JANUARY Cleaning Tips

Happy New Year! It’s January, a time of good intentions and new beginnings. We’ve made our resolutions and, with any luck, have recovered from our seasonal indulgences. We’re ready for a fresh start. But first we have to clean up from last year. That means putting away the Christmas decorations and taking down the tree, storing the lights, and all that half-price wrapping paper that seemed like such a good idea at the time. So let’s get to it. If we start now, we’ll still have time to enjoy that Super Bowl party!

Let’s Un-Deck the Halls

Putting up decorations can be a lot of fun, what with all the excitement of the holidays to look forward to. But there are few surprises after Christmas - unless, of course, you’re talking about that mystery stain you’ve just discovered on the hall carpet. The best way to clean up after the holidays is to take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves, and get down to it. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll be finished. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

LIGHTS

If you just whip the lights off of the house and tree and toss them in a box, you’ll hate yourself come next December when you find them twisted, tangled, and broken. Wrap them around an empty paper roll instead. Take a large paper roll - one from wrapping will do fine - and cut a notch at one end. Tuck one end of the lights in the notch and start rolling them around the tube. When you get to the end of the tube make another notch to fasten that end of the lights. Do this to make another notch to fasten that end of the lights. Do this to each strand, clearly labeling the tubes as you go - indoor or outdoor lights, tree lights or decorative strands, etc. Make sure you separate any lights that aren’t functioning properly and mark those too, either for repair or scavenging.

Large lights or extra long lengths can be rolled in a circle, like a cowboy loops a rope. Delicate, expensive or special light strands can be stored in the type of inexpensive plastic food bowls that come with covers. The lights won’t get crushed or broken, and they can be stacked for storage without damage.

CHRISTMAS TREES

Taking down the tree is really a two-person job, so try to enlist some help. A tree bag is your best bet, as it will prevent pine needles from being trailed through the house. Just make sure to buy a bag large enough to cover the base of the tree, and long enough to cover the height. The first step is to siphon off all the water that you can - a turkey baster works great. Next, lay a large covering, such as a plastic shower curtain, on the floor. Take a good look around to ensure that breakables are safe, and make sure you’re well out of range of any hanging light fixtures. Loosen the tree stand, and gently tip the tree onto the covering, being careful not to shed too many needles or spill any remaining water left in the reservoir. (Remember the first rule of cleaning: If you don’t make a mess, you won’t have to clean it up!) Don’t pull the bag up haphazardly, and don’t tug. Be gentle and gradually unroll the bag up the length of the tree, something like putting on a pair of panty hose. (If you wear panty hose, that is . . .) Once you’ve got the tree into the bag, tie it tightly and drag it outside. You can, of course, carry the tree, but there’s always the chance you’ll drop it, and that may cause damage.

Artificial trees can be stored fully assembled in Christmas tree storage bags. Simply open the bag, “fold” up the limbs on the tree as directed (You did keep the booklet that came with the tree, didn’t you?), place the tree carefully into the bag and zip it up! Lack of storage space may dictate that you dismantle the tree and keep it in a box. If that’s the case, just make sure to identify the branches, base and stem - unless, of course, you like jigsaw puzzles.

ORNAMENTS

First, make sure to dust the ornaments before you store them. Used fabric softener sheets are great for this job, but you will need rather a lot. Wipe the ornament with the used dryer sheet, then cover it so that the other side of the sheet touches the ornament. The fabric softener sheet will protect the ornament during storage, and the residue of softener will help to repel static electricity - and therefor, dust - when you hang it on the tree next year! Once you’ve wrapped the ornament, place it gently in a storage container, such as a shoe box or plastic storage carton. Those large metal canisters that once held popcorn are great, too.

Did you know?

Decorative candles can be cleaned quite easily with a cotton ball moistened with rubbing alcohol.

Whatever container you use, make sure not to overcrowd it or force the lid down, and try not to use tape to secure the box. Tape can ruin the box for future use and, if stored in an attic, can get sticky and gummy during the hot summer months. That can cause a real mess. A bungee cord hooked around the ends of the container will keep the lid firmly closed. Try that instead.

