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How to Clean Common Household Messes

From crayon on the walls to red wine on the carpet, and even wax on the tablecloth, some household messes are just tough to get rid of, no much how much you scrub. But instead of covering up or ignoring them, why not try some tricks of the trade? Here are some proven strategies for cleaning 5 of the most common (and toughest) messes you’re likely to come across.

Crayon on Wood Floors – Apply mayonnaise on your child’s little masterpiece and let it sit for 10 minutes allowing the combo of oil and egg to dissolve the wax. Then simply wipe clean.

Crayon on Painted Walls – Apply a non-gel toothpaste to a soft, damp cloth or sponge and lightly scrub until the scribbles are gone.

Stains on a Microfiber Couch – Dab some foaming shave cream (not gel) on the stain, let it sit for 10 minutes, then blot with a dry cloth. Repeat a couple times if needed. The thick consistency of the shave cream will keep the spot from spreading while you remove it. Just be sure to test a small, hidden area first.

Venetian Blinds – Remove dust and grime from blinds by wrapping a cloth around a spatula and securing it with a rubber band. Dip the cloth portion into a solution of one part rubbing alcohol and four parts water. Drag the spatula over the closed blinds top to bottom, then left to right.

Wax Drippings – If the wax end up on a tablecloth, scrape off as much as you can with a dull knife. Place a clean, dry paper towel on top of the wax and press down with an iron set on low heat. The paper will absorb the wax while keeping your iron clean. For hard surfaces like wood or tile, use ice cubes to freeze the wax before removing it with a plastic scraper or spatula.

Red Wine on Fabric – Dousing the stain in club soda allows the carbon dioxide to draw out red wine’s staining agent, tannic acid. Blot with a clean, dry towel, flush with water, then launder or dry-clean as usual.

You know what else can cause a terrible household mess?  A clogged drain or toilet that backs up and overflows.  Anytime you encounter a problem like that that you can’t resolve on your own, count on Connor Plumbing to make the problem disappear, and fast!

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