TRIED & TRUE RECIPES FOR A LESS
The Basic Cleaning Kit:
White Vinegar: Dissolves grease and mineral accumulation.
Borax: Disinfects & deodorizes
Baking Soda: Deodorizes and is mildly abrasive.
Washing Soda: Cuts grease, removes stains, softens water.
Non-detergent soap: Loosens dirt
Ant Control: Sprinkle barriers of talcum powder, chalk, bone meal, cayenne pepper or boric acid across their trails. Ants avoid crossing these lines.
Brass Cleaner: Mix 1 tablespoon of each: flour, vinegar and salt. Apply to surface with a soft cloth. Wash in warm soapy water, buff with a soft dry cloth.
Cast Iron Skillet Cleaner: Scour with a steel wool pad. Rinse. Dry with a paper towel, wipe inside and out with cooking oil. Place in warm oven at 250 degrees for 2 hours. Wipe off excess oil.
Chocolate Stains: Blot the stain with club soda.
Copper Cleaner: Dip copper in warm vinegar, then sprinkle salt on the piece and scrub with a soft cloth. Rinse well with clean water.
Drain Cleaner: Pour 1/4 cup baking soda, followed by 2 cup vinegar. Close drain until all the fizzing stops, then flush well with boiling water. This can be used as a preventative or if drain is clogged.
Grout Cleaner: Mix equal parts of baking soda and water. Make a paste, apply to grout and scrub with toothbrush. Rinse with water.
Hand Cleaner: To clean hands of paint or grease, massage them with baby oil, mineral oil, margarine or butter. Wipe dry with a paper towel, then wash with soap and water.
Perspiration Stains: Weak water solutions of white vinegar, lemon juice or aspirin can be used as a pre-soak to remove stains or soak clothes in solution of cornmeal and water.
Pet Stains and Odors: Try a mixture of 1/4 cup vinegar in 1/4 cup liquid soap. Rub in the mixture, blot the stain, then rinse with water.
Plastic Storage Containers (stained): Make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply paste with plastic scouring pad. Rinse clean.
Rust Remover: Warmed vinegar coupled with some scrubbing will remove rust from dishes, sinks and your teapot.
Scouring Powder: Dampen a sponge with baking soda and scrub.
Silver Cleaner: Baking soda and water or buttermilk makes fine silver soaking solutions. Toothpaste will also brighten silver jewelry with mild brushing.
Try boiling silver for two-three minutes in a mixture of 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt and a piece of aluminum foil. Rinse pieces well in water and dry with soft cloth.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Pour one cup vinegar into the bowl, then toss a handful of baking soda. The mixture will foam. When the foam subsides, scrub and rinse.
Water Spotted Chrome and Faucets: Fill spray bottle with vinegar. Spray a little on fixtures and wipe away spots.
Window Cleaner: Use newspaper dipped in vinegar to scrub windows. A mix or one quart water, a few drops dishwashing detergent and two tablespoons of sudsy ammonia works.
Wood Cutting Board Cleaner: Mix: 1 tablespoon household bleach, 1 quart warm water. Scrub with solution. Rinse with hot running water. Dry
Wood Furniture Polish: One part lemon juice to two parts mineral oil or other oil with the exception of vegetable oils. Be aware that mineral oil is flammable.