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GREEN HOME...CLEAN HOMEIf you are planning to use safe, natural ingredients in your daily cleaning, then I would recommend the following top 5, which I never run out of. Buy ingredients in bulk, make them in advance and store them in reusable airtight plastic containers/spray bottles, which are available in any drugstore. Add your favourite essential oils for fragrance.* Baking Soda (Sodium bicarbonate) * Vinegar * Lemon juice * Cornstarch * Borax NOTE: Always test an inconspicuous area first, as different materials react in different ways. Also, what you may think is wood, may turn out to be laminate or steel may turn out to be aluminium. The same applies for fabrics. Please be sure to close all jars tightly, label them and keep them out of reach from children and pets. While most of the ingredients are mild and non-toxic, ingredients like Borax can be harmful to children and pets if ingested. 
ALL PURPOSE CLEANERSUse baking soda to clean kitchen counter tops and bathrooms. Mix baking soda with a little water to make a thick paste. Dip your sponge in, and use gently. Remember to rinse well as dried baking soda leaves streaks. Baking soda is also mildly abrasive and is good to clean off dried food.Dissolve 4 tbsp baking soda in 1 quart water to make a general purpose cleaner Use vinegar and salt with a little water, to make a cleaner that will leave your kitchen sink sparkling. A bit of tamarind rubbed on kitchen sinks and faucets also makes for a shiny sink. For a cleaner and disinfectant, combine 1 tbsp borax, ¼ cup lemon juice and 1 cup hot water. Let it sit for awhile to cool, and then use to spray clean your kitchen counter tops and bathrooms. Makes a wonderful cleaner and smells great too. Mix ¼ cup borax, ½ tsp lemon oil to form a thick paste. Add liquid soap, slowly combining it with the mixture. Use to wash surfaces with stubborn stains. Remember to rinse well. Top GLASS CLEANERSFor a streak free mirror or window, use equal parts vinegar and water combined in a spray bottle.Newspaper also makes a great cleaner. Just rub over the surface to be cleaned and watch your mirrors/glass shine! Top BATHROOM CLEANERS
For your toilet bowl, sprinkle baking soda into the bowl and squirt some vinegar. Brush well for a sparkling clean bowl. For maintenance, you can omit the vinegar and just use baking soda.
For more stubborn stains, mix borax with lemon juice and rub along the stains. Let it sit and then scrub. Denture tablets also work wonders. Drop two in and clean with the brush. Drains should be cleaned frequently, even if they are not used often. Make a mixture of ½ cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar and pour it down the drain. Let it sit for a bit and then flush clean with hot water. To clean your tub, sprinkle baking soda and let sit for 10 minutes. Give it a good scrub and rinse well with hot water. For stubborn stains and tub rings, use vinegar full strength. Apply on with a damp sponge and scrub clean. Rinse and if necessary, repeat, or use a milder solution of vinegar-water. Cut a lemon in half and dip it in baking powder and use it as a sponge to scrub away any stains. Hard lime deposits around faucets can be softened for easy cleaning by covering them with vinegar soaked paper towels. Leave them on for 1 hour and then scrub clean with a small toothbrush. Rust stains can be removed by applying vinegar or lemon juice directly on the stain. Let it stand until the stain disappears. Rinse and repeat if necessary. To remove mildew, dissolve ½ cup vinegar with ½ cup borax in warm water. Stir and use with a sponge to clean off the mildew. Clean your glass shower doors by wiping them down with vinegar on a damp cloth. Wash nylon shower curtains in warm water and leave out in the sun to dry. Wash plastic shower heads in equal parts white vinegar and hot water. For metal shower heads, soak them in a solution of one part vinegar, six parts water for 15 minutes and then rinse clean. Top KITCHEN CLEANERS
For ovens, prevention is often better than cure and I don't remember the number of times in the past that I have been on my hands and knees, trying to get rid of stubborn food stains. The heat of the oven sets the stain faster than it normally would. It's better to always clean up any spills, immediately. However, if that's not possible, then try the following:
