Clean Your Stainless Steel Like a Pro

I realize that I've been gone for a while, but we won't go into all that. The important thing is...I'm back!

Stainless steel...I believe the steel part. Stainless? Give me a break. Those of you that have had stainless steel know what I'm talking about. It looks beautiful until you walk by at an angle where the sunshine enhances all it's flaws...fingerprints, smudges, this morning's yogurt that you had for breakfast. You get the picture. A pain to keep clean.

I, myself, am the proud owner of stainless steel appliances. After my first set, I vowed never again. But, alas, I purchased another set of stainless steel appliances because it's what everyone buys nowadays. SO, it was time to get smart on cleaning them because you know how I am. I like it clean, cheap, and natural.

Are you ready? This will change the way you feel about your stainless steel...

Cooking spray. That's right. Cooking spray.

Just grab a microfiber towel (to cut down on dust and streaking) and a can of cooking spray. Any kind you want. I use the canola oil spray. But you can use olive or vegetable oil if you prefer.

To begin, wipe down your appliance with some water just to clean all the smudges and any residue that might be on the surface. It'll have tons of streak marks at this point. But don't fret. It's about to get a whole lot better.

Now spray the surface of your appliance lightly with your cooking spray and take the microfiber towel and carefully wipe the surface of the appliance, starting from top to bottom. Follow the grain of the stainless steel. Make sure there is no excess oil or dripping. That's why I suggest starting very lightly and adding more if needed. Just continue until your appliance surface is to your liking. This usually takes me all of three minutes and does a better job than any cleaner on the market. You can also pull out a bottle of any of these oils and dab it on a towel and then wipe it on the appliance. It's your preference.

I hope you enjoy this tip and happy cleaning!


The Queen

Ask Sarah: Getting Urine and Stains Out of Carpet

First, I'd like to apologize for the absence of a post since last week! The Hubby and I celebrated ten years of marriage this past weekend and went on a romantic weekend vacation! We spent a lot of time on the central California coast and it was wonderful! So blogging took a vacation also. But I'm back! A little peek at this past weekend:

 

 

 

I was talking to my sister-in-law last night and she was telling me about Cutie A (my little niece) who fell asleep on their new carpet. Being recently potty trained, her little bladder couldn't keep things in and a little while later she had left a wet spot on brand new carpet. Oh, the frustration!!! I was silently rejoicing in the fact that I was past that point in my children's lives and that I no longer had to worry about pee stains on the carpet.

Well, as Karma would have it (and she always gets her way), my son wet his pants all over my car today. I wanted to go back to the beaches of California for a moment and forget that there was pee all over my clean, almost-brand-new car.

So I knew a post about urine removal was fate. I know....not very glamorous. But for those of you with pets and little kids (sometimes the similarities are uncanny) you share in the same occasional frustrations.

First things first: synthetic carpet cleaners aren't a good idea. Here's why: most are made with chemicals that initially clean the stain. But they also leave behind a film that over time has a tendency to attract more dirt. These cleaners also have powerful whitening agents in them that can, on occasion, lighten that spot of carpet. And now you have a mismatched mess! I've seen it firsthand. I still have a spot of carpet that feels stiff and looks a bit lighter than the rest. But it also seems to be a spot that attracts more dirt than most! It drives me nuts!

NEVER, EVER USE DISH SOAP. Or any soap. I know it's tempting...but don't give in.

If you absolutely have to use something store-bought, then buy ALL-NATURAL. But with a few simple ingredients from the kitchen cupboard, you shouldn't need to buy anything and your carpet will never be in danger of ruin.

All-Natural Carpet Cleaner

Four ingredients:

1. Baking Soda

2. White Vinegar

3. Hot water

4. Essential Oil of choice (optional, but great for needing a fresh smell)

First soak up the stain with a towel. Next, mix 2 cups of hot water to about 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar. Use a towel to dab the area with this mixture and clean up any additional urine. The hot water and vinegar should do a perfectly good job of getting the stain out. Next, dry the area as best you can with another towel.

Now go into the kitchen and break open a box of baking soda. Put it in a bowl. Drop about 4-5 drops of essential oil (I like Eucalyptus) into the baking soda. Mix the baking soda with the oil until it's all coated. Now go sprinkle it over the damp spot. The baking soda will begin to soak up the additional moisture and smell. Walk away for a couple hours and let it dry. You can just use baking soda if you'd prefer...it will still work. Be prepared for a slight sizzle...the baking soda and vinegar react but this reaction is not harmful to your carpet.

Now come back with your vacuum cleaner and vacuum up the dried baking soda! VOILA! Stain and smell gone!

I love this method of cleaning the carpet. It's not harmful to your carpet at all and works wonderfully! This will also work with dirt stains and vomit. Also take note that this can be used in the car, house, rugs, etc. Anything!

What's your favorite way to clean carpet stains?

Happy Cleaning!

The Queen