Think Your Tough Household Cleaning & Maintenance Jobs Can’t be Done Naturally?
Posted by Lisa Carey
We all have them, those tough household projects like cleaning the oven or microwave, removing water stains, or taking care of metals like chrome, brass or copper, that we think we must use commercial chemical cleaners on. Guess again! there are several environmentally friendly ways to take care of household projects you just need the right recipe for it and we have them!
From stains to silver, environmentally friendly cleaning recipes are available. Tough jobs around the house do not have to include commercial cleaners. With these easy environmentally friendly recipes you can do everything from remove rust stains to polish your silver and even create your own “mothballs.” Why spend money on toxic chemicals to clean when you can clean for almost free.
Cookware Cleaner: Use coarse salt for scouring copper pans and ceramic baking dishes.
Appliances:
Microwaves – Mix together 1/2 cup of water with a few teaspoons of baking soda in a microwave safe bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave and run it for 2 minutes. Remove bowl and wipe clean.
Ovens – For tough burnt on food, rub the inside of your oven with wet steel wool. Let stand then wipe clean with a wet rag. You can also try Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by the Consumers Union.
Coffee Makers -In empty coffee maker pour a mixture of 1 cup white vinegar and some hot water to fill up the reservoir to the top. Run the coffee maker as if you were making coffee. After the cycle is finished run the coffee maker two more times with play water to rinse it thoroughly.
Refrigerators – is there anything Baking soda can’t do? Don’t spray chemicals in a box that stores your food, make a paste from equal parts baking soda and water and scrub the sticky, dirty stains away. Wipe down with a clean cloth after scrubbing.
Chopping block cleaner: To disinfect the surface, rub a slice of lemon across a chopping block surface. For tougher stains, squeeze some of the lemon juice onto the cutting board, let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe.
Coffee and tea stains: Remove stains in cups by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. An excellent method of cleaning a teakettle or coffee maker is to use; 2 cups water and 1/4 cup vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water.
Drain Cleaner: For light drain cleaning, mix 1/2 cup salt in 4 liters water, heat (but do not boil) and pour down the drain. For stronger cleaning, pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup vinegar. This mixture can break fatty acids down allowing the clog to wash down the drain.
After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution: only use this method with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used. Warning: Do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener, it can react badly and cause dangerous fumes.
Sticky marks left by removable sticky labels can attract dirt and mold. To remove, apply eucalyptus oil. sparingly (it is very strong) and wipe off the surface afterwards. Be sure to wash your hands quickly after using. Citrus oil may be used instead.
To remove brown deposits on bath taps, plugholes and shower coils, apply with a mixture of hot vinegar and salt. Leave for about fifteen minutes, and then scrape off with the end of the toothbrush. Stubborn stains may need several applications, be sure to only use a gentle brush as scraping with a metal scraper can leave scratches.
Rust stains: Apply a paste made of salt and lemon juice, borax and lemon juice, or hydrogen peroxide and scrub it off. You can also create a paste of cream of tartar and water, apply, and remove after a few hours of “soaking.”
Mold: add 1 or 2 teaspoons of essential oil to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle, or 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract to 1 quart of water and spray on surface.
To clean venetian blinds use cotton glove and run your hands along the individual blinds. You can also use a piece of cheap white bread, changing it out when it is becomes dirty.
Laminated countertop stains: Pour a puddle of lemon juice on the stain. Let soak and then rinse it off after a few hours.
Smelly thermos? Fill it with water and baking soda and leave it overnight, then rinse and wash as you normally would. You can also try using an egg shell instead of baking soda.
Lime Deposits: Reduce lime deposits by boiling 1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar and 2 cups water in your tea kettle a few minutes. While kettle is still warm, rinse thoroughly with fresh water.
Marks on walls and painted surfaces: Many ink spots; pencil, crayon or marker spots can be cleaned from painted surfaces using baking soda applied to a damp sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse.
Wallpaper Remover: To remove tough stuck on wallpaper mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water. Using a sponge apply it all over the old wallpaper to soften the adhesive. Be sure to open room the windows or use a fan in the room to clean the air.
Water Rings on Wood: Apply toothpaste or mayonnaise to a damp cloth and rub it into the ring. When the ring is gone, buff the entire surface.
Mothballs: Common mothball is made of paradichlorobenzene. This chemical is harmful to the liver and kidneys. To repel moths try:
Cedar chips in a cheesecloth square, or cedar oil in an absorbant cloth will repel moths.
Homemade moth-repelling sachets can also be made with lavender, rosemary, vetiver and rose petals.
Dried lemon peels toss them into a clothes chest, or tie in cheesecloth and hang in the closet.
Notes on cedar chips: For this cedar chips should be ‘aromatic cedar’, also referred to as juniper Cedar chips are available at many craft supply stores, or make your own using a plane and a block of cedar from the lumberyard.
Oil and Grease Spots: For small spills on the garage floor, add baking soda and scrub with wet brush.
Metal Cleaners and Polishes:
Aluminum: Use a soft cloth and clean with a solution of equal parts cream of tartar and water.
Brass or bronze: Dip soft cloth in lemon and baking-soda solution, or vinegar and salt solution then polish.
Chrome: Use baby oil, vinegar, or aluminum foil shiny side out to polish.
Copper: Soak a cotton rag in a pot of boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar. Apply to copper while hot; let cool, then wipe clean. Tougher jobs may require a sprinkle of baking soda or lemon juice on a soft cloth, then wipe. For copper cookware, sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt, then scrub.
Gold: Clean with toothpaste, or a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour.
Silver: Line a pan with aluminum foil and fill with water; add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Bring to a boil and immerse silver. Polish with soft cloth.
Stainless steel: First clean with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar, or olive oil. For stainless cookware, mix 4 tbs baking soda in 1 qt water, and apply using a soft cloth. Wipe dry using a clean cloth.
Safety Precautions
It is important to always perform an allergy test before using new ingredients or essential oils. Dab the underside of your wrist and watch for any indication of inflammation. Results may vary and cannot be guaranteed to be 100% safe and effective. Be sure to completely label your cleaning supplies and bottles with date of preparation, use, and ingredients. Just like commercial cleaners keep all cleaners out of reach of children.
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3 Responses to “Think Your Tough Household Cleaning & Maintenance Jobs Can’t be Done Naturally?”
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pii sengdouanpheng says:
thank so much! your information about green cleaning is helpful to me !
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Thank you for your informative post on natural cleaning solutions. We all need to eliminate toxins from our home and the environment. Together we can make a difference.
Hey GREAT! this is just what I’ve been looking for consider it copied and pasted! Thanks a lot.
John.