Cleaning the oven – just the thought of it puts most people in a bad mood. So much so that many people spend a lot of money on self-cleaning ovens that burn off the dirt or work with steam. However, the latter method can also be carried out with any normal oven.

Cleaning the oven with steam

Cleaning the oven regularly is unavoidable. Because even if you are careful when cooking and baking, grease vapors settle in cracks and hard-to-reach places. Added to this are splashes of sauce, blobs of dough and other stubborn incrustations.

Scrubbing by hand, however, is laborious and often frustrating. Chemical oven cleaners are expensive and harmful to health. A trick with steam can help here: it makes cleaning the oven much easier and prevents stubborn stains from forming in the first place.

In self-cleaning ovens, this process is called hydrolysis. However, it is very easy to carry out yourself.

For this you need:

• Pot (suitable for oven), casserole dish or deep baking tray
• hot water
• Vinegar (alternatively: washing-up liquid)

This is how it works:

1. Preheat the oven to 230 °C. Even better: use the residual heat from the oven immediately after cooking and baking.
2. Boil the water in the kettle. Fill the pan (or baking dish or baking tray) with the hot water.
3. Add a little vinegar to the water. This prevents the steam from leaving behind limescale residue. It also increases the cleaning effect of the steam. Don’t worry: you will hardly smell the vinegar afterwards.
   Alternative: For heavier grease residues, add two squirts of washing-up liquid to the water. However, you should then air out the oven thoroughly.
4. Place the pan on the lowest shelf of the oven. Let the steam do its work for 30 to 60 minutes. Do not open the oven door.
5. Switch off the oven and let it cool down so that it is only lukewarm. Now you can wipe out the oven with a sponge or kitchen towel.

Cleaning the oven with steam: advantages and disadvantages

The method of cleaning the oven with steam is particularly suitable for regular use and for minor soiling. The steam helps to loosen grease and dirt more easily or prevent them from sticking in the first place. This keeps the oven clean down to the last crevice. The best way to do this is to use the residual heat immediately after cooking or baking. This prevents vapors, splashes and stains from burning in and also saves energy.

The Advantages of the steam trick lie in its simple and cost-effective application. Wiping out the oven afterwards is much easier.

The DisadvantageEven with this method, you cannot completely do without wiping. In addition, steam reaches its limits with old and heavy encrustations. In this case, it is better to use one of the home remedies for oven cleaning that we have already presented.

Practical, helpful, easy to use – the trick of cleaning the oven with steam has everything that makes a good life hack.

Source: myhomebook
Preview image: ©MediaPartisans/FUNKE Digital

Wash your comforter? Let alone wash the good down comforter? Many people shy away from this for fear of spoiling their beds. However, anyone can easily clean their beds at home if they follow these 10 tips.

Despite covers, comforters and pillows also get dirty over time. Mites, bacteria or bed bugs can also be a problem. Find out here how to wash your comforter correctly and avoid clumping.

Why comforters need to be washed

Every night, the body loses almost two liters of moisture, which penetrates the comforter cover as well as the comforter and pillow. The warm and moist environment causes microorganisms to spread inside the bedding, which can weaken your immune system. In addition to moisture, people also lose skin flakes, which are the food source for house dust mites. These lay their droppings in pillows and blankets and can trigger allergies in sensitive people.

How often should you wash your comforter?

You should wash your comforters once or twice a year. Since, of course, in the headpillow often accumulate even more moisture and dirt, you should wash them a little more often. So put them in the washing machine at least twice a year.

Follow these tips

Washing pillows or comforters is usually very easy. To avoid bad odors or clumping, you should pay attention to a few things when washing:

Study the washing label

Before washing, you should always take a look at the information on the label. They will tell you how you can wash your comforter. If the label on older comforters is yellowed and illegible, simply follow the rules in the points below. Then nothing should go wrong.

Do not use fabric softener

You should definitely avoid using fabric softener on comforters filled with down or feathers. This is because it forms a wafer-thin layer between the individual feathers and leads to clumping. Fabric softener can also cause lumps in blankets made from other materials. Therefore, always leave it out.

Use a low spin speed

Too high a spin speed can cause down and feathers to break more quickly. It is best to spin your down comforters at 400 to 800 revolutions per minute to protect the filling. Blankets made of synthetic fibers are less sensitive and can withstand higher spin speeds.

