Spring is here! It’s a good time to pass along some cleaning tips and tricks that we’ve learned since moving into our new manufactured home eight months ago. I must admit we have experienced a few clean-up problems. We didn’t know how to solve them until we received advice from the experts – our home’s manufacturer and our community manager.
Before using any cleaning or polishing product be sure to test it on a small inconspicuous area to make sure you achieve the desired result.
The Dirty Window Problem:
No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t remove all the streaking from our home’s windows. I used several different types of window cleaners and my old standby vinegar and water, to no avail. With every cleaning the windows remained a little hazy and streaked.
The Clean Window Solution:
When I told my tale of woe to our community manager he suggested we go to an auto supply store and buy window spray that’s designed for use on automobile windshields. I used a product called “Invisible Glass” but other brands are also available in auto supply stores.
Manufactured homes, just like automobiles are built in factories and manufacturing residue is often difficult to remove from glass. This special glass cleaner got rid of the streaking from our windows in one application. But here is a word of warning. Read the directions on the spray can carefully. Do not use paper towels to wipe off the cleaner because paper can scratch the window. Instead use a soft, clean, lint free cloth or towel to wipe off the cleaner. Crumpled newspaper can also be used.
Personally I like to wipe the windows with Don’s old white, cotton T-shirts. I also discovered that the auto glass cleaner makes mirrors sparkle again without any haze or streaking. “Invisible Glass” is a little more expensive than grocery store glass cleaners, but well worth the investment.
The Floor Adhesive Problem:
Shortly after moving in we noticed there was some glue and adhesive residue on vinyl floors in the kitchen and bathrooms. The sticky adhesive was only located in some areas near the baseboards and was nearly impossible to remove. I tried every floor cleaner I could think of but the stubborn stains wouldn’t budge.
The Clean Floor Solution:
Once again our community manager came to the rescue with some surprising advice.
He said to use WD-40 to clean off the adhesive. It worked like a charm. Most stains came up in the first application. I just sprayed on the WD-40, let it sit for about 5 minutes and wiped it off. A few stains had to be retreated the next day, but came off completely after the second application.
Using the Owner’s Manual:
Cleaning windows and floors was easier once we knew what products to use inside and outside our manufactured home. Additional cleaning questions were answered in our Owner’s Manual. We found out it’s a very good resource to find out what cleaners to use on our home and the home’s appliances. We keep this important information in a file cabinet for easy reference.
The Owner’s Manual covers interior maintenance and cleaning for walls, ceilings, doors, windows, floors, counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, showers and toilets. We also found useful advice in the Owner’s Manual on exterior maintenance and cleaning for our home’s siding, roof, caulking, locks and winter protection is also during non-occupancy.
More Spring Cleaning Tips:
When you’ve finished reading this month’s “Colleen’s Chronicles” click on the Indoors section of MyGreatHome® for a Spring Cleaning Checklist.
The Checklist lists major chores inside and outside a manufactured home and some useful information on how to close a seasonal home.
Avoiding Household Hazards:
Spring cleaning time is also a good time to get rid of potential fire hazards around the house. For example, we make sure there are no cleaning materials filled with chemicals stored under our sink, near the furnace, water heater or stove. Better yet, we use natural or nontoxic cleansers when possible.
Don and I cleared out closets that were stuffed with items that could feed a fire. We got rid of boxes, linens and papers left over from our move from Florida. We threw away some items, but most were donated to a local shelter for the homeless.
We also set one day aside for trimming bushes, plants and trees away from our home to get rid of fuel for any potential fire. Later on in the year decreasing amounts of rainfall could lead to dry spots in our yard. If that happens we’ll make sure to promptly remove dried weeds or vegetation to help eliminate a potential fire hazard.
Making Homemade Cleaners:
For years I have used simple cleaning recipes to keep my home ship-shape. Not only is it less expensive, it’s better for my lungs and the environment - not to mention safer. All you need is some white vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, olive oil and lemon juice to make great cleaning solutions.
Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 1 cup of water in a sprayer bottle to clean countertops, floors and exterior surfaces of the toilet. Undiluted white vinegar makes quick work of tougher cleaning problems such as hard water deposits or soap scum. A clogged shower head can be simply cleaned by placing it in a plastic food storage bag filled with l/2 cup vinegar, let it stand overnight and rinse.
Baking soda is a mild abrasive and deodorizer that can replace harsh commercial scouring powders. Make a paste of baking soda and water to remove dirt, soap scum, and kitchen deposits in the kitchen sink. Keep bathroom drains free by pouring ¾ cup baking soda into the drain. Let stand overnight then flush thoroughly with hot water for clean deodorized drains.
A stronger all-purpose cleaning solution can be made by mixing 1 tablespoon clear ammonia, 1 tablespoon clear laundry detergent and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.
Here is a “salad dressing” version of furniture polish that really works! Just mix 1 cup of olive oil and l/2 cup of lemon juice in a sprayer bottle. Shake well and apply a small amount to a cleaning cloth and spread evenly over the furniture surface. Turn the cloth to a dry side and polish dry. This homemade recipe works better than expensive furniture polishers because the lemon juice dissolves dirt and smudges, while olive oil shines and protects the wood.
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