35 nearly forgotten house cleaning tips from the past

When her handheld can opener gets stiff, Ruth Brennan says she uses a toothbrush, hot water, and dishwashing detergent to clean it. “After cleaning, lubricate the opener with vegetable oil and set it aside for a while. Wipe off the excess oil and it will work like new.”

To colour in nicks or scratches in furniture, cabinets, wood trim, etc, reader C. Clingingsmith of says, “Rub them with a pecan nut. The oil of the nut will ‘re-stain’ the wood.”

Reader Mary Yoder has a solution for sticky situations. “When you must remove a spot of glue, use vinegar. It’s a good glue thinner or remover.”

Stainless steel lost its lustre? Pat Peters says, “Place your flatware in a pan with bubbly carbonated water, soda water, club soda or seltzer. Let set until the fizz has fizzled. Your stainless steel will shine like new!”

Here are more chemical-free ways to clean your home. 

Do you have a tough time cleaning wicker items? Reader Sherry Hearn says, “Just spray your favourite furniture polish onto an inexpensive paintbrush. It makes getting to the hard-to-reach spots easier and takes a lot less time.”

Don’t freak out when the kids’ artwork goes beyond the colouring book. Reader Claire Utt says, “Rubbing alcohol easily removes ink from clothing and crayon marks from woodwork and wallpaper.”

To remove gum from fingers or hair, reader V. Walston says, “Rub creamy peanut butter or vegetable oil into the gum. Wait a few minutes. The gum will come right off. Then wash your hands or hair as normal.”

When your hands are dirty from the garden, reader Marjorie Little has a great tip. “Tuck a bar of soap in the toe of a nylon stocking and tie it to your outdoor water tap for fast garden clean-up.”

Perk up your patio with this suggestion from reader Ann Norstram. “Rust stains from outdoor furniture can be removed from concrete by using lemon juice and rubbing with a soft linen cloth.”

Here are the spots you should never skip when spring cleaning. 

Keep your grill looking great. Nancy Merica says, “Lay a barbecue grill rack on the lawn overnight. The dew will combine with enzymes on the grass to loosen any burned-on grease. Try it with messy oven racks, too!”