While the oven is still warm, sprinkle baking soda over the spill. If it has already dried, then you may think of warming up the oven, wetting the stain and sprinkling baking soda over it. When the oven cools, scrape away the mess and clean a few times with a solution of baking soda and water. For stubborn stains, you may need to let the baking soda sit overnight. Wipe your oven clean with a mixture of vinegar and water, to remove grease build-up. Clean out your fridge with a warm soapy solution and then wipe it down with a cotton ball soaked in vanilla. For a fresh clean scent, combine 2 cups white vinegar with 2 cups fresh lavender flours or the contents of 5 chamomile tea bags. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, leave to cool and then strain into a lidded container. Use to clean the inside of your fridge as and when needed. For counter tops, use any of the General cleaners listed here. To bring back the sparkle in your pots and pans, especially ones with burnt and crusted food in them, soak them in a solution of baking soda and water and let it stand. Scrub and wash clean. For coffee and tea stains, make a paste by combining baking soda and water. Let it stand in the cup and then rinse well. Drains should be cleaned frequently, even if they are not used often. Make a mixture of ½ cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar and pour it down the drain. Let it sit for a bit and then flush clean with hot water. Garbage disposals in the sink can be freshened by grinding up any citron peels in them. Remember to keep the cold water tap on while the disposal system is running, in order to flush it out. You can also add some baking soda to disinfect the system. Top FLOOR AND CARPET CLEANERS
With two small children under the ages of 3.5 years, my home still manages to sport beige carpets and cream coloured sofas and chairs. My secret is to have a large tub of baking soda on hand. I use it to remove all possible stains, right from blood and paint, to crayons and chocolate milk. Combine baking soda and water. Scrub lightly with a sponge till clean. You can also use club soda. Soak it in and then blot it dry with a tissue.
To refresh your carpets, sprinkle on a bit of baking soda or corn starch. Let it sit for 5 minutes and vacuum. Corn starch also works well to remove grease spots. To kill carpet fleas, combine 1 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup cornflour, 1/2 cup baking powder and 1/2 cup salt. Process all the ingredients in a food processor and sprinkle onto the carpet, rubbing in where necessary. Leave overnight and vacuum the next morning. For vinyl flooring, mop with a cup of vinegar in a bucket of warm water. Top FURNITURE POLISH
To clean your wooden furniture, combine 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp olive oil and 1 tbsp water. Mix well. Apply and let it sit for five minutes before buffing to a shine. The lemon also works well in repelling any insets that might decide to make your furniture their home!
To remove scratch marks from wooden furniture, rub the meat of a walnut onto the scratch and watch it disappear. Another trick is to gently rub in crayons of the same colour as your furniture, into the scratch. This works well for unusually coloured furniture. To remove scratch marks from glass topped tables, try dabbing on a small amount of toothpaste and rubbing it in to polish off the scratch. Use Queen Victoria's favourite wooden polish for all kinds of wood, except French-polished and mahogany items. The linseed oil in this polish may be substituted with olive oil if using for pine or other light coloured furniture. To make the polish, combine 1 cup beeswax, 10 fresh lavender flowers or 1 tsp lavender essential oil in a double boiler and heat, stirring until the wax has melted. Add the oil very carefully so as not to splash any of the hot liquid on yourself. Stir for 3 minutes and remove from heat. While still warm, scoop out the flowers from the bowl. Pour the still liquid polish into preheated wide necked glass jars and leave to set. To use, simply rub in with a soft cloth. Leave on for half an hour and polish dry with a clean soft cloth. To clean cane furniture, mix 2 tbsp washing soda, 2 cups of water and 1 cup of salt. Brush into the cane with a paint brush or old tooth brush, and wipe dry. Polish with olive oil. Top METAL POLISH
To clean silver, make a paste by mixing 3 tbsp cream of tartar with 21/4 tsp cold water. Spread over the silver and leave for a few days. Rinse in warm soapy water. You could also try using toothpaste on smaller amounts of silver like chains and earrings to get the shine back. To clean brass, make a paste of 1tbsp white flour, 1 tbsp vinegar and 1 tbsp salt. Wipe on, leave until dry and wipe off with a damp cloth. You could also try what we used at home as children, and this is a bit of tamarind. Made a thick paste by soaking a lime sized piece of tamarind in hot water and use it with a damp sponge to polish the brass. For copper, wipe on buttermilk. Leave on for 10 minutes and wipe clean with a damp cloth. Other metals- Rub on a paste of 1 tsp Soda Bicarbonate and a few drops of water. Leave on for one hour and then wipe clean. Top AIR FRESHENERS
Place baking soda in small open containers in your refrigerator or bathroom corners. Baking soda attracts odours, leaving your space odour free. I use the small fruit bowl (MOTTS or DOLE's) containers, which are a perfect size for my refrigerator. Vinegar and Charcoal work the same way. Place in small bowls and use to get rid of odours. I do not suggest using Charcoal in your refrigerator.
