Tips! - Removing Coffee Stains from Couch Cushions - From Time Saver Maids

Tips! From Time Saver Maids

Removing Coffee Stains from Couch Cushions

Coffee stains on couch cushions are considered difficult to remove, however, it is possible to have stain-free cushions without having to go to the drycleaner’s. Ideally, you should act as soon as you have spilled the coffee. There are several solutions you can use staring from liquid detergent to baking soda and salt.

You Will Need:

• Water
• Liquid detergent (dishwashing detergent)
• Baking soda and salt
• Club soda
• Ginger ale
• White towels
• Clean piece of cloth
• Stain remover
• Vinegar or diluted bleach

Step 1 – Remove Cushion Covers

Try to remove the cushion covers as soon as you have spilled the coffee to prevent the coffee from spreading on the rest of the cushion or cause a larger stain. If you don’t have removable cushion covers, skip this step

Step 2 – Remove Excess Liquid

Remove the excess liquid using a towel or a clean piece of cloth. It’s important that the towel or the piece of cloth you use is white, as dyed fabrics may leave color behind and cause additional staining.

Step 3 -- Rinse Thoroughly

Put the cushion cover or the entire cushion under cold water and keep it there for at least 5 minutes. You may notice that part of the stain is gone.

Step 4 – Apply Liquid Detergent or Alternative Cleaning Solutions

Apply bleach-free liquid detergent on the coffee stain. Allow to settle for up to 10 minutes. Then, insert the cushion cover or cushion under warm water and soak for at least 30 minutes.
Instead of the liquid detergent, you may use other substances as well.
Baking soda and salt can be used, but in this case you will have to skip step 3. The powder should be applied on the cushion and left for 30 minutes.
Club soda may be applied on the stain for 1 minute and then blotted with a towel. Ginger ale may be used in the same manner as club soda.

Step 5 – Rinse Again

Rinse with clean water. Avoid rubbing to remove coffee stains, as rubbing may only enlarge the stain or cause additional wear to the couch cushion. Also, rubbing may cause discoloration or a change of color of the area.
If you have applied baking soda and salt, you won’t require rinsing, but you will have to vacuum the cushion or remove the powder with a clean towel.

Step 6 – Use Stain Remover

If the coffee stain on the couch cushion persists, you should get a commercial stain remover. Apply the solution on the cushion and then wash the cushion cover. If the cover is not removable, you may wash the entire cushion, but if this is filled with feathers, washing may not be a solution.
Instead of the stain remover, you may use diluted vinegar (1 part vinegar, 2 parts water) or diluted bleach (1 part bleach, 10 parts water), which may eliminate traces of coffee stain, but may cause slight discoloration. You may test the solution on a small area of the stained cushion to see if the discoloration is visible.

Tips! - How to Use a Can of Cola to Clean a Toilet - From Time Saver Maids

Tips! From Time Saver Maids

How to Use a Can of Cola to Clean a Toilet
If you've been looking for a simple and effective way to clean your toilet, it may surprise you to learn that a can of cola can be exactly what you need. Below are the steps you'll need to utilize in order to clean a toilet with a can of cola.

Tools You'll Need

• Cola
• Long-handled scrub brush

Step 1 - Prep Your Toilet

Before proceeding to give your dirty toilet the soda treatment, give it a preliminary flushing and use your scrub brush to remove any noticeably large pieces of filth. Once all the prep work has been carried out, take out your can of cola and proceed with the next step.

Step 2 - Apply Your Cola

Having prepared your toilet, you may now pour your cola into the dirty toilet. After the entire can has been emptied into the toilet, allow it to sit for about an hour, after which you will need to give the toilet one last going-over with the scrub brush. Lastly, you will need to flush the freshly cleaned toilet in order to get rid of the cola.
The next time you're faced with a dirty toilet, just remember these easy-to-follow steps and your bowl will be clean in no time.

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Tips! - How to Remove Calcium Buildup from a Toilet Bowl

Tips! From Time Saver Maids

How to Remove Calcium Buildup from a Toilet Bowl
The toilet bowl is made out of porcelain. Excessive flow of hard water leads to calcium deposit in the toilet bowls. Even though in the short run it may not cause any harm, as time goes by, the calcium deposit can erode the toilet bowl.

Tools Required:

• Pumice Stone
• Rubber Gloves

Step 1 – Prep Work and Scrubbing

There is no need to drain the toilet bowl to carry out this process. Just make sure to cut the supply of water to the toilet. Use rubber gloves and scrub the area affected with the calcium built up with a wet pumice stone.

Step 2 – Wipe

After the stain comes off, wipe the toilet bowl with a cloth to rid it of any residue left by the pumice stone.

Step 3 – Water supply

Now turn on the water supply to the toilet. Flush the toilet a couple of time to flush away any dirt. Cleaning the toilet bowl at regular intervals will prevent calcium and other stains from settling in the toilet bowl. If you notice a high content of calcium in the water, then use a soft scrub cleaner. Brush the toilet bowl once every week.

Tips! How to Maintain a Clean Washing Machine - Monthly Tips

Time Saver Maids Monthly Tips

How to Maintain a Clean Washing Machine

Machines are designed to work efficiently but they can also wear down, especially a clean washing machine. By keeping your washing machine clean, it will continue to work for a long time.

