Green Wisdom

RECIPES OF THE PAST

More and more people are looking for safer, greener cleaning products – in the home, in the garden:

You can make a difference when you clean it green!
Try it, it works!
Once you have made up a batch, use it and keep the rest for next time.

These formulas are

    • faster
    • basic
    • natural
    • cheaper
    • safer
    • and chemical-free!

Commercial household products are good for business but sometimes the contents are difficult to read. The shelves are filled with hundreds of specialised formulas which promise to solve every imaginable problem.

The products are expensive, chemical-based, and needlessly expose our families and our environment to highly dangerous and toxic ingredients.

Our main goal is to preserve the environment by Going Green and using safe, basic products which have been passed down through the years, cleaners that our parents and grandparents used and trusted. These natural formulas will get the job done faster, safer and cheaper!

The next time you are in the cooking  aisle, pick up the following items:

1. WHITE VINEGAR

  • This versatile ingredient can be safely used anywhere in your home; it kills bacteria cuts through soap residue. Mix up the formula below, and you will have another great alternative to commercial chemical cleaning products.

2. BICARBONATE SODA     (NB bicarbonate soda is the same as baking soda)

  • Bicarbonate soda can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers. Bicarbonate soda is great as a deodoriser so put it anywhere you need deodorising.
  • Mixing your own basic Bicarbonate soda solution is the first step in limiting your family’s exposure to harmful household chemicals.
  • You can substitute some or all of your cleaning products with this formula and other natural cleaning solutions made from safe, readily available ingredients.

3. LEMON JUICE

  • Lemon juice is another natural substance that can be used to clean your home.
  • Lemon juice can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Lemon is a great substance to clean and shine brass and copper.
  • Lemon juice can be mixed with vinegar and or Bicarbonate soda to make cleaning pastes.Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle Bicarbonate soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains.
  • Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a furniture polish for your hardwood furniture.

4. SALT

Try these four kitchen ingredients as natural cleaning products in your home.

 

 

CLEAN AND SHINE

Antibacterial and Deodorising Formulas

Use this solution as you would any other commercial antibacterial cleaner. It’s safe and cheaper –

  •  1 cup white vinegar
  •  1 cup water
  •  Five drops of liquid soap (optional)
  •  Vinegar spray bottles.  (Having vinegar in a dispenser of this type makes its use much simpler in many cases).

Add mixture to a spray bottle and use for cleaning kitchen and bathroom surfaces such as appliances, mirrors, stainless steel sinks, laminate bench tops and tiles.

You can add a tablespoon of coarse salt directly on your sponge to act as an abrasive when using this formula on kitchen and bathroom sink fixtures.

Vinegar can be irritating to the skin, so please use gloves. Important note about special counter surfaces such as granite: please do not use this mixture on stone surfaces, as acids can etch and damage the stone. Follow your particular manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.

The old common household wisdom has always been that cleaning windows with a vinegar and water solution and newspapers is the best way to get them to shine.

The new wisdom is to use your Basic Vinegar Clean and Shine and substitute a microfiber cloth for the newspapers. This is great for mirrors, too.

MORE FROM THE PAST

The following suggestions have ALSO been around for many years. You may already be familiar with some of the tips on this list.  Please don’t limit yourself to just these particular uses.

KITCHEN –

All kitchen surfaces:

  • Vinegar is an excellent cleaner – benches, refrigerators, stovetops.

Ants:

  • Spray vinegar along doorways, windowsills, bench tops – anywhere that ants are likely to appear. If you find an ant trail (path that ants use repeatedly), clean it with vinegar.

Brass Polish:

  • Make a paste from 1 cup flour, 1 cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt. Rub on and rinse surface well; OR
  • Make up a solution of one part white vinegar to 10 parts water. Soak brass item in the liquid. Tarnish is removed very quickly.

Clogged drain:

  • First pour in 1/2 cup Bicarbonate Soda. Then add an equal amount of vinegar. When the mixture finishes bubbling, rinse with warm water. (Note: some garbage disposals do not react well to this cleaning method; check with the manufacturer first.)

