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household hints

Non-Toxic Cleaning: Burnt Pots And Pans

October 10, 2016 1 Comment

 

household hints how to clean burnt pots and pans

Burned cookware can become a real disaster if you don’t know how to handle it. Unfortunately, sometimes it happens when you get distracted, forget that you are cooking and burn the dish you were making. And often the pan or pot can be so burnt, it looks like it can’t possibly be cleaned.

It is a shame to throw away cookware without even trying to remove the burnt food. There are many ways to do it, some of which involve harsh chemical-based products, others are non-toxic and safe. Without question, the second method is preferable.  Here are some tips on how to “green-clean” your burnt cookware and make it look better than ever.
household hints - how to clean burnt pots and pans
Soak And Sit
Sometimes we neglect the power of hot water and proceed with cleaning methods that involve a lot of scrubbing and bad-scented chemical detergents. We forget how powerful hot water actually is. An effective way to clean burnt pans and pots is to soak them in soapy hot water and let them sit for a few hours. The hot water will break through the tough burnt stains and loosen them so that you can scrape them more easily.
Simmer

Simmering and soaking burnt pans is another effective method to remove burnings from your cookware. Pour water in the burnt cookware, add a fair amount of dish liquid and simmer for about fifteen minutes. Remove the pan or pot from the hot plate and let it cool down while the hot water loosens the burnt stains. Use a wooden spatula to scrub.

You can do the same using salt or baking soda. Pour water, add a couple of tablespoons salt or baking soda, let it simmer and scrub with a wooden spatula.
Non-toxic cleaning - burnt pots and pans! #tips #cleaning #home Click To Tweet
Baking Soda And Aluminium Foil
Another green and non-toxic way to clean burnt cookware is using baking soda and aluminium foil. What you need is 1 tablespoon baking soda, ½ cup white vinegar and a piece of aluminium foil. Then put the vinegar and the foil in the pot or pan. Add the baking soda and swirl so that the vinegar can cover the whole surface. The solution will start bubbling and while this is happening, run the burnt stains very gently, making sure you don’t scratch the cookware. Rinse with warm water and dry. Now your cookware looks like brand new again.
Lime Juice And Salt
Another non-toxic way to remove burnt stains from cookware is using lime juice and salt. What you have to do is pour lime juice in the pan and let it sit for a few minutes. Then sprinkle with salt and scrub gently with a sponge. Avoid using a metal sponge, unless it’s really necessary. This method will not only clean your burnt cookware in an ecologically-friendly manner, it will also leave a lovely exotic scent in the kitchen.
Vinegar
Most of us are aware of the fact that vinegar is a powerful tool when it comes to cleaning in a green way. To remove burnings from pans and pots, use white vinegar and pour it in the burnt item. Place it on a hot plate and let it simmer for about fifteen minutes. Remove from the hot plate and let it cool down. Then scrub using a wooden spatula and rinse with water.

Enjoy!

Guest post by July Minor. July is a cleaning specialist who knows lots of green tips and tricks.
 
Note: Ducks ‘n a Row is an affiliate of Amazon. Anything our readers purchase from Amazon through ads and links on this blog will result in a small commission for me. In advance, “thank you!” for your business. It is appreciated — Sinea




Filed Under: cleaning, tips Tagged With: cleaning, household hints, tips

10 Smart Mom Tricks You Will Just Love

August 1, 2016 Leave a Comment

Moms have their ways, don’t they! When something isn’t working just right or needs to be done differently, leave it to a mom to think of something out-of-the-ordinary and brilliant to solve the problem.  Here are 10 really cool life hacks that are “mom tricks” all the way… I just love them and I think you will, too!
life hacks, tricks, tips, mom solutions, momlife
life hacks, tips n tricks
1. 30 Genius Mom Tricks
I love this one of 30 cool ideas. This one: use plastic toy rings as a deterrent to little hands and lock those cupboard drawers! 
PIN: 30 Genius Mom Tricks That Will Make You Look Smart by Kids Activities Blog
ideas, hacks
2. Simple Bracelet Fastener
I was shocked when my paperclip trick went viral on Pinterest! I use it all the time.
PIN: 15 Paper Clip Hacks Tips by One Crazy House
 
life hacks, key ring
 
3. Staple Remover Can Save Your Manicure
Ever ask someone else to put new keys on your keyring for you, lest you break a nail? Just use a staple remover and you can do it yourself!
PIN: 25 Clever Hacks To Make Your Life Easier from One Good Thing By Jillee
 
