You don’t need harsh chemicals or bottles of bleach to keep your house clean!!
Let me share a little secret. Back in Australia, before my
second son was born, I ran my own house-cleaning business. I used only two
products, and neither of them came from the cleaning aisle of the shop! They
were:
1.
- White vinegar, and
2.
- Bicarbonate of soda (bicarb soda).
Yes, these two can take on pretty much any cleaning job
imaginable...
To clean windows,
shower screens and glass
Put some white vinegar into a spray bottle, (you may dilute
with water 50/50, but I just use it straight), spray onto window/glass and
leave for a couple of minutes. Crumple up a piece of newspaper (AFTER you’ve
finished reading it, of course!) and wipe over the glass until it is dry. It
will dry clear and squeaky-clean, I promise!!
To clear blocked
drains
Sprinkle the bi-carb soda on top of the drain. Now pour
white vinegar over it. It will fizz all the way down. You may need to repeat
twice if the drain is not fully cleared the first time.
To wash your clothes
Vinegar and bi-carb soda can be used for both hand-washing,
or machine-washing.
For hand-washing, sprinkle a small handful of bi-carb soda
over dry clothes. Add a small amount of vinegar, maybe half a cupful. It may
fizz. Now fill with water. You may wish to begin washing straightaway, but you
won’t need to scrub as much, if you leave it to soak for a couple of hours.
For machine-washing, put clothes in washing machine,
sprinkle a small handful of bicarb soda over clothes. Add half a cup of vinegar
to detergent tray, or pour straight over the top of clothes. Run the washing
machine as normal.
An extra benefit of using these in a washing-machine is that
they will also keep the pipes clean. None of that gunky stuff building up in
the drains!
Bi-carb soda and vinegar is a great alternative for those
who have sensitive skin that reacts to the regular washing powders.
To clean and disinfect
kitchens and bathrooms
Use the vinegar in a spray bottle, to spray over and wipe
down kitchen benches, tables, chopping boards, microwaves, ovens and stovetops
etc. Vinegar is not only great for cleaning dirt and grease, it’s also a disinfectant
and germ-killer.
To disinfect wooden chopping blocks, spray with vinegar and
wipe over. Next, sprinkle with salt and leave for a few hours to dry. Then wash
as normal. Do this every few weeks to keep them clean and avoid harmful
bacteria in your food.
To clean bathroom tiles, get a bucket of hot water, add half
a cup of vinegar, and get scrubbing!! If you clean the bathroom/shower tiles
every other week, you may only need to spray some vinegar and wipe over with a
cloth. Regular use of vinegar will prevent mould and slime growing.
Remember, do little and often, and you’ll save yourself a
lot of time and a sore back!!
To clean floors
Add half a cup of white vinegar to a bucket of hot water,
and use to clean the floors.
To brush your teeth!
Ok, so it’s got nothing to do with cleaning the house, but I
just couldn’t not share this helpful little hint.
Run out of toothpaste? No worries, put a small amount of
bi-carb soda on your toothbrush, and brush as normal. It doesn’t taste real
nice, but your teeth will definitely be sparkling clean and white!
To freshen the air
and eliminate bad odours
To absorb bad odours, put a small bowl of bicarb soda
nearby, it will soon soak up the smell. Sprinkle a small amount in the bottom
of the rubbish bin to help with smells. A small bowl placed inside the fridge,
or on top of the toilet will help to keep the air fresh and clean. Replace
every few weeks.
(By the way, bi-carb soda will also absorb body odour, if
sprinkled/rubbed under the armpit.)
To clean the toilet
Sprinkle some bi-carb soda into the bowl of the toilet, and
around the edges. Pour some vinegar into the bowl and around the sides. It will
fizz. Now get the toilet brush and scrub as normal. Flush when finished. Doing
this regularly will also help to keep the drain clear.
