Homemade Cleaner - dishwasher detergent

The recipe I use for dishwasher detergent is 2 cups borax and 1 cup baking soda mixed together. Recipe calls then to use 1/4 cup per load, but I've used 1/8 cup and my dishes are fine. You can also use white vinegar as your rinse agent. All works well for me! :)

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Homemade Cleaner for the bath, shower and sinks

Favorite Homemade Cleaner
It's a creamy scrub that I use to clean the tub, shower and sinks. It got out a stain in the shower that bleach couldn't even remove. And it's so simple and inexpensive to make!

1/2 Cup Baking Soda
Mix in just enough liquid detergent to make the consistency like frosting (usually about 1-2 Tablespoons).

Apply to surface and clean with a damp rag. So simple!

householdcents.blogspot.com

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Homemade Laundry Detergent
I have been making my own laundry detergent for three years. Here is the recipe:

1/3 of a bar of Fels Naptha soap or Zote soap
1/2 cup of Washing Soda
1/2 Cup of Borax
A big bucket (a 2 gallon size works nice)

Grate the soap and mix it with 6 cups of water in a sauce pan. Heat to boiling until the soap melts completely. Add the Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until it has dissolved. Remove from heat. Now pour 4 cups of HOT water into the clean bucket. Add the soap mixture to the bucket. Give it a good stir. Now add 22 cups of HOT water into the bucket and stir.

Let the mixture sit for about a day and it will turn into a funky gel-like substance. It's now ready to use, I use about 1/2 cup per load.

This stuff cleans our clothes just as good as anything I have bought in the store. I've also used it to pre-treat stains and it works great. The thing I like best about it is that it doesn't leave that nasty chemical/fragrance smell on clothes like so many store-bought brands do.

Cost Break-down:

Borax - $3.50 for a 76 oz box at Alice.com
Washing Soda - $2.76 for a 55 oz box at Alice.com
Fels Naptha - $1.09 at my local grocery store

One batch lasts my family of 6 a little over a month (and we have TONS of laundry because of a baby and cloth diapers). One batch used to last 2-3 months before baby #4 came along. I can get about 18 batches from the box of Borax and about 14 batches from the box of Washing Soda. That's a huge savings!

Quick Tip
There is very little need to wash your clothes in anything but cold water. I actually thought that most people used cold until someone told me they use warm and hot almost all of the time. With the exception of cloth diapers, I use cold water for every load of laundry. Everything comes out clean and I don't need special detergent, either. I just use my homemade laundry detergent. So, cut down on those monthly utility bills by washing with cold water whenever you can!

householdcents.blogspot.com

Homemade Ways to Clean Carpet

You do not need to buy multiple expensive carpet cleaners to keep your carpet clean. By mixing a few common household ingredients, you can clean your carpets safely and economically. Making your own carpet cleaners takes very little time; in fact, many homemade carpet cleaners require only one or two ingredients to work effectively. To make cleaning your carpet easier, be sure to clean up stains and spills as soon as they occur.

Stain Cleaner
# Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in an empty spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the stain, and let it sit for five minutes. Use a sponge or scrub brush and warm soapy water to scrub away the stain. Rinse the area with clean water or club soda. The carbonation in club soda helps release stains from carpet fibers.

Grease Stains
# Grease and oil must be drawn out of the carpet. Sprinkle enough cornstarch on the grease spot to cover the stained area, then allow it to soak up the stain for 15 to 30 minutes. Vacuum the cornstarch, and repeat if the stain is not completely lifted.

Deep Cleaner
# Mix together 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup borax, and 1/4 cup white vinegar in a bowl. Rub the solution into the carpet, and allow the area to dry. You may have to leave the mix on the carpet for several hours or overnight. Vacuum up the cleaning solution, and repeat if necessary.

Deodorizer
# Sprinkle baking soda in a light layer across the entire carpet. Allow the baking soda to sit on your carpet for at least 30 minutes, and then vacuum it and the odors away. For stubborn odors, repeat, or allow the baking soda to sit longer on the carpet.

