HOUSEHOLD: Cleaning the House Safely (TIPS, HINTS)

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Cleaning the House Safely

by Elizabeth Hughes

 

This is a wonderful series of ideas from Elizabeth Hughes.

 

I have been feverish lately about getting people to use kid safe and

environmentally safe cleaning solutions. I know I would have liked this

information a few years ago and I had to make an effort to seek it out

when it should have been common knowledge. Anyway, here are some simple

compounds that you can make in your home and other cleaning tips that

won't make you run out of the room for air.

 

Environmentally Safe (and kid safe) products to clean your home:

 

Five basic nontoxic ingredients that can be used as cleansing agents:

 

These ingredients, supplemented with vegetable-oil- based soaps, lemon

juice, herbs or toothpaste, can be mixed together and used to bring a

natural, economical and safe shine to your home.

 

* baking soda

* washing soda

* borax

* salt

* white vinegar

 

Here are some of the compounds you can make:

 

Disinfectant:

Mix 1/2 cup borax (a natural mineral that kills mold and bacteria) with

1 gallon hot water.

Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme. Steep for 10 minutes, strain and cool.

Store in a recycled plastic spray bottle.

 

Floor cleaner:

Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 2 gallons hot water.

For greasy floors, add 1/4 cup washing soda and 1 tablespoon

vegetable-oil-based soap to the above mixture.

 

Window-washing fluid:

Mix 1 cup vinegar with 4 cups hot water.

 

Oven cleaner:

Make a paste of baking soda and hot water. Sponge onto stains and wipe

clean.

 

Copper-pan cleaner:

Sprinkle surface of pans with coarse salt. Rub salt into stains with the

cut half of a fresh lemon.

 

Wood furniture cleaner:

To remove water stains on wood furniture, dab white toothpaste onto the

stain. Allow the paste to dry and then gently buff off with a soft cloth.

 

Removing mildew:

To remove mildew from bathtubs, bathroom curtains and tile, make a

mixture of: one-half cup vinegar, one-half cup of Borax cleaning

detergent and 2 cups of water. Pour it on the dirty areas and let it sit

for a few minutes, and then scrub with a cloth. If mildew is still

visible, use the mixture twice.

 

Clean the toilet bowl: Combine equal parts of baking soda, Borax

cleaning detergent and white vinegar. Pour generously around the bowl

and scrub with a brush. Or leave it over night if badly stained.

 

Removing crayon, pencil or ink from walls:

To remove crayon, pencil or ink marks from the walls (without removing

paint), take about 2 tablespoons of baking soda and mix in water. Dip a

white wash rag in the solution and rub the marks away. Wipe away excess

baking soda with the same cloth.

 

Furniture Polish:

Make your own furniture polish by combining one tablespoon of lemon

juice or white vinegar with one- half cup of olive or vegetable oil.

Take a soft cloth and polish.

 

Removing crayon, pencil or ink from upholstery:

To remove pencil, crayon or ink marks from upholstery, use dry baking

soda. Use a hairbrush or similar brush to rub baking soda and remove the

marks.

 

Blood stains:

To remove blood stains, combine one quart of Borax cleaning detergent

with two cups of cold water. Rinse stained clothing item in cold water,

and scrub in warm water with your hands. Then dip in solution and wash

by hand.

 

Coffee and chocolate stains:

To remove coffee and chocolate stains, mix one teaspoon of white vinegar

in one quart of cold water. Sponge on stain and wipe clean.

 

Other hints:

 

Ironing Clothes: To get crisp results when ironing clothes, combine 1-2

tablespoons of cornstarch in one pint of water. Pour into a spray

bottle, shake and spray clothes before ironing.

 

Bug Control:

-To keep bugs out of flour, pasta, rice, pancake mix and other wheat

products, put 2 to 3 bay leaves in the containers.

 

-Rather than pesticides, you might foil roaches by placing bay leaves

around cracks in the room and leaving out dishes of equal parts baking

soda and powdered sugar. The last resort is a mix of powered sugar and

boric acid (a poison).

 

-For other pests, a soapy water spray can be an insecticide, and a

shallow pan filled with stale beer will kill snails and slugs.

 

-To protect the family pet, alternatives to toxic flea collars include

eucalyptus ointment, herbal baths and a pinch of brewer's yeast or

Vitamin B with dinner.

 

Removing Grease: To remove grease or hair from the drain, use equal

parts of vinegar, salt and baking soda. Pour mixture down the drain and

let stand for 15 minutes. Then pour boiling water down the drain.

 

 

http://pinksunrise.com/fixit/cleaning.htm

 

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