Monday, February 9, 2009

Cleaning"All in a (Moving) Days Work

By The Edmonton Storage Guy

Whats worse than packing up everything you own? Cleaning up the mess left behind! But the following handy tips should get you ready for moving day with relative ease.

Make sure to do a spot test to check for colorfastness before using any of the following methods on larger or exposed areas.

Common household items can be your best friends when dealing with unwanted marks and stains. Scuffed woodwork can be cleaned up with a pencil eraser. Melted wax can be removed from fabric and carpeting with a soft cloth and an iron set on the lowest setting. Press and hold to absorb the wax, replacing the cloth if it becomes saturated.

Toothpaste isn't just great for cleaning teeth; you can also use it to remove stubborn ink, crayon, or scuff stains from virtually any surface. Just rub it lightly with a non-abrasive cloth, or, for tough stains, leave to sit for up to one hour before scrubbing gently.

When washing textured walls, use a nylon sock to avoid leaving lint behind. Apply any cleaning solution (after youve tested for colorfastness) in small patches. You can remove unwanted paint from most woodwork by gently scouring with brass cleaner"not too hard though, or you'll scratch the wood. Soap scum, dried toothpaste and lime scale will come off with a liberal application of an oxygen-based cleaning powder, which can be found in most supermarkets. Always wash walls from the bottom up to prevent streaking.

Now, what to do about those unpleasant odors lurking in the basement and other enclosed areas? Two words: baking soda! Place an open box in the fridge or cupboards, or sprinkle a thick layer on carpeting and along baseboards. You should notice an improvement after 24 hours. Activated charcoal, or a few drops of vanilla extract on a piece of cloth can also do the trick.

Very important: Do not mix any cleaning solutions or other chemicals with one another; serious injury can occur. Bleach and ammonia in particular must never be combined, as the mixture creates fumes that can be deadly. Also use caution when going back over areas that have already been cleaned; the use of different chemicals, in addition to being potentially dangerous, can also cause staining. - 16890

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