JULY Cleaning Tips

Even the most devoted couch potato ventures out of the house in July. So haul out the baseball equipment, hop on that bike, put on the skate, go for a dip in the pool to cure those summertime blues. Sounds too energetic for you? Then how about becoming a chaise lounge or hammock potato at a beautiful campsite for a week or so. That can be a wonderfully relaxing way to recharge you body, let the kids run off some steam, and have some quality family time, too.

Let the Games Begin!

Take me out to the ball game . . . just make sure the equipment is clean and in good working order before you do. Otherwise, it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out!

Wash your baseball glove with a damp cloth and a moisturizing bath bar. Buff with a soft cloth -- no rinsing necessary. Keep the leather soft and supple by rubbing with a little petroleum jelly from time to time. Store your ball in the palm of your glove to help keep its shape.

Want to know the best way to clean your bike? Treat it like a car! Wash the frame with some hot water and a little dish washing liquid. Rinse well, dry, then apply a coat of car wax to prevent rust. Wash the seat with a little bit of bar soap on a soft cloth and buff dry.

Dented Ping-Pong balls? Just drop them into a bowl of hot water and let them float for a few minutes. Dings should pop right out. Sorry -- balls that are cracked or have large dents can’t be repaired.

Give your skateboard an occasional wash with good old soap and water. Pay special attention to the wheels by scrubbing with a brush to remove any embedded soil and stones that may slow you down.

Wearing petroleum jelly under your socks can prevent blisters. Apply a thin layer on tender parts before you exercise. And never wear sports socks more than one day running.

Odor can be a problem with skates -- both inline and ice. I recommend sprinkling with ODORZOUT™, a first-rate odor eliminator. Shake some into the boot, leave overnight, then gently shake out the following morning. ODORZOUT™ is an odor eliminator, not a perfumed cover-up, so your skates will stay fresher longer. Don’t have any? Try baking soda instead.

To clean skate boots, try using a microfiber cloth. Microfiber can be used on its own -- no harmful chemicals to damage those expensive skates.

Before you exchange your hockey equipment for baseball gear, make sure to store your pucks in the freezer. They’ll stay harder and more resilient that way!

Who Says There Ain’t No Cure?

Summer isn’t all fun and games. There are hot nights and insect bites, sunburns to sooth and lawn furniture to clean -- what we in the trade commonly refer to as the summertime blues. Read on for some handy cures.

• Remove dirt and mildewfrom child’s wading pool by flushing with warm water and baking soda.
• Sprinkle baby powder on sandy beach bodies and the sand will fall right off.
• A hot night and no a/c? Baby powder on your sheets will absorb moisture and give you a more comfortable night’s sleep. What, no baby powder? Use cornstarch instead!
• Wipe exposed skinwith undiluted white vinegar to discourage biting insects.
• Apply a compress of warm salt water if you’re bitten by a mosquito or chigger. For long-lasting itch relief, mix a little salt and solid shortening, such as Crisco®, and dab it directly on the bite.

That frosty file on the carton of ice cream is not a protective coating, and it can be prevented. Just cover the top of the ice cream with wax paper and press firmly. No more “protective crystals”!

• Deodorant that contains aluminum(and most do) can be put on a bite to control the itch.
• Sliding doors get a lot of use in the summer,so be sure to keep tracks clean well lubricated. The easiest way? Spritz tracks with furniture polish, then wipe with a dry cloth or paper towel. The polish will pick up a grime, and will keep the tracks better lubricated than a cleanser would. If you want to add some glide between cleanings, just wipe the tracks with a squared of waxed paper. Works every time!
• A plastic shower liner makes a great table cloth. It’s washable and inexpensive.
• Sheets make better beach blankets than blankets. They don’t hold sand and they’re easier to launder when you get home. Pick up some spares at a thrift store.
• Black pepper will deter ants. Just sprinkle under rugs or cupboard liners. Silverfish can be kept at bay with Epsom salts: Just shake some in cupboards and under lining paper in drawers.
• Put sunburned kids in a cool (not cold) baking soda bathfor half an hour. This also works well for chickenpox and mosquito bites.

I hate it when that happens . . .

Tar on bare feet? Remove it by rubbing vigorously with toothpaste.

• No need to use chemicals or expensive products to clean lawn furniture.Just rinse with warm water and baking soda. Sprinkle dry baking soda directly on stubborn marks -- this natural abrasive will take them right off!

Camping

THE NECESSITIES

• Campsites can be very dark in the evening, so make sure to bring along a torch, a candle, or flashlight. Even better, bring along all three. And don’t forget the batteries!
• Remember that Swiss army knifeyou got for Christmas three years ago? Now’s the time to use it. You’ll need some good kitchen knives, too, so don’t forget to bring those as well.
• Toilet paper in a lidded coffee cankeep it dry. Need I say more?
• Bring a few candles, a votive or tea light.

Make sure to bring along, a little dish washing liquid, a scouring pad and some absorbent towels.

• A cooked breakfast is one of the joys of camping, but bacon and eggs are not fingers foods. Don’t forget the cutlery, cooking utensils, a pot to boil water in, and a frying pan.

Rubbing two sticks together to make a fire is highly overrated. Don’t try to be macho. Bring along matches or a lighter.

