More Clever Cleanup Tools

by Marjorie Dorfman | More from this Blogger

25 Nov 2006 09:16 AM

It's hard to think of cleaning the house as something that could ever actually be a product of your imagination, but sometimes it can be. Like any dysfunction worth its salt, an effective delusion depends on colorful characters and new and different surroundings and situations. Ponder the following heretofore unexpected and never in a million years considered cleanup tools.

The Button Scraper: Upgrade your washcloths by sewing a large plastic or wooden button onto one corner of the cloth. Make sure you tell the coat or sweater you have taken it from that it will be right back. Buttons make great scrapers for those hard to remove pieces of food on dishes, pots and naughty children. It won't harm most surfaces either.

Back-Saver: When scrubbing hard to reach areas, try using a toilet brush. The brush will react positively and will be thrilled to help you out, as no one wants to be thought of as "a one-trick pony". (Not even the pony, probably.)

Plumbing A La Frisbee: If you find yourself with a plugged sink drain, no plunger and alas, no one to play catch with, use a Frisbee. Fill your sink with hot water, place the Frisbee over the drain hole and pump it several times, hard. It often works very well although such behavior will never help you become a better Frisbee player.

Save On Paper Toweling: Use crumpled newspapers to dry windows even if they don't know how to read.

Friendly Filters: Keep a coffee filter handy to clean and shine your eyeglasses. If you are prone to misplace your glasses, make a mental note to keep them near your stash of coffee. If you prefer tea, abandon this idea and find another place to keep both items. Use your imagination. That's what it's there for (I think).

Do YOU have any tips to add to this list? Please share.

Related Reading:

"Some Unexpected Household Hints"

http://forums.families.com/kitchen-baths-amp-bedrooms,f392

Learn more about Marjorie Dorfman

Marjorie Dorfman is a freelance writer and former teacher originally from Brooklyn, New York.

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Aerie (309) 25 Nov 2006 09:27 AM

I love the coffee filters for cleaning glasses tip- the lint free cloth never seems to be around when my daughter comes to me with her dirty glasses. I'll give it a try next time!