 |
| Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos |
Household cleaners are kind of a dirty little secret. Since they are regulated differently than skincare products and cosmetics, it is rare that you'll find an ingredients listing on your window cleaner or scouring powder. I like knowing what I am subjecting my living environment to. The following household cleansers require less than 4 ingredients and they work!
1. Many window cleaners are ammonia based. For a more natural option, windows in your home can be effectively cleaned with 4 tablespoons lemon juice mixed with a half gallon of water. Other effective cleaners for glass and mirrors are rubbing alcohol, vinegar or witch hazel.
Another tip I hear a lot is that you can wipe windows clean with newspapers. This seems green, since you'd be reusing newspapers and saving on paper towels, but in reality it is messy and big waste of time. Newspaper has always left streaky surfaces for me, doubling my cleaning efforts. Try clean, lint-free rags instead, an old cotton T-shirt or a cloth diaper.
2. Vinyl items can be cleaned with straight lemon juice on a soft cloth rubbed into stained areas (on vinyl items such as recliners or tile flooring). Test vinyl in an inconspicuous spot first!
3. Furniture polish is usually made of petroleum distillates and solvents, both of which can be hazardous and smelly. One very effective wood polish can be made by mixing 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice and applying it to furniture using a soft cloth. The combination gives your wood furniture a sparkling shine, although it smells a little like salad dressing.
4. Help control the smell of fresh paint by keeping small dishes of vinegar scattered about in the room. The vinegar will absorb the paint odor while you work. Leave the dishes out for a few days after finishing the project to keep the paint smell at bay. Remember to change the vinegar each day.
5. Most metal polishes contain ammonia and usually at least one type of acid. Shine tarnished copper or brass without doing any damage by using salt, vinegar and flour. Make a paste using equal parts of the three ingredients; rub the paste onto the brass or copper item with a soft cloth. Cover the entire surface and let the whole thing dry out completely. Wipe off the dried paste with a clean, soft cloth.
Lemon can also be used for lightly tarnished brass or copper pieces. Slice one lemon and dip it in salt, then rub the item with the salted lemon. Afterward, rinse and dry thoroughly. Be sure to remove all the salt, or the item will turn green. Repeat if necessary.
6. Spruce up the exterior of sooty wood-burning fireplaces by applying a paste of cream of tartar and water. Rub the paste into the stains, let it dry, then scrub it off. To help loosen soot buildup on the inside of your fireplace and chimney, toss an occasional handful of salt into the fire the next time you're enjoying your fireplace. The burning salt will help loosen the soot a little, buying you some time between major cleanings.
7. Freshen laundry by adding 1/2 cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle. For stubborn stains, add 1/2 cup borax to the wash cycle with your regular detergent. This will help whiten your whites, soften hard water, remove soap residue from your clothing, neutralize any laundry odors, disinfect clothing and increase the stain removal ability of your detergent. If you line dry clothing, line drying in the sun is a time honored means of brightening whites without using bleach.
8. A white vinegar and water solution is the perfect choice for cleaning most types of bare floors in your home. Mix up 1 cup vinegar with 1 gallon warm water and mop it onto a ceramic tile, linoleum, vinyl, or wood floor. There is no need to rinse afterward -- saving both time and water. If your vinyl or linoleum floor looks dull after cleaning, you can give it a shine by mopping it over again with straight club soda. Do not saturate wood floors with the vinegar and water solution. Use a light touch; the mixture will make your floor shiny and remove any greasy buildup.
3 comments:
You can do so much with vinegar and lemon. Thanks for sharing these handy tips!
I can't stand the smell of traditional household cleansers. My mom always used vinegar and lemon so it's sort of a "comfort" smell for me too!
Great cleaning tips. Green cleaning is something every person should do in his home. It is essential for healthy living.
Post a Comment