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ECO CLEANING WITHOUT CHEMICALS
Baking soda: An all-purpose cleaner. Especially effective on glass coffee pots and glassware, baking soda also removes red wine stains from carpets. A paste (made with water) can polish stainless steel and silver and remove tea stains from cups and saucers. Make a paste by mixing baking soda with a vegetable-based liquid soap and a drop of essential oil (tea tree or lavender) to clean sinks, worktops, toilets and baths. To clear a clogged drain, pour 1 cup down the sink followed by 3 cups of boiling water.
Boiling water: Use at least once a week to flush drains and avoid clogs.
Boiling water is also great for helping to clean ovens. Simply put a bowl of boiling water into the oven after you’ve used it, turn the oven off and then after an hour or so you’ll find the condensation has made it easy just to wipe the oven surface nice and clean.
Coarse salt: Cleans saucepans and scours cookware. Sprinkle salt on fresh spills in the oven, then wipe off. Sprinkle salt on rust stains and squeeze a lime or lemon over them, let sit for several hours and wipe off.
Essential oils: Mix a few drops of lavender or tea tree essential oils with water and spray on kitchen or bathroom surfaces for an environmentally-friendly and effective antibacterial spray.
Grapefruit-seed extract: Add a few drops to water in a spray bottle for an odourless way to kill mould and mildew.
Lemon juice: Use as a bleach on clothing and to remove grease from your cooker and worktops. Add 2 tbsp lemon juice to 5 drops of lemon essential oil and a few drops of jojoba oil to clean and polish wood furniture.
Olive oil: Use to lubricate and polish wooden furniture (three parts olive oil to one part vinegar; or two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice). As an alternative, you could use linseed oil.
Potatoes: Halved potatoes can remove rust from baking tins – follow with a salt scrub or dip the potato in salt before scrubbing.
Tea tree oil: Can be added to vinegar/water solutions for its powerful antibacterial properties. Use it on kitchen and bathroom surfaces instead of chemical products and also to get rid of mould and mildew. Add 15 drops to a bucket of water to clean work surfaces and tiled floors. You can also combine it with vinegar.
Toothpaste (white, plain): Cleans silver; and can also remove water stains on wooden furniture – dab on, allow it to dry and then wipe off.
White vinegar: Mix with vegetable liquid soap to clean lino floors and glass surfaces (windows, mirrors or shower doors). White vinegar cuts through grease, removes stains and soap scum, and cleans toilets, too (add a bit of baking soda if you like and a drop of your favourite essential oil). Pour down drains once a week for antibacterial cleaning. Add to water in a spray bottle get rid of mould and mildew.
NATURALLY EFFECTIVE AIR FRESHENERS
• Homemade sprays
Put 3 drops each of essential oils of lemon and lavender in a spray bottle filled with spring water. Vary the oils you use according to your mood
• Humidifiers
Put 3 drops of your favourite essential oil in a small bowl of warm water placed on or near the radiator or heater
• Hankies
Put 2 drops of lemon and/or eucalyptus essential oil on a hanky to carry round in your pocket or bag to sniff during the day and protect you against colds/infections. You can do the same with relaxing oils such as lavender, frankincense or rose to keep you nice and relaxed!
NATURAL REMEDIES FOR STAINS AND MARKS
• For INK stains use MILK
• For BLOOD stains first try SALIVA
• For RED WINE stains use SODA WATER (better than white wine or vinegar)
• For LIPSTICK ON FABRIC use GLYCERINE (on cotton wool, wiping from outside to centre)