Foaming Cleaner
# Mix 1/4 cup vegetable-based soap with 3 tbsp. water in a bowl. Whip the combination with a hand mixer or whisk. Rub the foam into the soiled areas of the carpet, and rinse with clean water or club soda. Repeat if necessary.

eHow.com

More secret household cleaners (you already own) 2

Revive canvases
Cut the crust off a piece of white bread, squish the bread into a doughy ball and use it to gently dab the surface of paintings (but not valuable or antique works). Once the ball is covered with dirt and grime, start again with a new slice. Use a pastry brush (or another soft-bristled brush) to clear off any crumbs.


De-grime shades
Take a hands-on approach to your mini blinds and venetians. Just slip on a pair of white cotton gloves, dip fingers into a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm tap water, then run your fingers across both sides of each slat. Rinse gloves as necessary in a bowl of clean water.

Go green
Keep air pure with houseplants. Research from NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America suggests that palms, English ivy, ferns, mums and similar plants remove up to 87 percent of indoor pollutants.

Shake it
To wash a narrow vase, pour in 2 tablespoons of dry rice and ½ cup warm water, cover with the palm of your hand, shake vigorously, then rinse.

Air dry
Give chandeliers a quick cleaning with a blow-dryer (set on low) or a feather duster. For tougher jobs, fill a spray bottle with one part vodka to five parts water, spritz on fixtures and blow-dry.

Practice your swing
Wrap a microfiber cloth over the bristles of a regular broom or around the end of a golf club, secure it with a rubber band and use to get rid of cobwebs or dust in hard-to-reach places.

Erase every trace
Did your child use the painted walls as a canvas? Mist them with hairspray and wipe immediately to remove colored marker. For crayon, scrub with a toothpaste-covered toothbrush, or gently massage with baking soda and a damp microfiber cloth.

Raid the fridge
Shine brass using a dab of Worcestershire sauce or ketchup. Squeeze the condiment onto a cloth, rub the item, then rinse with water and dry with a towel.

Scour scuffs
Use a new tennis ball to wipe scuff marks off tile, vinyl, woodwork—even painted walls. It won’t harm the surface.

More secret household cleaners (you already own)

Use a substitute
Try Listerine mouthwash if you’re out of floor cleaner. Add a capful to a gallon of water and mop vinyl or tile—but not wood—floors with the mixture. The same product that kills bad-breath germs also zaps the gunk beneath your feet.

Clean in between
Grab a few disinfecting wipes to give faucets, sinks, tubs, toilet seats—you name it—an easy daily touch-up.

Pretreat
After going over your bathtub, sink or shower with disinfectant, wipe the area with baby oil or lemon oil. Do this once or twice a month, and it will help dirty water bead and roll down the drain faster, buying you more time before the next cleaning.

Scrubbing bubbles
Freshen the toilet bowl with effervescent tablets (denture or antacid) in between scourings. Drop two in the water, let soak for at least 20 minutes, then brush and flush. A can of cola dumped in for one hour also does the trick. The phosphoric acid in the beverage removes rust rings and other mineral deposits.

Shine on
Get rid of lime buildup on sinks by soaking an old rag in vinegar, then wrapping it around the faucet and clasping with a hair clip. Let sit for an hour, then take off rag and dry faucet.

Lose the spots
Combat mold and mildew on tiles and shower curtains with a paste of equal parts lemon juice and baking powder. Spread on the mixture, leave for two hours, then rinse.

Mist away
Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar to clean chrome and stainless-steel fixtures, and to remove scum, grime and mildew from your bathtub, tile or shower curtain.

Dust tough-to-clean items
A dry paintbrush (with bristles at least 3 inches long) is great for both the surface and grooves of your collectibles. Dust framed photos with a pastry brush, which is softer than a paintbrush and easier to dip into corners and places that are difficult to reach.

secret household cleaners (you already own)

Eliminate odors
Try coffee grounds to keep your refrigerator smelling nice and fresh, just as you do with an open box of baking soda. Place them, new or used, in a bowl and remember to replace them every month or two.

Wash the dishwasher
To clean the inside of your dishwasher, fill the detergent cups with whichever one of these four products you have on hand: ½ cup white vinegar or a few tablespoons of powdered laundry bleach, Tang or lemon-flavored Kool-Aid (lemon is the only flavor that works). Then run the empty machine through a complete cycle.