4. Regrow Lettuce Right In Your Own Kitchen  
I saw this somewhere on the internet and just had to try it. It works!
PIN: How To Regrow Lettuce by Ducks ‘n a Row

household hints, pest control, natural remedies
5. Get Rid Of Fruit Flies Naturally
As with many life hacks, I learned this one out of necessity. I had bought some oranges, apples and bananas and they came with company…fruit flies! So, I did a search, found this hint and it is very effective and kinda fun to watch. (Sorry, to the insect lovers out there 🙂
PIN: What Are Fruit Flies And How Do I Get Rid Of Them? 
This blog contains affiliate links.♥
mom hacks, great ideas, cleaning tips
6. Faucet Shining Trick
This tip not only cleans and shines that faucet, it makes it water-repellant!
PIN:Keep Your Faucets Clean Of Fingerprints and Shiney from Tip Hero
 
household hints, organizing tips
7. How To Keep Matching Sheets Together
~a la Martha Stewart~
Really? Oh my goodness, really! Saw this and LOVED it…why haven’t we all been doing this. 
PIN: Matching Bed Linen Storage Tip

 
8. Color Code Your Keys Using Neon Nail Polish
This tip is one of 30 really great ideas to help new college students start out right! Just tape the keys down and paint-away!
PIN: 30 Life Hacks All College Students Should Know from Society19
household hints, life hacks, wedding invitations, party invitations, baby showers, bridal showers
9. How To Seal Envelopes Without Licking Them
This is another one of my own tips that has taken off like a shot online. Must be all those people planning weddings, bridal or baby showers or other kind of events… YOU try to lick hundreds of envelopes and you’ll be looking for another way to do it, too. LOL
PIN: How To Seal Envelopes Without Licking Them by Ducks ‘n a Row
 
 
 
household hint, life hacks, mom hacks, mom tricks
 
10. How To Get Bacon Out Of The Package
Has bacon changed or is it just me? Until recent years, I do not recall having a problem getting bacon slices separated when unwrapping them- but these days they stick together and shred. This method gets each slice out of the package neatly, in one piece!
PIN: How To Unwrap Bacon So That It Doesn’t Shred
 
10 Smart Mom Tricks you are going to love! #tips #moms Click To Tweet
 
Got any cool tips or tricks you use? We’d love to know about them!
Follow me on Bloglovin' #socialmedia

 

Enjoy!

 
 
 

Filed Under: Lifestyle, tips Tagged With: household hints, tips

How To Clean The Ice and Water Tray On Your Refrigerator Door

May 1, 2015 Leave a Comment

tips, cleaning

Does your refrigerator have a water and ice maker inserted in the door? It’s a fun feature and oh-so convenient but cleaning it? That is not as easy as it seems. Grime and even “slime” can collect. Nasty! Getting it really clean means reaching the “nooks and crannies” of the tray, too.  Here’s how …

Start with a spray bottle of multipurpose cleaner or you can even make your own. If you make your own, it should be primarily water with some ammonia, white vinegar and baking soda. (recipe below)

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

Steps:

  1. Place a towel on the floor in front of the refrigerator to catch spills.
  2. Spray the door tray liberally, getting the solution into all the corners.
  3. Wipe with a sponge.
  4. Use Q-tips to clean out the hard to reach corners
  5. Wipe out the tray with a clean cloth or paper toweling.
  6. Now, wipe off the front of the door. Done!

