And ‘brought to you first by Clean+istry but who’s counting’ plastic household cleaning brushes at kioskkiosk.com.

Our favorite image for the week comes from the New Yorker.  Susan Fornoff, for SFGate, has 5 tips for cleaning up after your furry friends.  Timely advice for the Obama family.

And Marinell James, special for SFGate, helps to get your fireplace ready for winter. The article is a bit Left Coast centric, but the general rules still apply.  Read our own probing questions when interviewing a potential chimney sweep.

Previously, we’ve written of the unintended destructive properties of the canister vacuum.  Over the weekend we realized that the hose of a central vacuum system poses its own risks.  As a consequence of the port’s location, the hose of the central vac is frequently required to hug the corner of a wall, sometimes removing paint in the process.  It can even damage wood.  As the picture below illustrates, it is too late for this corner.

To prevent the ribs of the hose from removing paint along corners extend 6-8 inches of 2″ wide KleenEdge and cover the corners before vacuuming.

This will allow the hose to rub against the corner without damaging the paint (or wood, unless undue force is applied).  We would advise to remain vigilant, even if you apply the tape.  Of course the KleenEdge itself will not damage paint or milled surfaces and can be removed easily.

Vacuum with abandon.  Your corners will be forever grateful.

related posts:

1. vacuuming 101: don’t touch the wall
2. vacuuming 101: pick up the canister

Prior to our final fall clean-up, wet leaves had stood long enough on our concrete-clad patio to produce a series of leaf imprints.   Clean+istry believes that outlines of formerly living things should be studied at crime scenes, not on modern patios.   And so…on the day after Thanksgiving as the temperature rose above 40 degrees we went about the task of removing them.

This turned out not to be so easy or satisfying.

Making its final appearance for the season, we retrieved the pressure washer (our favorite new cleaning tool of 2008).  We dampened the affected areas and allowed a liquid detergent to soak the stained areas for several minutes.

The pressure washer removed some of the stains, dimmed a few of them and had no impact on others at all.

We plan to watch the stains for the next several weeks to determine if the sun’s rays will complete the job before moving on to more drastic measures involving a 50/50 mix of water and bleach applied to the affected areas (Clean+istry is loathe to use bleach in any form or concentration or under any circumstance).

We’ll give you a progress report in a couple of weeks.  If you have any experience with leaf stains on pavers, please share.

related post:  people bond with pressure washers

And weighing in at $499, the Cub Cadet Chipper Shredder Vac.

Read Dan Neil’s attempt to use the NatureMill Pro Automatic Composter.  Takeaway:  unlike getting a new iPod, the automatic composter is far from being plug-n-play.

read the article here

You’ll prepare a turkey and then you’ll baste it and then the oven will be a mess. That’s fine. It is unavoidable.  And it’s a part of Thanksgiving.

Clean+istry does not own a self-cleaning oven. They frighten us. You close the door, lock it and then things get really hot. Sometimes the house shakes.

For the non-self-cleaning oven we recommend the following natural course of action:

Before collapsing into bed in a tryptophan-induced stupor, generously sprinkle baking soda across the entire floor of the oven. Spritz the baking soda evenly with a water mist until the baking soda appears moist. Do that two or three times. Next, prepare a batter made from a mixture of water and baking soda and apply to the walls of the oven, as if you were frosting a cake.

Close the door, go to bed and erase the memory of Uncle Harold’s interpretive Pilgrim dance.

In the morning use a well-wrung sponge (perhaps of the pop-up variety) to wipe away the baking soda.

Sometimes a bit of work is required to remove all of the baking soda. Do not fret. Any lingering residue is harmless. This non-toxic method of oven cleaning is far preferable to commercial oven cleaners, capable of inducing coma.

Please, however, do not forget the racks!

The next day, preheat the oven to 200 degrees and then promptly turn the oven off. You are simply warming the racks.

Sprinkle Bon Ami onto a scouring pad (one that will not scratch surfaces). Add a little water and create a paste on the pad.

Remove one rack at a time. Let it cool to the point that it will not burn.

Using an oven mitt, hold the rack upright in the sink with one hand and scrub it with the scouring pad in the other. All but the most stubborn residue will flee.

If you have a commercial oven, such as a Wolfe or Viking, don’t forget the side attachments that hold the racks in place. They are generally removable and should be cleaned as well.

