Archive for the ‘Healthy Home’ Category

Cleaning With Baking Soda

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Baking soda has so many qualities that make it an excellent cleaner in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room.

It is a gentle abrasive that allows you to clean sinks, basins and tubs effectively without scratching.

Partnered with a squeeze of lemon, you can use baking soda to shine your copper bottom pots (Cut a lemon in half, make a paste with a squeeze of lemon juice added to baking soda, and use the half a lemon to apply the paste to the bottom of your copper pot; using the lemon half as a “scrubber” will add shine.).

Baking soda in your fridge absorbs odors (although I’ve heard that dry teabags work just as well). Sprinkle baking soda into the bottom of your garbage can before you put in the plastic bag to reduce garbage odors. An open box of baking soda in a clothes closet can eliminate musty or moldy smells and keep your clothes smelling fresh. A sprinkle of baking soda in your trash compactor once a week helps keep it smelling fresh as well.

You can use baking soda in your washing machine to brighten whites and kill body odors in the clothes. Use ½ cup of baking soda and a sprinkle of water to make a paste to clean out the inside of your washing machine.

Baking soda can lift acid-type stains (vomit, urine); quickly rinse the stain and then sprinkle baking soda on the spot to neutralize the acid.

Q: How do you use baking soda around your home?

Cleaning With Vinegar

Monday, March 15th, 2010

cleaning with vinegar, household cleaners, homemade
What makes vinegar such a great eco-friendly cleaning ingredient? Vinegar is an acid and cuts through grease very effectively. When you use vinegar to clean glass, use old newspaper instead of a sponge. Finish the process by buffing with a clean, white towel. You might want to wear rubber gloves when using vinegar as a cleaning agent and to prevent the ink from coming off the newsprint and on to your hands.

1. Window Cleaner

1/2 cup ammonia
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
1 bucket warm water

Dry the windows with two towels. The second towel will make windows sparkle. NOTE: If cold weather, add 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to the above mixture to prevent ice from forming on your windows.

2. To remove soil and grease, use 1/4 cup ammonia diluted in 2 quarts warm water.

3. To remove hard water deposits and soil, use 1/4 cup vinegar diluted in 2 quarts warm water.

4. To remove extra heavy soil and grease build-up, combine 1/2 cup ammonia, 2 cups rubbing alcohol and 1 gallon water.

5. Cleaning Glass

To clean glass to a sparkling finish mix one quarter of a cup of ammonia in a bucket of water. Wash your glass in the mix and dry immediately. This mix is also great for washing windows.

Q: How do you use vinegar around your home?