Place a few cloves and cinnamon sticks in a pot of boiling water. Bring to a simmer for 1 hour. Your kitchen and indeed, whole house will smell fragrant. This is particularly nice in winter or just before a party. You can also add slices of lemon/orange or apple to the water. A bowl of oranges imparts a nice fruity flavour. For a festive flavour, stick a few cloves in a mandarin/orange. This wonderful smell lingers for days. Spin-Fresh Bathroom Deodorizer - Add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil to the inside of the cardboard toilet tissue roll. With each turn, fragrance is released into the room. Top FRESHENERS
To freshen a mattress, sponge with 1 tsp of tea tree oil in a bucket of warm soapy water. Let it dry in the sun and then vacuum. Alternatively, sprinkle some soda bicarbonate and leave overnight. Vacuum the next morning.
Sheets and linen should be kept in a cupboard that allows for air circulation. Add a few bunches of lavender flowers to the cupboard (they do not stain fabrics) or a bunch of bay leaves. If sheets do get musty, then wash in a solution of 1 cup vinegar and 1 tsp lavender oil to one bucketful water. Rinse well and let it dry in the sun. Smelly shoes can be cleaned by filling an old stocking with soda bicarbonate. Tuck into the shoes and store overnight. Top REMOVING STAINS
NOTE: Always test an inconspicuous area first, as different materials may react differently. For silks and delicate fabric, I would recommend taking it to a dry cleaners and asking them if they can remove the stain. Certain fabrics may fade when ingredients such as borax and hydrogen peroxide are used on them. It is always best if you can attack the stain immediately, before it gets a chance to seep in and become permanent.Adhesives and glues - On fabrics- Wash glue stains with cold water. If still sticky, dab on diluted household ammonia. Alcohol - On fabrics- Rinse the spot out immediately in cold water if possible. If outside, try dabbing on a bit of club soda. Ballpoint pens - On fabrics- For fresh stains, sprinkle with salt and leave for an hour. Wipe and repeat if necessary, till stain fades. For stronger stains, try dabbing on some alcohol, but beware that this may ruin certain fabrics. Blood - On fabrics- If it's a fresh stain, then soak it in cold water for a few hours and wash as usual. Soak old stains in cold salty water with lots of detergent. Wash as usual, in warm water. For stains which have dried, you can try spraying on a bit of hydrogen peroxide. Leave for 10 minutes and wash clean. Candle wax - On fabrics- Place a newspaper sheet on the ironing board. Lay the cloth with the wax stain on top. Cover with more paper and run a warm iron over the paper. The heat melts the wax, while the paper absorbs it. Repeat until wax is lifted off. Chewing gum - On fabrics- Freeze gum by dabbing it with ice and then lift off. Chocolate - On fabrics- Rinse in cold water and wash in hot soapy water. If the stain is bad, apply glycerine and leave for a few hours. Wash in hot soapy water. Coffee and tea - On fabrics- Soak overnight in soap and water solution. Dab on some white vinegar and wash. If the stain is bad, dab on some glycerine and leave for a few hours and then wash as usual. On china cups - For coffee and tea stains, make a paste by combining baking soda and water. Let it stand in the cup and then rinse well. Cream - On fabrics- Soak in cold soapy water and wash as usual. Curry - On fabrics- Try dabbing a little water mixed with borax. Leave on for a few hours and wash off. Deodorant - On fabrics- Sponge with a detergent in its concentrated form. Leave for a few hours and wash off. Egg - On fabrics- Soak in undiluted detergent for one hour and then wash off. Felt tip pen - On fabrics- Dab liberally with glycerine and leave on for a few hours or overnight if possible. Wash as usual. Fruit juice - On fabrics- Cover the stain with salt and pour hot to boiling water over it. Grass - On fabrics- Dab with glycerine and leave overnight. Wash as usual. Grease - On fabrics- For stubborn stains on cottons, try dabbing on a little eucalyptus essential oil. Hang to dry until the scent of eucalyptus has evaporated. If the fabric won't fade, you can also try a bit of hydrogen peroxide. For silks and other delicate material, dab with powdered chalk until the stain fades, then rub off the chalk. Heat marks - On wooden surfaces - Mix equal parts methylated spirits and linseed oil and stroke gently into