NOVEMBER Cleaning Tips

It’s November, and the year is almost over! Where did it go? Thank heavens for Thanksgiving and the time to pause, to give thanks for what we have. Thanksgiving is a time of tradition -- a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings, Grandmother’s silverware, Aunt Jean’s china, and Uncle Jim’s bad jokes. Take the time to care for these precious heirlooms, and not only will you enjoy them now, but you’ll be able to pass them along for years to come. Oh, and when you’re finished with the china and silverware, take a moment to get ready for the snow, depending on where you are in the world. November is the gateway to winter after all.

Traditions at the Table

THE CHINA SYNDROME

First things first. You’ll need to evaluate what you have, so remove everything from the cabinet and place it on the dining table. Don’t put the china on a bare table (you could scratch the finish), and don’t put it on the floor where you might break something -- those I Love Lucy situations are best avoided!

Now’s the time to get tough. If you’re really going to repair that teacup -- you know, the one’s that’s been broken since the Carter administration -- now’s the time to do it. If it can’t be repaired, and if it doesn’t really have any sentimental value, throw it out. Bear in mind that cracked dishes can be unsafe to eat off of because food and decries can settle in the cracks and not come out during washing. If in doubt, throw it out.

If you have a piece of china that has great sentimental value but is broken beyond repair, consider putting it in a sturdy bag and giving it a good whack. Collect the pieces (there won’t be a million -- trust me) and glue them around a picture frame or on a trinket box. Add some jewels, pearls, or artificial flowers, letting your imagination run wild. You’ll end up with a lovely keepsake.

TIP - Never use the dishwasher for antique china, china with metal trim or hand-painted china.

Dishes that don’t get regular use should be cleaned before use. Soap and water will generally do the trick. Just make sure to rinse well. For special challenges, like black cutlery marks on china plates, use non-gel toothpaste on a soft cloth to rub the marks away. If you have fine, hairline cracks in old china, soak it in warm milk for 30 to 60 minutes. The cracks should disappear when you remove the plate from the milk. Wash as usual and dry well. If food has left any stains on the china, make a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar, and rub gently. Rinse the piece well when you’re done.

The next step is to dust the cabinet shelves with a soft cloth. Then wash them with a cloth that has been immersed in a mild, soapy solution (1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap to 1 gallon of warm water) and then wrung out until just damp. Wash well and dry thoroughly with a soft, lint-free cloth. You may prefer to wash the shelves with a solution of brewed tea (1 quart of warm water and 1 tea bag). Allow the solution to cool to room temperature and wash the shelves using a soft cloth. Then dry thoroughly. A damp microfiber cloth can also be used.

Glass doors should be cleaned with a solution of 2 parts warm water to 1 part rubbing alcohol. Apply the solution directly to the cloth, then wipe gently in small circular motions. Make sure to clean the corners of the glass, too. Buff with a dry, lint-free cloth.

TIP - Never spray glass cleaner directly onto glass doors, picture frames or mirrors. The solution can seep into the wood and can cause damage to the surrounding areas.

Sliding doors have tracks that need to be cleaned from time to time. The crevice attachment on your vacuum cleaner is perfect for this. After you’ve vacuumed, wash the track with a damp, soapy toothbrush and dry with a soft cloth. Keep the track and doors running smoothly by rubbing them with a little lemon oil or spraying with some furniture polish.

Okay. You’ve cleaned your cabinet and evaluated its contents. Now’s the time to put everything back. Take stock of what you have before returning items to the shelves. What are your favorite pieces? What do you want to display, and what would you rather conceal? Bear this in mind as you arrange your cabinet. Put larger pieces at the back of cabinet, smaller items in front. Create groupings. Keep one set of china together, silver together, and crystal together, and so on. Put the things you seldom use in the back or on the shelf that’s most difficult to reach, and keep them clean by covering with plastic wrap. Always empty sugar from the china sugar bowl.

Stack dinner plates, dessert plates, saucers and other flat items together, and insert a napkin or paper towel between each one to avoid scratches. Sit groups of these flat items on each other to make the most of your space. Cups are more delicate and easily broken, though, so don’t stack them more than two deep. Be creative with your groupings. Try putting some of your old and new pieces together. You may just see things in a whole new light!

