Are you trying to remove a dirty ring around the collar of a blouse or shirt? Try rubbing a little shampoo into it. Shampoo is made to remove body oils so it's ideal for the job.

To keep yourself entertained while you clean, try listening to books on tape. The time will pass much faster and you'll be able to catch up on all that reading you've been meaning to do.

Here's a great mix for cleaning windows and mirrors: In a 32 oz spray bottle mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with ¼ cup rubbing alcohol.

Set aside time on a weekly basis for your family to clean together. This can help teach your kids how to clean while giving them a lesson in responsibility. Having the whole family help also gets the task done much more quickly and helps everyone appreciate the value of a tidy house.

Clean regularly. Don't wait for the mess to build up over time. For example, clean your bathroom weekly. You'll be stopping most major problems before they start. If you clean your bathroom only once a month you'll be spending a lot more time trying scrub off the ring you've allowed to build up around the tub and the mold that has begun to grow in the tiles.

Trying to get rid of scuff marks or crayons marks on your walls? Take 3 Tbsps of TSP (trisodium phosphate) and mix it with a gallon of water. You can find TSP in the paint department of your local hardware store. Wear gloves while using this chemical and do not apply it to semi-gloss or gloss paint or wood surfaces.

Trying to remove blood from clothing or furniture? Gently rub hydrogen peroxide into the stain.

If you are having trouble with soap scum build up try switching to liquid soap. The talc in most bar soaps is the cause of buildup.

Is your shower curtain beginning to get discolored and mouldy? Toss it into the washing machine with a small amount of bleach. After the first washing machine cycle is finished run the machine again

Cleaning the inside of a microwave can be a tough job because the food particles are baked on and hardened. Place a mug or measuring cup full of water inside the microwave for about 2-3 minutes. The hot water should steam the inside of the microwave, softening and loosening those hardened food splatters. Spray the inside of the microwave with your favorite cleaner and wipe it down.

Trying to get rid of the smoke odor in your house? Put a bowl of vinegar out and it will absorb the odor.

Have some gum stuck under your table? Put some ice on top of it to harden it and pry it free with a dull knife.

Use club soda or seltzer water to clean chrome.

Try using a paintbrush to get to hard-to-reach places while dusting

Clean the lint trap on your clothes dryer after every dryer load. Too muich lint in the trap makes the dryer work longer and harder to dry your clothes, and excessive lint in the dryer vent can start a fire if it should overheat.

Use the narrow crevice nozzle of your vacuum cleaner to suck up as much lint as you can from the area surrounding the lint trap. It's usually on top of the dryer on most Whirlpool and Kenmore models, in the back of the dryer drum on older Maytags, and just inside the door on GE, Hotpoint, Frigidaire and most other makes. Check your owner's manual if you're not sure of the exact location.

Also, clean the lint duct at the back of the dryer where it comes out of your house. Lint can build up and not allow the shutters on the vent flap to close properly; this can allow rodents and other critters free access to your house and can also start a fire from excessive buildup.

Use a long-handled brush and/or the crevice nozzle of your vacuum cleaner to remove accumulated dust from the condenser coils of your refrigerator-freezer. Most models have the coils at the bottom of the cabinet, hidden behind a decorative grille. Too much dust makes the compressor work harder, which wastes money and shortens the life of your fridge.

While you're down there, remove and clean the defrost water drip pan to prevent mold and unpleasant odors.

Doing some heavy dusting? Start at the top and work your way down! Start with the cobwebs in the ceiling corners, then dust the light fixtures and taller pieces of furniture before dusting the lower furniture pieces and sweeping or vacuuming the floor. That way you don't dump dust on a freshly-swept floor!

Avoid skin contact with chemicals as well as long periods of exposure to harmful fumes. Spring is right around the corner and if you plan on cleaning with chemicals throughout the day, make sure to pick up some rubber gloves as well as a mask. This will reduce the possibilty of health risks which is an important precaution that many people tend to overlook - research has linked exposure to household chemicals to the cause of numerous health problems.

From a mysophobe's (germaphobe) perspective, having that extra protection between you and the bathroom may not be such a bad idea....

Sharpie or Permanent Marker on painted walls? Try using Brake Fluid....works wonders without affecting the paint.

When dusting use old socks – you know the ones that you have sitting around whose mate the dryer ate.

When washing windows try wiping the cleaner off one way – top to bottom – on one side of the window and the other – right to left – on the other. This way if you happen to see a streak you will know which side it is on.

Let cleaning solutions sit on the dirt for a minute. This helps to make sure it works and the dirt and grime come up.

Wipe down mini-blinds with a damp fabric softener sheet. This eliminates the static that causes dust to stick. The same trick works for TV and monitor screens.

Before filling a plastic container with a tomato based sauce, rub the inside of the container with vegetable oil first. This will help to prevent the container from being stained by the tomato sauce.

After you finish washing the dishes in your sink at night, wipe out the sink with an antibacterial wipe. This will kill any germs and removes things that can cause odors.

Wipe a stainless steel sink with vinegar on a cloth to make the sink really shine.

Believe it or not cheap hairspray will often get pen ink off of clothing and upholstery.