Before returning the racks to the oven inspect the interior carefully. Use a gentle soft scrub (made from baking soda and liquid dish washing detergent) to eliminate any lingering soil on the floor or walls of the oven.

Next, turn on the oven’s light. Look inside. Smile. Do it several times during the day. Go out for dinner. You deserve it.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving.

Two of the five tips land near and dear to Clean+istry’s heart:

1. “Cleanliness is holiness. Cleanliness is more important than a beautiful room, whether it’s your room or a separate guest room. It may seem obvious, but, once or twice, I stayed over at a friend’s house and wondered if the sheets had ever been changed. Make sure sheets are fresh and clean and iron the pillowcases, at the very least. Also, always put out a fresh bar of soap. However, don’t throw away the used bar; wrap it in plastic wrap and save it for later to use yourself.”
2. A guest room should be crisp and stylish without your personal effects, Caponigro said: nice bed, comfortable mattress and pillows (preferably hypoallergenic, just in case), clean sheets, a comfortable chair and good lighting. Hotels also provide an alarm clock, some toiletries, a robe and someplace to put one’s clothes. In the bathroom, shared or not, make sure there are clean, colorful towels.

ON the other hand, Clean+istry has 5 tips for being a CLEAN guest…

1. Suitcases or travel bags with wheels belong in airports, not homes. If you bring one, pick it up and carry it into your guest room. Avoid hitting walls along the way.
2. Upon arrival in your room, take a mental picture of it. If your memory is less steel-trap and more etch-a-sketch, take a picture with your cell phone. Your host created a clean, inviting sanctuary for your stay. Keep it that way. If closets or drawers are available for storage, use them and NOT THE FLOOR. Do not place your luggage against a wall, leaving black marks. Make your bed each morning. Avoid the temptation of simply tossing a bedspread over it.
3. Similarly, if you enjoy the exclusive use of a guest bathroom, PRETEND THAT YOU DO NOT. Wipe the sink after use. Lower the toilet seat. Hang and fold towels. Store your personal toiletries in an available cabinet or in your kit neatly tucked away. EXTEND the shower curtain after use.
4. Be kind to furniture and furnishings. House rules rarely need to be overtly stated. A simple glance about a room should suffice. Example: coasters placed on a table or countertop imply that placing sweaty glassware directly onto furniture is not cool. When in doubt…ask. Impress your host upon arrival by asking if the house follows a shoes-off policy.
5. Finally, take cues from your host. If he/she creates wall-art with greasy hand prints, then summon your inner Diego Rivera and go for it. Clean guests never “ask” if they can help tidy-up or clean after-meal dishes. They simply “do”. Such inquiries are passive-aggressive methods of signaling that “I’m on vacation.” If you are a guest in someone’s home, you ARE DECIDEDLY NOT on vacation, regardless how convincing your host may otherwise make it seem. You are enjoying the company of generous people. Treat them AND their home with respect.

If we all work together, everyone should have a wonderful holiday!

First, have tons of extra kitchen towels on hand.  The Organic Flour Sack Towel from Williams-Sonoma is our favorite workhorse.  They efficiently dry anything from the most delicate stemware to the heaviest pot with ease.  Clean+istry has used them for years.

Nothing disappoints more than running empty of dishwasher detergent.  Avoid polluting the earth while you wash.

Keep a good all-purpose stain remover handy.  Remember, Aunt Helen’s annual Mayflower joke should kill, NOT spilled Cranberry sauce.

People come and people go.  You won’t have time to dust (please, do that in advance).  Keep your hardwood floors tidy with the dust mop always at the ready.

Chairs will be moved.  Protect your floors by placing felt floor pads beneath the feet of your chairs.

Thank us later.

Recyclable coasters, made from unused newspaper.

Maybe not your favorite coasters, but good for a conversation starter.  A set of 100 for $16 from Charles and Marie.

Ingenious!

The Replay storage ottoman, from EQ3 is cute and comes with a tray.

The Justin ottoman from Z Gallerie is handsome.  The top hinges to reveal storage.

BOConcept’s queen bed that lifts is a good idea for space-challenged apartment dwellers.  Just be careful what you place underneath the bed.  A lot of junk carrying bad karma could create a negative energy bubble that could invade your sleep.

In difficult circumstances, we always find that “everything WITH and IN its place” helps us sleep.

via latimes