Old Fashioned Cleaning Tips

HAPPY MONDAY, EVERYONE!

It's no secret that I am a BIG supporter of "green cleaning". And it's also no secret that I am of a BIG supporter of keeping to a budget. Name brand, eco-friendly cleaning products can get to be expensive and many times can be made yourself using simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry or cabinets. After all, do you think that Grandma or Great Grandma whipped out an array of cleaning products during the depression? No way! There wasn't any money for that! They relied on things they had around the home! And often times used the same ingredients to do "double duty" by using a single ingredient to perform multiple functions. So, if you are new to homemade cleaning supplies, I hope these few tips & recipes can help get you started on the path on an eco-friendly & less expensive cleaning lifestyle.

GARBAGE DISPOSALS: Freeze white vinegar in ice cube trays. As needed, put two cubes down disposal & run disposable blade. The blades will get sharpened as they cut up the "ice" cubes & the vinegar cleanes the disposable. Rinse with hot water once done.

WINDOW CLEANER: Fill empty, clean spray bottle with 1 part vinegar, 1 part rubbing alchohol & 1 part water. DONE! Now wasn't THAT easy???

MINTY SCRUB: 1 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup borax, 1 tsp Castile Soap (peppermint scent), 10 drops peppermint essential oil, 1/4 cup water. Mix together & use wherever you normally use "Soft Scrub". (P.S. If you are already thinking of homemade holiday gift idea's, this is a GREAT one to make with a pretty packaging!)

SILVER CLEANER: Line a large bowl with aluminum foil. Add 6 cups warm water, 1 tbsp of salt & 1 tbsp baking soda. Mix salt & soda until dissolved. Soak silver items for 1 hour. Remove & rub dry with a soft cloth.

ALL PURPOSE CLEANER: Fill empty, clean spray bottle 1/4 full with hot water. Add 2 tsp of borax & shake borax until dissolved. Next, add 1/4 cup white vinegar & 2 tbsp of your favorite dish soap (Dawn works best). Add several drops of your favorite essential oil (to your liking). Fill remainder of bottle with warm water & shake. Shake before using. Can be used for countertops, potty seats, sinks, on carpet for stains (test patch first) etc..

Hope these few idea's will get you started! More blogs to come on this subject in the future so keep checking back for new idea's!