The Rural Voice, 1999-11, Page 31Home Decorating
Simple inexpensive tips for fall cleaning
•By Patti Robertson
It's certainly fall, the gardens have
been bedded down for their winter
nap, leaves raked and all the windows
I could reach have been given a (as.
Mom says) "lick and a promise!" Of
course I used Grama B's favourite
window cleaning agents – black and
white newspaper dipped into vinegar.
Wipe the glass 'til almost dry and
then shine with newspaper — most
effective in both the labour and cost
departments.
So now for a spruce up inside.
Actually, this keeps my mind off the
fact that I've been driven indoors for
yet another season. Oh well, with
Christmas just around the corner, and
company coming, it's prime time to
get all in order for the festivities.
Windows inside can benefit from
the same cleaning method used
outside and, good news, no need to
remove drapery and curtain
treatments. Simply drape the
treatment through a hanger and hang
them to the curtain rod until you've
completed the job.
Actually this is also a prime time
to wash and polish all my good china
and crystal which I'll use for holiday
entertaining. Line your sink with a
thick towel to deter cracks and
breakage; wash in warm soapy water
and then rinse in one part vinegar to
three parts hot water. Air dry for a
perfect finish.
All the brassware I've acquired
over the yedrs adds an elegant and
flashy flair to table settings. Nickel
bronze (brass) wine goblets and
cutlery come to life with a good
polishing of Brasso or a wadding
polish. Next, fill your sink with hot,
soapy water and wash well. Follow
by.rinsing and then polish with soft
cotton rags or paper towels. For badly
tarnished pieces I've found that a
lemon cut in half and liberally
sprinkled with table salt rubbed over
the area will work the tarnish away.
Clean, wash, rinse and polish as
usual. All the prep work on my brass
pieces pays off during the holiday
season because with its warmth and
charm it often serves a dual purpose.
For example, a brass fruit bowl works
equally well whether it's holding fruit
on the sideboard in the dining room,
an array of colourful Christmas balls
on the coffee
table or holding
guest towels and
soap in the
bathroom.
Because
company is
coming and our
company enjoys
a shower, I'll
give some
needed attention
to this area.
Once again
glass doors
come clean with
the vinegar and newspaper combo.
Rinse with cool water and a new trick
I just heard about is to spray the glass
lightly with furniture polish and then
wipe dry. (I have not tried this yet so
cannot positively say it works!)
Shower curtains wash wonderfully
when added to a full washing
machine of water with 1/2 cup of
detergent and 1/2 cup of baking soda
and two large bath towels for buffers.
Add one'cup of vinegar to the rinse.
Do not spin dry or rinse the vinegar
out. Hang immediately. (Wrinkles
should disappear as the curtain dries.)
Hairspray on mirrors can be
effectively removed by wiping with
rubbing alcohol, and try adding a
scented dryer sheet to your bathroom
wastebasket to sweeten the air. This
trick should also work well in
bedrooms. My all-time personal room
atomizer is dabbing a little perfume
or aftershave onto the lightbulb in the
room. When you turn on the light
your room lights up with a subtle
fragrance.
This is a great time to prepare all
guest towels, pillow cases, and
baskets of toiletries to make one's
guests feel right at home. As the cold
weather settles in, I always add an
extra cozy blanket to the toot of the
bed, as you never know how warm a
guest likes to be, and I'd be mortified
if one was ever cold.
Now on the other hand, my
brother Mike and his wife Sherry
who live in an historically "cooler'.
home say coming to my home, is like
a trip to the beach for them (sitting up
in bed reading without blankets, etc.)
I've stayed with Mike and Sherry in
the winter and slept most comfortably
in a combination of full long johns,
jogging suit, terry robe, and a ton of
quilts. So it's all relative. (Please
pardon the unintended pun). The
point is to be prepared for your
guests' comfort.
I must add here that while clearing
out the garden I took the opportunity
to cut bunches of PeeGee and
Annabella Hydrangeas, which will
dry beautifully in arranged bouquets
for the guest rooms. All my vases
will get a good cleaning. To rid
mineral buildup in the bottom, I add a
few drops of automatic dishwasher
detergent to very warm water and
soak overnight. (I've also heard that
denture cleansing tablets will work as
well.,)
The next step will be to get out all
my Christmas decorations taking
stock of what I have.and making
notes on new uses of old decor
favourites, checking all the strings of
lights for working bulbs, and needed
repairs, so there is certainly plenty to
do now that inside is the place to be.
By next month we'll all be caught
up in the hub -bub of the season and
with any luck the behind -the -scenes
cleaning will be well underway and
our attention can turn toward our
Christmas preparations.
I'm always glad to hear about
cost-effective and eco -minded
cleaning solutions and methods,
please drop me.a line with your
favourites. 'Til next month, keep
well !O
Patti Robertson operates Classic
Interiors in Wingham.
NOVEMBER 1999 27