Major home clean up projects can be messy and difficult to contain the mess! I don’t care HOW strong your 2-ply Hefty bag is - - there aren’t enough bags to clean up some garages (taking a peek inside my own!)

Renting a rolling trash box is an efficient, economical way to handle extra trash when you clear overgrown landscaping or vacant lots, demolish the old work shed in the back, tear off an old roof or clean out the garage or basement.

Dumpsters are a weekly rental with delivery and pick-up in included in the price. Some companies will charge a flat fee per size of box, while others may charge one fee for the box and an additional dumping fee according to the weight of the material inside, especially if it exceeds a predetermined weight limit.

Boxes have weight limits, so you may need to rent smaller boxes to contain heavy materials such as dirt, tree stumps and and concrete.

Who hasn’t had to run around after little (or even BIG) kids to clean crayon markings off the walls, tables, countertops, woodwork? Hmm.. maybe it’s only MY house??

Crayons are resistant to water and any water soluble cleaner. In fact, water tends to spread crayon stains making the condition even worse.

Other means, such as “mechanical” or “solvency” must be used to remove the crayon. Immediate heat, or “wet” solvency treatment may spread and set these stains. For the best chances of removal, please follow these steps:

• Mechanical (where applicable) Carefully scrape up (with the edge of a butter knife) or lift off as much solid “crayon” matter as possible. Be careful not to spread the stain with this physical removal.
• Next, place a tray full of ice cubes into a zipper type freezer bag and rest it over an affected area for several minutes. As the cold makes the crayon more brittle, use the butter knife once again to scrape off any further residue. If the area is larger than ice bag, then use the same procedure systematically until entire area is treated.
• Steps #1 & #2 are the “scraping process”. (to be used again later on)
  After this “cold” method has removed as much of the crayon as possible, you should then dry these “warm-hot” methods.
• First, use your hair dryer (on “HI” setting) to soften the crayon. Once again, carefully scrape up (with the edge of a butter knife or piece of cardboard) as much solid “crayon” matter as possible OR place a very absorbent material, such as a “thick” paper towel or napkin over affect area. Take a ‘warm-hot’ iron and apply over this covering. Hopefully the crayon will either soften so you can repeat step 1 or liquefy the crayon so it will be absorbed up into material.
• Pre-Soak stain in isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Allow to stand about 30 minutes. Agitate with a scrub brush. Rinse thoroughly with water. Once satisfied with results, allow surface to completely dry.

Note: Always test an inconspicuous area for colorfastness, etc. before treating the exposed area. Also note that certain stains are permanent.

Use a pretty stencil pattern for your bathroom window to paint a pretty pattern - and give you more privacy, especially if your bathroom window is ground level.

Clean the window with ammonia and secure a stencil to the glass with quick-release tape or spray adhesive. Next, tint paint an ochre-color, using paint formulated for high-humidity rooms. Apply paint using a dabbing motion with a stipple brush. Let dry and dab on a second coat for opaqueness using a synthetic sponge.

Tile grout poses its own difficulties. The porous nature of grout means cleaning solutions pass through without a thought of taking the stain with them. When that dreaded spill happens, clean immediately. The longer a spill sets the better chance of it staining. Mix a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide to water in a spray bottle. Spray the stain and allow to set 30 minutes. Retreat if needed. Do not use peroxide on colored grout. It’s bleach and will take the color out of the grout.

Club soda will also help remove the stain if poured on immediately. Shaving cream does a good job. Spray on and allow to set 30 minutes. Tile stores carry a chalk like stick that is safe for any color grout. Drag it across the stain and remove after an hour or so. Reapply if necessary.

Keep a good sealant on the tiles and especially the grout. You’ll find good sealants at tile stores.

Do not use anything other than Ivory liquid dish soap on marble. Harsher cleansers will damage the surface. Always dry marble to prevent water spots from leaving their signature mark. Marble stains easily so wipe spills immediately. Do not use vinegar or orange based cleaners to clean marble. The acid in them will damage the surface. Peroxide is safe for stain removal.

Related Link: Cleaning Supplies - Janitorial Supply - Janitorial Products - Sanitary Supplies JanitorialSupplies4Less.com is your single source for janitorial cleaning supplies. 32 national locations to serve your janitorial supply needs.

A word of caution – Be cautious using orange-based cleaners to clean a kitchen. Some contain petroleum distillates. Petroleum distillates break down the rubber in the rubber gaskets around refrigerators and dishwashers.

For a wonderful all purpose fill a spray bottle half full with water add a squirt or two of Ivory Liquid dish soap then finish filling with water. It’s inexpensive and does a great job cleaning kitchen surfaces without leaving a residue behind.

