These are some of our favorite tips we’ve shared over the past two years, in no particular order.

Microwave cleaning tip: Put a wet paper towel in the microwave and heat for 20 seconds. After, wipe down microwave easily. Repeat if necessary.

Clean your windows lately? Washing windows with newspaper is well-known, but it can turn your hands black. Instead, spray windows with a half water, half vinegar mixture, and then wipe down with paper coffee filters.

Grease stains on your clothes? Make a paste of baking soda, warm water and dishwashing soap (like Dawn). Place over the stain and let sit, preferably all day in the sun. Then wash as normal. Fresh grease stain? Rub it with chalk first. Stubborn or washed stain? Try Stain Devil #5.

Rusty cans on your sink? Use Stain Devil #9 to remove the rust circles. Then, coat the offending can with clear nail polish on the bottom to prevent rust circles in the future.

Need a microscopic vacuum hose? Sometimes those narrow spaces are too small for even a handheld vacuum. Put duct tape over your vacuum’s hose, poke a hole in it and slide a regular drinking straw slightly into the hole. Seal it on by duct taping around the straw for a mini hose with plenty of suction power.

Oil stain on the driveway? If it just happened, pour kitty litter on top, let sit for 1-2 days, then remove. If it’s been awhile, start with pouring warm Coke (not diet) on it. Let soak overnight. Rinse with warm water mixed with dishwashing liquid and then with the garden hose.

Quick do-right-away Tips: If stain is a substance like chocolate, BBQ sauce or butter, use a spoon or butter knife to lift it off. Never scrape fabric with something sharp as you could rough up the fibers. Never rub a stain! You’ll work it into the fibers instead of removing it.

Need a bathroom mirror defogger? Start cleaning it with shaving cream: spread it out over the surface, and then wipe with a soft cloth. Doing so effectively defogs mirrors after steamy showers.

Keep your fruits and veggies fresher longer: Line the bottom of your refrigerator’s crisper with printer or newspaper to absorb extra moisture from your produce. Alternatively, throw in a new sponge and wring it out every couple of days.

Have a smelly sponge? Wash sponge thoroughly, then microwave briefly while it’s still wet. When you see steam from the sponge, the bacteria in the sponge will be dead. But remove carefully, it will be hot! Wash again before using. Make sure the sponge has no metal components!

Spill red wine on your carpet? Treat the red wine stain with white wine! Pour white wine over the stain and blot up the liquid, very gently, with a thick towel. (Do not rub!) Then, remove the white wine with your favorite carpet cleaner, such as the new Carbona 2-in-1 Oxy-Powered Steam Carpet Cleaner.

How to clean shin guards: Don’t put shin guards in the washer (can cause scratches)! Instead, put guards in sink. Put a heavy object, such as a pan, over them to keep them from floating. Then, lightly add a combination of mild detergent and baking soda to the pan. Fill pan with hot water, until the water (and cleaning combo) spills over the pan. Soak for 15 minutes, then pour the contents of the pan into the sink so that guards float up for easy removal. Rinse.

Dispensing with the club soda myth: Out for lunch and dropped oily salad dressing on your shirt? Think about how oil and water don’t mix and ask for hot cup of water, not club soda! (The “bubbles” in club soda have no effect on the stain.) Instead, the hotter the water and the faster the stain is treated, the better the stain can be removed. Place a napkin beneath and dab (don’t rub!) the stain until you get home, then remove with proper product.

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