Environmentally Safe (and kid safe) products to clean your home:

[carla]

Five basic nontoxic ingredients that can be used as cleansing agents:


These ingredients, supplemented with vegetable-oil- based soaps, lemon juice, herbs or toothpaste, can be mixed together and used to bring a natural, economical and safe shine to your home.

baking soda
washing soda
borax
salt
white vinegar

Here are some of the compounds you can make:

Disinfectant:
Mix 1/2 cup borax (a natural mineral that kills mold and bacteria) with 1 gallon hot water.
Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
Steep for 10 minutes, strain and cool.
Store in a recycled plastic spray bottle.

Floor cleaner:
Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 2 gallons hot water.
For greasy floors, add 1/4 cup washing soda and 1 tablespoon vegetable-oil-based soap to the above mixture.

Window-washing fluid:
Mix 1 cup vinegar with 4 cups hot water.

Oven cleaner:
Make a paste of baking soda and hot water.
Sponge onto stains and wipe clean.

Furniture Polish
Make your own furniture polish by combining one tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar with one- half cup of olive or vegetable oil. Take a soft cloth and polish.

To remove water stains on wood furniture, dab white toothpaste onto the stain.
Allow the paste to dry and then gently buff off with a soft cloth.

Removing mildew
To remove mildew from bathtubs, bathroom curtains and tile, make a mixture of:
one-half cup vinegar
one-half cup of Borax cleaning detergent
2 cups of water.
Pour it on the dirty areas and let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub with a cloth. If mildew is still visible, use the mixture twice.

[Kritters]

Fabulous!
Xo

[Jo]

yeh, thanks Carls....cheap as chips too. Brill xxxx

[chester]

You forgot the number 1 "Country Club of Morgellons"....quick easy fiber cleanup! For walls, counters, sinks, toasters, plastic, appliances, electrical cords, kitchen counters, tv remote controls...mirrors and windows and more....Try it you 'll like it.! What is it? CLUB SODA of course!

[Jo]

Yeh, always meant to ask you Nancy, why club soda works? (in UK its just called carbonated water)

Just read that carbonated water lowers the pH and is used in the cleaning industry for cleaning carpets.

Carbonation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Will give it a whirl, thanks for the reminder!

Jo xxx

[Natalie]

Carla that was so refreshing to read! Im going to start using these concoctions. Lovely!

Chester, you are so funny!

[carla]

OMG I thought club soda was a powder like Bi -carbonated soda. It is a drink mixer like Tonic Water . Remember Canada Dry with Gin and Lemon .
carla xx

[carla]

To clean the toilet bowl, combine equal parts of baking soda, Borax cleaning detergent and white vinegar. Pour generously around the bowl and scrub with a brush. Or leave it over night if badly stained.

To remove crayon, pencil or ink marks from the walls (without removing paint), take about 2 tablespoons of baking soda and mix in water.
Dip a white wash rag in the solution and rub the marks away. Wipe away excess baking soda with the same cloth.

To remove pencil, crayon or ink marks from upholstery, use dry baking soda. Use a hairbrush or similar brush to rub baking soda and remove the marks.

To remove blood stains, combine one quart of Borax cleaning detergent with two cups of cold water. Rinse stained clothing item in cold water, and scrub in warm water with your hands. Then dip in solution and wash by hand.

To remove coffee and chocolate stains, mix one teaspoon of white vinegar in one quart of cold water. Sponge on stain and wipe clean.


Bug Control
To keep bugs out of flour, pasta, rice, pancake mix and other wheat products, put 2 to 3 bay leaves in the containers.
Rather than pesticides, you might foil roaches by placing bay leaves around cracks in the room and leaving out dishes of equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar. The last resort is a mix of powered sugar and boric acid (a poison). For other pests, a soapy water spray can be an insecticide, and a shallow pan filled with stale beer will kill snails and slugs.
To protect the family pet, alternatives to toxic flea collars include eucalyptus ointment, herbal baths and a pinch of brewer's yeast or Vitamin B with dinner.

To remove grease or hair from the drain, use equal parts of vinegar, salt and baking soda. Pour mixture down the drain and let stand for 15 minutes. Then pour boiling water down the drain.

Ironing Clothes
To get crisp results when ironing clothes, combine 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch in one pint of water. Pour into a spray bottle, shake and spray clothes before ironing.


Eliminate soap residue by adding 1 cup of white vinegar to the washer's final rinse. Vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics but strong enough to dissolve alkalies in soaps and detergents. Vinegar also breaks down uric acid, so adding 1 cup vinegar to the rinse water is especially good for babies' clothes. To get wool and cotton blankets soft and fluffy as new, add 2 cups white vinegar to a full tub of rinsewater. DO NOT USE VINEGAR IF YOU ADD CHLORINE BLEACH TO YOUR RINSEWATER. IT WILL PRODUCE HARMFUL VAPORS.

1/4 to 1/2 cup baking soda per wash load makes clothes feel soft and smell fresh.

[carla]

A tablespoon of cornflour in a spray bottle of tepid water and a microfibre cloth gets streak free shiny windows.Better tahn any shop brought window cleaner I've ever used.
carla

[Jo]

Zaowwiiieee cavie!!


Lovin this thread Carls!!

Hey Nancy - Just cleaned my cats bed with a microfibre cloth and club soda...amazing. Just doing a spot test on carpet...tested on skin...ooooo smooth....next...taking a bottle in the shower with me!! Hovis might be next

Parasite dealth by carbon dioxide poisoning...ummm

jo xxx