Once again, make sure to mark the storage container, and make sure to separate ornaments that are expensive or have sentimental value. Delicate elongated ornaments can be stored inside a toilet paper tube, and smaller it ems can be placed safely in egg cartons. Save silk balls that are starting to unravel by giving them a spritz with some hair spray or spray starch.

WRAPPING PAPER

The most important thing about storing Christmas paper is to actually remember that you have it so you don’t go out and buy more next year! Either put the paper in an obvious spot so that it’s the first thing you see as you start to take out the decorations, or make a note that you have x number of rolls on hand. It’s not a bargain if you buy it twice!

I store my wrapping paper under the bed. Long plastic storage containers meant for this purpose work exceptionally, and can be found quite inexpensively in dollar and discount stores. If you don’t have a storage container, lay the rolls of paper on the floor and tie them together with some string or an elastic band. A bungee cord hooked into the ends of the roll will hold the paper in a neat bundle. Just make sure to slip them into a large garbage bag to keep them clean during storage. Some people like to store their wrapping paper and ribbons in an old suitcase. That can work well, just as long as you remember which one you’ve used. You don’t want to end up in the Bahamas with nothing to wear but Santa Claus wrapping paper and a big red bow! As I’ve said, labeling is important.

RIBBONS AND BOWS

• Store pre-made bows in a plastic storage or shoe box to prevent them from getting scrunched up. If you’ve bought an assortment of bows, tip them out of the bag and into the box. Those bags always seem to be too small to hold the bows, and many of them wind up flattened and bent.

I hate it when that happens . . .

You’ve just found the perfect color bow at the bottom of the bag and, darn, if it isn’t crushed! Not to worry. Crushed bows can be brought back to life by putting them in the dryer on air fluff (no heat) for a few short minutes. Presto! Good as new.

• Keep rolls of ribbon tidy by putting a rubber band or ponytail holder around the roll. You’ll prevent unraveling that way.

BOBBLES, BANGLES AND BEADS.. IN OTHER WORDS, MISCELLANEOUS!

• Garland is usually too lush to be wrapped around just one paper roll, so fasten a few tubes together with a rubber band and wind the garland around that. Make sure you wrap the garland around the roll like a candy cane, side to side, and secure it in notches that you’ve cut in each end. Don’t draw the garland from top to bottom -- the stand could stretch or break.

• Dust silk flowers before storing them with a blowdryer, set on cool.

• If you store Christmas dishes in plastic wrap or stacked in Ziploc™ bags you won’t have to wash them before using next year.

• Make sure to launder Christmas tablecloths and napkins prior to storing. Old spills will oxidize during storage and can be difficult, if not impossible, to remove.

Save those empty baby wipe boxes. They come in handy for storing gift tags and those silvers of ribbon that are so handy for decorating small packages.

• Take care when storing the Nativity scene. Wrap each figure separately, either in tissue paper or a used fabric softener sheet. Paper towels don’t work well for this job, because their fibers can catch on any rough edges. If you do scratch a figurine, try touching it up with a child’s colored pencil.

Delicate Christmas knickknacks can be stored in egg cartons.

• Artificial wreaths can be stored year-to-year in a large pillowcase (depending on the size of the wreath) or in a large plastic bag. Wrap some tissue paper around the wreath first, but be gentle when removing it -- you don’t want to damage any of the branches. If the ribbon on the wreath is flattened, just plump it up with a curling iron.

• Many charities make good use of discarded Christmas cards. St. Jude’s Ranch, for example, is a nonprofit youth home that teaches kids a trade and a way to earn money by cutting off the verse and making the fronts into new cards. Entire cards are welcome, as are cards with the backs cut off. For more information, call 1-800-492-3564, or visit St. Jude’s website at www.stjudesranch.org

MAKING A LIST, CHECKING IT TWICE

Make a note of what seasonal items you’ve stored, and where you’ve put them. If you make a list of what you think you’ll need next year -- wrapping paper, Christmas cards, extension cords, larger-sized pants -- you’ll be in a good position to pick up bargains. More importantly, you’ll save yourself that last-minute flurry of panic when you realize that your tree lights don’t reach the outlet. Remember. Excitement is good. Panic is bad.

