Dishwashing detergent is safe to use on your car.

Remember all those commercials about how dishwashing detergent ‘fights grease’ and ‘eliminates streaks’? As appealing as it may sound to use that on your car, consider it a huge no-no if you ever want to get that showroom SHEEN again. Dishwashing detergent is meant to remove everything from surfaces- including stripping polymers off the paint surface. By using dishwashing detergent on your car, you’re accelerating the oxidation process. It’s always best to use a dedicated car-wash product, which is milder and specifically designed for use on automotive paint.

Myth 2

Washing and cleaning are the same.

Car washes are one of the greatest inventions of our time. How easy it is to pay $10 to have your car gleaming and sparking on a sunny day? However, it’s important to note the difference between washing and cleaning. Car washes focus on the exterior of the car and remove any dust and debris that has built-up. It’s a great way to maintain the wax and paint finishes on your car by removing anything that could damage it without being overly time consuming. On the other hand, car cleanings are more detailed, take more time to complete and are recommended to be done at least a few times a year. Whether you do it yourself or go to a car detailer, car cleanings primarily tackle the inside of your vehicle as well as any stubborn stains and blemishes that occasional car washes can’t clean on the exterior. You won’t get sparkling chrome rims from that touch-less car wash you frequent- you need to put in the elbow grease, my friend!

Myth 3

A shiny car is a clean car.

Although a car may look clean, you should always put it to the touch test. Rub your hand over the surface of the car after washing it to feel for any leftover contaminants. If you did the job well, it should feel like touching glass. For stuck on dirt, use a clay bar to help remove any residue prior to applying polish or wax. Clay bars are easy to use and often are sold in a kit with easy to follow instructions. This is one job you DON’T need to leave to the professionals!

Myth 4

Eliminate swirl marks by waxing

Swirl marks, aka scratches on the paint surface, can only be removed by getting to the bottom of them. You can fix them depending on how deep the scratch is. A micro-fine scratch can be fixed with a non-abrasive paint cleaner. If it’s a moderate scratch, it may require something a bit more serious. Deep swirl marks will likely require professional help. Note: We didn’t mention to use wax for it at all!

Myth 5

There is no difference between polishing and waxing.

Many people don’t know that there is a difference between polishing and waxing. Although both are intended to help keep the exterior of your car looking clean and new, they serve different purposes. Polishing helps create a brilliant high-gloss surface. If you’re looking for that ‘straight off the dealer’s lot kind of clean, you’ll definitely want to include a polish in your cleaning regiment. On the other hand, waxing works to protect the vehicle’s finish. It does so by coating the exterior of your car with wax polymers, resins and silicones and unlike a polish, it won’t make a dull surface shiny.

Myth 6

Flannel, diapers and t-shirts make good cleaning cloths

The last material you want when cleaning your car is a smooth surface. Without any means of absorbing fine particles, these types of fabrics will end up just swirling dirt around on your car, possibly causing new micro-scratches. To avoid disaster, try using a microfiber towel since the deep surface creates a buffer zone that will pick up dirt and not grind it into the paint finish. The way we see it? Microfiber or bust!

Myth 7

Paste wax offers greater protection than liquid wax.

Years ago, carnauba wax was one of the hardest natural waxes available. However, compared to liquid waxes, it’s been found to gray the surface of a vehicle. It takes a lot of effort to apply and is not as durable as some of the liquid waxes. Paste waxes also tend to last up to 10 weeks. Some people still prefer paste waxes since it gives more of a classic finish. Nowadays we have synthetic waxes, polymers and resins that are more resilient and help enhance the gloss finish of your car. Liquid waxes are easy to use, are durable and can last up to six months. It’s quick and hard wearing, making it easy for widespread use and leaves a glass-like finish.