Tools and Materials Needed

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Level
• Bleach
• Hot water
• New hose and fittings if needed

Step 1 - Make Sure Machine Is Working Properly

Inspect your washing machine for wear and tear. Ensure that all of the hoses are intact and none of them are cracked or worn down. Always make sure that there are no visible leaks and watch out for corroded fittings. If any of the fittings or hoses are worn down, you will want to replace these. If your washer machine is a few years old, it is a good idea to replace these parts anyway.

Step 2 - Leveling the Machine

To level the machine you will want to use a level. Make sure to adjust the machine's feet until the level indicates that the machine is level. This is an important step. If you don't level the machine, the constant shaking during wash loads can actually slowly damage the working ability of the machine.

Step 3 - Washing the Exterior of the Machine

Always keep the exterior of the machine clean. You can rub it down with soap or bleach.

Step 4 - Cleaning the Tub

You should clean the tub every 3 months. To do this, think of it as a self-clean. Set the washing machine on the hot water setting and one on dirty. Once the washing machine fills up with water, add 2 cups of white vinegar and a 1/2 cup of baking soda. If you have a high efficiency washing machine, the measurements may differ. Once the washing machine begins to drain the water, you want to increase the washing cycle. After this cycle, set a cycle again to cold water. This cycle will clean out any left over white vinegar and baking soda.

Step 5 - Flushing out Machine Dispensers

Remove your washing machine dispensers and soak them in hot water. Clean out any gunk that exists in them, as well as the top of the machine and the tub. Sometimes your washing machine will not let you remove the dispensers. If this is the case, slowly run hot water through them until they are clean.

Step 6 - A Brand New Machine

After the cleaning, your washing machine will require the use of less detergent and fabric softener. Try using half of what you are normally using. The results will be amazing and will save you money as well.

Step 7 - Call Washing Machine Maintenance

If you want a thoroughly clean washing machine, you can always call a washing machine service technician. They will be able to extend the life of your machine by cleaning the inside of the machine that you were unable to reach. If you want to save the trouble and money of calling someone you can try yourself. Just remember to always unplug the machine before you attempt to remove the front panel.

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Tips! Cleaning Outdoor Furniture - From Time Saver Maids

 - Tips! From Time Saver Maids

Cleaning Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture generally pleads for cleaning at the first sign of spring. Remember always test an inconspicuous spot before using a new cleaner.
Mix a bucket (make sure the bucket is clean) with liquid dish soap, some Borax and ½ cup hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water. Saturate the furniture thoroughly and allow to set 15 minutes. Scrub with a nylon scrub brush and rinse. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's guidelines for cleaning. Some fabrics will not tolerate peroxide.
If any of the metal has rusted, first try using a rust remover found in automotive stores. If the rust refuses to budge, use a #800 ery and dry sand paper to sand the metal and repaint.

Tips! - How to Remove Cat Urine Odor from Wood Floorboards - From Time Saver Maids

Tips! From Time Saver Maids

 - How to Remove Cat Urine Odor from Wood Floorboards

If you have both a cat and wood floors, you will eventually need to know how to remove cat urine odor from wood floorboards. Cat urine often seems to be clean but the odor reappears later due to moisture or other causes. Cats often use the same spot again since they can still smell the leftover odor when the human residents of the home can no longer detect it. If urine is caught right away, cleaning it is much easier than cleaning a stain that has had time to soak in. The way that the floorboards are sealed will also determine how badly the urine will soak in. Cracks in the sealant will allow the liquid to seep under the top layer of wood and make it harder to remove.
Tools and Materials Needed:

• Vinegar
• Sponges
• Dry clothes
• Enzyme cleaner
• Floor sander
• Wood sealer

Step 1: Clean It Up
Wipe the area where the urine is puddled with a damp sponge until all traces of the urine are gone. This is the most important step when dealing with a fresh puddle since the odor will be stronger and harder to remove the longer the urine is left on the wood flooring. If you are dealing with a preexisting stain, skip this step and begin with step two.
Step 2: Do a Vinegar Wash
Pour white vinegar over the area and allow it to sit for several minutes. Blot it up completely with a dry cloth. Apply more vinegar with a clean sponge and scrub it into the stained area. Allow the vinegar to seep into any openings in the wood.
Step 3: Rinse
Rinse the area with warm water to remove the vinegar and any traces of urine that is left over. Dry the area with a clean, dry cloth until no more moisture is felt. This is best done by blotting with the cloth rather than wiping the floor. Blotting is done by pressing a dry cloth into the wet wood and patting down on it to allow it to soak up the moisture. When a cloth is dampened, replace it with a new cloth and continue blotting.
Step 4: Use an Enzyme Cleaner
Clean the area again with an enzyme cleaner. While there are many such products on the market, you'll want to choose one that is specifically designed for pet urine stains. Follow the package directions for the particular brand you chose. It is best to test the cleaner on a small portion of the flooring that is not easily seen before using it on the stain to ensure that the cleaner will not stain or damage the wood.
Step 5: If the Odor Remains
Apply a floor sander to the floor if the odor remains after cleaning with an enzyme cleaner. The wood will need to be sanded deeply enough to completely remove the stained part of the wood and leave clean wood exposed. Once the stain has been sanded away, reclean the area with an enzyme cleaner and dry completely. Apply a wood sealer to protect the new wood from damage.