...and the answer is 'salt'

What is the question?

What is your favorite cleaning product?

I was reading an old copy of Martha Stewart (obviously, I was in a doctor's waiting room...) and she suggested the use of salt for some cleaning project.  Salt is a natural abrasive, you see.  So last night I had to clean off one of my stove's burner pans since every time I turned it on, it gave off this horrid smell.  I thought, I will try the salt...   And they just gleamed! 

Then today, I was cleaning my kids' bathroom, in anticipation of an overnight guest showing up tonight.  My kids have been responsible for cleaning this bathroom for years and this has resulted in an enormous amount of soap scum piling up on the wall of the fiberglass shower/bath stall.  I thought of the salt!  I sprayed on the soap scum remover (which has never removed soap scum in the past) and let it soak for 5 minutes.  I applied salt to my sponge and voila!!!!  It actually removed the scum and the shower looks brand new not 20 years old and scummy...

I am so sold!  Buy stock in Morton's, folks, cuz this may revolutionize the cleaning world...

On the duct front, my duct guy showed up this morning.  Yay.  He told me that 'something' was obviously clawing at the insulation around the ductwork (probably to get to the heat and warm itself...selfish bastard!)  and had disattached 4 ducts from their positions.  He thought it was probably a racoon.  Hence, the horrible clawing noises we kept hearing.  He and I went around the house and closed off all the vents to the crawl space.  Amazingly, in 20 years, we have never done this.  Didn't know we were supposed to do this every winter to keep the heat in...and then open them in summer...  How does one find out these things?  We are just SO clueless! 

Anyway, he fixed up all my ducts and heat is flowing to the freezer (I mean, laundry room) again.  I have to get an insulation guy out here to give me a bid on re-insulating after the attack of the raccoon.  More dollars out the window, but that's home ownership!

To sum up:  Multiple problems solved all in one morning.  I know it's not rocket science but I couldn't be happier!

Comments

[violetismycolor]

Hey RS...Thanks for the comment about the header. Yes, it is a part of my Agnes Richardson postcard collection. I have about 60 of them now. I first found her at a small shop in the UK about 10 years ago and I have been collecting ever since, mostly on Ebay. I just love her fun style and she does a lot of Dutch girls, like me.

[Rubber-Sol]

Oh I'll have to try that!!! Who knew salt was so darn valuable in so many ways!!!

P.S. Been meaning to comment, but I love your new header. So cute. Are those postcards?

[Margaret]

I'm glad the critter problem is solved. Salt--what a cheap and easy way to clean. I will try it on our scummy showers.

[Staley]

PS:
Love your new holiday banner! So cute!

[Staley]

Amazing! Salt for cleaning...and closing the vents for winter. Learn something new everyday. Thanks for passing along the information...will accomplish both those little tricks tomorrow. Maybe I'll even save enough on my heating bill to buy stock in salt :)

[Marilyn]

Hey, salt! We've got these stubborn stains on our burner pans, too. I'm trying that tomorrow!