Better to double rinse

Due to the dense filling and the large volume in the washing machine, comforters may be more difficult to rinse. It is therefore best to play it safe and rinse your comforters and pillows twice after washing. This way, no detergent residue is left behind, which can cause clumping when drying.

Dry blankets in the dryer

There are several advantages to drying comforters in the dryer. Firstly, this minimizes clumping and secondly, the blankets dry much faster. If you leave the blankets to dry indoors, they will take a very long time and new germs can form, causing bad odors. Alternatively, you can also dry the blankets outside in the fresh air. However, pollen allergy sufferers should pay attention to the pollen season.

Attention: Avoid too high temperatures when drying in the dryer, otherwise the feathers in down comforters can become brittle.

Use the right detergent

It is best to use liquid detergent as it leaves fewer detergent stains and clumps. If you have down comforters, you should use a mild or special down detergent.

Wash blankets at 60 °C

If possible, comforters should be washed at 60 °C to kill mites and bacteria. However, not all materials can withstand such high temperatures. You can find an overview here:

• Down comforters: up to 60 °C
• Feather comforters: up to 60 °C
• Cotton comforters with synthetic fiber filling: up to 90 °C
• Microfiber comforters: up to 60 °C
• Silk comforters: to the dry cleaner; up to a maximum of 30 °C
• Camel hair comforters: dry clean; up to a maximum of 40 °C
• Cashmere comforters: dry clean; up to a maximum of 30 °C

Which washing program is the right one?

Gentle wash programs are suitable for comforters and pillows. The programs for delicates and wool can also be used.

Use tennis balls or washing balls

To avoid lumps in the comforter, use wash balls or tennis balls. Put them in the dryer to fluff up the filling.

Do not overload the washing machine

When washing comforters, always wash them individually, even if there is still room in the machine. The more free space there is, the better the detergent can spread and the comforter can be rinsed.

Washing very large comforters

If your comforter is too big for the machine, the only option is often to take it to the dry cleaners. Or you can try a launderette. They often have larger washing machines that can also accommodate large items of laundry. Alternatively, you can also wash comforters in the bathtub. Pay attention to the soaking time of the detergent and rinse the comforter thoroughly afterwards.

How to care for your bedding properly

Even if you can’t avoid hair, dander and moisture ending up in your comforter when you sleep, you can prolong the feeling of freshness with a few tips:

• Shake vigorously – Blankets and pillows should be shaken and fluffed regularly to remove trapped moisture.
• Regular airing out – open your blanket and pillow after getting up and hang them outside to air out.
• Change bed linen regularly – Bed linen should be changed every two weeks.
• Brush off dirt – Stains and dirt should always be brushed off immediately.

If you wash your bed linen, comforter and pillows regularly, your bed will remain clean and inviting for a long time. As a rule of thumb, comforters and pillows should be washed once or twice a year and replaced every six to eight years.

Sources: betten, stuttgarter-nachrichten, focus
Thumbnail images: ©pinterest/Hip2Save

WD-40 penetrating oil has many household uses and is part of the “standard equipment” in many hobby cellars and workshops. You can use the multifunctional product to remove burnt-on dirt, prevent rust or remove small scratches from car paintwork, for example. However, there are some things that you should never use WD-40 for.

You always thought WD-40 was an absolute all-rounder? Not quite. You should avoid using the popular penetrating oil in the following areas.

Do not clean the toilet or shower with WD-40

Avoid cleaning your toilet or shower with WD-40 at all costs. The penetrating oil would enter the waste water via the drain and harm the environment. To clean the toilet, it is better to use classic cleaning agents or household products.

Never clean rubber with WD-40

The penetrating oil can dissolve or damage rubber. It should therefore not be sprayed onto tires, rubber mats or other rubber parts. Instead, use a special rubber care product.

Do not use WD-40 as a lubricant

Many people use penetrating oil to make hooked locks, grinding hinges or bicycle chains work again. However, WD-40 is not a lubricant and should not be used for these purposes. You can clean such objects with the penetrating oil, but they still need to be greased afterwards.

