Soap Scum, Remove Paint, Cat Pee Smells & Get Rid of Ants

Author

Joan Clark
November 24, 2025

Hi there,

We bring calm to home care with quick wins that clear messes and give time back. Discover clear steps that work and stay gentle on hands, budgets, and surfaces.

In today's issue:

  • Remove Soap Scum from Glass

  • Get Rid of Ants Outside

  • Lift Paint from Concrete

  • Eliminate Cat Urine Odor Outside

  • And more...

CLEANING

We gathered 7+ practical ways to restore clear glass by cutting through soap scum with simple, safe ingredients found in most homes. We once tried the half-door test with warm vinegar and a drop of dish soap, and the clean side stayed clear for days!

Fun fact: soap scum forms when calcium and magnesium bind to soap, which is why mild acids and microfiber cloths work.

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CLEANING

Learn 7+ creative ways to remove paint from concrete so patios, garages, and sidewalks look clean again. Did you know that concrete is porous? Loosening the bond before lifting or rinsing often speeds results.

TIP OF THE DAY

Sticky Oven Knobs

Pull the knobs straight off the stove (most twist or pull free without tools) and drop them into a bowl of warm water with a squirt of dish soap. Let them soak for 10 minutes to loosen baked-on grease, then scrub with an old toothbrush, paying close attention to the ridges and the back side.

Rinse, dry completely, and snap them back on. Soaking breaks down oil without scratching plastic or metal finishes.

CLEANING

After a surprise patio spritz from the neighbor's tomcat, we used lawn-safe steps to remove the odor and keep the garden peaceful. Our 7 top tips for clearing cat pee smells outside will make the problem easy to get rid of.

FUN FACT

Did wheelchairs exist before the wheel was even invented?

The first recorded wheelchair appeared around 525 AD in China, carved into stone reliefs showing a chair with wheels. That's more than 1,200 years before John Dawson built his "Bath chair" in 1783.

Early versions were pushed by servants or pulled like rickshaws, and some wealthy Europeans in the 1600s even had ornate models with velvet cushions and gold trim.

BUG CONTROL

After a backyard picnic , we traced a line of ants to a leaky hose bib and stopped the march with a soapy water spray and a scrub to erase their trail. We share 24+ clever, easy ways to get rid of ants outside.

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THANK YOU!

Sparkling glass, ants packing tiny suitcases, paint pried off concrete, and the backyard smelling like fresh air again . You handled soap scum, blocked trails, softened spills, and outwitted cat pee. Small wins add up, and your home shows it.

Stay streak- and ant-free,

Tipsbulletin Newsletter Team

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