eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:00 PM
Original message |
I'm finally done! Ask me anything about...cleaning |
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(until 3 p.m. CDT, or we hit too many posts for my work machine to handle -- after that, I'll get to your question later tonight.)
I write for a cleaning magazine. My stupid cover story is finally done. I'm now waiting...and waiting...and waiting...for the designer to finish so I can send the thing off.
So, if any of you have any questions related to cleaning (residential or commercial, the business side or the how-to side), ask away. I've got some time...
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trumad
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:01 PM
Response to Original message |
1. Yes...How do I make my Kids do it? |
eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:02 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
3. Do you mean pick up after themselves, or clean parts of the house? |
trumad
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:09 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:20 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
19. To get them to pick up their stuff-- |
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Confiscate whatever they leave around, and sell it back to them.
To get them to clean the house -- let's say you want them to dust the living room. Hide stuff that they want -- a Best Buy gift certificate, concert tickets, a promise to go ice skating with them, whatever (how old are they?) -- in places they'll only look if they're actually cleaning (behind the books, under the plants, tucked in a corner). Let them know that these things will appear at random -- not every time they clean, but they never know.
Bribery is a great motivator.
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trumad
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:29 PM
Response to Reply #19 |
29. Wow... I like the sell back option... |
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I could buy a 6-pack with the cash. ;-)
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Screaming Lord Byron
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:01 PM
Response to Original message |
2. If I clean naked, how can I minimize the risk of chafing? |
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Edited on Wed Aug-11-04 02:01 PM by Screaming Lord Byron
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:04 PM
Response to Reply #2 |
4. If you're doing it right, you shouldn't have a problem |
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Vary your motions, and you shouldn't be repeating any action enough to have a problem, chafe, carpal tunnel, or otherwise.
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Screaming Lord Byron
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:06 PM
Response to Reply #4 |
5. Ah. I thought I was going to have to go with saran wrap. |
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Nice to know I have an alternative.
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XNASA
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:08 PM
Response to Original message |
6. If you had to pick only one item to clean on a regular basis..... |
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Edited on Wed Aug-11-04 02:17 PM by XNASA
What would that one item be?
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Magrittes Pipe
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:15 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
XNASA
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:22 PM
Response to Reply #15 |
21. There's not enough Mr. Sparkle in the world..... |
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To perform that task on a regular basis.
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:21 PM
Response to Reply #6 |
20. The kitchen cutting board |
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That's one of the best ways to keep from getting sick.
Think about it -- people think the toilet's the germiest place in their house. Even if they haven't cleaned it in weeks, it's probably not.
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tedoll78
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:09 PM
Response to Original message |
8. Is there some sort of formula? |
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I clean, and clean, and clean once my partner leaves for work at 1am.
Then the house is perfect. So I relax for the other eight hours of his shift and then go to sleep.
When I wake-up at noon, the house is completely disheveled. Food left out on the counter. Dirt tracks on the tile. Crumbs on the kitchen floor. You get the idea.
So.. is there a formula to determine how long it takes a slob to ruin your hard work?
(nooo.. I'm not getting bitter or angry.. no..)
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:24 PM
Response to Reply #8 |
25. Your partner seems immune to the "clean syndrome" |
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Normally, when something's clean, we're inclined to do our best to keep it that way. If it's already messy, we make it worse.
I think your partner is just incorrigable.
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tedoll78
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:36 PM
Response to Reply #25 |
33. I don't mean to vent.. |
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but it's making me very angry towards him. We've been together for 8 years, and this is what angers me?! I told him that if he were to ever host his own cooking show, 1/3 of it would be taped on the floor - where 1/3 of the ingredients end-up. He's like the Swedish Chef having a seizure. And of course, it always has to happen 10 minutes after the floor is dry from my having mopped it. once it's a mess, he never goes in there. It's almost as though the cleanliness is inviting him.. calling out to him..
Aaaaargh!
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:42 PM
Response to Reply #33 |
34. I'm afraid this is a bit out of my league... |
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Plenty of people hire a cleaning service (if they can afford it) simply to solve the who's-cleaning-and-how argument, but it sounds like you've got different issues here. Passive-aggression, maybe? Is he sabotaging your work on purpose?
Like I said, though, out of my league. You may want to ask a relationship expert, not a cleaning expert.
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ScreamingMeemie
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:11 PM
Response to Original message |
9. How do I get shoe polish off the front porch steps... |
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? Sigh...don't ask. Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to provide. :hi:
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:28 PM
Response to Reply #9 |
27. You could paint over it, or try cleaning it up |
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Try dish soap first -- it's a good degreaser. Otherwise, perhaps try a commerical degreaser -- go to an auto-parts store and get one there, designed for picking up oil stains.
Shoe polish is oil-based, so find a preparation that can take care of oil-based stains -- HOWEVER -- if you have paint on the steps whatever you use could strip the paint. Check the label.
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ScreamingMeemie
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:43 PM
Response to Reply #27 |
35. They are just unpainted concrete. We tried Tide detergent and it got |
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off everything but the spill. Now MrG would like to use gasoline. I am not so hep on that. I could just love my daughter to pieces right now. :hi:
Thanks for your advice.
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:49 PM
Response to Reply #35 |
36. Gasoline is a good solvent, but (as you know) it has its drawbacks |
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Try the dish liquid; if it doesn't work, you also could try a commerical paint thinner. (Keep the kids and the dog off the steps for a bit after, even if you hose it down well, which you should.)
Good luck.