Do not use WD-40 on plastic

WD-40 removes the plasticizer from plastic surfaces or plastic parts. The material becomes porous through the use of penetrating oil and can break off. It is better to use a solvent-free silicone spray to lubricate and clean plastic. The same applies to wood – the penetrating oil can dry out and damage the wood.

Do not clean textiles with penetrating oil

If you treat textiles with penetrating oil, e.g. to remove stains, discoloration may remain on the material. Therefore, check beforehand on an inconspicuous area how the material reacts on contact with the penetrating oil.

This otherwise versatile product is also not suitable for use on sports equipment (e.g. skis or snowboards), musical instruments or electronic devices. If you are unsure, you should do more research to find out whether the supposed miracle oil is suitable for your project. For these 11 household problems, however, you can use the penetrating oil without hesitation.

Source: t-online
Preview image: ©Wikimedia/ajay_suresh/ CC-BY-2.0

You’re in a hurry to get ready for an important meeting and suddenly your makeup ends up on your favorite shirt. Removing make-up stains can be an ordeal, but with our quick fix tricks you can get rid of them in no time.

Pre-treat make-up stains immediately

Make-up stains consist of various components such as oils, pigments and waxes that stubbornly adhere to textiles. Quick action is crucial to remove them. Start by removing the stain dab carefullyto remove excess material. Use an absorbent cloth or kitchen paper for this. The physical process behind this is simple: dabbing absorbs the liquid, similar to how a sponge absorbs water.

Home remedy for make-up stains

A proven home remedy is the use of liquid soap or Washing-up liquid. Apply a small amount directly to the stain and massage it in gently. The surfactants in the soap help to dissolve and emulsify the oils and pigments so that they can be washed out more easily. Leave the soap on for a few minutes and then rinse the area thoroughly with cold water.

For more stubborn stains, you can use a Enzyme-based stain remover can be effective. These products contain special enzymes that break down the proteins and oils in make-up. Apply the stain remover according to the instructions and allow it to work in sufficiently before washing the garment as usual. The enzymes act like microscopic helpers that break down the molecules and make them easier to dissolve.

Secret trick: remove make-up stains with shaving foam

Make-up stains on clothing or textiles can be effectively removed with shaving foam. To do this, proceed as follows:

• Simply apply a small amount of foam to the stain and rub in gently.
• The foam for about 10 to 15 minutes leave on
• With a damp cloth or lukewarm water wash out.

For stubborn stains, the process can be repeated or the affected area can be additionally treated with gall soap should be treated. Then wash the garment in the washing machine as usual. This method is particularly suitable for liquid make-up such as foundation or concealer.

Combinable methods and tips

If you are looking for other methods, you can also try baking soda or vinegar. Both are known for their cleaning properties. Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive and can help to dissolve the pigments, while Vinegar because its acidity attacks the structure of the stain. Mix a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the stain. Let it dry and then brush it off. Vinegar can be applied directly to the stain to dissolve it.

Cleaning the cistern – hand on heart: very few people have this on their radar. Yet you should definitely devote your time to this object, because ignoring it is a big mistake. An inadequately maintained cistern can not only lead to limescale deposits, but also to problems with the toilet flushing or high water bills.

Why you should clean the toilet cistern regularly

The limescale content of water varies from region to region in Germany. The more calcareous the water is where you live, the more deposits you will notice in the kitchen and bathroom. In addition to the taps, the dishwasher and the pipes, the toilet cistern is also not spared from the unsightly white deposits.

Although the problem has less impact here than with a calcified tap, the deposits provide bacteria with an ideal breeding ground. To prevent this, the cistern should be cleaned at least every few months – from top to bottom.

Various problems with the flush, such as constantly running water or too little water in the cistern, can also be linked to limescale deposits and can be remedied by cleaning.

You may also be interested in these articles:

Cleaning the cistern: 8 tips and household remedies

In this article, you can find out which household remedies are suitable for cleaning the cistern and the best way to do it.

Choice of cleaning agent

Before you start, you should decide on a cleaning agent. To protect the environment and, above all, yourself, you should use household products. This is because the cleaning agent flows into the drain via the cistern and thus enters the environment, where chemical cleaning agents have absolutely no place.

If you clean the cistern regularly or only find minor limescale deposits, you can use vinegar essence for your project.