If you plan to wash your china in the automatic dishwasher, take one piece (say, a cup) and wash it over the course of a month to determine if it’s dishwasher safe. Just leave the cup in the dishwasher and let it run through the wash with your everyday dishes. Take a look at the piece every few days or so. If it appears that the trim is changing color, the pattern is fading or small cracks are occurring, you’ll want to stop the experiment. If the piece remains unharmed, you can follow with the rest of your set. For best results, use the “china” or “short” cycle, was well as the “energy saver” or “no heat” drying cycle. (You’ll save energy and money, too!) I wish I could tell you another easy test you could try, but there isn’t one. If you are buying a large set of china, you might want to consider buying one extra, inexpensive piece to try this dishwasher experiment.

Crystal that stands up securely in the rack can be washed in the dishwasher. It should not lean, lay sideways or hook over the prongs on the dishwasher rack. Don’t allow crystal pieces to bump against each other during washing - -they’ll chip. Avoid water spots on crystal by adding 1 teaspoon of 20 Mule Team™ Borax to your automatic dishwashing detergent.

TIP - Place a towel in the bottom of the sink when hand-washing crystal. The towel will cushion the crystal and prevent breakage.

When hand-washing crystal, wash only a few pieces at a time and make sure not to overload the sink. Crystal should be cleaned in hot water, but no too hot. As a general rule, if the water is too hot for your hands, it’s too hot for the crystal. Sudden changes of temperature can cause crystal to crack, so place it sideways into the water instead of bottom first. For a squeaky clean finish, add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to the water, along with your liquid dish soap.

Crystal should be stored upright, as you would drink from it. A lot of people like to store glasses upside down to prevent dust from accumulating in goblet or flute, but it’s not a good idea. Moisture can be trapped inside the glass, causing damage to the crystal and the shelf on which it’s stored.

TIP - Cranberry stains on that tablecloth? Try Carboni Stain Devils found in the laundry aisle or online.

HI HO SILVER

Acidic food and their residue can tarnish silver and may even cause it to pit. Salt, egg yolk, fish, broccoli, mayonnaise and mustard are the biggest offenders. Get into the habit of rinsing your silver right after you clear the table. You may not be able to wash the dishes right away -- I know it’s not my idea of an after-dinner treat -- but a thorough rinsing will go a long way to prevent permanent damage.

Wash silverware in hot water and mild dishwashing liquid. Rinse well, and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Don’t allow silver to air-dry, as this can result in water spotting. Silver must be dry before storing, so make sure to dry well.

Did you know?

Rubber causes silver to tarnish, so don’t dry pieces on a rubber mat or store it wrapped in rubber bands.

• Silverware washed in a dishwasher should never be mixed with stainless steel cutlery. Pitting may occur.
• Never store silver in plastic bags or plastic wrap. That traps condensation and can encourage tarnish.
• Store silver in a tarnish-proof bag or wrap it in acid-free tissue paper. If you wear clean, soft gloves when doing this task, you won’t leave finger marks -- that’s where tarnish can begin.
• For quick silver cleaning, put strips of aluminum foil in a large bowl, place the silver on top of the foil, pour boiling water over the silver and add 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Soak for a few minutes, then rinse and dry. Don’t use this method on hollow or glued pieces.
• Rubbing silver with a damp cloth dipped in baking soda will also remove tarnish. Or try a little Non-gel toothpaste on a soft, damp cloth. Rinse and dry thoroughly before using.

Just boiled some potatoes? Let the water cool and then pour over silver. Allow it to soak for 30 minutes. Wash, rinse and rub with a soft cloth. The starch in the potato water will clean the sliver.

• Never store salt in silver saltshakers. This could lead to tarnish.
• Remove tarnish and other stains from the inside of silver coffeepots by rubbing with a fine piece of steel wool dipped in white vinegar and salt. Use grade 0000.
• Place several sugar cubes in a silver coffeepot before storing, and you’ll never had an old, must smell. The Queen Mom taught me that on!
• Clean the inside of silver teapots by filling with water to which you have added a small handful of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda™. Let soak overnight, rinse and dry well.
• Clean silver-plated items as you would real silver, but be gentle -- silver plating can rub off.
• Cleaning silver is important, but be careful not to rub to hard on the hallmark. If you wear it off or distort it, the value of the set will be reduced.