Chill out
Use ice to cleanse the blades in your garbage disposal and break up the grease that collects on the rotors. Every few weeks, toss in a handful of cubes, turn on the disposal and run cold water. Add some orange, lemon or lime peels to ward off odors.

Soften up grease
Get baked-on foods off pots and pans with a dryer sheet. Just place one in a pot, fill with water and let sit overnight, then sponge off the next morning. The antistatic agent weakens the bond between the stuck-on food and the surface of the pan, while the fabric softener works its loosening magic.

Absorb grime
Cover the bottom of your trash can with old newspapers. It's an easy way to keep clean and soaks up leaks and odors.

Wipe away scuffs
Make scuffs on vinyl flooring disappear by applying a little baking soda with a damp sponge.

Gather shards
Pick up tiny slivers of broken glass—the ones you don’t notice until you’ve stepped on them—by gently pressing a slice of bread or a piece of Play-Doh on the area. Be sure to wrap the glass up carefully before throwing it away—you don’t want an animal to eat it or a child to play with it.

Zap bacteria
To keep bacteria from taking up permanent residence in your kitchen sponges, rinse them with water at the end of each day, squeeze, then put in the microwave for three minutes. Let cool before touching. Do the same with your cutting boards, if they are microwaveable

Floss often
Remove debris from the cutting disc on your electric can opener with dental floss.

Save money in the kitchen

Reduce spending on the kitchen basics and you'll be surprised how much money you can save. For example, extend the life of your kitchen sponge by tossing it in with a load of dishes in the dishwasher every couple of days or so. This will sanitize it and give you several additional weeks' use.

Stop buying paper towels
In addition to being a money-saving move, repurposing old T-shirts and cloth diapers as dishrags and cleaning cloths cuts down on waste, so it's better for the environment.

Save money on food by freezing
Stock up when the prices are low on your favorite grocery items. Toss them in deep freeze so they'll be fresh when you need them. Buy shredded cheese in bulk when you see a deal. Sprinkle in cornstarch to prevent sticking, then freeze. Consider storing herbs and spices and loaves of bread in the freezer, too, to extend their shelf life.


Cut down on kitchen energy costs
After the dishwasher's final rinse, open the door and pull out the racks. Let the dishes air-dry to save electricity.

Sanitize a Cutting Board

Spruce up that kitchen workhorse—the cutting board—by squeezing a lemon half over the top and letting the juice absorb for 10 minutes. (It soaks into wood especially well, but this also works on plastic cutting boards.) This will loosen stains. Next, kill bacteria by using the fruit to scrub the board.

Wash the Windows

Four tablespoons of lemon juice (either fresh or out of the bottle) mixed with a half-gallon of water makes an effective window cleaner—sans chemicals and streaking. The powerful citric acid dissolves dirt, grime and water stains, leaving your windows sparkling.

Hand-Wash Dishes

When you run out of dish soap, slice a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on top, working the lemon half like you would a Brillo pad. Watch as the citric acid cuts, loosens and then dissolves grease, giving your pots and pans a shiny glow. Oh, and your dishpan hands will smell sweet!

Sanitize the Microwave

The lingering smell of popcorn, pizza and whatever you might have heated up recently can overwhelm a microwave. Edelman’s advice is to cut a whole lemon into super-thin slices and put the pieces in a microwavable bowl. Fill the bowl with hot water, place in the microwave and cook on high for one minute. The citric acid’s antibacterial properties will kill bacteria while the heat works like a humidifier to loosen icky, caked-on food. Afterward, wipe the oven with a damp cloth.

Put a Shine on Metal

When it comes to copper, brass and chrome, nix harsh chemical polishes and instead put some elbow grease behind half a lemon. “Lemons are highly acidic, which enables them to cut through and loosen mineral deposits, making them easier to wipe away,” says Edelman. For extra oomph, before scrubbing, dip the fruit half in salt—it will help exfoliate the surface for added shine.

