Dear Home-Ec 101,
My furniture has become very sticky after years of polishing it. Sticky to the point of having to give it a little pull to lift it off the furniture. Googling for a solution, I have used a mixture of water and vinegar.… Keep reading...
Clean It
Why Do I Have Fruit Flies With no Fruit?
This week’s random pest question comes from Twitter:
Calling @HeatherSolos and her @HomeEc101 knowledge: How do you get rid of fruit flies? Note: There’s no fruit in the house.
Twitter
If I had suspected my friend had fruit flies, I would have suggested the following.… Keep reading...
Removing Diaper Ointment From an Old Couch
Dear Home-Ec101,
So, I turned my back for just a few moments, while I had to help a client—remote work is such a blessing and a curse—and in that time my two-year-old took the full tube of diaper cream and smeared it all over one of the couches.… Keep reading...
How Do Hand Sanitizer and Rubbing Alcohol Kill COVID-19?
Heather says,
Dear Home-Ec 101,
How does hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol kill COVID-19 and if they do such a good job, why do we need to spend so long washing our hands all the time?
It’s been eight months of this coronavirus nonsense, my hands are raw, I’m tired of this.
Overwhelmed by Mess
If you’re overwhelmed by the process of cleaning your home, quit worrying about finding the best option.
Stop trying to learn everything and start doing something.
We all know that in a perfect world we’d make our own ecologically sound cleaners -not all homemade cleaners are, you know-, always reach for a rag to clean, and never use gas or electric powered items when a manual would do.… Keep reading...
How To Remove Dried Dog Poop (Feces) From Fake Wood Flooring
Dear Home-Ec 101,
My dog had a runny tummy and couldn’t make it outside during the night. Unfortunately, I overlooked the accident until it had hardened. How can I clean it up without damaging the floor (it’s a rental place, the floor looks like wood but isn’t – I don’t think its linoleum).… Keep reading...
How Can I Remove a Hard Water Stain on Enameled Cast Iron?
This question is from the comments on How to Clean Stained Enameled Cast Iron
Q: I just used my Tramontina dutch oven for the first time to attempt to cook some peas. Steam from the simmering beans condensed and ran down the outside of the pot and left what looks like hard water stains.… Keep reading...
How to Dry a Damp Mattress
Dear Home-Ec101,
We have had our pillow top mattress for two years.
I tried a new spot cleaning vacuum on the surface, however, the mattress only absorbed the mixture of water and chemical cleaner. Consequently, the vacuum was unable to suck up any moisture.… Keep reading...
How to Clean Hardwood After a Toilet Overflow
Q: How do I clean up my hardwood floors after a toilet overflows.
This question appeared as a comment on How to Clean Up After a Toilet Overflows
The difference between cleaning up toilet water on your typical bathroom flooring e.g.… Keep reading...
Removing Body Soil and Other Grunge from Furniture Upholstered with Microsuede
Dear Home Ec 101,
In 2006, we bought several pieces of microsuede furniture in a chocolate brown. Over time, the arms and headrests have become oily and dirty. The code on the label is “WS”. Can we remove the grime from our couch and recliner?… Keep reading...
Removing Peanut Butter from Nubby Upholstery/Fabric
Dear Home-Ec101,
My husband dripped peanut butter on our nubby weave couch and rubbed it in when he tried to clean it off. Can you tell me and your readers how to get messes like this out without further ruining the upholstery?… Keep reading...
Can I Mix [cleaning product] with Bleach
Dear Home Ec 101,
I love your site! Love the 50’s look!
I want to mop with bleach once a month to help keep our grout white, but mopping with bleach and water does not seem to clean the floor well.… Keep reading...
Tackling Difficult Stains on a Smooth Top Stove
Dear Home Ec 101,
I am well acquainted with the razor blade to clean the dried food spots on my smooth-top stove; however, there are “places” on my stove that cannot be felt with the fingers, and there is nothing to scrape with the razor blade, they’re just mars, I guess.… Keep reading...
How to Fix Dye Stains in the Dryer
Dear Home-Ec 101,
I’ve noticed inside the drum of my dryer that there are blue and gray streaks, they look like they are from jeans. How do I get rid of these stains in my clothes dryer?
Sincerely,
Blue in Bluffton
Heather says
The simplest thing you can do is to close the dryer door and not worry about it.… Keep reading...
Wash the Walls, Really?
Dear Home Ec 10,
My living room desperately needs to be painted and I’ve rounded up a few friends willing to help sell their time for beer and pizza. I really want to do this right, is it true that I have to wash the walls before I paint?… Keep reading...