Cheaper, Better, Faster (3 page)

Test-drive—nighttime assurance

Before making a final car-buying decision, test-drive the car at night. You want to make sure the headlights are powerful enough for your comfort and that everything else that's supposed to light up, does.

Test-drive—with
rental car

If you are in the market for a new car, rent one or two of your choices for a weekend when the rental rates are at their lowest. Drive it under a variety of conditions and for long periods of time. A five-minute test-drive with a hovering dealer sitting in the seat next to you may not give you a true representation of the car's performance and comfort the way a few days on your own will.

Test-drive—without radio or CD

When you are test-driving a used car, turn the radio or CD player off. The stereo system can mask other car sounds that a conscientious buyer should be listening for and creates a false sense of euphoria about the car. Listen to the stereo after you have completely evaluated other areas of operation.

Tire—change without getting dirty

Store a sweat suit, sneakers, a pair of old socks, surgical gloves, and/or a package of wet wipes in the trunk of the car next to the spare tire. This way, if there's a flat tire, throw the sweats on over your good clothes, change to sneakers, and even protect your hands with gloves if you'd like. Change the tire without having to worry about getting dirty. Another plus: If the car breaks down, the sneakers will feel better on your walk to the nearest service station.

Tire plugs

Always stash a tire-plugging kit with your car's spare tire. This is nothing more than a
few small rubber plugs and a special tool for inserting them. It is quite simple to use following the directions on the kit. Often a damaged tire can be sealed and plugged right on the vehicle. Kit manufacturers recommend that you have the tire inspected by a professional afterward, but in most cases the plugs are permanent. Be sure to air the tire back up to recommended specs, and if you have removed the wheel, be sure to properly torque the lug nuts after you reinstall it.

Tire pressure

Check the pressure of your tires frequently. Underinflation increases rolling resistance, which increases tire wear and gas consumption by as much as 5 percent.

Tire rotation

Rotate your tires every 6,000 to 9,000 miles. The goal of rotation is to get the tires to wear uniformly. Check your car owner's manual for the recommended rotation scheme. Some drivers get in the habit of rotating their tires every other oil change.

Tires—retreads okay

Consider buying retreads or blemished tires, particularly for an older car. You can save up to 50 percent of the cost of new tires, and the law requires that they be safe.

Tires—spotting wear

Uneven tire wear often is easier to spot with your fingers than with your eyes. Run your hands from side to side and up and down the tread. Uneven wear could indicate misalignment or loose chassis parts. Beware of pieces of steel belting or metal embedded in the tire that could cut your hand.

Touch-
up paint

Liquid Paper (white correction fluid available at an office supply store) makes a great touch-up paint for white cars. It covers beautifully, dries to a
hard finish, and holds up well through weather and washing. To apply, either use the built-in applicator or tear a match from a book of matches and use the cardboard end as a tiny paintbrush. If and when it wears away, simply reapply.

Traction—with cat litter

In winter weather carry a heavy bag of clay-based cat litter in your trunk so the extra weight will help keep the vehicle stable. If you are stuck in snow or ice, clear the area around your drive wheels, pour litter in front of the tires in the direction you want to go, and then drive away slowly. Clay is handy for gaining traction, but it is heavy. Once the possibility of snow is past, remove the litter from your trunk in the interest of optimum gas mileage.

Traction—with floor mats

If your car gets stuck in the snow, slip one or more of the floor mats under the stuck tire(s) to provide the traction you need to get out.

Trailer
hitch

Don't consider buying a used car that has a trailer hitch. Trailer towing indicates heavy service, and you'll be happier with a car that has been gently used, not possibly abused.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) matchup

Never buy a used car without seeing the ownership documents. Match the car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the driver's side of the dashboard with the VIN on the title and registration.

Windshield—snow and ice removal

You won't have to scrape snow and ice from your windshield if you place a large, plastic, cut-open trash bag over the dry windshield when your car is parked; secure the bottom edge under the windshield wipers and close the sides in the car doors.

Windshield—washer fluid

Mix together 3 cups rubbing alcohol and 1 tablespoon liquid detergent in a gallon-size jug. Fill with water, cover, and shake to mix well. Label it, cap tightly, and keep out of reach of children. Shake well, then pour the mixture into your car's windshield washer compartment. You can use this in your car year-round because the alcohol will prevent it from freezing in the winter.

Windshield wiper—blade
renewal

To get a few more months' use out of windshield wiper blades, lightly sand the edge of the rubber blade with superfine sandpaper. Be sure to carefully remove all traces of sand from the blades, reattach, and they'll work like new.

Air freshener—foliage “filters”

The world's best home air fresheners are green plants. Houseplants help filter the air of indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde and benzene. The best of these green air cleaners are spider plants, philodendron, and aloe vera. Work plants into your home's environment whenever you can. One plant for about every 100 square feet can remove up to 87 percent of toxic organic pollutants. And their gift to the home? They produce oxygen.

Aluminum cookware—cream of tartar

To remove stains and discoloration from aluminum cookware, fill the cookware with hot water and add 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar to each quart of water. Bring the solution to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes. Wash as usual and dry.

Aluminum pots and pans—cream of tartar mixture

Mix together
¼
cup cream of tartar,
¼
cup baking soda,
¼
cup white vinegar, and 2
tablespoons liquid soap. Store the mixture in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Label and keep out of reach of children. To use, rub a small amount of the cleaner on the aluminum pan and scour with fine steel wool.

Ashes

Use a spray bottle filled with water to very lightly dampen ashes before you start to sweep.

Baking soda—all-purpose cleaner

Baking soda is a nonabrasive cleanser. Use it without worry on fine china, porcelain appliances, the inside of the refrigerator, stainless steel, aluminum, and cast iron. You can use it either in its powdered form or mix it with water to make a paste. Baking soda is a wonderful cleaner for everything from countertops to rolling pins to gold-trimmed dishes. And if you want to remove an offensive odor, think baking soda.

Baking soda—dispenser

Keep baking soda handy by pouring some into a dispenser with a sprinkle top. An old salt- or pepper shaker or Parmesan cheese dispenser that is refillable works well. Use it for microwave oven cleanup and to rid the counter of coffee stains.

Ballpoint
pen ink on plastic

Really cheap hair spray removes ballpoint pen ink from plastic because it has a high amount of acetone.

Bathroom and kitchen cleaner—homemade

Dissolve 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart of warm water for a basic bathroom cleaner. Use dry baking soda on a damp sponge for tough areas. Baking soda will clean and deodorize all kitchen and bathroom surfaces.

Bathtub—caulking

Use rubbing alcohol to clean silicone caulking around bathtubs.

Bathtub—clean with a
mop

Mops offer an easy-on-the-back-and-knees alternative for cleaning the bathtub. Sprinkle tub with cleanser and swish away grime.

Bathtub—porcelain ring removal

To remove that really gross bathtub ring, apply a paste of hydrogen peroxide mixed with cream of tartar to stained porcelain surfaces. Scrub lightly, let dry, then rinse with warm water. Repeat if necessary.

Blender

To clean a blender, fill it less than halfway with hot, soapy water, replace the lid, and turn the machine on at the lowest speed for a minute or two. Rinse the blender thoroughly, then towel-dry it before using again.

Brass—lemon, baking soda

Rub the surface of brass with a slice of fresh lemon sprinkled with baking soda. Rinse well and wipe dry.

Brass—lemon, salt

Polish outdoor brass with lemon and salt. Cut a lemon in half, dip the cut side into salt, and use as an applicator. Do not use this on brass that has a permanent protective coating.

Candleholders

Clean wax drips from candleholders by putting them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or an old towel in a warm oven set to 200ºF. The paper or towel will catch the wax as it drips.

Candles

Clean dusty, dingy candles by wiping them with rubbing alcohol.

Can opener blade

To clean that cruddy electric can opener blade, soak an old toothbrush in vinegar, hold
it under the blade wheel, and turn on the can opener.

Carpet—blot it out

After you clean a spot on the carpet, don't rub it dry. Instead, place a clean, white towel on top of the spot and weight it down with a book or heavy jar. Leave it overnight and it will act as a blotter to transfer all traces of the stain and whatever you used to treat the stain to the towel.

Carpet—clean right before you leave town

Plan your departure time wisely so you can shampoo your carpets right before you're ready to walk out the door for a weekend trip or vacation. The carpet can dry without foot traffic for several days while you're gone.

Carpet—clean
-spot protector

Use a small, clean, plastic basket in which berries are sold to cover a place on the carpet you've just spot-shampooed. Upside down, the basket permits air to circulate, yet keeps family members and pets off the spot until it dries.

Carpet—deodorizer

Sprinkle liberal amounts of baking soda over a dry carpet; then wait 15 minutes before you start to vacuum.

Carpet—dry cleaning

Mix together 2 cups baking soda,
½
cup cornstarch, 4 or 5 crumbled bay leaves, and 1 tablespoon ground cloves. Store in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Label and keep out of reach of children. To use, shake a generous amount of cleaner over the area to be cleaned. Scrub mixture into the heavily stained area with a stiff brush. Leave overnight. Vacuum thoroughly in the morning.

Carpet—scrubber

The best tool for scrubbing a carpet spot is another piece of carpet.

Carpet—soaking wet

When pipes break and the carpet is soaked, put rubbing alcohol in the carpet steam cleaner to rinse away mildew and speed drying. Use approximately 8 ounces per tank.

Carpet—stain removal, rubbing alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is an easy and inexpensive spot remover for carpets. Lightly rub a drop or two into the stain, then blot the spot dry with a clean, white cloth.

Carpet—stain removal, Tide solution

Here's a highly effective and economical way to remove stains from carpeting: Mix together 1 part Tide powder, 2 parts white vinegar, and 2 parts warm water. Scrub the soiled area, then rinse with clear, warm water. From oil to mud to wine stains, they'll all disappear.

Cast iron seasoning

To season a new or newly scrubbed cast iron pan, coat it with mineral or vegetable oil and place it in a warm, 200ºF oven for a few hours. The oil will slowly soak into the pan.

Ceilings

Textured ceilings collect fuzz and tiny dust bunnies. Don't try to wash that ceiling. Instead, grab two lint roller refills and cram one onto each end of a paint roller. Now roll the ceiling clean as you would any other linty situation. All the fuzz will stick to the lint rollers and you'll be so happy.

Ceramic tile

Wipe ceramic tile clean with a solution of automatic dishwasher detergent and water.

Chandelier

Hang an umbrella upside down from the chandelier to catch the drips while you're
cleaning it. Pour 2 parts isopropyl rubbing alcohol and 1 part warm water into a spray bottle. Spray chandelier liberally, and allow the fixture to drip-dry.

Chrome—baby oil

A quick and easy cleaner for chrome is baby oil sprinkled on a damp cloth.

Chrome—baking soda

Clean chrome fixtures with a damp cloth sprinkled with baking soda.

Chrome—nail polish remover

Nail polish remover gives chrome a nice sparkle. Be careful. It's strong stuff and could remove the color from anything it touches around the chrome.

Chrome—vinegar

To clean chrome, wipe with a soft cloth dipped in undiluted white or cider vinegar.

Cleaners with color coding

Add a tiny drop of food coloring to a cleaning mix in a spray bottle to distinguish the contents from other sprays and keep a list of which color represents which cleaner. The food coloring will not affect the cleaner.

Cleaning tools—apron with pockets

Get an apron with lots of pockets to wear from room to room as you clean. Put the supplies you need for each room in the pockets so you have everything you need at your fingertips. Use one of the pockets to hold a soapy sponge in a plastic bag for touch-up work around light switches, doorjambs, and so on.

Cleaning tools—cleaning rags

To save yourself from rummaging for cleaning rags every time you clean, use a rubber band to attach a cloth to each cleaning product that requires one. When you're finished, just
tuck the rag back under the rubber band. Wash or replace cloths periodically.

