Whats worse than packing up everything you own? Cleaning up the mess left behind! But the following handy tips should get you ready for moving day with relative ease.
Caution: before trying any of the methods listed below, do a spot test on fabrics and porous surfaces to check for colorfastness.
Everyday household items can work wonders on many common messes. Use a pencil eraser to remove scuff-marks from woodwork. A hot iron on a low setting and a piece of absorbent cloth can remove wax from hard surfaces and curtains. Press firmly on the cloth with the iron until the wax starts to loosen. Repeat, turning or replacing the cloth as needed. Remove crayon marks from walls by gently rubbing toothpaste on the stain.
Toothpaste is great for removing ink and crayon from hard surfaces. Buff gently with a soft cloth, or apply the paste and let it sit for about an hour for really tough stains.
The most important thing to remember when washing walls is to start at the bottom, to avoid streaks. For textured walls, a nylon sock wont leave lint behind. Always test for colorfastness before applying cleaners. Paint spatters can be removed from most woodwork by gently rubbing them with brass cleaner. Lime scale, dried toothpaste and soap scum can be treated with an oxygen-based cleaning powder. These Oxi type cleaners can be found in almost any supermarket. Follow the directions on the package.-
Baking soda is your best friend when it comes to clearing out musty odors. Sprinkle on carpets, and place open boxes in cupboards and refrigerators. Leave the baking soda on carpets for an hour or two before vacuuming, or overnight for tougher odors. Activated charcoal will work just as well. Shake a couple of drops of vanilla oil or extract onto a handkerchief and let sit to impart a pleasant fragrance.
Very important: Do not mix any cleaning solutions or other chemicals with one another; serious injury can occur. Bleach and ammonia in particular must never be combined, as the mixture creates fumes that can be deadly. Also use caution when going back over areas that have already been cleaned; the use of different chemicals, in addition to being potentially dangerous, can also cause staining.
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