Coffee Pots:

  • Clean out mineral deposits by pouring in 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water. Follow up with a full carafe of plain water.

Copper:

  • Liberally sprinkle salt on the copper surface and make a paste with white vinegar. This method works like magic with lemon juice as well.

Coffee and tea Stains in cups and glasses:

  • Clean with a mixture of vinegar and salt. Or
  • Mix Bicarbonate Soda and water into a paste and rub.

Bench tops:

  • Bench top stains can be removed by allowing lemon juice to sit on the stain for a
    few minutes. Scrub the area with Bicarbonate Soda and watch the stains disappear.Don’t
    leave the lemon juice sitting for too long. It can be powerful stuff.

Cutting boards:

  • Wipe with vinegar; OR
  • Rub Bicarbonate soda on your cutting board to rid it of the odours from garlic, onions etc.

Electric Oven:

  • A paste made of bicarb and water makes a great oven cleaner.

Dishwasher:

  • Pour a cup of vinegar into the bottom of your dishwasher when you are ready to run it through a full cycle. The vinegar will deodorise, sanitise and make the dishes and glasses sparkle.
  • Sprinkle some Bicarbonate Soda in to the dishwasher to deodorise it.

Deodorising:

  • Sprinkle Bicarbonate Soda on your carpet before vacuuming to eliminate food and pet odours.
  • After emptying the garbage, sprinkle some Bicarbonate Soda on the bottom of the garbage bin; this will neutralize the food odours.
  • Keep an open box of Bicarbonate Soda in the back of your refrigerator and in your pantry; replace every 2 months. Soak a cotton ball in vanilla essence to remove odours from the refrigerator.
  • Pour Bicarbonate Soda down your garbage disposal while running warm water.
  • Sprinkle a layer of Bicarbonate Soda directly into your shoes to sit overnight. In the morning tap the Bicarbonate Soda out before wearing. Be careful about using Bicarbonate Soda in leather and suede shoes. A buildup of Bicarbonate Soda can cause shoes to become more brittle. Use the sachets described above in shoes you may have concerns about.

Fridge and Freezer:

  • Deodorise your fridge and freezer by putting in an open container of Bicarbonate Soda at the back of your refrigerator to absorb odours. Stir and turn over the Bicarbonate Soda from time to time. Replace every 2 months.

Garbage Disposal:

  • Put a whole lemon (or orange) peel in the garbage disposal and it will freshen up in hours. It freshens the drain and the kitchen; OR
  • Pour Bicarbonate Soda down your garbage disposal while running warm water.

Greasy pots & pans:

  • Add a small amount of vinegar to your sink dishwater when washing greasy pots and pans, and it will help cut the grease.

Microwave oven:

  • Place ½ cup vinegar and 1 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl into the microwave, and cook long enough to boil. In addition to removing any lingering odours, this will loosen any baked-on food from the microwave’s walls; OR
  • Place 2 cups of water in a bowl and add 2 tablespoons Bicarbonate Soda. Pop it in your microwave and cook it on high for about 90 seconds or until it boils. Any dried food will then wipe off with a damp cloth.

Odours – sink:

  • Pour in a cup or more of vinegar. Do not rinse out again for at least an hour.

Odours – strong:

  • Rinse jars with a half and half mixture of vinegar and water to remove garlic or other strong odours.
  • Boil water with several spoons of vinegar to remove the smell of burnt food from your kitchen.
  • Sprinkle Bicarbonate Soda into the shoes and leave overnight.

Silverware polish:

  • Rub toothpaste into article and rinse well; OR
  • In a stainless steel sink or bowl add 1/2 cup Bicarbonate Soda to 5 litres (1/2 bucket) of water and stir until dissolved. Dip silver in water and wipe with sponge to remove tarnish.