It’s Time for That Super Bowl Party!

I love Super Bowl parties. Everybody seems to be in such great spirits. Good friends, good food, and good fun. What could be better?

TOUCH-UPS AFTER TOUCHDOWNS

You wouldn’t cry over spilt milk, so why shed a tear over beer? First thing to do for a beer spill on carpet is to blot up all the liquid you can, then flush the area with club soda and blot, blot, blot again. Now turn to a great carpet spotter like Spot Shot Instant Carpet Stain Remover® and follow the directions carefully. Try to avoid carpet cleaners that contain stain repellents. If the beer doesn’t come out during the first try, the repellent could lock in the stain and you could be left with a permanent mark.

Beer stains on clothes? Flush with cool water, work in a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap and launder as usual.

• Salsa -- the sauce, not the dance -- tastes so good and stains so bad. For salsa spills, blot with club soda as soon as possible, then treat with Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover™ or Red Erase®. Both are fabulous at removing red stains from carpets, upholstery and clothes.

• Guacamole is my favorite, but what a cleaning disaster it is! Think about it: It’s oily and green. Clean up guacamole spills on carpets and upholstery by scraping with a dull, straight edge, such as a credit card. (The one you used to pay for the party should do nicely). Remove as much gunk as possible, then flush with cool, clear water. Once the surface is dry, apply a good carpet and upholstery cleaner according to the directions on the container. If you still have a green reminder, mix up a solution of ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of ammonia, spray on liberally, let sit 15 minutes, then blot. Continue until the stain is removed and then flush with club soda and blot until you have removed all the moisture possible.

If you happen to be wearing the guacamole stain, treat with Zout™ Stain Remover or rubbing alcohol. Gently dab the alcohol on the stain and let sit for 15 minutes before pretreating and laundering as usual.

If your house has that smoky, day-after smell, bring some white vinegar to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 30 minutes, being careful not to let the pan boil dry. Let the vinegar stand and after a few hours unwanted odors will be absorbed.

Did you know?

Simmering an orange or lemon peels can give your home a fresh, natural scent.

• If the upholstery smells like smoke, lay a clean sheet on the furniture and sprinkle it with ODORZOUT™. Let sit overnight, then remove the sheet and shake outside. ODORZOUT™ is all natural and won’t hurt anything. For carpet odors, sprinkle directly, then vacuum in the morning.

• Spilled ashtray? Don’t reach for the vacuum -- at least no right away. You could have a nasty vacuum fire on your hands, at which point you’ll be wishing that a spilled ashtray was your only problem! Pick up any butts and dispose of them in an empty can until you are sure they are cool. Ash on hard floors should be cleaned with a broom and dustpan; ash on carpet should be vacuumed using only the house -- no beater bar, which could grind the ash into the carpet. If you’re sensitive to cigarette odors, you may want to dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister. Never apply water to an ashtray spill. You’ll have a black, gooey mess on your hands that’s far worse than anything you started with.

• Somebody break a glass? It’s bounds to happens. Pick up the large shards first, the use a cut potato to pick up the slivers. (Yes, a potato). Just cut the potato in half and press down on the glass with the damp side. Vacuum the remaining small pieces, using the attachment hose to concentrate the suction, then vacuum the carpet thoroughly. Never use a vacuum with a beater bar to vacuum glass until you’ve picked up all you can with the potato and the attachment hose. The beater bar will only flip the glass around, making it harder to clean up the debris.

Let’s Dish!

Chi Chi’s Super Bowl Guacamole

• 4 ripe avocados, mashed or pureed (can do in a food processor)
• ½ cup canned diced green chilies
• ¼ cup minced onion
• 1 tablespoon salt
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• Combine all ingredients, cover and chill. Serve with corn chips.
• Makes about 3 cups.