Myth 8

Wait until the car is really dirty to clean it

Although a black car turned white with dirt or a ‘Clean Me L’ message on the back of your car is a surefire sign it needs to be cleaned, don’t wait to clean up dirt and debris from your car. Regardless if your car has been waxed or not, when it comes to dead bugs, bird droppings and tree sap, it’s best to clean them before they start to strip away the wax on your car and damage the paint finish. With car washes at $10, it’s worth adding to your regular car maintenance schedule.

Myth 9

It doesn’t matter when you wash your car

FALSE. You don’t want to wash your car when the body is hot, whether you just drove it or it’s been in the sunlight for a while. The heat will speed up the drying of soap and water, making washing more difficult and increasing the likelihood of spots or deposits. It’s best to wash your car in the shade and to soak the car thoroughly with water before you begin to remove loose dirt and debris that could cause scratching.

Myth 10

Let your car air dry

If you thought driving around the block or letting your car air dry is a good idea, boy, were you wrong! Letting your car air dry will leave watermarks which is exactly what you don’t want to happen after you’ve spent time and effort to clean it. To avoid this, use a clean chamois (natural or synthetic) or soft microfiber cloths to blot the water up instead of dragging the cloth or chamois over the paint. An alternative to speed up the process would be to use a soft squeegee to remove the water on the body of your car. However, be sure the rubber is pliable and doesn’t pick up bits of dirt that can cause scratches!

My Street Cred

I pride myself on my ability to evaluate a cleaning tool.  In fact, I have an intimate understanding of them. If you don’t know, I’ve run Clean My Space, a Toronto-based cleaning company, for the past 5 years.  I did all of the cleaning for the first couple of years and have had my share of experience with both good and bad cleaning tools.

At my company, we always remind our clients that we need the right tools to do the job properly.  I’ve tested these tools vigorously and know what works.  So, want to know what I think of the Schticky?

Unboxing

Box opened: the build quality was ‘meh’ at best.  It looked like something you would get as a ‘value’ brand or ‘house’ brand (a.k.a. a cheaper alternative to a brand name cleaning tool).

The Little Schticky wouldn’t close properly, so I can only imagine the stuff that would build up between uses rolling around in anyone’s purse or bag.  The Schticky itself came with a protective cover, that was better than the little one.  The Big Schticky had a larger roll, a telescoping pole and a medieval-inspired rake attachment which is commonly used to pull hair out of carpets (something vacuums are pretty darn good at already).  All 3 felt tacky (not an 80′s wedding tacky, sticky tacky) which was good.  My fear was that it would decrease in efficacy as it got used and re-washed many times.  But hey, Vince says it’s good so I want to give it a fair shake.

Schticking it to the Schticky

Aside from Vince’s awesome choice of vocabulary and carefully-crafted raunchy innuendos, he puts these tools to the test in a variety mundane household cleaning tasks.  My husband and I (he’s the Poke-A-Roo that you never see but does about 80% of all the work on our videos) spent a good hour at Wal Mart seeking out the most comparable items we could find that he used in the commercial.  We actually filmed every single scene from that commercial but didn’t include all of them in our video review because it would have just been too long.  I think we’ll do an outtakes or gag reel one day to show what the rest of the testing revealed.  It was hilarious.

The Big Schticky

Under-the-Couch Surfing

We used it for the first time under our couch (on 6 inch risers), where the cats often hang out during the day.  Hair and debris end up under there so the Big Schticky definitely had appropriate subject matter to work with.  It did pick up the hair balls and the debris with a few passes.  I went to rinse it off per the commercial.  What looked like a 15 second rinse (if that) in the commercial actually took 3 minutes and involved me picking hair off the surface.  Ok, whatever, on to the next.