For medium soiling, citric acid is the cleaning agent of choice.

If you have never cleaned the cistern before or have heavy limescale deposits, it is best to use hydrochloric acid for stubborn stains.

Opening the cistern

Concealed cistern

The so-called concealed cisterns are recessed into the wall and are somewhat more difficult to open. First, carefully slide the cover upwards and remove it. Unscrew the partition wall behind it with a Phillips screwdriver to access the cistern. After cleaning, first replace the partition and then the cover.

Free-standing cistern

In this case, the lid is attached with a clip on the right and left. Lift the lid up and release the clip. After cleaning, replace the lid and press it on lightly.

If necessary, put on rubber gloves and always proceed carefully and according to the following step-by-step instructions. It is best to turn off the water supply during cleaning.

Remove the mechanical parts

Unhook the flush control arm so that you can pull up the drain plug underneath. The water will drain out of the sink and you can check and clean all the parts at your leisure.

Before the water drains, the so-called float is removed. It is located on the water in the cistern and detects the water level.

Once the operating arm and the float have been removed, take off the inlet valve, which is attached to the cistern with a nut.

Check the seals

There is a seal at the bottom of the cistern and at the top inlet. Check them for limescale deposits, dirt, porous areas or other damage and replace them if necessary.

Soak individual parts

Soak all the individual parts in a bucket of water and your chosen cleaning agent so that the limescale comes off. It is best to take the opportunity to check the parts for possible damage.

Soaking the cistern

Replace the cleaned seal so that the cistern is sealed. Then pour a mixture of water and the cleaning agent into the cistern and leave it to work for a few hours.

Cleaning

After the soaking time, the cistern and all individual parts are thoroughly cleaned with a brush.

Assembly and inspection

After cleaning, all parts are reassembled in the correct order. First the inlet valve, then the float and finally the operating arm. Check everything again and put the lid on the cistern before turning the water supply back on in the last step.

Regular cleaning and inspection of the cistern is time-consuming but worthwhile. You can prevent high repair and water costs and extend the service life of the individual parts. How long has it been since your cistern was last thoroughly cleaned?

Sources: house, obi

If you discover holes in your shirts and sweaters, there are probably clothes moths in your wardrobe. Before more items of clothing fall victim to the pests, you should act quickly. Lavender is said to work wonders against moths. But is that really true? Find out here!

Lavender: Does it really help against moths?

It’s actually true: lavender helps to repel clothes moths in the long term – this has even been confirmed by scientific studies. The pests don’t like the typical smell of lavender and therefore prefer to stay away. It doesn’t matter whether you use fresh or dried lavender. Mothballs 🛒 or small scented bags with lavender scent 🛒 are also available in stores. Alternatively, you can also make your own lavender scented sachet.

Make your own lavender sachet

Do you have lavender in your garden or on your balcony? Great! Cut off a few flowering sprigs and fill the flowers into small bags 🛒. If you like, you can also use dried lavender for this. Seal the bags with a string and then place them in your closet to keep the moths away.

Lavender can also be used to prevent moths from settling in your wardrobe in the first place. Another advantage: lavender is a natural household remedy that does not harm humans or animals.

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When lavender does not help against moths

If you use lavender over a longer period of time to combat the pests, the moths may become accustomed to the smell. The deterrent effect will therefore wear off over time. To prevent this, you should regularly replace the lavender scent in your closet.

Sometimes, however, the smell of lavender is simply not enough to get the problem under control. Then only chemical products or a glue trap will help. But it’s always worth a try! And if your shirts and sweaters do fall victim to clothes moths, you can find a simple method for mending the holes here.

Sources: oektotest, praxistipps.focus
Preview image: ©Pinterest/Hometalk.com

The links marked with the shopping cart 🛒 are affiliate links. The products are researched to the best of our authors’ knowledge and some are also recommended from personal experience. If you click on such an affiliate link and buy something through it, our editorial team will receive a small commission from the online store in question. For you as a user, the price does not change and there are no additional costs. The income helps us to offer you high-quality, entertaining journalism free of charge.

Can you imagine life without a dishwasher? Probably not! Washing up in the sink is time-consuming and if you make mistakes, the dishes won’t get properly clean. Most of us use our dishwasher regularly to clean cups, cutlery, bowls and plates. But have you ever put your shoes in the dishwasher to get them clean again? Find out why you should do this and what other things you can easily clean in this miracle appliance here!