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Magrittes Pipe
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:11 PM
Response to Original message |
10. What color cleaner would make the best masturbatory lubricant? |
XNASA
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:13 PM
Response to Reply #10 |
13. Dude. Everyone knows it's purple. |
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Edited on Wed Aug-11-04 02:14 PM by XNASA
What kind of a stupid question is that?
I've heard that blue will do in a pinch, but I've got cases and cases of the purple stuff, so I never run out.
Who's gonna back me up on this one?
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Screaming Lord Byron
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:16 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
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Where will your hands be?
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XNASA
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:22 PM
Response to Reply #16 |
eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:22 PM
Response to Reply #10 |
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Using professional color-coding standards --
Green = Degreaser. Usually pretty safe, but may end up stripping the natural oils off of skin. Blue = Toilet cleaner; acid. Don't try. Purple = Window cleaner; alkaline. Don't try.
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Magrittes Pipe
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:24 PM
Response to Reply #22 |
26. Can I mix blue and purple to make that delightful fizzy sensation? |
eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:29 PM
Response to Reply #26 |
28. If you've got a gas mask handy and you don't mind skin grafts, |
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sure.
Don't do it in my house.
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Beware the Beast Man
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:11 PM
Response to Original message |
11. I thought you wrote about toilets.... |
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I ask because on that "What is your job" thread the other day, you made mention about writing a toilet trade publication. I'm in the toilet partition business myself :hi:
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:30 PM
Response to Reply #11 |
31. It's a bit broader than just toilets, but it's fun to say I write |
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about toilets.
Although toilets, urinals, urinal screens, urinal blocks, flush valves and so forth take up a disproportionate amount of my time...
Do you work for a manufacturer? Distributor?
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Beware the Beast Man
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Wed Aug-11-04 03:00 PM
Response to Reply #31 |
37. I work for a manufacturer. |
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I can't really go into detail, but they're a canadian company. Anonymity and all that garbage. :)
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 03:07 PM
Response to Reply #37 |
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Partitions are really a step removed from my audience -- they clean them, but they don't buy them -- so I probably don't work with your company at all. :-)
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Magrittes Pipe
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:12 PM
Response to Original message |
12. Why 3? Are you leaving early? |
eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:17 PM
Response to Reply #12 |
fudge stripe cookays
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:13 PM
Response to Original message |
14. Can you head over around 5 to do mine? |
eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:23 PM
Response to Reply #14 |
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Just because I write about it doesn't mean I do it well. ;-)
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fudge stripe cookays
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Wed Aug-11-04 03:17 PM
Response to Reply #24 |
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Oh well, it's probably just as well. I have half constructed Halloween props laying all over my house. And I do mean ALL over my house.
FSC
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sundog
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:17 PM
Response to Original message |
17. Is this where you post all your *clean* threads? |
eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:29 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
sundog
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Wed Aug-11-04 02:33 PM
Response to Reply #30 |
32. You're immaculate, baby... pure as the driven snow |
TNDemo
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Wed Aug-11-04 04:40 PM
Response to Original message |
40. I have a carpet cleaning question. |
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My son forgot to take his shoes off after working on the car and tracked oil and grease on my carpet. What is the best thing to get that out??
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 06:11 PM
Response to Reply #40 |
44. Again, find a carpet-safe degreaser |
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You may want to go with a commercial preparation -- Motsenbocker's Lift Off for Oil-based stains is one (available thru QVC and probably at some home stores).
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ElsewheresDaughter
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Wed Aug-11-04 04:48 PM
Response to Original message |
41. i'm cleaning-impaired...HELP i need a 12-step program... |
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would step 1 be: vaccum 3 generations of cat hair from the sofa?
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 06:11 PM
Response to Reply #41 |
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Decide you're going to clean for 15 minutes a day, then do it.
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Nay
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Wed Aug-11-04 05:18 PM
Response to Original message |
42. Actually, I do have a question about the business side of |
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carpet cleaning. If I wanted to start a carpet-cleaning biz, residential, that is, what sort of machines and/or cleaners should I buy? Or is there a franchise worth buying? Any advice is welcome -- I hate to rely on ads for any reliable info.
Thanks!
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 06:14 PM
Response to Reply #42 |
46. I'm not too into the residential market |
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Visit www.iicrc.org for a referral to training.
Also, check out Entrepreneur.com for some good franchises -- carpet cleaning is one area where a franchise may be worth it. (I'm not too big on franchises for commercial cleaning, or for house cleaning.)
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VoteDemocratic2004
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Wed Aug-11-04 05:27 PM
Response to Original message |
43. How do you get dirt off of the corner of a wall? |
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Is there a way of cleaning the wall without resorting to painting it?
Can you please suggest some ways of getting Cat Vomit stains off of carpeting.
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eyesroll
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Wed Aug-11-04 06:23 PM
Response to Reply #43 |
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If regular carpet spotters or a dish-soap solution (1/4 teaspoon Dawn, 1 quart water) doesn't work... Try an oxygen cleaner or a peroxide-based carpet cleaner (3% hydrogen peroxide solution, in water, works too) --test first in an inconspicuous corner of the room, in case it bleaches the carpet. (If it does, don't use it, and try a carpet cleaner designed
The Magic Eraser, I've heard, works wonders on walls. If it's been a few years since you painted, though, it may just be time.
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VoteDemocratic2004
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Wed Aug-11-04 07:40 PM
Response to Reply #47 |
48. I will try the Magic Eraser |
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Thank you so much for the tips.
I have to wait until my management office decides to paint my apartment. I hate looking at the dirty part of the wall and I can't hang a painting over it because it's right on the corner of the wall.
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