handy tips for cleaning

Cleaning



Add lemon peel to a jar of castor sugar and close lid tightly. The sugar will have a beautiful mild lemony taste and smell to be used in pastries, cakes, puddings, etc.

To clean a pan or any other nonstick pan easily, without scraping, dump a few onion peels in it, add 1 tsp. vinegar, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, cover and leave aside for 10 minutes, wash pan all over with this liquid, then wash with a mild detergent and sponge. Wipe clean and dry.

Wash ring bag, with contents intact, under running water to clean out completely. Then add it to your hot tub and bubble bath, run in contents in water, using sachet as a scrubber and letting lemony flavors into you bath water for invigorating and fresh feeling.

Always rinse containers in which sauces have been made, with some vinegar and hot water, to alleviate the sauce odours before using for another dish.

Always strain sugar or jaggery syrups before adding to sweets, so as to remove the muddy grains.

Use a soft nylon cloth to wipe away dirt stains from walls, painted furniture, electronic gadgets like TV sets, computers, etc. Take care to keep the cloth slightly moist.

Use old shaving brushes to clean insides of ovens, toaster, etc. to reach the difficult corners, crevices, etc.

Rinse glassware in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water after washing with soap. This will make the glassware gleam and clean.

Do not throw away the solid residue left after pressing out water from soaked tamarind. Mix in some salt and use to scrub copper and brassware to bring a shine. Follow with a normal soap wash.

Clean stains from electronic items like TVs, computers, etc. with some cotton doused in spirit. Follow with a soft clean moist cloth, and finally a dry flannel cloth.

Rub mirrors with first wet and then dry newspaper. Crush into a loose ball and rub vigorously. The mirror will sparkle without leaving any wipe lines.

Always hold fresh vegetables under running water for a minute. After boiling and draining, to enhance their colour, eg. carrots, greens, peas, etc. Hold in a colander or strainer so that the water passes through.

Clean unreachable places and crevices in ovens and waffle trays etc. by using old toothbrushes dipped in soda bi-carb. Then wipe clean with a soft cloth.

Make a concentrated solution of bleaching powder and water. Apply on stained surfaces and washbasins in a bathroom (tiles, etc., not metallic), leave overnight. Wash clean with water next day. Will keep the bathroom sparkling.