• Bring along a length of nylon rope. You can use it for dozens of things, such as drying clothes, elevating food so that animals don’t get at it, and knocking up emergency shelter. You can even use it to replace those lost guy ropes. Use your imagination . . . just don’t tie up the kids!
• Bandannas are wonderfully versatile. They make good napkins, facecloths, bandages and slings. Tuck one under the back of your baseball cap to keep the sun off your neck, foreign-legion style!
• A first-aid kit is a must. Make sure yours is stocked with bandages, antiseptic, tweezers, a thin needle for splinters, Imodium® for those tummy troubles, aspirin or aspirin-substitute, sunscreen and sunburn relief, insect repellent and a whistle to call for help in an emergency.

Cell phones are great, but the batteries on whistles never run down and work in an emergency when there’s no bars on your phone.

• Bring soap.You can find the water when you get there.
• Dental floss and a darning needlewill come in handy for quick repairs to holes in clothes and tents.
• Duct tapes is indispensable.

FIRE STARTERS

There’s an easy way to dry out wet kindling. Construct aa small tepee out of your kindling, making sure to leave an opening into which you can insert a tea light or votive candle. Insert the lighted candle, then watch as the kindling crackles and dries. You should have a fire under way by the time the candle has burned down.

Pine cones make great kindling. They heat up fast and burn for a long time.

• Bring along a few cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet paper. Twist a few sheets of newspaper to fit inside the tube (I find the business section works best), making sure to leave some paper hanging out the ends. Toss a few of these in with twigs and wood and you’ll have a roaring fire in no time!

• My dad and I learned -- quite accidentally -- that grease from cooking pans makes a great fire starter! Use paper towels to wipe up the grease from pots and pans, then store them in self-closing plastic bags. The next time you need to start a campfire, wrap some twigs in the paper and set them alight!

• Keeping matches dry can be a challenge, but if you dip the match head and part of the matchstick, into some candle wax, it will resist water. Light as usual -- the act of striking the match will remove the wax. (This only works on wooden matches, not cardboard.)
• Rub the outside of pots and pans with a bar of soap before you use them. Do this to both the bottom and sides of the pan, and soot will wipe right off, along with the soap.

LOITERING WITHIN YOUR TENT

• Rocks, twigs, and other sharp objects may damage your tent, so make sure the ground is clear before you set up camp.
• Avoid wearing heavy shoes inside the tents.
• Use extreme caution around open flames. Nylon tents melt easily.
• Pack tent poles carefully to avoid punctures.
• Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can weaken tent fibers, so wherever possible, set up the tent in a shaded area.
• A strip of glow-in-the-dark tape wrapped around tent stakes will ensure that you never trip over them again!
• Drive tent stakes twelve inches into the ground to provide adequate stability, even in the wind. The stakes should be at a 45-degree angle, slating awayfrom the tent. Paint each stake at the 12-inch mark and you’ll never have to guess again!

CLEANING YOUR TENT

Make sure to store your tent correctly -- that means cleaning it first. With proper care your tent can last for years.

• Shake off all loose debris before packing and storing the tent. Clean any spots with a wet brushed rubbed over a bar of Fels-Naptha Soap®, then rinse. Air-dry thoroughly. A damp tent is a breeding ground for mildew.

• Stakes should be stored alongside the tent, but make sure to put them in a canvas bag or even a few old pillowcases -- something to ensure that the stakes will not tear or puncture the tent itself.

• Take action at the first sing of mildew -- an organic rotting odor, black spots or a powdery white smudge. Sponge the tent with a solution of disinfectant and 1 gallon of warm water. Allow to dry on the tent (think leave-in-conditioner) and air-dry thoroughly prior to storing. For advanced mildew use a combination of 1 cup of lemon juice (real or bottled) and 1 gallon of warm water. Rub onto visible mildew and allow to dry facing the sun.

• Spray zippers with a silicone lubricant to ensure smooth action and prevent freezing. Rubbing with paraffin or candle wax works well, too.

PREPARING YOUR TENT

• Stakes and tent poles cause the majority of tears in canvas tents. Either the pole slips and tears the fabric next to the eyelet, or the canvas itself is tied too tightly to the ground stakes. Bear this in mind when setting up your tent.

• Canvas is too heavy for most home sewing machines, so if your tent is generally in good condition, you may want to consider getting it repaired by a tent or sail maker.

• For a cheaper alternative, glue an appropriate-sized square of canvas to the tent. Make sure you overlap the tear by about one to two inches. Putting a patch on both sides of the tent will reinforce the repair. Use fabric glue or even a hot glue gun and remember to waterproof the repair once the glue is dry.

• Duct tape is great for making emergency repairs. Just make sure to tape both sides of the tear. And remember: This is just an interim measure. Have your tent properly repaired once you get back home.

• Nylon or cotton hiking-type tents can be repaired on a home sewing machine. Look for patch kits, available where tents are sold.

 Never underestimate the power of a large darning needle and dental floss.

IT’S IN THE BAG

Keep your sleeping bag clean and mildew free by washing it in a large capacity machine. Add ½ cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax to the water along with your detergent, and ½ cup of white vinegar in the rinse instead of fabric softener.

Make sure that the sleeping bag is totally dry before storing to prevent mildew. When ready to store place about a quarter cup of baking soda in a nylon stocking and tuck inside the sleeping bag to prevent odors. A good sprinkling of baking soda will help to keep it fresh, too. Store your sleeping bag inside a king-size pillowcase to keep it clean.