Breaking the Fast

He then schtickies (yes, don’t you know Schticky is now an adjective?) up some cereal from the floor.  Well, he must have used wheat-coloured stones because when I sprinkled some Special K on the floor and applied standard pressure, the tool crushed the Special K, flake by flake.  It was like 783 mini dust explosions on the floor.  In fact, it made more of a mess and I had to spend time repeatedly rolling over the area to pick up about three quarters of the crumbs.  That’s right, there were crumbs left on the floor that the Schticky couldn’t get up and actually made the situation worse.  Because the roll surface of it was coated in small crumbs, when I went over the areas to pick up that remaining mess, there was no room to facilitate more pick up.  This left me with a dirty floor AND a dirty Schticky.  To the sink!

The cereal became a mess in the sink and took a few minutes to entirely remove.  Then the sink trap was full of that cereal and I had to empty that before continuing on. I’m not being dramatic, I’m just telling you all the work that went in to that very unsuccessful cleaning task.

Even your CAT Will Love the Schticky

I just didn’t have the heart to use his choice of vocabulary in the header here, but if you’ve seen the commercial you know what he says.  Did you throw up in your mouth as well?  Anyway, I sprinkled about 4 tablespoons of kitty litter on the floor and tried to schticky it up.  The results were not good.  Rather than grab the Schticky, I would be more inclined to grab a broom and sweep up the litter than use a Schticky and have to rinse it off after.  Litter goes all weird on you when it gets wet (it’s designed to do that) it clumps together, gets gelatinous, etc.  Why would I choose the Schticky for this task?  I was not impressed, especially because litter was still left on the floor afterward and I had to clean out my sink.  Compare this to sweeping and dumping.

A Real Penny Pincher.

I ask you, who is so incapable of picking up a few coins off the floor that they would need to grab their ol’ money picker-upper from the closet.  ‘Oh shucks Philip, the coins fell on the floor again, get the Schticky!’  Even if you are physically unable to pick up a coin from a floor, there are other options that are more effective and lower maintenance than the Schticky.  I’ll tell you, we had about 25 pennies on the floor and I had to roll over them multiple times before the Schticky got them all.  Once I finally had them and walked over to the sink, they all started falling off like raindrops.  The few that stayed on were most definitely on, they stuck on for dear life even when being blasted with water for a few minutes.  It’s a money magnet (for Vince).

The Regular Schticky

Herbal Remedy

Then we move on to the regular-sized Schticky.  We sprinkled a tablespoon of dried basil on the counter, spread it out and divided it in half.  I wanted to test half of it using a traditional clean up method (paper towel) and the Schticky to see which one was more effective (and lower maintenance). The Schticky required multiple passes and did not pick up every last basil flake.  I then used a dry paper towel folded into quarters.  With my other hand I caught the falling herbs.  Voila, took literally a third of the time and got all the basil off the counter.  Done and done.  Thankfully I was right by the sink because guess what came next?  A bath for the Schticky;  it’s like a high maintenance puppy.

Crummy Couch

No, my couch isn’t crummy.  In fact, it’s a gorgeous new couch we purchased after months of saving from Restoration Hardware and we adore it.  I crumbed up one of the arms, taking comfort in being a cleaning expert and knowing that a few crumbs couldn’t stump me.  Much like cereal on the floor (we used Special K again), the Schticky steam rolled over that cereal and crushed it to bits, grinding crumbs into the sofa.  Come on, really?  Even with multiple passes, a few simple pieces of cereal became a major clean up job.  Let it be known that I had to bring in reinforcement after the camera went off.  I used a lightly dampened microfibre cloth to get the rest of the crumbs off. Waste.of.time.

Debris (pourri) on Carpet

I have allergies and potpourri is one of those things that just gets right into my nose and stays there, making me sneeze, sniffle and tear all day long.  I was a little annoyed that this was part of the test but I trudged through.  Why, oh why, I would choose a Schticky to clean this up over a vacuum is still a mystery but regardless, I continued.  The Schticky picked up some potpourri, yes, but it also leapfrogged some of the potpourri out to other parts of the carpet which took my isolated cleaning zone (area of spill) to a larger area that I now had to clean up.  Of course, it was picking up the potpourri but left a lot behind, and I had to (wait for it), clean up the rest of it after I got frustrated with the results.  It’s kind of like a reverse infomercial; ‘Do you get annoyed when you can’t pick all of your potpourri up with your Schticky? Then you need a vacuum!’  Indeed, in that moment, I really needed a vacuum.  Off to the sink, seeya.

