Would you believe my teenage son came to me the other day with a bottle of toilet cleaner, asking if he could use it to clean his bathroom mirror?? Unbelieveable, right?

Not too mention you don’t use toilet cleaner on a mirror (the fact that a teenage boy WANTED to clean his mirror is shocking enough!)

Here’s some simple glass cleaning tips - I shared them with him, too

Supplies Needed for Washing Windows:
Clean cloths
Newspaper
Bucket
Whiskbroom or brush
Stepladder or step stool

Washing Windows:

Steps to cleaning windows:

Get window shades, blinds, and curtains out of the way.

Dust or brush window frames and sills.

Wipe the glass with a damp cloth first to get rid of the worst dirt.

Wet a sponge or soft cloth with the vinegar and water or ammonia and water solution.

Starting with the top window panes, wash each pane in an up and down motion. Be sure to get into the corners.

Rub the glass with a dry, clean cloth.

Wash window frames and sills with a damp cloth. Dry them. After the sills are dry, you may want to wax them.

Hints for Cleaning Mirrors & Picture Glass:

Cleaning Mirrors:

Clean mirrors in the same way you would clean windows.

Do not Use too much of the cleaning mixture. String cleaning solutions can damage the mirror.

Cleaning Picture Glass:

To keep water from getting inside the frame of pictures and framed mirrors, hold a piece of heavy paper or cardboard against the frame on the inside edge.
Preparing to Wash Windows:

Get ready to do the job:

Place papers under the window.

Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/3 cup ammonia in one gallon of water.

Set the bucket of water on the paper, near the glass you will clean.

Names of Cleaning Products:

Brand name products - Windex, Sparkle, Glass Plus

Household prodcuts - Vinegar, Ammonia

For the LIFE of me - I do not know why makers of glassware, plates - and even eye glasses, must put that sticky label on the surface??!!?? Anyone know why? Is there some secret that I’m missing here? Because those labels are ugly, hard to remove and leave residue every single time.

The makers of sunglasses have smartened up and started putting those plastic, peel off labels that come of easy and don’t leave a mark - - when are glassware people going to get a clue? That plastic easy peel off stuff must be expensive, hey?

Stickers, labels and tapes with pressure-sensitive adhesive (those that are peeled from a backing or roll, then pressed in place) can often times be peeled off. The remaining adhesive can then be rubbed off with your fingers similar to the way you “thumb-roll” rubber cement into small balls. If the adhesive is old or has been exposed to high temperatures and/or humidity, the “thumb- roll” method does not always work. Try removing as much of the label or tape as possible with your fingernail or the dull edge of a knife.

The next procedure will depend on the surface of the household item. It is important to pretest some of the materials. Whatever method you use, first test the cleaning removal material in an inconspicuous part of the surface the label is stuck on the be sure it will not damage that surface. Sometimes the adhesive can be removed with a solution of warm water, liquid dish washing detergent, and vinegar or ammonia.

Fold a paper towel or cloth to make a thick pad, as large as the label. Dampen pad with household ammonia; lay pad over label. (Use masking tape to hold pad onto a vertical surface.) Wait 1/2 to 2 hours. Re-dampen the pad if it tends to dry out. Label will slide off. (NEVER USE AMMONIA ON PLASTIC OR ALUMINUM.)

Another method is to use a hand cleaner like DL, Fast Orange, GoJo, or Goop, usually in an auto dept. Spread them on, and anything that doesn’t come off can be easily scraped with a flat wood or hard plastic scraper.

A commercial product - Goof Off also does the trick, although it is flammable, dangerous, dissolves latex paint and plastics etc.

All this for the damned label.

I vote for the plastic easy to peel off stuff!

I inherited three really super pots and skillets from my grandmother. They are cast iron and I just love to use them for grilling, sauteing and cooking. The problem I had with them at first was not knowing how to properly care for, and clean them. They always rusted - which made for unappetizing cooking experiences.

I looked up information on how to care for cast iron and was surprised to find that there is an actual method of ’seasoning’ it to keep them in good shape.

Cast iron is heavy, hard, somewhat brittle, and may break if dropped. Cast iron will rust if it is not cared for and ’seasoned’. You should store your cast iron in dry conditions to avoid rust - - toss a paper town in them to absorb moisture if you live in a humid environment.

If the cast iron has not been pre-treated, season before using for the first time by doing the following:

• Brush unsalted fat on surfaces.
• Heat until grids begin to smoke. When finished, wipe out extra fat, wash in soap, and dry thoroughly.
• If not properly seasoned, cast iron pans will drip dark liquid into food.
• Cast iron is ready to use.
• After baking brush surfaces with a soft plastic brush or wipe gently with a paper towel while still warm to remove crumbs.
• Do not wash the grids or put any water on them. The seasoned surfaces darken and prevent sticking. However, if grids without a non-stick finish begin to stick, or are stained by foods being spilled on them, wash grids with warm suds, rinse, wipe dry, and re-season with unsalted fat.

Cast Iron Utensils: Store “seasoned” in a dry place. Do not put lids on pans when storing as this may increase moisture buildup. After use, wipe with paper towels, wash quickly without soaking, in hot suds, rinse; dry thoroughly at once, and wipe with a thin coating of fat or oil.

Cooked-on, Burned-on Food or Grease: Stubborn cooked-on food is best removed by soaking in hot water. Use a plastic scouring pad if necessary. Soak in a solution of 3 tablespoons of washing soda or baking soda per 1 quart of water to remove burned on food or grease. Do not scour off the seasoned finish built up on cast iron over long use. This necessitates re-seasoning of the pan.

Rust may be scoured with fine steel wool or scouring powder but re-seasoning of the utensil is necessary.

Happy cast iron cooking!