Cleaning hints
Toilets For everyday cleaning, mix a 1:1 solution of Castile soap and baking soda, then add a few drops of water to form a paste. Add your preferred essential oils for aroma and to help fight bacteria. Scrub the paste throughout the bowl with a toilet brush and allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Scrub a bit more and flush
Kitchen sink Sinks Coat your entire sink in baking soda and spray with the multipurpose vinegar-and-water spray we used on the windows earlier. Allow the combination to bubble a bit. With a bristled scrub brush, scrub your sink with the mildly abrasive mixture, paying extra attention to the drain, as this area gets especially grimy. Rinse with water after scrubbing. You could also follow with the alcohol cleaning spray for additional germ killing. This method works for all sink types: stainless, vitreous china, enameled cast iron, tempered glass, and so on.
Stainless Steel cleaner First, clean the surface of the stainless appliance with the distilled white vinegar and water cleaner. Next, spray lightly with coconut oil cooking spray. Yes, the same cooking spray that helps to create a nonstick surface for your pans will give your stainless appliances a beautifully clean and shiny surface. With a clean dish towel or paper towel, rub it into the full surface of the appliance in a circular motion. Buff the appliance with a clean dish towel or paper towel and you will have a clean finish for a week or two. Anytime you catch a fingerprint, take a clean cloth and buff it right off in a circular motion. Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of coconut — the smell dissipates quickly.
For crystal-clear windows and mirrors, you’ll need only two ingredients: distilled white vinegar and water. Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of vinegar and water at a 1:1 ratio and use a microfiber cloth to clean. Keep a separate cloth handy to wipe dry for a streak-free finish. Keep this solution on hand. It’s a terrific multipurpose cleaner.
For a stronger cleaning option, fill a 24- to 32-ounce spray bottle with water, leaving some room at the top. Add 4 to 5 ounces of rubbing alcohol, six drops of Castile soap and several drops of your favorite essential oil. Tea tree, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender and lemon essential oils are all excellent cleaning oils with antibacterial properties. Mediterranean Kitchen by Van Emmerik Custom Homes Van Emmerik Custom Homes SaveEmail Use the same alcohol cleaning solution for granite and quartz countertops. Like marble, granite and quartz are susceptible to damage from vinegar, so make sure to label your cleaners. I use a simple label maker to label my bottles with the cleaning recipe for each, which makes refilling quick and easy.
Keeping glass shower doors clean: Rain-X and Water Armour, both found in the automotive department, are marketed for repelling water off windshields, but they can do the same for glass-walled showers. How to do it: Spray the product on clean glass (being careful to avoid tile, metal and the shower floor) and reapply every three to four weeks). Some folks swear that after this treatment, they can skip the squeegee.
Glassshoer doors A Natural Alternative A mixture of baking soda and water makes a scum-fighting scrub that many experts swear by. Measurements for the mixture will vary depending on how much you need. To get started, try using a half-cup of baking soda, then add water as needed to make a thick paste. Using a nonabrasive sponge, scrub the glass and rinse it with vinegar.
chemical-free shower spray that saves both money and the environment: Mix together a half-cup of hydrogen peroxide, a half-cup of rubbing alcohol (a natural degreaser), 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap and 1 tablespoon dishwasher rinse aid in a 32-ounce spray bottle. Next, fill the bottle with water and, after capping, rock the bottle gently back and forth to combine the ingredients without making them foam up. Store away from sunlight.
Clean oven Detox your oven. Some oven cleaners can be highly toxic. But bicarbonate of soda, or baking soda, can tackle any burned-on grime. Simple scrape off as much of the grime as you can, then mix plenty of baking soda with a little water to make a thick paste. Spread it all over the sides and bottom of the oven (make sure the oven is cold) and leave it overnight. The next day wipe it down with hot water. If necessary, repeat the process.
clean phone, switch plates, door handles and light switch plates, and keyuboards Give your phone a good cleaning. You can also clean and disinfect your phone by wiping it with a clean cloth that has a few drops of eucalyptus oil on it. It will leave it smelling good, too. While you’re on a cleaning streak, use the same solution to give all the light switches in your house a good wiping.
Window Cleaning. Go heavy duty on the windows. Chemical window cleaners can be expensive and leave a strong odor and streaks. Try making your own cleaner — one that’s cheaper, smells great and is more environmentally friendly. Here’s how: Combine 10 ounces distilled water, 5 ounces white vinegar and five drops each lemon and lavender essential oils. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake well. Spray it onto the glass, then wipe it off with a clean cloth. Tip: Try washing your windows on a cloudy day and not in direct sunlight — streaks are caused by the cleaning solution’s drying too quickly.
Hardwood Floors I typically wash my hardwood floors with warm water and a microfiber mop, but when they need extra cleaning, I add a half teaspoon of Castile soap to a gallon bucket of warm water and get to work.
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