Spring Cleaning Hacks You'll Wish You'd Found Out Years Ago

The More You Know

• t's easy to clean baked-on food and spills from your microwave Here's how: Partially fill a measuring or coffee cup with water and add a slice of lemon. Boil the water for a minute, and then leave the door closed and let the steam loosen the mess.
• Use your vacuum cleaner to find tiny items you've lost, such as earrings. Just cover the end of a vacuum cleaner with a stocking or pantyhose, and start your search.
• Have a little paint left in that can, but not enough to warrant keeping that whole huge container around? Just pour it into a washed and dried baby food jar and keep it tightly sealed for touch-ups.
• Don't risk slicing your fingers by cleaning a blender with a sponge—pour in soap and water, turn it on, and rinse it out