Silver takes on a beautiful patina with age and with use -- rather like a Queen! -- so don’t just keep it stored away in a drawer. A beautifully set table is an important part of a holiday meal, and your silverware is a meaningful part of that setting. So use your silverware, treat it well, and each time you set the table you’ll have a beautiful memories to enjoy.

TIP - If someone spills gravy on your tablecloth during dinner, sprinkle the spill with baking soda or salt to absorb it and enjoy the rest of the meal. After dinner, treat with stain remover and launder as usual.

GIVE SNOW AND SALT THE BOOT

• Keep boots looking their best by applying a good coat of quality paste polish and following up with a spray of water protectant.
• Damp or wet boots should be dried standing up. A roll of cardboard or a bent wire hanger will help them keep their shape. Never allow boots to dry on a heat register -- the leather could crack.
• Remove salt stains by wiping with a mixture of 1 part water and a 1 part white vinegar.

Buttons on heavy winter coats have to do double duty, what with that heavy fabric and the constant on-and-off as you go from indoors to out. Try sewing them on with dental floss instead. It’s stronger and longer-lasting than most thread, so you’ll never be bothered with missing buttons again. If your coat is dark, just finish off with a few loops of dark thread to avoid an ugly contrast.

CAR DETAIL

• Don’t wait until it’s too late. Schedule a tune-up and winterizing appointment for your car.
• Give your car a thorough cleaning before the winter sets in. Don’t forget to vacuum the carpet and upholstery, and treat it with a good-quality fabric protector.
• Make sure the dashboard and defroster are clear from obstructions.
• Rubber mats with deep, diagonal grooves really help to capture melting snow. They’re a good investment.
• Locks frozen in your car? If your car is in the garage near an electrical outlet, use a blow-dryer on the low setting to direct the warn air into the lock, from a distance of about six inches. That should do the trick. If your car is outside, heat your key with a match or lighter and insert it into the lock. Leave it there for a few minutes, and then gently turn the key. You may have to do this a few times, but it should work. Don’t try this method if your lock has an electronic device.You could damage the chip.
• Rub Vaseline™ on the gaskets so doors don’t freeze.

TIP - Prevent frozen locks in your car by covering the lock with a couple of layers of masking tape. The tape will keep the lock free from moisture, and that’s what causes the ice to form.

• Getting stuck in the snow can be a real pain in the radials, so keep a bag of Kitty Litter™ in your trunk for some much needed-traction. A few layers of newspaper work well, too.
• Don’t run out of windshield washer fluid. One part rubbing alcohol to 1 part water, and a few drops of liquid dish soap, work well on winter windshields. And if you treat them first with Rain-X® protectant, they’ll be that much easier to clean. Snow and grime will wipe right off.
• You can shave a few minutes off your morning snow detail if you place an old beach towel on the windshield the night before a forecasted snowfall. Tuck the towel beneath the windshield wipers before the snowfall, pull it off afterward, and you won’t have to scrape your windows. Just give the towel a good shake and dream of sunnier days. A mitten placed on your sideview mirror will save you time, too!
• It’s always a good idea to keep an emergency kit in your car during winter. Nobody leaves the house saying, “I think I’ll get stuck in the snow today,” so be prepared. Take along the following:

Blanket

Cell Phone

Flashlight and some extra batteries

Two bottles of water

Power bar (for emergencies only!)

Piece of red cloth to tie to the car

SHOVEL IT

Every year hundreds of people suffer heart attacks from shoveling snow. Follow these simple rules to minimize the hazards.

• Never shovel snow after a heavy meal.
• Dress in layers and always wear a hat.
• Don’t shovel snow after you’ve been drinking.
• Don’t overload your shovel -- snow can be very heady.
• Always bend from the knees.
• Make sure someone knows where you are.
• Pace yourself. Take frequent breaks.

TIP - Give your snow shovel a coat of nonstick cooking spray before you start to tackle the driveway. You won’t be bothered with those annoying clumps that stick to the shovel!

Happy Thanksgiving!