Schticking it to my Husband

Yes, yes, I really wanted to do this.  So, we crumbed up his shirt (he put the camera on autopilot) and I schtickied his shirt.  Yep, it worked.  Performed the same way as a lint roller would have, save for me having to run to the sink (yet again) to clean it off.  Our neighbours must think we’re really strange (we run around the house with a bunch of camera equipment on the regular). We didn’t bother including this footage in the video, but check the gag reel, we’ll probably put it in there.  It was hot.

Little Schticky

I tested this on a few things too, including Malee herself (my non-camera shy cat).  It picked up a few hairs off her back, but again, why use it when I have a great cat hair brush that she loves already (and that I don’t have to clean in the sink)?

I then tested it on my husband’s shoulder (think: Jay Z’s ‘Dirt off your Shoulder’) and it was fine.  Again, something a lint roller could do with less post-task maintenance.

Is it Sticky?

Admittedly, I’m no MLB pitcher;  I don’t have a ‘pitching arm’. But I can tell a hoax when I see one.  I whipped that Schticky at my wall at least 10 times and not once did I remotely have a shot at getting it to stick to the wall.  Then I got annoyed with that procedure and walked up to the wall and slapped it right on.  I wanted to see if the Schticky actually stayed on the wall per the commercial (I wasn’t ambitious enough to try and kill a roach at the same time) and I will tell you, that Schticky slowly rolled its way down my wall.  It didn’t stay static for 3 seconds before it started to head south.

My Issues with Schticky

Price

Advertised for $19.95 means about $40 when you factor in shipping, handling, processing for the Big Schticky (but wait, there’s more) and taxes.

Saving Money

Nope, I already have a great broom, vacuum and lint roller.  No need for a Schticky.

Be environmentally friendly

Dead wrong.  You waste tons of water trying to get the thing clean.  One small omission from the commercial.

Saves you time

Need I recap my experience?  I spent more time cleaning up after the Schticky than I did actually cleaning.  This claim is laughable.

Full disclosure:

I’m not a fan of hand sanitizers because I much prefer old fashioned hand washing with soap and water.  I feel it is cleaner, I can’t explain it, but I do.  However, at times, I can’t access ‘old reliable’ and hope to goodness I don’t accidentally touch my face or eat with my fingers (me?  never!).  That’s when hand sanitizer comes in handy.  However,

I have a three-fold issue with traditional, store-bought hand sanitizers. 

First, I detest (thumbs down, dislike, unfollow, unsubscribe, you get the idea) the smell.  It’s antiseptic mixed with pseudo-sweet, scienc-y fruity floral, uch!  I have yet to find one that I can handle, plus, the scent lingers forever and that affects my palate if I am eating.   On the other hand (no pun intended), my husband loves it.  Oh, the things I put up with!

Second, they are really drying, especially in cold weathers (take it from a Canuck).

And finally, they contain Triclosan – a hotly debated topic (more about this later).

Bug off

Not a news flash: creating a resistance to bugs by using strong sanitizers constantly will only harm us in the long run.  Consistent use of a product like this will lower your immune system and that’s something you want to want to protect and cultivate, not weaken.  Remember, your body (the fascinating mechanism that it is) has a built-in function to do this for you.

So why the hype?

Of the research I have done (sorting through both facts and many ‘blog posts’), the recipe that spoke to me (and that I share here) was the one created by a chemist on About.com who has an inherent, intimate understanding of the workings of chemicals and their interactions with humans.  Her and I share the same vision for hygiene: it is regular hand washing with soap and water that is the true ‘best practice’ when it comes to preventing the spread of germs.

