Ever wanted to go out and play in the snow, but you really needed to get some cleaning done? Now you can do both! Fresh snow works wonders for cleaning some otherwise tough-to-clean items with ease.
Dog Washing
If your dog hates water (or even if they don’t), winter is a great time to give them a break from the wet-dog look. Get some clean dry snow, preferably the kind that looks like it has shiny crystals on it. Do not use soft wet snow as it will clump in their fur. Rub the dry snow all over your dog. It is better not to have them roll around in it as the snow on the bottom may be more wet and they also might burrow too deep and get dirty from the ground. Instead, just rub the snow into their coat all over – legs, body, head, tail, then brush it off with your hand. Repeat the process several times for a thorough cleaning. While you do this, it may help to let them stand on a towel so their paws don’t get too cold. Once inside, check to make sure there isn’t any snow stuck in your dog’s paws.
Broom Cleaning
One of the easiest ways to clean a broom is to sweep it through the snow a few times. Don’t try to sweep up the snow (therefore scraping the dirt underneath); instead just move it through the snow horizontally so that the cold snowflakes can gather up the dirt from the broom. It is always best to use dry snow for cleaning, as the wet snow can dampen the bristles.
Rug Cleaning
Just
after a snow, while it is still fresh, lay your rug outside on it. Spread some snow over the rug, then leave the rug there until it freezes (usually within a couple hours). Sweep off the snow, then beat the rug with a broom, tennis racket, or other non-jagged implement it to break up and remove the frozen dirt. Once finished, repeat the process with the other side of the rug.
Dry Cleaning
Snow can be used to clean your dry clean items. Use the dry kind of snow (not the soggy kind), which is most often available when it is particularly cold. Rub the snow over your dry clean item, then brush it off. One less trip to the dry cleaners!
Wool Washing
Any wool items (clothing, blankets, etc.) can be easily cleaned by hanging them outside while it is snowing. After the snow falls, shake it off the wool items and hang them inside to warm. It is easiest to use a clothesline for hanging these items, but you can also drape the item over a chair. If using a patio or deck railing, cover it with a sheet or be sure that it is clean first to avoid getting any extra dirt on the wool.
Sources
- Green Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck
- Haley’s Cleaning Hints by Graham & Rosemary Haley
- Clean & Green by Annie Berthold-Bond
- How to Clean Practically Anything by Consumer Reports
This is so true!!!
We had an armchair that we decided to get rid of; it was pretty dirty when we put it beside the road, but it got snowed on (In Texas ironically) and when it dried the next day, it looked brand-new!
Get a teacup or two of clean snow. Sprinkle it on your hard floor (we have wood floors). Sweep the snow and the dirt right up. Put it in a dust pan. Toss the now dirty snow outside. Take a paper towel to the dust pan. Clean floor and dustpan. Would make sense to clean the broom as above at the same time.