Products
Bicarbonate Of Soda
It softens water to increase the suds and cleaning power of soap and is a good scouring powder
Borax
Cleans and deodorises, is an excellent disinfectant and softens water
Vinegar
Cuts grease and freshens
Eucalyptus
For stains of unknown origin, or stains which have dried, try a dab of eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus is also good for removing some glue stains, chewing gum residue and sticky substances.
Cloudy Ammonia
Cuts heavy grease and grime but it can be dangerous. Fumes irritate eyes and lungs and can be harmful to people with respiratory problems. Use ammonia only when other cleaners won’t do the trick, and always provide good ventilation. NEVER!! mix ammonia with bleach. Highly toxic fumes can form
Kitchen
Dishwashing
Rinsing dishes before food residue hardens makes cleaning them easier and uses less detergent. Add vinegar for really tough, baked-on grease. I add vinegar straight into my dishwashing liquid as it leaves dishes squeaky clean
Burnt Pots And Pans
Coat the area with a thick paste of bicarb and water and leave for several hours before washing. If its only mildly burnt you can boil water and bicarb in the pan for 5 mins before cleaning off
Or
Put half an inch of vinegar in the bottom of it then put it in the freezer. Once the vinegar has frozen, let it thaw and sprinkle it with bicarbonate soda. When the liquid starts fizzing rub it with a brush and the stain will come out. You can do the same without freezing but it will probably take a couple of applications. The same trick works for baked on grease.
Cutting Boards – To Remove Smells
Pour a little vinegar over the cutting board. Let it set for a minute or two, then wipe and rinse. Alternatively use mouthwash or toothpaste as a deodoriser.
Cleaning Air Filters And Fridge Shelves
Submerse in a mixture of water, soap and vinegar and let soak for a few hours then clean off and rinse with hot water
Ovens
Prevent baked-on grease: scrape up spills as soon as they’re cold enough to handle.
Keep a baking tray on the bottom rack to catch drips and spills
When accidents happen, combine a strong version of our Heavy Duty Cleanser 1
Wear gloves when scrubbing to protect your hands.
Oven Racks
Get a large enough rubbish bag and put in a mix of warm water, detergent and a cup of Cloudy Ammonia (Wear gloves and do this in a well ventilated area or outdoors) Put the racks in the bag and close up and leave for a few hours. Clean them off and rinse with hot water.
Prevent Smelly Bins
Sprinkle 1/4 cup each of borax and bicarbonate of soda into the bottom of the empty bin.
Basins
Unpleasant odours may be dealt with by placing 1/2-cup baking soda in the sink followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Let it foam and bubble, then run hot water for at least 30 seconds or longer. Vinegar is used to kill bacteria causing bad smells.
If you have two sinks, plug one side before commencing the procedure. Also try this method if a clog happens.
Tiles
Wipe or spray vinegar onto the mould, leave overnight and scrub in the morning.
Sticky Labels
Use eucalyptus oil to help remove stubborn labels and label residue from your glassware. Simply rub on, leave for a short time and should come off easily.
Bathroom & Toilet
Use a firm bristled brush with bicarb and hot water as alternative.
It cleans and deodorises.
Basins And Bathtubs
Unpleasant odours may be dealt with by placing 1/2-cup baking soda in the sink followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Let it foam and bubble, then run hot water for at least 30 seconds or longer. Vinegar is used to kill bacteria causing bad smells.
If you have two sinks, plug one side before commencing the procedure. Also try this method if a clog happens.
Tiles
Wipe or spray vinegar onto the mould, leave overnight and scrub in the morning.
Mirrors
For routine cleaning, use 3 tablespoons of vinegar in 1 litre of warm water.
To dry surfaces, use cheesecloth or crumpled newspaper.
Toilet
Try a strong solution of vinegar.
Apply a thick paste of borax and lemon juice to stubborn areas. Leave for several hours.
Laundry
Rub soiled clothes with liquid soap.
Bleach - Use ½ cup borax per wash to whiten and brighten colours
Fabrics Softener - Add ½ cup vinegar or ¼ cup bicarb during final rinse.
