~Eco-Friendly Living~

~General Cleaning Tips~

   

   

  

By using salt, soda and soap and a little elbow grease, you can help lessen the damage to our environment.  What better time to start than the present?

  • All-Purpose Cleaner:  50ml vinegar, 120ml bicarbonate of soda and 50ml cloudy ammonia.  Mix ingredients in 4 litres of hot water.  This is a safe solution for all areas and can be rinsed off with water.  Put the solution in a simple pump-action spray bottle or pour straight on to your cleaning cloth.  Shake the mixture well before use.  Avoid inhaling ammonia vapour.

  • Cane:  Wipe cane over with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water.  Dry out of doors, if possible, on a warm day.

  • Carpets:  To deodorise and fully clean carpets, mix one part borax (a natural salt) with two parts cornmeal.  Sprinkle liberally, leave for about and hour and vacuum.  If you have some tough stains, blot with vinegar in soapy water.  For quick deodorising, spinkle the carpet with bicarbonate of soda, then vacuum.

  • Disinfectant:  Pure tea tree oil is a natural and effective disinfectant.  It can be added to your general cleaners, and is also a handy antiseptic for cuts or bites.

  • Lino or tile floors:  Use the All-purpose cleaner.  If you want a lemon-fresh smell, add a tablespoon of lemon essence to the rinse water.  You can also use a soap, vinegar and water solution for washing floors.

  • Floor polish:  Use bees wax to polish.  Or melt 1 tablespoon of paraffin wax in a double boiler then add a few drops of lemon essence an dapply with a rag.  Allow to dry then polish.

  • Furniture polish:  Rub with a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice or wipe over with a chamois leather wrung out in water and vinegar.  Polish with a soft, dry cloth.  Or dissolve 1 teaspoon of lemon oil in 1 pint of mineral oil and apply with a rag.

  • Heat marks on furniture: Rub with a paste of olive oil or vegetable oil plus salt or cigarette ash.  Remove paste and give the piece a coat of wax polish.

  • Leather:  Remove stains from leather using a solution of vinegar and warm water.  To finish, rube over with olive oil.

  • Mirrors:  Use 125ml of white vinegar mixed with 1 litre of water.  Rub dry with a newspaper for an even finish.

  • Wood:  A few drops of vinegar in 250ml of water is enough for daily or weekly use (60ml of vinegar to 1 litre of water if you are making a large batch).  Dip the cloth in this mixture and wring it out until it is just damp.  Run it over the polished surface then buff with a soft cloth.  For more thorough and less frequent polishing, mix two parts vegetable oil or olive oil with one part lemon juice.  Shake mixture well before use.

  • Varnished surfaces:  Wipe over with strained cold tea.

  • Vinyl upholstery:  Wash with a strong solution of cider vinegar then rinse and dry well.

  • Wallpaper:  Remove all dust with a feather duster or vacuum cleaner.  Wipe the wall down with 2-day-old, thick slices of bread.  For vinyl wallpaper, clean with a warm cloth and white vinegar.

  • Windows:  Use a solution of 125ml of white vinegar and 1 litre of water.  Rub dry to avoid streaking.  If windows are very grubby, wash with soapy water first.