Unusual things you can clean in the dishwasher

A dishwasher is designed to clean things. To do this, water is heated, mixed with detergent and then sprayed under pressure onto the dirty items inside. Why not use it to clean other household items in addition to the usual suspects from the crockery drawer? You can even put lampshades, brushes and even your shoes in the dishwasher.

Note: The heating elements are located at the bottom of the dishwasher, where the temperature is highest. Delicate items should be placed higher up in the dishwasher.

Glass lampshades

They bring light into rooms – and it makes quite a difference whether they are clean or not. Wash the dirty lampshade in the top drawer of the dishwasher. The rooms will shine in new splendor.

Cleaning the shower head in the dishwasher

Shower heads calcify or become blocked after a short time if used regularly. You can simply dismantle them and clean them in the dishwasher – as hot as possible – together with pots, for example.

Cleaning shoes in the dishwasher

To remove unpleasant odors and dirt, you can easily clean fabric sneakers in the dishwasher. Remove coarse dirt, insoles and laces beforehand. Rubber or plastic flip-flops and rubber boots can also be cleaned in this way. Shoes or slippers made of leather or with an inner lining, on the other hand, still need to be cleaned by hand.

Hair accessories

Combs, hairbrushes, hair elastics and hair clips can easily be cleaned in the dishwasher. To do this, first remove all hair so that the sieve of the dishwasher does not clog. You should also not clean any products made of real wood in the dishwasher. It is best to place the hair accessories in the cutlery basket.

Headgear and sports equipment

Hats and baseball caps develop unsightly sweat marks, especially in summer. Shin guards also get dirty quickly. However, headwear in particular quickly loses its shape in the washing machine, but they are in good hands in the dishwasher. However, make sure that there are no dishes in the dishwasher at the same time and replace the dishwasher tabs with a few drops of washing-up liquid.

Plastic toys

Children’s toys get dirty quickly. As little ones are constantly putting them in their mouths, they should always be clean. Small figures and other plastic toys can therefore be cleaned in the dishwasher basket.

Dog toys

Dogs can also become infected from their toys – especially if they are still young. However, you should never clean dog toys in the dishwasher together with normal dishes.

Sponges and dishwashing brushes

Kitchen sponges are almost always slightly damp and therefore the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. The situation is similar with dishwashing brushes. Simply wash them in the dishwasher once a week with the dishes and you can be sure of cleanliness and hygiene when washing up.

Kitchen utensils

There are so many small things in the kitchen and bathroom that are difficult to clean by hand. You can make household cleaning easier for yourself by cleaning the following small items in the dishwasher:

• Butter dishes
• Sugar bowls
• Salt and pepper shakers
• Soap dishes
• Soap dispenser
• Toothbrush holder
• Nailbrushes
• Make-up brushes made of plastic

Tip: If you want to clean small items in the dishwasher, you should place them in a net beforehand so that they do not fall through the racks.

Larger kitchen items

If you look around the kitchen with open eyes, you will certainly find other things that could do with a thorough clean. Kitchen grids, microwave plates, extractor hood grilles and fridge inserts can also be cleaned in the dishwasher.

Dirty potatoes

Not only objects, but also food, benefit from the dishwasher’s wash program. If you put dirty potatoes in the dishwasher before eating them, a quick rinse without detergent will remove all the dirt. However, the heat will cook the potatoes a little, so you should use them immediately afterwards.

Dishwasher: Indispensable – not just for dirty dishes

Did you know that the dishwasher can take so much of the work out of household cleaning? But before you get started, you should bear the following in mind: Not everything can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Sensitive items, certain pots and pans made of aluminum or copper as well as items made of certain materials, with special surfaces or coatings are better cleaned by hand. A look at the instructions for use can provide information here.

But with our list, you now know that you can also clean shoes in the dishwasher, as well as many other things that you previously had to laboriously clean by hand.

Sources: cleanipedia.com

Over time, knives, forks and spoons will become dull if you clean them in the dishwasher. To get them shiny again, you can use a soft cloth and polish the cutlery. But there isn’t really time for this in our hectic everyday lives. A simple trick provides the solution: a little aluminum foil in the cutlery basket of the dishwasher is supposed to prevent this problem. But is this really true?