Candle wax is resistant to water and any water soluble cleaner. And, hot wax from a candle penetrates deep into the surface. In fact, water tends to spread candle wax stains making the condition even worse. Immediate heat may spread set these stains too. For the best chances of removal, please follow these steps: Therefore, other means, such as “mechanical” or “solvency” must be used to remove the candle wax. Immediate heat, or “wet” solvency treatment may spread and set these stains. For the best chances of removal, please follow these steps:

• Carefully scrape up (with the edge of a butter knife) or lift off as much solid “wax” as possible. Be careful not to spread the stain with this physical removal.
• Next, place a tray full of ice cubes into a zipper type freezer bag and rest it over an affected area for several minutes. As the cold makes the wax more brittle, use the butter knife once again to scrape off any further residue. If the area is larger than ice bag, then use the same procedure systematically until entire area is treated.
• Steps #1 & #2 are the “scraping process” (to be used again later on).
• After this “cold” method has removed as much of the wax as possible, you should then dry these “warm-hot” methods.
• First, use your hair dryer (on “HI” setting) to soften the crayon. Once again, carefully scrape up (with the edge of a butter knife or piece of cardboard) as much solid “candle wax” matter as possible OR place a very absorbent material, such as a “thick” paper towel or napkin over affect area. Take a ‘warm-hot’ iron and apply over this covering. Hopefully the wax will either soften so you can repeat step 1 or liquify the wax so it will be absorbed up into material.
• Pre-Soak stain in isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Allow to stand about 30 minutes. Agitate with a scrub brush. Rinse thoroughly with water. Once satisfied with results, allow surface to completely dry.

Note: Always test an inconspicuous area for colorfastness, etc. before treating the exposed area. Also note that certain stains are permanent.

It’s no secret that dirty butcher blocks can cause serious health issues.

Wood is quite porous. Since a butcher block cannot be sealed or varnished, bacteria from meats and foodstuff is absorbed and a great place to flourish. Please follow these steps to properly maintain your butcher block:

• Wash well with a mild solution of clean dishwashing solution after every use, then rinse and wipe dry. Be certain that it is thoroughly dry BEFORE putting away in storage
• After you cut meat and poultry on it, wet it down will with a
  disinfectant cleaner(see our website) or a 1 part chlorine bleach to 10 part water solution. Allow the solution to work for approximately 10 minutes, rinse well with clean water and allow to air dry.
• Occasionally, deodorize surface with fresh lemon juice. Allow it to sit on surface for about 15 minutes. Then rinse, and dry.
• Butcher block requires an ‘oiling’ from time to time to keep them from getting brittle. When the block is clean and dry, use mineral oil as a coating. Apply it and allow it to sit for about an hour. Wipe away excess, clean with a mild detergent, and allow to air dry. “Butcher block” that’s not used for food preparation should be oiled occasionally with any store bought product designed for oil-finished furniture..

Windows and Mirrors

In a 32 oz spray bottle add 1/3-cup white (clear) vinegar and 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol. If you absolutely must have another cleaner add 1 tablespoon automatic dishwashing detergent.

Tubs and Shower Stalls

Alkaline in the water causes those not-so-pretty spots on your glass doors and shower walls. Apply a car wax to the walls and doors. Not the floor or it gets real slick. Both fiberglass and glass are porous. The car wax seals those pours, which makes cleaning easier and keeps water spots away. Reapply twice yearly.

Squeegee or wipe down your shower after each use to further prevent buildup. If your tire of fighting the soap scum buildup switch to liquid soap, natural soap or Dove. It’s the talc in most bar soaps that causes the buildup. Changing soap eliminates the buildup. You still need to clean the shower once a week, but the job is easier.

Clean the showers once a week with an orange citrus-based cleaner. Spray on and give it ten minutes to dissolve the dirt. Why do all that scrubbing when your product does it for you?

OK, so the soap scum refuses to budge and friends are coming for a visit. Use your orange-based cleaner concentrated. Pour plenty on an old dishrag and wipe on the walls and doors. Use can use boiling hot white vinegar (wear gloves) but you must keep applying it as the white vinegar dries. It takes time to dissolve that buildup

Patience now becomes a virtue. Wait and wait and wait some more. Go clean the rest of the house. If the cleaner starts dripping down the walls wipe it back on. Check the walls with a fingernail. If the residue removes easily, round one is about over.

Use a white bristle pad to scrub. They look like fibers and are glued to a sponge. Use the white ones only. The colored scrubbers are courser and do scratch. Test a spot to make sure it won’t scratch the fiberglass. Dampen the pad keeping it good and wet and gently scrub. This removes the soap buildup and most of the white mineral deposits on the glass doors. Nothing removes the etch marks themselves but further damage is halted. Reapply the orange citrus cleaner if necessary.

Plastic shower curtains can be machine-washed. Remove, spray with your diluted orange-based cleaner and wait about 10 minutes. Wash with your rags and they come out quite clean. Air dry. If the curtain is long enough cut off the seam at the bottom to prevent mildew buildup down there.

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Domesticated Diva is coming soon - keep your eyes peeled here! Covering domesticated topics from home improvement, home cleaning tips and all other sorts of tid bits interesting to women who run households, raise kids, hold down a career and sometimes find time to iron the wrinkles out of something!

Getting ready to launch this blog meant getting the fun and colorful design up and functioning first - - then installing some functional addons and scripts that will hopefully make this place run smoothly. Regular blogging to begin here soon!

In the meantime, let me introduct you to my NUMBER ONE cleaning product EVER!

I just have to say, I love Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser. Just got done spiffing up the kitchen (I clean in order to blow off some steam) - and tried them out for the first time and just won’t ever go back, I swear. Counters, cabinets, the stove, the fridge .. and even the dirty little paw prints on the wall left by dirty kid hands.

Oh, and no - I get no compensation for the above message.. just one happy kitchen cleaner!