There’s a lot about summer to look forward to: fresh fruit, picnics in the park, baking berry pies, barbecuing in your backyard. But fun summer activities also lead to not-so-fun summer stains (and no one wants to spend their summer cleaning). Well fear not because with our top 5 summer cleaning hacks, brought to you by Evite in partnership with Scotch-Brite™ Brand, stains will be no match for your summer activities.
1. How to Prevent Ice Pop Stains
Materials:
- Sponge (we recommend Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge)
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- Lemon juice (optional)
Ice pops and summer go hand in hand, but eating one in the sun is likely to lead to melted ice pops stains (especially on table tops, chairs or decks). Outdoor furniture stains can be particularly difficult to remove, but worry no more because we have a simple solution.
Mix 1 teaspoon white vinegar and 1 cup warm water, then add a splash of lemon juice. Apply the mixture to the stain with a sponge (such as the Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge) and gently scrub in a circular motion. Once the stain has been lifted, immediately rinse it with water (or wipe it down with the soft side of the sponge) to prevent the stain from soaking in. Let it air dry, and it’ll look good as new.
2. How to Get Gunk Out of a Vase
Materials:
- Dry white rice
- Dish soap
- Warm water
- Sponge (optional)
Anyone who’s ever owned a vase knows that it can be particularly difficult to clean — especially if you have an ultra thin vase that’s hard to clean with your hands. Well, that’s where this hack comes in. The best part? This tip uses ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. To quickly clean your vase, add a spoonful of dry rice to the bottom followed by a splash of soap and some warm water. Then place your hand over the top (or, if you’re worried about the water seeping through your fingers, hold a sponge over the opening) and shake the vase several times so the rice moves all around and scrubs the sides. After shaking it several times, drain the solution, throw out the rice (it can clog your drain so don’t poor it down the sink) and rinse with warm water, then let air dry. Voilà!
3. How to Get Rid of Grass
Materials:
- Lint roller (we recommend Scotch-Brite™ 50% Stickier Lint Roller)
Summer is the perfect season for a picnic in the park. The only problem is that grass gets everywhere — especially on blankets and towels. But no need to worry! We have a simple trick to get rid of that grass in no time. Simply use a lint roller to remove the excess grass until it’s completely clean. That’s right — no need to pluck each piece by hand. With the help of a handy lint roller, you can keep it clean in just a few minutes. This trick can especially come in handy if you have a fleece or wool blanket that makes it extra difficult for the grass to get shaken out. Bonus: You can also use a lint roller to pick up sand.
4. How to Clean a Cutting Board
Materials:
- 1 grapefruit
- 1/4 cup salt
Looking for an easy — and eco-friendly — way to clean your cutting board? Well look no further. Simply slice a grapefruit in half, spread a layer of salt over the stain and scrub in a circular motion. If your stain is extra stubborn, just repeat using some more salt and the other half of the grapefruit, then rinse with warm water and towel dry. It’ll look like new in no time! If you’re planning on using your cutting board for fish or meat, you may want to skip this tip and use a stronger disinfectant, but it’ll banish berry stains in no time. Bonus: This quick trick also polishes stainless steel and removes rust and hard water stains.
5. How to Keep Your Grill Clean
Materials:
- Sponge (we recommend Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty Scrub Sponge)
- Warm water
- Dish soap
- 1/2 onion, peeled
- Fork
There’s no better time than summer to BBQ! But if you’re constantly firing up the grill, it’s bound to get dirty. And no one wants chunks of charcoal (or charred bits of BBQ) in their burger. No grill brush? No problem. Cleaning your grill doesn’t have to be hard, especially with this clever hack. To start, mix 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid with 4 cups of warm water to create an all-purpose cleaning solution. Then, soak your sponge (such as the Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty Scrub Sponge) in the solution and use the scrub side to clean the grates and remove the gunk. If you have a gas grill, clean the grill burners and burner protectors using the soft side of the sponge.
To get your grill extra shiny, try this trick. After you’ve used your sponge, heat your grill on high then spray the grates with white vinegar or lemon juice. Run half a peeled onion (cut side down) along the grates to complete the cleaning process (to prevent your hand from being burned, stick the onion on a fork). After your grill has been cleaned, you can go back to using it in no time.
Start planning your next summer outing by sending the free Evite invitation below or another one of our BBQ invitations or outdoor fun invitations.
NEXT: Get more party planning tips!
The post 5 Summer Cleaning Hacks for When You Just Can’t appeared first on Evite.