Spring Cleaning

I saw some people posted about the vinegar throught the washer. It takes about a quart to do a good job. You can wipe down any extra gunk around the edges and so forth with it, also. And I also occasionally run about a quart of it through the dishwasher, as well. Have fun getting everything all clean and shiny!

What is the best way to clean the inside of a washer?

I take hot soapy water & pour it into the bleach dispenser. Then you can wash out around the washer rim with a scrub brush &/or a washcloth. Run your washer through a cycle of the hottest, longest cycle, NO CLOTHES. And it will be sparkling clean.

What is the best way to clean aluminum blinds?

Take them off if possible, Put a bit of laundry soap or dish soap in a tub full of hot water. Let blinds soak. Wash blinds with a scrub brush & rinse. Repeat if necessary. Hang to dry. If the satins are really stubborn you can try ammonia, just be careful as the fumes can really overcome you. It is best to do this outside in a tub rather than inside.

Is there a safe way to bring the color back into the fabric? If you have tried color safe bleach it may be a lost cause. Yellowing is oxidation & is very hard to get rid of. Maybe keep an eye out for a replacement or check on ebay for the same item.
Hope this helps, G.

I'm not sure about the washer or pillowcase and I have never done this myself, my mom is a pro and has always done it for me, she is an apartment manager and does this at least once a month. You can take the blinds down fairly easily. I have personally never done this but have seen my mom do it several times. She then throws them in the bathtub and fills it with water and cleaning solution, lets them soak, then hangs them outside and wipes them with a cloth, then leaves them to dry before hanging them back up. She says it is much easier than cleaning them while they are hanging. Have fun, spring cleaning is so much fun!

When I'm washing a load of undies I grab a sock, dampen it, and wipe around the edges of the wash tub before I throw it in with the rest of the load. I figure the extra soap helps counteract the extra dirt/dust build up!

best of luck!

Hi, these are great questions. I spray the inside of my washer down with Vinigar and run it empty. Seems to do the trick.

As to the blinds I have washed mine in the tub before, but the clean up after.... Now I just lay them out on the driveway and get the hose and car washing brush out. Do one side them turn over for the other. Rinse and let air dry right on the drive. Happy Cleaning.

my washer came with instructions to clean it by doing a cleaning cycle with white vinegar in it.

I wouldn't us Comet on your blinds, it will take the finish right off...if you can't take them down, just close them all the way and wipe down with hot soapy water (liquid dish soap works well).

For the washing machine, I run mine with hot hot water and bleach (no clothes), while the water is running I wet it with the hot water and wipe down around the basket, and bleach/fabric softener dispenser. Sometimes I will pour half the bleach in the bleach dispenser and half in the fabric softener dispenser to make sure both are cleaned through. White vinegar is an excellent alternative to the bleach, I just cant handle the smell.

For the washing machine, I would use Tub & Tile. It is a soap scum and hard water spot remover so it should get the soap out. On the blinds, you could either again use the Tub & Tile or a mixture of Tough & Tender and Sol-U-Mel. I'm not sure about comet on the blinds, but I do know that it is pretty toxic. You'd need to make sure it is washed off well just in case any of your family touch the blinds afterward. On your son's pillowcase, I would try PreSpot and maybe some Sol-U-Mel. I love Sol-U-Mel! It is my favorite cleaner with many uses!

First, I just want to say kudos to you that you do the spring cleaning thing... I just never seem to get around to it.

My only suggestion is on the pillow case, try soaking it in a water with some OxyClean powder -- however long you need. It won't damage the cotton like bleach can and should brighten that yellowing for you. Good luck!