Use hand-sanitizer as a pinch hitter

Whether you use store-bought or make your own, keep in mind its purpose and use: use to clean your hands when soap and water are not accessible.  Hand sanitizers are not to be used over and over again a million times during the day.  Some terrific examples of appropriate use include; eating your breakfast on the subway, having peanuts on an airplane (and you can’t go to the lavatory), après-pee on a coach bus, taking out the garbage then running out the door for work, using a port-o-potty with no tap, etc.

So now you have a better feel for the stuff.  If you are like me and don’t like the store bought kind, here’s an effective and easy gel recipe that you can pack in your purse, travel bag, car, etc.

Hand Sanitizer Gel Recipe

• 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or ethanol
• 1/3 cup plain aloe vera gel (the less additives, the better, however I couldn’t find anything close at my drug store or health food store).  Some people may choose to use vegetable glycerine instead (I did – see above).
• 8-10 drops essential oil, optional (consider ones that have additional anti-sceptic properties i.e. lavender, thyme, clove, cinnamon leaf, peppermint etc.)
• bowl
• spatula
• funnel
• plastic bottle with pump or squirt top (cleaned)

Life brand rubbing alcohol (70%), Now Organics Vegetable Glycerine, Now Organics Lavender Essential Oil

Pour in ingredients

Mix

Funnel into clean bottle

Voila!

Recap

Combine all ingredients together, stir well, and pour into the bottle with a funnel.  Done. You need to use a minimum of 60% rubbing alcohol for this to be an effective germ-fighter.  Be forewarned: essential oils that are known to have anti-microbial properties can be a skin irritant.  Use less drops, or combine with soothing oils for a more balanced recipe (i.e. camomile).  This keeps for about 6 months.

Results

It works!  It smelled strong but the smell dissipated really fast and my hands weren’t shrivelled old witch hands after using some.  I used vegetable glycerine because I couldn’t find pure aloe vera.  Next time I would use any old store bought aloe vera gel, since it is but a carrier for the alcohol and moisturizer to counter the skin-drying.  I wonder if this would work using a plain shea butter but I don’t know enough about chemistry to determine if that would be a stable mix (see, I don’t just make things up nor tell you about things I think will work).  In my experience, the vegetable glycerine was sticky and greasy but hey, it made for a good experiment and I lived to tell you about it. Some people add in a tablespoon of vegetable glycerine to the aloe vera for additional moisture.  I may try this with the next batch.

Triclosan

OK, you’ve got my attention. I’m the biggest recovering hypochondriac you’ll ever meet and this is a buzz word for me.  But I’ve learned through my worldly studies to research credible sources before concluding anything (and to not check Web MD constantly either).   So that’s what I did when I saw this hot little word.  According to the FDA website (I hear these guys know what they are talking about, just sayin’):

• Other studies in bacteria have raised the possibility that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
• FDA does not have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time.
• At this time, FDA does not have evidence that triclosan added to antibacterial soaps and body washes provides extra health benefits over soap and water. Consumers concerned about using hand and body soaps with triclosan should wash with regular soap and water

So on one hand, Triclosan could be a known contributor to creating resistance to antibiotics but on the other hand, there is no solid proof that it works any better than soap or water.  I have allergies to a couple antibiotics already, so for me, I feel it makes sense to keep away from Triclosan.  That doesn’t mean everyone has to, you just have to make an informed decision.

That concludes my research, rant and recipe for home made hand sanitizer.  Enjoy!

Be sure to rate, subscribe and comment! Thanks for watching..

Tamara asked: What’s the quickest way to clean uber dirty pots and pants?

