Follow steps to clean glass fireplace doors

I had a serious deja vu moment when I pulled a reader tip from my inbox. Roseanne’s tip brought back a memory of my grandfather doing this very thing on the big, black cast-iron wood range that sat in my grandparents’ tiny kitchen in Potlatch, Idaho.

The stove had a door with a glass window to observe the fire burning inside. When it would get covered with black soot and sticky grime, he would clean that door so my grandmother could see when she needed to add more wood to the stove. Sounds like something out of the Dark Ages, so, for the record, I was a very young child.

Fireplace glass

This is a trick I learned from my mother for cleaning the fireplace glass or stove doors that get fouled with smoke and soot, to where you cannot see and enjoy the flame.

First, spread newspaper on the floor. Then open the door. Take another wadded-up page of a newspaper; wet it; dip it in the ashes; and use it to clean the glass. This will remove everything from the glass without scratching or harming it in any way.

Last step: Wad up one last piece of newspaper, and use it to wipe away all of the crud and nastiness. The result is quite amazing, and the price is right. — Rosanne

Other useful tips Transport a cake

I couldn’t afford one of those pricey cake savers for transporting cakes, so I went to the dollar store and bought the biggest plastic bowl I could find with a lid. I set the cake on the lid with a little frosting under to hold it in place and then frosted it. Now I have an airtight cover by using the bowl over it. —

Mike

Washcloth ice pack

When I need an ice pack for my face, I take a face cloth, wet it, fold it lengthwise into thirds and place it in a small plastic bag. Then I place it in the freezer. In just a short time, my freezer pack is ready and on my face. The small size of the facecloth is just right for your face, and when it is no longer needed, you have your facecloth back. — Pat

No-burn scented candle

This is a way to enjoy wonderful candle scents without burning a candle. Just set a glass jar-type candle on your range top next to the oven vent. The heat melts the candle and sends the wonderful scent all through the house, and the candle never burns away. I have had the same cinnamon candle for almost three years now, and it still smells as great as it did the day I brought it home. — LeAnn

No-mess deviled eggs

When I make deviled eggs, I place the cooked egg yolks into a large zip-type bag, along with the rest of the filling ingredients. I then knead the mixture with my hands to combine (the kids love doing that part because it feels funny). I carefully snip the bottom corner off the bag and pipe the filling into the egg whites. Toss the bag and cleanup is complete. — Donna

Button ready

When I buy a garment that has extra buttons attached in a little bag, I sew them to an inside seam allowance of the garment. Then they are always with the garment, and there’s no hunting for them when you need to replace a lost button. — Virginia

Garage sale prep

I have several boxes set up in the garage for our annual community garage sale. They are labeled: toys, clothes, housewares and misc. I keep a package of price stickers and a pen handy. Every time I put one thing into a sale box, I price it. Then on the sale day, I simply open the boxes and set things out for display. — Leonora

Mice repellant

While covering my ‘49 Ford for the winter storage, I put a dryer sheet on the floor in the front-seat area, one on the floor of the rear seats, one in the trunk and one under the hood. Mice hate them. No damage to wires or upholstery. — Larry

Trashy apron

If you have a particularly dirty job to do like cleaning the outdoor grill, taking down dirty window screens or hosing down the patio furniture before storing away for winter, make yourself a disposable apron: Take a large garbage bag; cut holes for your head and arms; and slip it over your clothes. You may look a little weird, but you’ll protect your clothes and save yourself a lot of time and trouble later. — Roy

Storage map

If your storage space is limited and you have to stack several boxes on top of one another, make a diagram on an index card and keep it in a handy place. When you go to look for something, you’ll know exactly where it is. Store items that you’re more likely to use often toward the front, with less-used items at the back. — Lucille

Upholstery cleaner

If you need to remove spilled soda pop from your car interior, try a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and water, and an old toothbrush. When I had a can of pop explode in my car, not even the professional car detailers could tell me how to get it out. I figured the above mixture couldn’t make it any worse, so I tried it and saw amazing results. — Bonnie

Pickled ants

A couple of weeks ago, I discovered that plain white vinegar is an excellent ant killer. Simply spray it on them. There is very little odor, and what there is disappears quickly. I have had a longtime problem with ants in my kitchen and bathroom, and I do not like to use insecticides for many reasons. Now I don’t have to worry about them. — Ann

Good and cheap

Another recipe for a good glass and window cleaner is 45 percent water, 45 percent rubbing alcohol and 10 percent household ammonia. Exact measurements are not important. Put it in a clearly marked spray bottle. This is as good as any product you can buy. — Cheryl

Soleplate solution

Here’s a great way to get that sticky brown residue from the soleplate of your iron. Mix baking soda and water into a paste. Dip a damp cloth into it, and rub it gently on the surface. Clean it off with a dry cloth. — Kim

Mary invites questions, comments and tips at EverydayCheapskate.com, “Ask Mary a Question,” or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of Debt-Proof Living, a personal finance member website and the author of the book Debt-Proof Living, Revell 2014.