I wanted to share a few of my families cleaning “recipes”. I remember my mom using a lot of these while I was growing up.
I think it’s very important to use natural safe cleaning ingredients whenever possible and surprisingly you can find a lot of your supplies in your pantry.
White vinegar-
- Undiluted white vinegar on your drinking glasses will remove hard water, coffee stains, grease and fingerprints. Just wet a dishrag and add a touch of vinegar and wipe down the entire glass. Rise with hot water and air dry.
- Use a toothbrush and use it in the bathroom for hard water deposits or soap scum.
- Clean your shower heads that are clogged with mineral deposits. Place 1/2 cup vinegar in a sandwich bag, and secure the bag to the shower head with a rubber band. Leave it on for 2 hours or overnight. Remove and turn on water and notice the difference.
- Easy peasy window cleaner. In a spray bottle mix, 1 cup rubbing alcohol, 1 cup water and 1 T white vinegar.
Baking Soda-
I love, LOVE baking soda!! It’s my miracle go to. I remember my mom sprinkling it on our carpets to take out odors, applied it to my insect bites, used it in our litter box and in the oven. Besides cooking with it or removing odors from our fridge or freezer, this is how I use it.
- I use this all the time to clean my tub and showers. I use about ½ cup baking soda and sprinkle it all over the tub bottom. Then sprinkle with water to a make a wet paste and let stand for about 10-15 minutes. Using a scrub brush and very little elbow grease, this will clean your tub and make it super bright. (You can use the same paste to clean the inside of your oven, much safer then Easy Off)
- Need Drain O? Don’t use those nasty chemicals in your shower. Think elementary school science project. ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup vinegar. Remove the drain and pour the baking soda directly in the whole and then pour vinegar into the drain and watch the “volcano” effect. If it’s a tougher drain, repeat steps but after adding the vinegar read baking soda and let set for a couple of hours. Then rinse with hot water.
- To clean your kitchen and bathroom counters. Wet a sponge and sprinkle baking soda directly on sponge and then clean your counter tops. Rinse with a clean sponge.
Lemons-
- Lemons are natural bleach that cleans your wood cutting board or butcher board counters really quick and easy. Rub a lemon over the stain and let it air dry. When stain is removed, rub olive oil onto the wood so it protects your board. - Make your own furniture polish. The lemon juice dissolves smudges and dirt. The olive oil shines and protects the wood furniture. Mix in a sprayer bottle 1 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice. Spray on to furniture and wipe off with a clean cloth.
- If you have a stinky food container rinse with hot water and baking soda. Cover and let set overnight.
- Have you ever burnt popcorn in a microwave? The Wee P did this a couple of weekends ago. An easy way to remove the stink from the microwave oven is wet a paper towel, squeeze half a lemon on to it and put into the microwave and nuke for 45 seconds. This will remove odor and loosen up any food deposits. Take another paper towel or washcloth and wipe down the inside of the oven. TADA, it’s clean. (Can use 1 tablespoon store bought lemon juice)
- Don’t use bleach when doing laundry try using lemons to brighten up those faded whites. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle.
Oranges-
- If you have a funky smelling disposal drop some orange, lemon or lime peels down the disposal. Cinnamon-
- Want to make your house smell yummy without using air fresheners, simply boil cinnamon, cloves, mint, ginger or any other herbs you think smell yummy. I use about 2 cups boiling water and then 3 cinnamon sticks and 2 tablespoons vanilla. Of course chocolate chip cookies or a cake make your house smell delicious. Newspaper-
- Did you know that newspaper absorbs odor? It’s a true story. Another true fact is using it in your fridge will absorb the odors. Roll up into balls and sprinkle with water. This will take out any pungent odors, but will take a couple of days. - Another way to remove stinky smells from your food containers is using newspaper. Just ball up the paper and put it in the plastic container and let it sit overnight. The paper should have absorbed the smell.
Coke-
- If you have the black old film on the bottom of your pots and pans you can easily use Coke to clean it up. Pour in enough Coke to cover the problem areas, set on the stove top on low heat and cook for an hour. Wash as normal.
-This also works with brunt pots.
-Clean your shower grout with Coke and a old toothbrush.
I did find two things on Pinterest and can't wait to try them. Apparently using lemonade Kool-Aid in your dishwasher will clean any lime deposits and iron stains. You just pour the whole packet into the detergent cup and start your empty dishwasher. I guess the citric acid removes the stains. I bought the mix, but haven’t tried it yet. Another tip I came across was using dryer sheets on your baseboards to keep the dust off. Once we get out base boards installed I plan on using this and hope it works.
Speaking of the dishwasher, it’s important to keep your kitchen brushes and sponges clean. Just put them in your dishwasher and turn on your normal cycle. This also works with your hairbrush, combs and makeup brushes.
HAPPY CLEANING!!!
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