Sink and basins:

  • Sprinkle Bicarbonate Soda on a wet cloth. Rub the sink well and rinse off to prevent a hazy film; OR
  • Combine 1 and 2/3 cups Bicarbonate Soda with 1/2 cup liquid soap and 1/2 cup water. Mix well and then add 2 tablespoons white vinegar. Don’t put the vinegar into the mixture until it is already well combined. Rub on with a damp cloth and rinse well.

Smelly hands:

  • Wipe your hands with vinegar after chopping onions and garlic. It will remove strong scents as well as stains from fruit juices.

General purpose handy cleaner:

  • Mix ½ teaspoon washing soda with a small squirt of liquid soap and 2 cups hot water until dissolved. Pour into spray bottle. Label the bottle. This spray is handy for all manner of everyday cleaning jobs.

 

BATHROOM –

Clogged drains:

  • Pour 1/4 cup Bicarbonate of Soda down weekly. Rinse through with hot water.

Mould and Mildew:

  • Another good mould killer is full strength plain white vinegar sprayed on. Vinegar reputedly kills 82% of moulds.

Shower head:

  • Soaking your shower head with vinegar and water is a great way to remove mineral deposits. Spray the shower head and then cover with a small plastic bag. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight.

Shower walls and shower curtains:

  • Spray shower walls and shower curtain with vinegar to help prevent mildew.

Tiles and grout:

  • Spray full strength vinegar on tiles and grout. Let sit for a few minutes, then use a scrub brush to brighten grout. Vinegar will help reduce mildew in the bathroom; OR
  • Pour vinegar onto a sponge, sprinkle with Bicarbonate of Soda and wipe the tiles over. You may need a toothbrush to scrub the grout between the tiles. Rinse the tiles down to remove any residue of Bicarbonate of Soda.

Toilet bowl:

  • Spray with vinegar and flush.
  • For stubborn stains, Pour 1 cup white vinegar around the inside of the toilet bowl. Scrub well and leave for an hour. Scrub again and then flush.

Soap build-up from faucets:

  • Mixture of 1 part salt to four parts vinegar, spray, leave for a few minutes then wipe off.

Stubborn stains from most surfaces:

  • Prepare a Bicarbonate of Soda paste (3 parts Bicarbonate of Soda, one part water). Apply, let stand, then scrub or wipe clean.

 

 

LAUNDRY –

Clean washing machine from soap residue:

  • Run an empty (no laundry) cycle with one cup vinegar added.

Bleaching:

  • Lemon juice acts as a natural bleaching agent. Put lemon juice onto white linens and clothing and allow them to dry in the sun. Stains will be bleached away.

Brighten whites:

  • Add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Decrease lint on clothing:

  • Add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Fabric Softener:

  1. Add ¼ – ½ cup Bicarbonate of Soda in the wash cycle; and/or
  2. Add ¼ – ½ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle; or, alternatively
  3. If you have epsom salts then you can add a tablespoon at the beginning of the rinse cycle.

Fresh smelling clothes:

  • Bicarbonate of Soda sprinkled into your clothes dryer will keep clothes fresh smelling.

Grease stains:

  • Add ¼ cup Bicarbonate of Soda to the wash load or pre-treat the stains with a Bicarbonate of Soda paste.

Persistent Stains: (coffee, chocolate, ketchup, jam, cola, wine)

  • Gently rub stain with vinegar, then wash.

Scorch marks from an iron:

  • Rub with a mixture of vinegar and salt.

Smell of smoke from clothing:

  • add a cup of vinegar to a tub of hot water. Let clothing hang in the same room for several hours.

STOP colours running in the wash:

  • Soak in vinegar before washing.

BUGS –

Ants:

  • Spray vinegar along doorways, windowsills, bench tops – anywhere that ants are likely to appear. If you find an ant trail (path that ants use repeatedly), clean it with vinegar.

SHARE YOUR GOING GREEN TIPS!!

Help all of us learn new ways of Going Green and Living Green by sharing your ideas with us!
We would love to hear from you!!

Earth Day

  • Sunday April 22 – Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment.