While I dream of someday having beautiful leather furniture, my reality with three little mess makers is microfiber! But, I am A-ok with that for right now. Microfiber couches are inexpensive and easy to clean! I take the cushion covers off all the time and throw them in the wash! I also regularly spot clean the couches, like when one of the kids (ahem..the 2 year old) writes on them with a pen! Luckily I’ve got a nifty little trick, which I’ve used countless times, for how to get ink out of a microfiber couch. I trust it so much that I am the one who wrote on the couch here, so I could show you just how easy it is to get out!

How to get Ink out of a Microfiber Couch here’s what you need:

• Cotton balls
• Rubbing alcohol

Step #1

Apply the rubbing alcohol to your cotton ball then dab the cotton ball on the ink spots. The ink will begin to lift.

Step #2

Gently rub the ink spots with the cotton ball until the ink is completely gone.

Step #3

Let it dry and your couch is as good as new! It really is that easy!

Rubbing alcohol is great to have on hand! I’ve also used it to get dried paint out of clothes, to clean my curling iron, as well as in homemade window cleaner. What have you used it for?

Kim

A Real-Life Housewife

This post contains some affiliate links, for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Save

Save

Save

The post How to Get Ink out of a Microfiber Couch appeared first on Ask Anna.

Rubbing alcohol.

All you have to do is pour some rubbing alcohol on a tissue and wipe off the desktop.  The ink will come right up. 

If the surface is completely covered in ink, you might have to do it a couple times but when you’re done the surface will be sparkly white again!

How’s that for a quick and easy cleaning tip?!

The post How to Remove Dry Erase Marker appeared first on Ask Anna.

I love lemons.  They are pretty and they taste amazing, but they are also great for green cleaning {or yellow cleaning}, not only will your house smell amazing but it will be sparkly clean!  Today I’m going to share a few great recipes for cleaning with lemons.

Grease and smudges
Do your kids ever get smudgy fingerprints on your walls and appliances {who, me?  no never!} Well this simple solution will cut the grease, from their cute little fingers, and have your walls clean again in no time!

1 teaspoon Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
1 teaspoon 20 Mule Team Borax
2 teaspoons Lemon juice
3 teaspoons Dishwashing liquid
2 cups Hot water

Add all these ingredients to a spray bottle and shake well.  Spray the solution on grease and/or smudges and wipe it clean with a microfiber cloth.

Furniture Polish
I love polishing the furniture because it makes it shine like new! Here’s a simple recipe for inexpensive, and chemical-free, polish that can be used on your furniture and wood floors!

2 tablespoons Lemon juice
10 drops Lemon essential oil
1/2 cup Oil (vegetable, olive oil, etc.)

Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle and polish with a microfiber cloth, or mix the ingredients in a glass jar and dab on with a microfiber cloth.

Glass Cleaner
I’ve posted lots of ways to clean windows and mirrors but here’s another solution, using lemon juice!

• 3 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 1/2 cup Rubbing alcohol
• Water
• Spray bottle

Add the first two ingredients to a spray bottle, then fill it the rest of the way with water.  Shake well.  Spritz it on your windows and mirrors and use a Bounty DuraTowel {the most cloth-like paper towels on the market} to wipe it clean.  Your windows will be smudge-free and your house will smell refreshing!

Remove Tarnish
If you have tarnished brass or copper you can use lemons to get it sparkling again!

Add enough lemon juice to Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, to make a paste (about the consistency of toothpaste).  Rub the paste onto the brass and/or copper and use a microfiber cloth to polish it.  When the tarnish is gone rinse with water to clean the paste off.

Mineral Deposits & Soap Scum
We all have mineral deposits and soap scum in our showers, baths and sinks, and now it’s easier than ever to clean them!

Cut a lemon in 1/2 and rub the lemon juice all over your faucets, shower doors, etc.  Let the juice sit for a few minutes and then use a microfiber cloth, or a sponge to rinse it off with water.

Kitchen Grease
This is a great recipe for cleaning the hood, or microwave, above your stove, as well as anywhere else that has cooking grease splatters.

2 tablespoons Lemon juice
1/2 cup White vinegar
1 quart warm water

Add all the ingredients to a spray bottle and spritz it on the greasy spots.  Let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe clean with a damp microfiber cloth.

These are just a handful of ways you can use lemons to clean, and freshen up, your home!  Do you ever use lemons to clean?  I would love to hear your lemon cleaning recipes!

The original recipes are from the book Lemon Juice, Lighten Your Hair and Solve Household Problems by Betsy Rossen Elliot.

 Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post but if you purchase through them you will not pay a cent more than you would otherwise. Thank you for supporting Ask Anna!

Save

The post Green Cleaning: Cleaning with Lemons appeared first on Ask Anna.