Freshen Up the Stinky Garbage Disposal

“Lemon rinds ground in the disposal will deodorize your sink’s drain 1-2-3,” says Edelman. “And bonus, unlike vinegar, which leaves no scent, lemons provide a clean, crisp aroma.” Just slice a lemon into chubby quarters, slip them into the sink’s disposal, turn on the hot water and flip the power switch. Run the disposal until you hear the “gurgle-gurgle-grind-grind” sound—when that noise stops, it means the lemon is chopped and swallowed up. Turn off the disposal.

40 fantastic uses for baking soda

Most of us know that baking soda can be used for more than just making homemade cookies and other dough rise. It's not uncommon to see an open box of this leavening agent deodorizing refrigerators, for example. But did you know that there are at least 40 different ways to use baking soda?

Baking soda makes a perfect stand-in for many personal care, cleaning, and deodorizing products. The list of benefits is long: It is inexpensive, free of toxic chemicals, versatile, and effective.

Wondering how baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate, works its magic? It helps regulate pH — keeping a substance neither too acidic nor too alkaline. When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, its natural effect is to neutralize that pH. Beyond that, baking soda has the ability to retard further changes in the pH balance, known as buffering.

This dual capability of neutralizing and buffering allows baking soda to do things such as neutralize acidic odors (like in the refrigerator) as well as maintain neutral pH (like in your laundry water, which helps boost your detergent's power). It's a simple reaction, but one that has far-reaching effects for a number of cleaning and deodorizing tasks.

And so without further ado, here are some of the many creative ways you can use baking soda.

Check out the rest of this post by clicking on the title link .

10 minute cleaning - dusting quick clean

Starting from the top ,grab your duster or tickling stick i call it and dust your way down, move around the room until its compleate, be sure to include furniture pictures, mirrors, ornaments ect ect.

Remember this is just a quick fix to keep dust at bay, but your home would benefit from a regular cloth and polish cleaning a couple of times a week to keep it fresh and spakling .

10 minute clean - kitchen quick clean

Clear and wipe all surfaces,cupboard and machine fronts, windowsill.
remember to keep a box or basket handy to throw things into that are laying around incase you dont have enough time to put them away there and then, it can always be put behind closed doors until you get to it (wink)
sweep the floor, if there are any spills or marks on the floor just put a damp cloth over your broom and rub it clean.
Drop the cloth in the washer or in a bucket to soak and your good to go x

10 minute clean - bathroom quick clean

Wipe over your basin and taps, around the bath, any fixtures and fittings such as units and cabinets ,your toillet and window sill for a quick but refreshing clean.
Tidy or add clean towels to give it a crisp look.

Leave your deep clean for toillet and tiles until you have more time, allow around 20/30 mins for a deep clean. x

Five minute clean up - toys

If you have sml children you will most likely have some kind of toy box or basket in your lounge or kitchen area where your kids can play under your supervision whilst you still potter on with your chores.

Most of us know how tierd we can get at the end of the day after we get the kids settled into bed, the last thing we really want to do is start cleaning up, we really could use some "ME" time and just spend some time relaxing and unwinding.

However, trying to relax in a war zone of toys can be quite a feat, so here are two simple solutions to this problem.

Whilst the kids are babes in arms and cant yet help you to tidy away, its always handy to have a box or a basket behind the settee or somewhere close to just grab and fill.
It will take you literally five minutes to collect the toys into that basket and even if for whatever reason the toys dont get taken from that basket to their toy box, at least the room is reletively clear and tidy and it can be compleated in 1 minute the following morning.

As the kids start toddling, encourage them to put their toys back into their toy box, or at least the tidy basket after play time ,they will see it as a game and become accustumed to tidying up after themselves :) x

Spring cleaning - Freshen Up your Upholstery

Now is the time to give your furniture a good going over, where possible strip off your loose covers and any fittings to be washed, dusted or wiped over.

Whilst it is stripped and easier to manuvre, take the hose from your hoover and get into all the nooks and crannies, if possible get the hose inside too :).

Hoover the arms, backs and any outer caseings, and if neccessary rub over with a damp cloth and a light solution of mild soap, blot off any eccess water to help drying.

For leather you will find that a mild baby soap is ideal for cleaning without causing any harm, again use a slight damp cloth and be gentle when rubbing.

Either hoover or wash your soft furnishings such as cushions ect to help freshen up the finnished look once everything is put back together.