Rub with canned tomato juice, catsup or worcestershire sauce.
Boil brass ornaments in a pot containing a few teaspoons of baking soda and water. Then polish with steel wool dipped in the soda water.
Clogged Ball-Point Pen
Excessive ink and fuzz on a ball-point pen can be removed by inserting into a cigarette filter and turning it a couple of times.
Artificial Flowers
Into a large paper bag pour some salt in with the flowers. Shake well.
Exterior Aluminum
Use equal amounts of kerosene and 10 weight motor oil. Using a clean cloth apply to the aluminum then wipe dry and apply another thin coat.
Crystal Chandeliers
Place a drop sheet underneath the chandelier to protect the area. Using a water glass filled with 1 part alcohol to 3 parts water, immerse each crystal into the glass. The crystal will be clean without leaving any water spots, lint or finger prints. Wipe down any parts not accessible to the tumbler with the solution.
Wearing cotton work gloves dip your fingers in ammonia water and clean.
Gilt Frames
Frames can be cleaned without tarnishing them by using beer.
Wipe them with a soft sponge dipped in turpentine. Let dry for a day or so without touching.
Formica
Rust spots can be removed with a pencil eraser.
Clean with club soda for a high polish.
Pour rubbing alcohol on the formica and spread evenly. After sitting for a minute pour on bleach, then rinse with a mild vinegar water solution.
A paper towel dipped in margarine or cooking oil will remove gray marks left by aluminum pots on a white plastic countertop.
Garage Floors
Spread newspapers over areas where oil has spilled and saturate with water. Press firmly against the floor and let dry. When removed the oil spots should be gone.
Spread sand on the oil spots, it will absorb the oil and then can be swept up.
Garbage Containers
Wash your container with a garden hose and let dry in the sun. Sprinkle some dry soap into the container and this should repel pests.
Garden Tools
Using a soap-filled steel wood pad dipped in kerosene or turpentine rub the tools to remove rust, follow up by rubbing briskly with a wadded piece of aluminum foil.
Glass Table Tops
Pour a little lemon juice the the table top and then dry with newspapers or paper towel.
Small scratches can be removed by rubbing the top with toothpaste on a soft clean cloth.
Household ammonia or warm white vinegar applied with a brush will remove masking tape glue off the glass. Rinse well.
Glasses
A drop of vinegar on each eyeglass lens will leave glasses clean without streaks.
Adding a few drops of borax or ammonia to your rinse water will leave your drinking glasses sparkling clean.
Iron
Mineral deposits can be removed from the inside of your iron by filling it with equal parts of white vinegar and water and then letting it steam for several minutes. Empty and rinse with clear water.
Melted plastic on the iron can be removed by soaking unplugged in a tray of white vinegar.
Rub a heated solution of white vinegar and salt on your iron to remove burn spots or brown spots.
Toothpaste will also work to remove spots on the iron.
Silver
To clean silver make a paste of corn starch and water. Apply with a damp cloth, let dry, then rub off with cheesecloth.
Jewelry
A piece of white chalk placed in your jewelry box will prevent costume jewelry from tarnishing.
A good brush for cleaning jewelry is a nail polish brush. After you have emptied your nail polish, wash the brush with polish remover then clean with soap and water.
Ivory jewelry can be cleaned with face cleansing cream.
Dull silver rings can be cleaned by soaking in 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda for 2 hours and then rubbed with a towel or brush.
Leather
Chewing gum on leather can be removed by placing ice cubes in a plastic bag and rubbing it over the gum.
Lampshades
A clean paint or pastry brush makes dusting pleated lamp shades a breeze.
Lime Deposits
Lime deposits can be removed by rubbing with a clean cloth dampened with white vinegar.
Marble
To remove spots, stains and discoloration from marble, place marble in hot sunlight for an hour or more. Then, swab on household bleach. Continue this every hour or so until discoloration is gone. (this process sometimes takes quite a few applications). Rinse with water and dry off. Move to a shaded place. Using a paste carnauba wax polish. Never use oil polish or soft waxes such as beeswax or paraffin on marble because they may cause discoloration.
Mirrors
Wash water with blueing added will make your mirrors sparkle.
Water and alcohol makes an excellent window or mirror cleaner and leaves no streaks.
Paper Stuck on a Wood Surface
Pour a few drops of oil onto the stuck paper and let soak in. Using a soft cloth, rub off.
Shelves lined with heavy adhesive backed paper can be removed by placing a cloth over the adhesive paper and ironing with a hot iron with the steam turned off.
Decals can be removed by painting them several times with white vinegar. Let the vinegar soak in and after a few minutes the decals can be washed off.
Pewter Ware
Wash first with soap and water and then polish with a paste made of pumice powder and olive oil. Rinse well. Never use steel wool.
Refrigerator
Give your refrigerator a coat of car wax. Wax similar to the way you wash your car. Fingerprints and smudges will then wipe right off with a soft cloth.
Venetian Blinds
Saturate a cloth with rubbing alcohol and wrap around a rubber spatula and you can easily reach into the tiny slats.
Polishing Red Shoes
Use an old tube of red lipstick and rub it in well so that it does not come off on clothing.
Polishing Brown or Black Shoes
A brown and black marker in your shoe polish kit can be used to touch up scarred shoes.
White Sneakers
To make white sneakers last longer spray heavily with starch when new.
Removing Road Salt Stains
Apply rubbing alcohol with a soft cloth to just the salty area of your boots and then polish.
Squeaky Shoes
Linseed oil, WD-40 or hair conditioner applied to the soles of your shoes will prevent squeaks.
Breaking In New Shoes
To make the leather more pliable, peel a potato and leave it in the shoe overnight.
