More Tips

More Tips .....

• Stop food drying out in the microwave by covering it with a coffee filter.
• A vase of lavender placed by an open window will stop flies coming in.
• Clean the seals on fridge doors with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
• To clean venetion blinds, wear cotton gloves and run your hands along the slats.
• If your freezer is in the garage, polish the outside with wax to prevent damp, rust and mold.
• Use an old cleaned out spray bottle to water plants.
• Place an onion in a freshly painted room to absorb odour of paint.
• Use the water from boiled potatoes or boiled eggs to water your plants. They like the protein.

General Household Tips

Here are a few general tips that I hope you will find useful and economical, I try to find solutions for everyday problems that work well and use the natural products you already have within your reach.

• Stop your puppy chewing sofa cushions with a little lemon juice on the corner of each cushion.
• Spray ants or bugs around your kitchen sink or bathroom with soap and water to kill them almost immediately. This is safer, and certainly smells better than chemical products, much cheaper and easy to clean up.
• Soak new red clothes in vinegar before the first washing to prevent the dye running into your other clothes.
• To remove crayon marks from a wall heat with your hairdryer then simply wipe off.
• Place a small bag of salt in your breadbin to keep bread fresh for longer.
• Cut hard boiled eggs with a knife that has been dipped in water to prevent the yolk from breaking.
• Clean your leather jacket with olive oil on cotton wool or a soft cloth. Much cheaper than buying the expensive products.
• Steep two tea bags in hot water for ten minutes and apply to your wooden furniture to restore and bring out the natural colour and shine.
• To get rid of weeds growing in the cracks of your driveway or patio spray them with with a solution of salt and water. Keep the weeds away by occasionally throwing salt into the cracks.
• If your new shoes are too tight put the nozzle of your hairdryer into the shoe and turn on low. When the shoe becomes warm stuff with paper or socks to stretch it.
• If you drop a raw egg on the floor (ugh) pour a thick layer of salt over it, wait a few minutes, then clean it up.
• Save used spray containers, wash them out well and use for your eco-friendly cleaning solutions.

Salt

Long before the advent of modern chemicals and cleaners salt has been used through the ages for cleaning around the home. A lot of these uses have withstood the test of time and have been handed down over the years. Salt is much cheaper and more environmentally friendly than the new sophisticated products that “we cannot live without”.

For cleaning purposes buy the cheapest salt possible, save the good stuff for your table.

• To clean tarnished silverware rub the affected area with salt before washing.
• Remove the odour of onion or garlic from your hand by rubbing fingers with salt and a little vinegar.
• Clean and deoderize containers, thermos bottles and jugs by soaking in salted water.
• Pour salt solution down sink drains regularly to eliminate odours and prevent grease build up.
• Rub cutting boards with salt on a damp cloth after washing to brighten them up.
• Remove wine stains from a tablecloth by blotting it up and then sprinkle salt on the stains immediately. Later rinse tablecloth with cold water.
• Wash coloured curtains or washable rugs in a salt water solution to brighten coloures.
• Extinguish a grease fire on your cooker by covering flames with salt. Never use water it will spread the grease.
• A dash of salt added to the water in your vase will keep flowers fresh for longer.
• Soak your toothbrush in lukewarm salt water for 15 minutes every week to get rid of bacteria.
• To remove blood stains from clothes soak the stain in cold salt water then wash in warm water.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deoderizor. Mix a solution of half water and half vinegar in a spray bottle and it will clean most of the areas in your home. Any vinegar will do but distilled white vinegar is the most poular, check out the price and compare it to the cost of your usual products, you will be happy with the money you will save.

A few drops of lemon juice will neutralize the strong smell of vinegar, and will add a nice fresh citrus smell if you prefer.

- Use vinegar to clean all kithchen surfaces, refrigeratoe, cooker tops, microwave etc.,

- To clean soap build up from taps use a mixture of four parts vinegar to one part salt.

- Remove tea or coffee stains from cups and mugs by cleaning with a mixture of vinegar and salt.

- For spills on a carpet use a cloth to soak up the liquid and spray with half vinegar and half water. Leave for approx 2 mins then blot with a towel or sponge.

- Use a mixture of vinegar and salt to clean scorch marks from your iron.

- Wiping the lens of your glasses with one or two drops of vinegar will get them sparkling clean.

- To disinfect baby toys add a splash of vinegar into a sink of soapy water and soak for five minutes. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

- Get rid of that unsightly rim in your flower vase by filling it with half water and half vinegar. Let it soak and wipe out with a paper towel.

- Remove odours from lunch boxes by placing a vinegar soaked slice of bread in the box and leave overnight.

- Clean the wheel of a tin opener by using an old toothbrush and vinegar.

- Spray full strength vinegar all around the bathroom to kill germs then wipe off with a clean cloth.

- To remove paint splatters from windows apply full strength vinegar with a clean paintbrush.

- NOTE: Do not use vinegar on marble.

The Lemon

Using lemons to clean your home is an easy and safe method of reducing the use of toxic chemicals. They have antibacterial and antiseptic properties and of course there is that wonderful fresh, clean smell.

- Rub lemon onto chrome taps and rinse for a gleaming shine.

- Scrub grout with lemon juice and an old toothbrush.

- To clean the microwave, mix a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice in three quarters of a cup of water and heat in the microwave to boiling. Leave inside without opening the door for 10 mins then simply wipe and dry.

- Soak plastic food containers in diluted lemon juice to remove stains and odours. Wash as normal.

- Half a lemon in your refrigerator will keep it smelling fresh and will last for a week.

- For windows and mirrors add a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice to water in your spray bottle. Buff with an old newspaper afterwards.

- Keep those nasty insects out! Spray lemon juice in windowsills and door thresholds, also add to your floor wash for even more protection.

- A few drops of lemon juice added to simmering rice prevents it from sticking to the pan, making the pan easier to clean afterwards.

- Rub lemon juice onto your chopping board to get rid of stains and bacteria.

- Combine one part lemon juice to two parts olive oil for a natural furniture polish.

- A few drops of lemon juice in your wash can help your clothes smell fresher.

- To get more juice from lemons, cut in half and heat on high in your microwave for 40 seconds before squeezing.

- Have a go, you will be surprised at the results and you can get yourself a little treat with the money you save.

Bicarbonate of Soda

Bicarbonate of soda or baking soda is one of the cheapest, yet most versatile, old timer, that works just as well, if not better, than the expensive products that have been developed over the years. Here are just some of the ways it can be put to good use:

- To remove burned on food from a pan, soak the pan in soda and water for 10 minutes before washing.

- Clean plastic, porcelain and glass with dry soda on a damp cloth then rinse and dry.

- Clean your bathroom with dry soda on a moist sponge for tiles, sink, bath, taps and shower heads etc.

- To clean shower curtain soak in water and soda and hang back up to dry without creases.

- Use 4 tablespoons of soda in your drains every week to keep them clean and fresh. Flush soda down with hot water.

- Sprinkle soda on a wet toothbrush to clean your teeth or dentures.

- Sprinkle soda inside shoes and trainers to eliminate those odours.

- Apply soda in a paste to insect bites.

- Add half a teaspoon of soda to half a glass of water to relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.

- To remove stubborn stains from marble, formica or plastic tops, scour with a paste of water and soda.

Hope that you try at least some of these suggestions and let me know what you think.

I will be back soon with more great tips.