I chose this weekend to say indoors for the sake of staying warm. So, a little cleaning took place. I put vinegar to the real test. The dishwasher and the washing machine all went through a vinegar cycle since vinegar cleans while also disinfecting. I think this is something we have all known for awhile but forget. I have a solution of vinegar and salt resting on my carpet stains from my dear cats and their hairballs. We shall see how this works soon as we vacuum shortly. As a side note, I found out that these stains are due mostly to the dyes in the cat food! Need to check this out. 

Next are the tubs and showers. If you use vinegar in one spray bottle and Hydrogen Peroxide in a second spray bottle you will have a great cleaner in addition to antibacterial, anti-mold and all the other Anti’s I write about. This is great for counter tops also. However, do not mix the two together in one spray bottle.

I have the following article bookmarked and decided to read it again today. I like it because it provides ways to make and use all natural, non-toxic cleaners with just a few very simple, inexpensive ingredients. I wish I could say I authored this but I did not. It was written by T. Cummings on the Geomestic.com website. I expand on these recipes somewhat by using Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds cleaner as the liquid detergent. I also keep my staples of essential oils (tea tree, lemon, lavender and eucalyptus) when disinfecting a surface. I just add drop or two to the recipe. Check it out!

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You can easily make cleaning products with safe and effective ingredients you probably already have. Homemade cleaners minimize the use of toxic substances in your home and are much less expensive than their costly commercial counterparts.

You will need: 

• Baking Soda

• White Vinegar

• Liquid Detergent

• Lemon Juice

• Water

• Salt

• Spray Bottles

 

Window Cleaner.

Combine the following ingredients in a spray bottle and you are ready to make your windows sparkle.

¼ tsp. Liquid detergent

3 Tbsp. White vinegar

2 C. Water

 

Next, we’ll make a Soft Scrub Cleanser that works great on sinks and bathtubs. Mix just enough to use each time and eliminate storage clutter. In a bowl, add liquid soap to ½ C. baking soda to form a thick spreadable consistency.

 

For an All Purpose Cleaner, mix these ingredients in a spray bottle. This cleaner is good for cutting grease on counter tops and stoves.

½ tsp. Baking soda

1 drop Liquid soap

2 C. Hot water

 

For a natural Furniture Polish combine into a spray bottle:

½ tsp. Mineral oil

¼ C. Lemon juice

Spray then wipe with a cotton cloth. Use a dry piece of the cloth to polish.

 

For Copper or Brass mix together

½ C. White vinegar

2 Tbsp. Salt

Leave on for about 15 minutes after application.

 

Now that you have made your very own cleaning products you might want some helpful hints to keep your job easier and more efficient. Here are some tips and tricks to make cleaning a breeze.

Disinfect your cutting board by rubbing a slice of lemon across it after each use.

 

Use baking soda as a carpet freshener. Sprinkle straight baking soda into the carpet. Let set for about 10 or 15 minutes then vacuum as usual.

 

Baking soda can be used right out of the box for tougher scrubbing jobs.

Vinegar can be used straight to clean mold in your shower. Leave on for 10-15 minutes then rinse clean.

 

Clean cast iron pans with salt. Wipe out any excess food then sprinkle salt in and wipe clean. Salt cleans the pan without removing the season.

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