Cleaning tools—colander for cleanup

Keep a colander in the sink and scrape food from dishes into it at dish-washing time. This is more efficient than your standing over the garbage pail, and liquids will go down the drain rather than into your pail.

Cleaning tools—dust cloths

Make your own dust cloths by dipping cheesecloth into a mixture of 2 cups water and
¼
cup lemon oil. Do not rinse, and allow to dry thoroughly before using. When the cloths are dirty, wash and repeat.

Cleaning tools—for
skinny spaces

How do you clean that little bit of floor between the refrigerator and the wall? Tie a nylon-net scrubbing pad over the end of a yardstick or broom handle, securing it tightly with string or twine. Use it first to pull out any debris and dust, then wet it with a detergent-water solution and scrub away.

Clothes iron—baking soda

You can clean the scorched starch from the bottom of an iron by making a paste of baking soda and a little water, rubbing it on the iron with a soft cloth, and wiping it off with a clean cloth.

Clothes iron—clogged steam ports

Clean the clogged steam ports in your iron with a bent-open paper clip, then fill the reservoir with a mixture of
⅓
cup white vinegar and 1 tablespoon baking soda that has been well blended. Allow to steam. Empty the reservoir by turning it upside down over the sink. Follow with plain water and allow to steam. You may have to allow three or four reservoirs of water to steam through to remove all traces of vinegar.

Clothes iron—salt,
wax paper

To remove burned-on starch from your iron, sprinkle salt on a sheet of wax paper and slide the iron across it several times. Then rub the iron lightly with silver polish until the stain is removed.

Coffee
and tea stains

Remove coffee and tea stains by scrubbing pots or cups with baking soda and a nylon-net scrubbing pad.

Computer—keyboard

As a cheaper alternative to canned air, a new paintbrush is great for dusting hard-to-get-at crevices in computer keyboards. Unplug the keyboard and vacuum it regularly, using the soft brush attachment. To dislodge particles of dirt and dust, turn the keyboard upside down and hit it several times with the flat of your hand. Periodically, clean the keys with a lint-free cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Computer or TV monitor—cleaning

Spraying glass cleaner directly onto the monitor screen can cause damage. Instead spray a mild cleaner or rubbing alcohol onto a soft lint-free rag, then wipe the screen.

Computer or
TV monitor—dusting

Save the dryer sheets from your laundry after they've softened a load of wash. They make great dusting and cleaning cloths for television and computer screens. Not only will they clean the screens, the antistatic properties will treat the screens to repel rather than attract dust.

Copper—vinegar, salt

For tarnished copper, fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and 3 tablespoons salt. Pop the open bottle into the microwave and heat on high for about 45 seconds or until quite warm but not too hot to handle. Screw on the spray pump, spray liberally, let sit briefly, then rinse with warm,
soapy water, and wipe clean. Don't use on lacquered items.

Copper, brass—vinegar,
flour

To clean copper and brass that does not have a factory-applied protective coating, dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in
½
cup white vinegar. Add enough flour to make a paste. Apply the paste and let sit for 15 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse with warm water and polish dry.

Copper, brass, bronze—toothpaste

Small brass, copper, or bronze objects can be cleaned and made to gleam with a little toothpaste. Be sure to remove all traces of toothpaste with a soft brush, soap, and water, because any that is left will dry as hard as cement.

Countertops—food stains

To remove food stains from countertops, cover the stains with a paste of baking soda and water. Let it sit a few minutes, then wipe with a cloth or sponge.

Countertops—laminate

Plastic laminate countertops like Formica that have become dull with age can be brightened by applying a coat of a good automobile wax; allow to dry slightly and buff off. This will also make the surface stain- and scratch-resistant.

Crayon—on chalkboard

An oil-base lubricating spray like WD-40 or a prewash treatment like Soilove should easily remove the crayon marks without damaging the chalkboard. Test first, then spray the stains and allow the spray to penetrate for a few minutes. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth. Add a few drops of liquid dish-washing detergent to warm water, and with a clean sponge wipe down the board to remove all oily residue. Rinse well with warm water and dry with a clean cloth.