Detailed cleaning, for those times before company is coming over — or your mother is visiting. Get out your old pillowcases or t-shirts. We’re cleaning screens and polishing your furniture.
Screens. If you have a TV from this century, it has some weird plastic-y screen, not a glass one. Which means, given that it’s a specialty material, and there are specialty cleaners. They sell for $9 or more a bottle, which is wicked expensive, and they are pretty much alcohol and water. So, maybe make your own? I find that this also works great on all the surfaces of my laptop. I’ve tried a variety of things, but nothing beats the Crunch Betty recipe I liked — equal parts distilled water and rubbing alcohol. That’s it. That’s all. It’s that easy. Mix it in a spray bottle, if you have one, but in a pinch, a jam jar works, too. Just shake it, wet your cloth, and wipe.
Wood. I use the following mix, again in a spray bottle if you have one, but a jam jar works in a pinch. This recipe makes 16 oz., so adjust according to the size of your container.
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 20 drops of lemon juice or lemon essential oil (I’ve only used juice in this, about 1/4 teaspoon)
- 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
- Distilled water, about 1 1/2 cups
Shake before using, spray on a cloth, and rub until dry. This actually works best if you remove heavy dust first — I use an electrostatic duster first, and then polish my wood furniture with this.
What are your tips for easy cleaning?