the stain, until it vanishes. Ink - On fabrics- Rinse immediately if possible in cold water and then wash in cold and soapy water. You can also try soaking the stain in a little milk before washing. Or, pour on 1 tbsp lemon juice with 1 tbsp salt. Leave out in the sun and then rinse. Iron marks - On fabrics- To reduce surface scorch marks, rub in a mixture of 1 tbsp lemon juice with 1 tbsp salt. Wash out immediately. Lipstick - On fabrics- Try using liquid dish soap. Dab on a generous amount and let it soak before washing in clean cold water. Repeat if necessary. Nail polish - On fabrics- Use a non-acetone nail polish remover. Dab on wait 30 minutes and rinse with vinegar and water. Repeat if necessary and then wash in lots of soapy water. Perfume - On fabrics- Dab on glycerine and then wash in cold soapy water. Perspiration - On fabrics- Mix equal parts cold water and white vinegar and wash in this solution. Rinse out well and wash as usual. Red wine - On fabrics- Pour on lots of salt on the stain while it's still wet/damp. Wash in cold soapy water or a solution or 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Rust Squeeze 1 tbsp lemon juice with 3 tbsp salt and rub onto the stain. For fabrics, do the lemon-salt treatment and then rinse well in hot water with 1 tsp soda bicarbonate for each cup of water being used. Urine - On fabrics- Wash immediately if possible. Sprinkle on some salt and leave for a few hours. Rinse in cold soapy water. Water stains - On wooden surfaces - Make a thin paste of salt and salad oil. Rub on in gentle circular motions. Wipe off with a clean dry cloth and buff till the stain disappears. Top INSECT REPELLENTS
The following are some excellent natural ways to keep your home and garden free from pesky bugs. Use with caution if you have children or pets around.Ants - Keeping your home clean and free from crumbs with discourage ants from entering your space. However, should they come around, then try leaving a few slices of cucumber around. Most ants have an aversion to its taste. Cayenne pepper, lemon juice and cinnamon work equally well. Mix a small quantity of honey and borax and leave in empty containers (with their lids off) to encourage ants to take it back to their colonies. The borax is poisonous and should be used with caution especially around children and pets. Cockroaches - Roaches are less likely to invade clean homes. They are most likely to enter homes through drains and garbage chutes. If they do get in, they will breed and multiply and are quite resilient to most methods like pouring hot water down drains. Try putting boric acid on top of cupboards and around drains and garbage chutes. Catnip is another natural repellent to cockroaches. This should be used only in homes without cats. Spraying soapy water directly on cockroaches as with ants may also kill them. Bay leaves will also deter them. Fleas - If you home does get infested by fleas, it's most likely to have come through your pets. Bath and comb them regularly. Citrus works well to deter fleas. Use fresh lemon boiled in water or citrus oil to dab onto your pet. In your yard, plant fleabane to deter fleas from taking up home there. Mosquitoes -If Mosquitoes are a problem, then ensure your windows and doors have mesh put on them. Keep your garden clear of any freestanding stagnant water and empty water fountains and bird baths. Citronella candles work well to keep them at bay. Another effective repellent is garlic juice mixed with water and sprayed onto the body. You could also try creams which are eucalyptus based. Neem is also very effective and a number of health stores carry neem oil which can be used on your body. Flies - Mint, bay leaves and cloves work well to keep flies away. Use them scattered around your barbeque picnic or place them next to your pet's food bowl. Top CLEANING JEWELLRY-Courtesy Woman's World
Diamonds - Keep your diamonds sparkling by soaking them in vodka for 5 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.Gold - Wash gold in dish detergent and warm water and rinse. Pat dry. Silver- In a foil lined glass dish, add 2 tablespoons baking soda, one tablespoon salt and boiling water. Soak silver and watch the tarnish disappear. Another easy solution is to brush gently with some toothpaste and a soft bristle toothbrush. Rinse and pat dry. Pearls - Rub each pearl with a damp, soft, lint free cloth. Dry before storing. Top |
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