Dishwasher: both a blessing and a curse

Dishwashers make household chores much easier and are indispensable for many people. Nevertheless, not everything always runs smoothly: cloudy glasses, food residue on the dishes, tabs that don’t dissolve properly and, above all, lackluster cutlery are among the most common problems.

Who has the time or inclination to polish every single spoon or fork by hand? It’s much quicker and much easier with the following dishwasher trick. Simply crumple up some aluminum foil into a small ball and place it in the cutlery basket of the dishwasher. Make sure that the shiny side of the aluminum foil is facing outwards.

What aluminum foil does in the dishwasher

If you start the dishwasher with the aluminum foil ball in the cutlery basket, your cutlery will shine like new after the wash cycle. But why is that? It’s simple: the metal in the aluminum foil reacts with the chemical components of the dishwasher detergent. This results in an oxidation process that makes the cutlery look like new.

Placing some aluminum foil in your dishwasher also prevents rust stains from forming on the cutlery. This is because so-called flash rust, which can be deposited on the cutlery by metal rods and screws in the dishwasher, but also by screws on inferior cooking pots, is absorbed by the aluminum foil. In this case, the aluminium foil acts as a kind of lightning rod, as it oxidizes more easily than the higher quality stainless steel cutlery and is more “susceptible” to rust.

Note: Unfortunately, existing rust stains cannot be removed using this dishwasher trick. Even with low-quality cutlery, you will not achieve any significant success using aluminum foil.

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How you can prevent rust

To prevent rust, it is advisable to identify and remove all possible sources of flash rust in the dishwasher. Chipped areas on the casing of the dishwasher baskets, for example, are a typical source of rust. Here, the metal needs to be sanded down and resealed. Alternatively, you can also replace the dishwasher baskets if they are too rusty. You should also wash frying pans and saucepans with rusty handles or screws by hand to protect the rest of the dishes in the dishwasher from rust.

Rusty or dull cutlery is a thing of the past with this simple trick. By the way: If the aluminum foil ball turns dark in the dishwasher, it’s time to replace it with a new one. Have you ever tried this household tip?

Sources: freundin, chip, hausjournal

The temperatures are rising, the sun is shining from the sky and the plants in your garden are crying out for water! The warmer it gets, the more often you have to reach for the garden hose 🛒 and quench the thirst of your lawn, flowers & Co. There are a variety of hoses that are suitable for small, large, winding and extensive gardens. The classic hose is made of PVC plastic and is available in various lengths. The longer the garden hose, the more difficult it is to store. There are a few tricks for storing it so that it doesn’t become a tripping hazard. You can find out what these are in this article.

Creative ways to store garden hoses

Most garden owners probably have a hose cart 🛒 or a hose box 🛒 to safely store the 20-, 30- or 50-meter long specimen after watering. That’s too boring for you? No problem!

A repurposed plant container

Perhaps there is still a large planter in your garden 🛒 that has been waiting in vain for a pretty planting. If you’re not sure which tree or shrub you should put in there, simply use it to store your garden hose for the time being. To do this, fold the hose into loops after use and store it safely in the planter. Similar to the planter, you can also use a large flower pot 🛒 for storage.

Tip: It is particularly clever if you cut a hole in the pot or planter and connect the garden hose directly to the water.

An old rim

This type of garden hose storage can already be seen in many gardens: An old rim is attached to the wall of the house or a pillar and the hose is simply wrapped around it.

Nicely hidden

If you primarily want to hide the garden hose, you can build a simple wooden box or shed. A planter box with hose storage blends particularly harmoniously into the garden.

You may also be interested in these articles:

An old zinc tub for garden hose storage

Perhaps you still have an old zinc tub 🛒 at home. This is perfect for storing your garden hose. Simply find a suitable place in your garden to put the tub and your garden hose will have a permanent and stylish place.

Tip: Attach an old zinc pot 🛒 to the wall and wrap the hose around it in a similar way to the rim. A board attached to the pot provides additional storage space.

As you can see, it doesn’t take much effort to find an individual storage solution for the garden hose. Simply use the things you already have in the garden.

Source: diyncrafts.com