What actually happens to your clothes after you give them to the dry cleaner?
posted by John Cohen on Jul 29, 2011 - 83 comments

So here's a spray bottle that will replace every cleaner in your home. The Ionator. "You charge it, fill it with tap water (and only tap water), which takes on an electric charge, transforming it into negative and positive nano-bubbles that attract dirt. Then you spray and use a clean cloth to wipe away the dirt from your floors, windows, mirrors, cars, bird cages, dishes, coffee makers, refrigerators, tile and clothes..." Really? Sounds like a crakpot scam. Well, Bill Nye The Science Guy himself explains the science. And Bill's my man.
posted by cross_impact on Feb 18, 2010 - 86 comments

Offshore drilling/container ship catering crews know some really cool kitchen tricks. (equipment cleaning/maintenance/repair tips, not cooking tips.) [more inside]
posted by magdalenstreetladies on Jan 1, 2010 - 37 comments

How To Clean Stuff. From kitchen and bath, to flooring and carpets. Indoors, outdoors, your car, dog, colon and bong. More than 800 cleaning tips in all. Submit your best ideas. Each one that gets published, the site will contribute to the Clean Water Fund.
posted by netbros on May 29, 2008 - 5 comments

Photos of cleaning crews on the Space Needle (via.)
posted by 1f2frfbf on May 16, 2008 - 62 comments

101 Things I Hate About Your House Advice on how to choose safe cleaning products for the home, create chocolate dessert recipes and book reviews. No, it's not Martha Stewart, but rather, helpful tips from interior designer James Swan.
posted by CameraObscura on Sep 17, 2007 - 20 comments

Per request: Do you suffer from acne, bad breath, bloating, belching, constipation, diarrhea, digestive problems, allergies, fatigue, hair loss, decreased energy, headache, heartburn, gas, indigestion, insomnia, low energy, low sex drive, poor sexual performance, poor memory, protruding gut, reduced resistance to infections, skin problems, weight gain, difficulty losing weight or trimming down your waistline, colds, flu, cancer, cardiovascular disease, or arthritis? Well, then maybe you need a good colon cleansing. Some say it works, some say it's bunk. One such product offers stunning examples of what you might expel (many of these links are NSFW or for the squeamish)
posted by c:\awesome on Dec 16, 2006 - 130 comments

Maid for a Month. On February 1, Ontario raised its minimum wage from $7.45 to $7.75 per hour. Well-known Toronto Globe and Mail writer Jan Wong: "I thought the best way to tell the story of that 30-cent raise was to work — and live — at the bottom of the food chain. I would find a low-paying job, a low-rent apartment and, single-mom-like, take my boys with me for the month and see how we survived."
posted by russilwvong on May 1, 2006 - 151 comments

Are you a reluctant slob? Are your resolutions firm but your follow-thoughs flagging? If the hallway to your personal housekeeping hell is strewn with good intentions, consider KISSing your bad habits goodbye. Cat Conner's (MeFi's frykitty) new blog-style KISS Living site is great for us fleeting-attention-span types, providing tips based on her "Keep It Short and Simple" technique. I may not know what day it is, or whether Martha spells her name "Stuart" or "Stewart", but even I can focus my energy for 10 minutes at a time.
posted by taz on Jun 1, 2003 - 18 comments

Sports & Leisure Wash® Ever get that not-so-fresh feeling after a big game? Are you interested in "a thorough bath in just 10 minutes with NO shower or tub, NO water, NO soap, NO towels, and NO laundry"? Sorry ... I just can't see how you can possibly get a thorough bath without water ... ewww ...
posted by GatorDavid on Nov 28, 2001 - 2 comments

If the Jetsons had a vacuum cleaner, this would be it.
posted by mathowie on Feb 21, 2000 - 4 comments