What you need -

1) Dirty pot/pan/dish

2) A few drops of dish soap

3) 2 tablespoons baking soda

4) Water

5) Cleaning toothbrush/double-sided sponge

For stainless steel cookware:

To start, add a few drops of dish soap to the dirty pan. Next, you’ll need to add 1 tablespoon of baking soda and fill the pan ¼ of the way with water. Put the pan on high and let it simmer for a while. Once the pot has simmered for a few minutes, pour the hot liquid down the drain. BE CAREFUL! The pot will be very hot. Add another tablespoon of baking soda to the pan and use either the cleaning toothbrush or the double-sided sponge to scrape away stuck on grease. Rinse with water and enjoy you’re sparkly clean pan!

For a casserole dish: Put it in the oven for a few minutes until it starts to simmer. The heat will speed up the process of breaking down the soot.

For copper cookware: Replace the baking soda with coarse salt and add to an inch of simmering water and soap.

Be sure to rate, subscribe and comment! Thanks for watching..

Danielle asked: What’s the best way to clean stainless steel appliances?

 What you need-

1) Stainless steel

2) 2 microfibre cloths (1 wet and 1 dry)

3) Dish soap

4) Olive oil/baby oil/vegetable oil

5) Paper towels

6) Warm water

Start by taking a microfiber cloth, wet it with warm water, and add a bit of dish soap. Wring the cloth out well and wipe your stainless steel appliance down, removing any and all grime. Next, take your cloth and rinse it off well with water. Wipe down the appliance again to remove any remaining soapy residue. Using the dry cloth, buff the stainless steel appliance dry, erasing any streaks left behind.

For extra shine and to eliminate tough streaks, put a bit of olive oil on 2 paper towels and wipe the appliance down, going with the grain, not against. Large appliances would take about a quarter size amount whereas small appliances need about a pennies worth. Then take a fresh set of dry paper towels and wipe the appliance again to eliminate any excess oil so there isn’t a greasy, oily residue leftover. You should be left with a clean, glossy stainless steel finish!

Did you know? Stainless steel is made of chromium. It forms a chromium oxide that creates a protect film on the steel which helps to prevent staining and corrosion.

5 Tips to Keep Your Stainless Steel Looking New:

1) DO NOT use anything rough that will scratch the surface

2) DO NOT use chlorine bleach

3) Never clean in circles or against the grain

4) Don’t let dirt sit on the surface for too long

5) Clean the surface then buff it to keep it looking shiny

Makeup brush cleansers are expensive – so save some money on makeup brush cleansers and try this easy method!

Clean Your Make-Up Brushes Naturally!

Clean Your Make-Up Brushes using a weekly brush cleanser – using water, shampoo (ideally baby shampoo), rubbing alcohol, conditioner

I received an email forward and it contained some super handy tricks that you can do with a simple Bounce sheet!

I don’t know who to credit this to, but I did want to post this up because the tips are terrific.

Enjoy!

23 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With A Bounce Sheet!
———————–

1. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.

2. Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.

3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don’t get opened too often.

4. It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.

6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.

7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

8. To freshen the air in your home – Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.

11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.

12. To freshen the air in your car – Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean.
The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.

14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.

15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from
resettling.

17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.

20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.

21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.

22. Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe love bugs off easily with the wet Bounce.

23. Put a sheet of Bounce in your suitcase when traveling, it will help keep mites or any other critters out of

Related Video:

Enjoy and hope it helps!

What’s a Cvlog?

A blog on camera became a vlog, and now a blog on camera about cleaning is a Cvlog!

I am still debating whether or not the ‘v’ is silent.

You all ask me amazing cleaning questions that everyone wants the answers to. If I can’t get a full on Q and A video prepared for you (in a timely manner) I will either write you back or prepare a Cvlog for others to see as well.

Share the cleaning love!

Thanks for your great questions and continued support

Kitchen Cupboard Organization Tips – Cvlog #1

Carpet Stain Removal – General Tips – Cvlog #2

Caring For Microfibrer Cloths – Cvlog #3

How to Clean Clean Granite Countertops AND Clean A Dyson – Cvlog #4