Homemade Cleanser Recipe

1 gallon hot water
1 cup clear ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
 

How to #clean the ice and water tray on your refrigerator door! #cleaningtips #kitchen Click To Tweet
 

More Easy Cleaning Tips:

  • How To Clean Crayon Off Almost Everything
  • The Best Vacuum For Pet Hair I Have Ever Used
 

Enjoy!


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Filed Under: cleaning, tips Tagged With: clean refrigerator ice and water tray, cleaning tips, household hints

How To Clean Crayon Off Almost Everything

January 31, 2014 Leave a Comment

Crayon marks can show up in the strangest places. It just takes a crayon, a toddler and turning your back for one moment! 

How to clean crayon off of everything
Note: this post contains affiliate links.
Crayola crayon tub of 240 crayons #ad
Oh my goodness, 240 colorful Crayola crayons in a tub!  WOW!  #AD
It all started with a cute book that my preschoolers were making for our upcoming Open House. We studied “M is for Me” and the book was appropriately named “All About Me.” The students colored self-portraits upon which I would glue their own photo. Adorable!
Speaking of ADORABLE – do your kids say the funniest things? Mine do. Write those quotable quotes down the moment they tickle you, so that you don’t forget! ☑️ My Quotable Kid Journal

My back was turned for just a moment. When I turned around, it was too late. I turned to see an enthusiastic colorer… very enthusiastic…coloring right off her paper and onto the table. A table that we did not own! We rent space in a church for our classrooms. Borrowed tables should not be returned with crayon all over them, that is for sure!

Soon as my little ones were safely on their way home, I returned to the “scene of the crime.” First, I used a scrubby with our own DIY cleanser. Nothing. The artwork remained. Then I tried hand sanitizer–I was desperate. Still, nothing. So I pulled out the Expo white board cleaner, a precious commodity to be used sparingly. I saturated the tabletop with Expo and to my glee, it worked! The fumes were a bit strong but, thankfully, there was plenty of time for that to clear before anyone would be near the table again. I made a mental note: never use that much in a closed room with children.
how to clean crayon off of everything by Ducks 'n a Row
So what do people do when their children, armed with crayons, go to town on their stuff? I looked into it further.

White foamy shaving cream cleans crayon off desks and tables #tip
How to get crayon off of almost everything! #tip #cleaning #cleaningtips Click To Tweet

How To Clean Crayon Off of Things

Shaving Cream: remembering what my teacher-friends said years before, classic, white foamy shaving cream is the cleanser of choice. Marked up desktops have been successfully cleaned for years by using shaving cream and a scrubby sponge. It works on all sorts of markings — ink, pencil, crayons. It leaves a nice shine, as well. Had there been some on hand, that is what I would have used.


Interestingly, teachers say that the CHEAPER the brand of shaving cream, the better it seems to work. So, why not include it in your lesson plan! Cover the desk with shaving cream and let your kids have fun. Write in it. Draw in it. Then, when it’s time to move to the next activity, wipe the shaving cream off the desk using a sponge or scrubby. Follow up with Windex and a towel. The desks will be cleaner than clean. Better than new! Even glue and tape comes off.

But what about getting crayon off other surfaces?

Fabric: dip a cloth in white vinegar and rub the crayoned area lightly before washing.

Walls: use baking soda and water made into a paste and lightly scrub.  Other remedies include rubbing mayonnaise on the stained area, spraying on WD40, applying non-gel toothpaste using a toothbrush, and the old “eraser on a pencil trick” (simply erase the marks!)

Glass: if the crayon is on glass there are several well-thought-of methods. You can use dishwashing liquid, stronger cleansers like Greased Lightning , Goo Gone or Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser.

How about you? Do you have any home-remedies for stray crayon that got away from a young artiste?

Enjoy!

 

Nat Geo Kids first book of the ocean #ad

Photo Credits

Shaving Cream by kathera on Flickr Creative Commons

Child’s Artwork by davef3138 on Flickr Creative Commons

Crayons 1 by ctech on Stock Xchng

Crayons 2 by ithears on Stock Xchng

Filed Under: cleaning, Lifestyle, tips Tagged With: cleaning tips, cleansers, crayon, household hints, how to remove crayon marks

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