For the past three weeks, I have dubbed Tuesday “Tackle It Tuesday”. I like it. It gives me the chance to keep up with some areas around the house I wouldn’t normally clean.

Today, I wanted to give you my awesome recipe for cleaning out an oven without those dangerous fumes.

First, remove the racks from the inside of the oven and preheat to 200 degrees. The heat will help those stubborn stains get clean.

Create a paste using baking soda and water. Do not make the paste too watery. Spread paste throughout oven and oven door. Let sit 15-20 mins.

Use a pumice stone (yes, one those things you use to get dead skin off your feet) in a circular motion over baking soda mixture. Do not worry, the stone will not scratch the ceramic or the oven door.

For really stuck on stains, add salt to the baking soda mixture. Salt is a natural abrasive that will help loosen up that dried food.

*I must admit that I had not cleaned out my oven in (mutters) years, so there was some stuck on food that salt and baking soda was not doing the trick. I took the dull side of a butter knife and scraped the last little bit that wasn’t coming clean. Again, nothing was scratched…perfectly safe.

Wipe everything with a warm, damp rag and a drop of dish soap. Dry with a clean towel.

If the glass on the oven door is streaky, spray a vinegar and water solution and let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping dry. Be sure you have removed all the baking soda from the area BEFORE spraying the vinegar solution. If not, you’ll notice the volcano effect.

And that’s that. Let me know what you think. Don’t forget to post before and after pictures. Here is my before and after picture.

Let’s get the cat out of the bag sooner rather than later. I clean a lot of houses..usually three to five houses daily. By the time I get home, the LAST thing on my mind is cleaning my own house.

I’m not a clutterer and I usually clean my house over the weekend, but come over on a Wednesday or Thursday and it’s looking a little rough. With that being said, I decided that I was going to tackle the grout in the shower today.

What’s the big lead up? You need to know the background before you check out this picture. (Scroll down for picture.)This is a before and after shot all-in-one. On the right side of the photo you can see the clean, disinfected, sanitized grout and on the left…well, that’s the before. Alright, alright. Now that you know my big secret, how did I get it so clean?

Miraclean’s amazing steam vapor cleaner! Yes, amazing! This machine heats water to a santizing 375 degrees. That is hospital-grade clean! No chemicals, just water. That makes it safe for your family and the environment.

Once the grout is cleaned, if you keep up with it, it will stay that way! First rule of thumb, when having any tile and grout work performed, make sure the company you have hired reseals the grout. This will help prevent future build-up…or at least delay the build-up for a little longer.

Second, grout is very porous. So, when you take a shower be sure to wipe down the grout. It is easy and takes seconds of your time; which will save you time when it comes to cleaning.

Lastly, hydrogen peroxide is basically bleach. Combine one part peroxide and four parts water in a spray bottle and scrub grout as necessary. You can use an old toothbrush to help loosen the build-up. (Another helpful hint: add 6oz of peroxide to a load of white laundry. Trust me, you will never use bleach again!)

So there you have it. Keep that grout clean and dry for a longer lasting clean! If you need help, call us (803-366-1766) or shoot us an email (miracleancarpet@yahoo.com). Swing by our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Miraclean) for more tips or visit our website (www.miracleanonline.com) for a couple of free gifts.

Oh, and here’s my shameful shower pic.