Static Cling - To reduce static cling in tumble-dried synthetics like rayon or polyesters, dampen hands when folding.
Dry-Cleaning - Try to buy items that don’t require dry-cleaning. Many garments labelled “dry clean only” can be safely hand-washed using mild soap to avoid dry-cleaning solvents that are toxic
Deodorant Stains On Fabric
Make a paste out of Napisan Plus to the consistency of peanut butter. Rub it onto the stains and leave for 15-20 minutes then throw in the washing machine without rinsing the mixture off
Grease On Fabric
Apply a little baby oil to the stain with a cotton ball, rubbing in circles. Then soak in Napisan and hot water before washing as usual.
Washing Machine
Clean throughout including hosing by ½ filling with hot water and placing 2 Dishwasher tablets in and run through the cycle.
Windows
For routine cleaning, use 3 tablespoons of vinegar in 1 litre of warm water. To dry surfaces, use reusable cheesecloth or crumpled newspaper. If the glass is especially dirty, first wash with warm soapy water.
Carpets & Furniture
Carpet
When buying carpet, choose natural materials such as cotton and wool over synthetics.
Buy rugs and carpets that haven’t been treated with insecticides and fungicides.
When rugs are cleaned, make sure no pesticides are used.
Avoid commercial products containing chlorine, formaldehyde and solvents such as trichloroethylene, methylene and nitrobenzene
To thoroughly clean and deodorise carpets, mix 2 parts corn meal (Polenta) with 1 part borax. Sprinkle liberally; leave one hour and then vacuum.
Quick deodorising is easy - sprinkle the carpet with bicarb then vacuum.
Dogs Urine Smell In Carpet
Remove the smell of dog urine from carpet by sprinkling a 500g packet of bicarb soda over the spot. If a very large area, use 2 packets and sprinkle thickly over area. Leave for 24 hrs before vacuuming up.
Furniture That Dogs Sits On
Use Bran and Vinegar. Mix about a cup of unprocessed wheat bran in a bowl with a little vinegar to the consistency of brown sugar and add a couple of drops of lavender. The mixture must not be wet. Sweep the mixture back and forth across the surface you want to clean and the dirt comes away.
Pests
Ants
There are two main kinds of ants; one is attracted to proteins and the other to sugars.
To find out which you have put out some Parmesan cheese and some icing sugar. If the ants go for the cheese then they like protein and fats; and if they attack the sugar then they like sugar. Mix whichever is the preferred food half and half with borax and leave out where their trails are.
Or
Try sprinkling either talcum powder or borax
Or
A paste made of boiling two cups of sugar with one cup of water and two tablespoons of borax. Or
Try sprinkling a few crumbled bay leaves on windowsills each month.
Blow Flies
You can ward off blow flies by growing basil in pots nearby entrances.
Recipes For Cleansers And Deodorisers
Heavy Duty Cleanser 1
4 litres hot water
¼ cup cloudy ammonia
1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda
Mix together. For a stronger mixture, double all the ingredients except water.
Heavy Duty Cleanser 2
2 tablespoons borax
1 teaspoon soap
1 litre water
This can be stored in a spray bottle.
Hospital Quality Disinfectant
Use ¼ cup borax dissolved in 2 litres hot water. Keeping surfaces clean and dry reduces the need for disinfectants.
Natural Disinfectant & Air Freshener
You can make your own natural disinfectant.
Dissolve 30 drops of Lemon or Tee Tree essential oil (oil) in 1 teaspoon of methylated spirits. Mix in one litre of distilled water and store in an airtight glass bottle.
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Deodorisers
Clover & Malt Vinegar
You can make a spicy room deodorizer by filling a bowl or open container with malt vinegar and a teaspoon of ground clover
Apple & Cinnamon
Boil water, an apple and some cinnamon in a pot. Let the aroma fill the house with a pleasant smell. Leave on stovetop until ready to throw out
Cinnamon
Sprinkle cinnamon on aluminium foil and place it in a hot oven with the oven door open. As the cinnamon heats, the cinnamon will permeate the house. Alternative place cinnamon (add cloves if you wish) in cheesecloth bag and boil the cheesecloth bag
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