Homeowner Forum / Cleaning / November 2003

I bought a Neptune Washer Jan 01 in Ft. Collins CO at an authorized
Maytag Dealer (the only product they sell). I was willing to pay over
$1200 (for just a washer) in order to have a machine that would be
worry free from maintenance issues for at least seven years (after

I would like to know if there is any good small-size machine that I
can use to stream clean the carpet that covers the stairs.
I am currently using an upright carpet cleaner from Bissell (ProHeat)
to clean the carpet throughout my house. It works quite well except

Please visit: http://www.ecofriendlyhome.com for details.

How do you clean the grease on and around oven dials without
removing the paint on the knobs that shows the degree marks?
Someone suggested rubbing alcohol, but there must be another
cleaning solution that will work. Any ideas will be greatly

I used to live in Alaska and still live where there is ice on car windows in
winter--get that spray de-icer--spray it on wait about 20 sec and turn on
windshield wipers and it's usually gone.  For hard and thick ice--the
de-icer softens it up so it's not so hard to scrap off.

Can someone suggest the proportions of vinegar and baking soda to use for
cleaning your sink drains.
Patt.

My sister always used windshield wiper fluid to clean her house hold
windows.  What's the difference between Windex and this?  Besides the
anti-freeze part.
Theresa

Is there a fabric freshener that works better than Febreeze? I've tried
Febreeze, the advanced formula,  and I haven't been impressed with it. It
doesn't seem to last long.

You may not realize it, but your home is probably full of hazardous products
that can be extremely dangerous-even lethal-to your child, your pet and
yourself.
More children under four die of accidental poisonings at home than are

Does anyone know what I can use to remove anti-freeze from asphalt?
Thanks.
Bill
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Looking for advice.
I'm researching this for a friend.  He has a pattern of continuous run in's
with insurance companies.  He works "real hard" on floods for days, putting
numerous pieces of equipment onsite and constantly checking them

Over the past several weeks I have been working on a way to clean roof gutters
from the ground.  What I have created so far is using 2" and 1 1/2" PVC drain
pipe  with a spiraling 1 1/2" 90 degree turn on top, and  45 degree handle on
the end attached to a leaf blower for blowing ...

we're buying a 16 year old house and everytime my wife and I been inside for
little while, we both had this weird allergy feeling where our noses get dry
and feels like we're allergic to something. The seller has a cat there and
our agent said it's mostlikely pet dander, neither one ...

I acquired a fabric-covered recliner from a relative.  It's in great
shape, but was rather soiled with age, especially on the arms and where
people's heads rest on it.  When I had the carpets cleaners in, I had
them clean the chair, and it looks nice now, but still has somewhat of

Dear Joey,
       How do you get rid of spiders in your home without using caustic
chemicals?
       --Debbie C. / Cohasset, CA