9/18

Steam for Everyday Spills

The advantages of traditional oven cleaners are power and speed. But for many of us, the disadvantages outweigh the good, specifically, the corrosive chemicals and caustic fumes that this type of oven cleaning can produce. A simple, more natural way to clean your oven is to place an oven-safe pot or bowl filled with water inside. Set your oven to 450 degrees for 20 to 60 minutes to loosen dirt and grease with the steam. Once your oven is cool, wipe off the condensation and the grease will come with it. If stubborn spots persist, scrub with a paste of baking soda and lemon or vinegar.

This steam-cleaning option doesn’t take as long as pyrolytic cleaning and doesn’t produce smoke, either. It’s a win-win!

Need to clean out the rest of your kitchen before moving out? Check out these 11 tips for speed cleaning your kitchen.

10/18

Permanent Marker Stain

Don’t worry, that permanent marker stain on your new laminate countertop won’t be there forever and you’ll certainly be able to remove it before moving! We have an easy stain remover hack for you. Dab some cooking oil onto a paper towel and then lay the paper towel over the stain that refuses to budge. Wait a few minutes while the oil works to dissolve the stubborn stain. Finally, remove the towel and rub away the stain in circular motions (with some force) with another paper towel dipped in oil.

When the stain is gone, wipe the area clean with soap and water.

Do you have more stains on your kitchen countertop? Check out this stain remover guide.

11/18

Dowel Storage Hack

Here’s a handy hint for not only keeping your holiday ornaments organized and stored safely when the season is over, but also to safely store and transport fragile items while moving. First, measure the length of your bin from one lip to the other. Then cut a wooden dowel into two or three pieces of that length.

String your ornaments onto the dowels and place the dowels on the lip inside the storage bin. The ornaments will hang on the dowels, keeping the strings and hooks free of tangles. For even more protection of your breakable ornaments, you could also add a few sheets of tissue paper or other padding to the bottom of the bin.