sane cleaning solutions

SANE CLEANING SOLUTIONS.

We all have to clean our homes daily
Floors, toilets, baths, mirrors, windows, carpets and beds……endless cleaning. Today we are swamped with instant easy wipe off solutions. The concoctions are impossible to analyze and we just use most of the miracle cleaners without really understanding the ingredients, the side effects they have or the strength they are made of. As a little girl , I remember the fertilizers that were used on the crops and the noxious odors that blew in the wind. The chemicals were effective against locusts, crop infections and used to get rid of weeds but I always wondered where all of this would lead to. Today we know that certain toxic materials cause asthma, sinus problems, eye irritations and skin eczemas.
Take time to go SIMPLE and SANE. Use water to clean, vinegar and lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide and good cotton cloths to do the job.

WINDOWS and GLASS.
Use a mixture of warm water and vinegar. Dust the area you want to clean and then wipe with the mixture. Clean newspaper crushed into a ball, dries it effectively. You can use a hair dryer to dry cut glass or ornaments. Mirrors can be cleaned this way too. Hydrogen Peroxide is effective to clean mirrors, as it leaves no streaks.

REFRIDGERATORS
Use bicarbonate of soda and warm water to wipe the fridge inside. Dry with a good cloth. You can leave a small container with ground coffee in the fridge, which will absorb odors.

CARPETS and RUGS.
We all vacuum carpets but cleaning is a problem, especially when they are wall to wall. You can sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on the rugs and roll them up. Then vacuum and use a soap solution that is mild to clean Use a carpet shampoo that is eco friendly and apply with a sponge. Leave to dry and brush it off with a hard brush.

BLEACH for WHITES in the wash.
Add Hydrogen Peroxide to a load of washing instead of a bleach. Use 3% strength.

COUNTER TOPS, KITCHEN SPACES AND BATHROOMS TOPS.
I use 3% peroxide to do these jobs and keep areas germ free.

KITCHEN CLOTHS AND TOWELS.
Use lemon juice in hot water to deodorize these before a wash.

STOVES AND OVENS.
The commercial sprays are very effective, but I do the job without all the chemicals. Firstly use proper dishes for the oven, Pyrex and dishes that you can soak after using them. I wipe the oven with warm water and bicarbonate of soda. Have a soft cloth or paper wipes to dry the oven. You will find it easier to wipe it clean while it is a little
warm. Always dry the area well..
SHOES, SNEAKERS AND SCHOOL BAGS.
For these items use fresh air and open the laces and let the shoes breathe. The kids should air them, all once a week. For quick cleaning place 3% hydrogen peroxide in a bottle and spray the insides. Use a little to clean the soles and plastic areas of bags and shoes. You will find that if a shoe cleaning time is created once a week, everyone will learn to keep shoes and laces clean. Learning to polish shoes and caring for what we have happens only by example. People still judge you by the shine of your shoes………….

VINEGAR IN THE GARDEN.
Use vinegar and water in a spray bottle to clean leaves, plants and garden tools. They will be deodorized and get rid of insects and aphids. Use to spray roses too. Take time to clean the house plants by wiping the top of the leaves with a little milk. Silk flowers can be cleaned with a hair dryer and then spray a little perfume on them. You can clean your vases with a solution of vinegar left in them overnight.

Have a good start to the year 2009 and I wish you happy house cleaning.]

Love and light Rona