wine, blood, coffee, chocolate, and gross enough, vomit. A lot of these can be dealt with by using a mixture of water and ammonia. Unless you have a wool carpet, in which case, don’t use ammonia.
You’ll run into water-soluble stains more often than not. These are your drinks, milk, ice cream, washable inks, and food dyes. White vinegar and water will do wonders for these types of stains. You can also use dish liquid.
Grab Your Cleaning Tools
Now that you know what kinds of stains you’re working with, you can gather your equipment to deal with them. You’ll need a little safety gear if you’re cleaning up something hazardous like bloodstains. Put on a face mask and a pair of gloves to suit this purpose.
You want to wet the carpet and use some kind of cleaner to break the stain apart. Soaking the carpet in solution will do more harm than good, however. If it doesn’t dry and manages to soak into the fibers, it may cause mold.
That’s why it’s recommended for you to put your cleaner in a spray bottle if it isn’t already. This will help you control how much you apply to the carpet.
Many people will tell you to scrub at your carpets with a scrub brush, but you’ll ruin your carpet fibers this way. Instead, get a microfiber cloth. They work well for blotting up stains and you can wash them and reuse them when you’re done.
How to Remove Old Stains from Carpet
We’ve gone over some basic cleaning techniques that will work for some, if not most, stains. There are some special ones, though, that need a little more attention. When you’re dealing with grease, blood, coffee, or ink, try out these techniques.
Grease Stains
You spilled greasy fries on your carpet a couple of months ago. While you picked up the food, you failed to clean up the grease stain that’s now become one with your carpet. You’re noticing it now and you’re ready to deal with it.
Go into your cabinet and grab the baking soda. Sprinkle the baking soda on the area until it’s covered and then head into your kitchen to boil a cup a distilled vinegar on your stove.
Once the vinegar is nice and hot, add half a cup of hydrogen peroxide to it, along with a teaspoon of dish liquid. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray a light coating of it over the baking soda.
Let the solution sit for a few minutes before blotting it away with your microfiber cloth. You may have to repeat this process a few times to fully pull the stain out.
Blood Stains
Blood can be annoying to get rid of but it’s not the end of the world if you have an old bloodstain on your carpet. Before we delve into how to clean it up, it’s important to note that you always use cold water to remove blood stains. Blood hardens when it’s introduced to heat so using warm water will make it harder for you to get the stain out.
Fill a spray bottle with some kind of grease-fighting dish liquid and cool water. Spray a good bit on the carpet without soaking it. Use your microfiber cloth to blot the stain away.
Coffee Stains
Depending on how often you start your day with a cup of coffee, you probably have a few stains sitting on your carpet that you’ve forgotten about until now. To loosen up these old stains, spray the carpet with warm water. Blot it with a cloth, starting around the outside of the stain and working your way inward.
Combine a tablespoon of vinegar, a tablespoon of dish liquid, and two cups of water in a spray bottle and apply it to the stain. When you can no longer see the coffee, dab the area dry with a microfiber cloth.
Ink Stains
Get a cloth and wet it with isopropyl alcohol. Dab the cloth on the ink stain. Don’t scrub at it or you’ll spread the stain around rather than get rid of the issue.
If you don’t have isopropyl alcohol laying around, you can also use hairspray or nail polish remover. Anything that’s alcohol-based will do. When you’re satisfied with your work, you can use a vacuum to get rid of the moisture.
Cleaning Old Stains Out of Wool Carpets
A lot of these cleaning methods will work well. That is, unless you have wool carpets. You can’t use harsh chemicals such as ammonia on them or you will ruin them.
You’ll need to go for mild dish soaps or look for products that are specifically catered to wool carpets. If you’re nervous about cleaning wool carpets, you can also hire Green Choice Carpet Cleaning to take care of it for you.
Keep Your Carpets Squeaky Clean
Do you need to give your carpets a little touch-up? Getting rid of set-in stains can be frustrating and difficult, but it’s not impossible if you use these tips on how to remove old stains from carpet. Impress your guests with your floors!
Are you constantly looking for new ways to keep your house neat and organized? Check out our blog daily for more articles like this one.
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