Smother brass with brown sauce: nine unusual spring-cleaning tips from readers
Beat carpets over snow
This is a method I learned from my Austrian mother-in-law for cleaning rugs and small carpets. Lay them upside down on fresh snow and beat well all over with a cane carpet beater. Then hang over a fence (or a children’s swing), beat off the snow that is still sticking to the rug or carpet, then leave to dry. You will see that the patch on the ground where the carpet laid out will be quite black. I realise that this method will not be an option for everyone – but in Scotland (where I’m from) it’s particularly effective. Evelyn Zisch, retired, Austria
Use lemon on quartz
Slice a lemon in half and rub it over any tea stains on a quartz worktop. The lemon lifts stubborn stains off easily and doesn’t damage the quartz. Christabel Harley, lecturer, Brighton
Unclog with Crocs
Long hair (from me and my two daughters) and dog fur (from the spaniel) is notorious for clogging up our carpets – and the vacuum cleaner too. To remove, I simply put on an old pair of rubber Crocs, and with some vigorous shuffling up and down the carpet, any loose hair comes away in mounds – no need to get on my hands and knees. Foolproof and satisfying! Kate Harris, copy editor, Leeds
Leave baby powder on stains
If you spill oily food on your clothing, carpet or upholstery, scrape off any chunks with a butter knife or spoon and then pile baby powder over the stain. Leave for at least 12 hours, then smoosh the powder into the fabric with your fingers and leave for another 12 hours, minimum, or as long as you like. The powder will draw the oil out of the fibres of the fabric. You can then brush, vacuum or shake the remaining powder away – and in most cases you won’t even have to launder the item. Works especially well on men’s ties. Rebecca Agar, housewife, London
Wipe plants with milk
I always wipe the leaves of plants with a cloth dipped in milk. This keeps away mealybugs, and makes the leaves nice and shiny. Carolyn, research scientist, Oxford
Sprinkle patios with laundry powder
To clean a concrete or stone slab patio, use washing powder. Sprinkle a little on the surface, add a small amount of water and work in with a stiff brush. Leave overnight to soak in, then rinse the next day. The bleach and surfactants in the powder release the dirt and do a good job of destroying light deposits of lichen and algae that darken the surface (although it is less effective on heavy lichen deposits, which seem to be impervious to most treatments). Neil Hardy, retired, Sussex
Smother brass with brown sauce
To clean quickly and to a high shine, smother your brass and copper items with supermarket value brown sauce (which usually costs about 50p, much cheaper than most brass cleaning products). Leave the sauce on for as long as you can tolerate the smell – 10 minutes to an hour. Then, wipe off and buff. Caution: be prepared to never eat a chip-and-brown-sauce butty again. Anonymous, Cornwall
Related: Simone Lia on zero-effort cleaning – cartoon
Wipe wood with olive oil
Olive oil is great for brightening up small wooden items from thrift shops – just sand lightly and wipe with the oil, let it sink in, then wipe off any excess. Leave to dry at room temperature for a few days before use. You don’t even have to sand off all the varnish – it usually blends in. Olive oil also rejuvenates old, dry leather belts. JM Jackson, mixed-media artist, Seattle
Clean windows with washing-up liquid
I use washing-up liquid for a lot of general household cleaning. We live in a Victorian Grade II listed building with single-glazed lattice windows. They are draughty and fragile, and the metalwork is warped, so they are a real pain to clean. I clean them as infrequently as possible, pane by pane, with a sponge and a solution of washing-up liquid and warm water, drying gently as I go with a soft cloth. If I’m feeling brave, I spritz them with a vinegar-based window cleaning solution and buff gently. I’m not sure if conservators would approve or not. Lucy, England
