GIVE WINTER GRIME THE BOOT

Follow these quick spiff-up tips for
stained or scuffed footwear now,
and be a step ahead next season.

BIGGEST CHALLENGES:
Telltale road-salt staines on leather
Black scuff on leather or rubber
Dirty, flattened suede.

FAST FIXES

1. Banish salt lines : If your town fights icy
streets with road salt, you've surely had
"ring around the shoe," a white salt line that
appears when leather dries. Desalting products,
available at shoe-repair shops, are one option,
but it's just as easy to mix an at-home cleaner of
equal parts white vinegar and water. Soak a micro-
fiber cloth in the solution and dab the shoe. Rinse with a
water dampened micro-fiber cloth, and wipe with a dry
towel. Let the shoes dry, away from radiators or
other heat sources, which can make leather
brittle. Finally, buff with a soft micro-fiber cloth.

2. Erase scuffs: You might be tempted to scrub
at ugly black marks on leather, but they
need a lighter touch: Dip a micro-fiber cloth in water,
then baking soda, and rub the spots gently. For
rubber boots, follow the same process. Once spots are
gone, wipe the footwear with a clean, damp micro-
fiber cloth and buff dry.
3. Be suede smart: The wet cleaning remedies
that work for smooth leather aren't good for suede,
which needs to stay dry so it doesn't lose its
texture. Instead, quickly rub off overall dirt with
a kneadable eraser. (grab one from your kid's
art box), or just lightly sand away obvious stains with
an emery board. To raise the nap of suede that's flattened,
scrub briskly with a clean toothbrush or micro-fiber cloth.
If it's really matted, hold the shoe a few inches above
the spout of a steaming tea kettle for a few seconds,
then brush up the nap.

MAKE IT EASIER NEXT TIME

To keep pesky salt lines from forming, take
action as soon as possible once indoors: Before
your shoes dry off, dampen the entire leather
upper with a wet sponge, then stuff the shoe
with newspaper to help hold the shape.
Before you wear shoes and boots in messy
weather for the first time, spray them with a
water-repellent coating, which works on
both suede and leather. Spray again during
the season, after cleaning.

COMPANY COMING AND NO TIME TO CLEAN!

Fastest Fixes

First Overhall Your Front Hall. Grab a laundry bas-
ket, storage bin, or large shopping bag to
serve as a junk receptacle, plus a plastic gro-
cery bag and microfiber cloth. Load up your
bin with any shoes, gloves, or hats that litter
the foyer. Stash hall-table clutter that could
get lost (mail,keys) in the plastic bag; put the
bag into the bin. While you're near the door,
shake doormats outside. Flip on the light for
an indoor cobweb check; flick webs off with
the cloth (don't worry about the ones too high
up-chances are, visitors won't notice them
once they see your smiling face). Take your
bin, and keep moving. (3 minutes).

Next stop! Putting your living room in order
where guests will hang out most. Keep
filling the bin with kids' toys, newspapers,
and anything else that doesn't need to be
here. Run your microfiber cloth over the cof-
fee table and other dusty surfaces, like the TV
screen. Pile magazines or books into neat
stacks on the end tables; gather all of the stray
remotes in one place. Plump up throw pillows
and chair cushions (even easier: flip the latter,
if possible). Use a clean corner of the micro-
fiber cloth to nab any obvious clumps of pet
hair or dust stuck to upholstery or carpeting.
Drape throws to hide dingy chair arms or
furniture stains. Drop off the bin in the laun-
dry room or a nearby bedroom, or hide it in a
closet; swap the microfiber cloth for a few paper
towels and move on to the bathroom. (4 minutes)

Fake a Super-Clean Bathroom; Tuck
stuff from the vanity into the cabinet
or drawers, and close the shower door or
pull your shower curtain closed. ( sure, nosy guests
may still snoop inside, but at least you've cut
down on visual clutter). Wet a microfiber cloth
to both clean and shine, and wipe down mirror, faucet, sink
and countertop. Use a paper towel that you might throw away to
go over your toilet's seat and rim. Clean up spots and hair
from the floor with more paper towels, and throw them away.
Finally, put out some fresh hand towels. Make a trip to the
kitchen with the wastebasket to dump it into the larger
trash can. (5 minutes). Now you are ready for your guests.

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND - NOOKS

Yes, even I forget to dust
these types of places: tops of
tall furniture, appliances, and
wall art, ceiling corners and
vents. If it's just plain dust I'm
cleaning, my secret weapon
is the vacuum. I stand on a
sturdy step stool and, using
the upholstery attachment
with the brush, suck up as
much dust as possible (and
it can be a lot) from, say, a
bookcase or an armoire top.
Then I go over the area with
a microfiber cloth, if needed.
For really high-up or more
delicate dusting, like areas
of the ceiling or frames
of paintings, I take either a
yardstick or a broom, cover
the end with old panty hose
or a t-shirt, and slide it
along the surface to gather
dust. If cobwebs in corners
are a problem, a fun hint is to
put a tennis ball in a panty
hose leg and bounce it up
against the corner-- it pulls
off dust and cobwebs but
won't hurt the surface. In the
kitchen where the dust is
more like grime from kitchen
fumes, I use a little soap
and water (to cut grease) on
my microfiber cloth and wipe,
following with a clean damp-
ened microfiber cloth, Remember
to fold your microfiber cloths
in half, and then in fouths and use
both sides of the cloth, which will
give you 8 clean surfaces to clean
with.
Just thought you might like to know!

TIME TO CLEAN THE FRIDGE & FREEZER

Usually, I clean as I go-if
I see a spill, I grab a sponge
to wipe it up right then.
Before going to the grocer,
I clean out the veggie bin.
And periodically, I wipe
the door seal and gasket
with a damp microfiber
cloth ( just water; anything
caustic can damage the
rubber), and vacuum the
coils at the back-dust can
clog the motor. But since
my office mini fridge isn't
self-defrosting, it takes
a bit more work-so I set
aside a few hours. After
I unplug and empty it out
(food goes into a cooler),
I tuck a thick layer of
newspaper and old bath
towels around the base,
shut the door, and let it
stand.When I hear the
caked-on ice drop, I sponge
the walls with baking soda
and water, and rinse and dry
with a microfiber cloth. How
easy is that. The towels go
into the washer, newspapers
in the trash, and I am done.

WITH A LITTLE TLC, LEATHER PIECES CAN LAST A LIFETIME.

If you have children, or pets who love to
jump up on your leather couch and watch TV,
your furniture and accessories may need extra
attention. Here's how I care for my leather.

First off, remember that it's a skin- so don't
over-scrub or use abrasive or caustic cleaners.
On smooth leather (not suede, which you can
spot clean gently with an artgum eraser). I use a
microfiber cloth dampened with water; this also
works for spills, which should be wiped up right
away to prevent stains. If the leather needs more
than a wipe-down, I use some baby shampoo
diluted with water. ( 1 teaspoon per quart of water).
Dip your mircrofiber cloth in the mix, wipe in circles
one way, then the other. Wet a clean microfiber
cloth with water to wipe off, and buff dry

For oily stains, I grab flour or cornstarch, cover the
area, and pat it in to absorb the oil; this may require
a few applications. Then I dust off the powder with
another microfiiber cloth, or suck it off with my vacuum.

For pen marks, there are many variables: leather type
and age, ink type , and how long the stain has been there.
Try rubbing with a cotton swab moistened with a little
shampoo and water, and see if the stain lifts. These are
trickly- you may need to call a pro.