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Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips

All you need to know about Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


Sodium bicarbonate is formed from soda ash that occurs naturally in our environment. The ash is mined and processed to resemble the fine white powder we know as baking soda. This hard-working alkaline mineral is an astounding multi-purpose product due to its chemical and physical properties.

Baking soda, dates back to the Egyptians, who used it both as a soap-like cleaning agent and in mummification.

In 1843, Alfred Bird, a British chemist produced a modern, improved version of baking soda to enable him to bake yeast-free bread for his wife Elizabeth, who suffered with allergies to eggs and yeast. This lead to Bird eventually receiving an order to supply the British Forces with his baking soda, which was used not only in the baking of fresh bread for the troops, but also in hospitals to supply the sick and wounded with cakes and puddings.

In 1846 it was branded and sold by the company Arm & Hammer; however it wasn’t until 1927 that it began to be promoted for its extraordinary benefits in the home.

In 1970 Arm and Hammer sponsored the very first Earth Day; this is when the humble baking soda gained its worthy attention as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical cleaners.

By 1972 it had a new widespread following: an open box of baking soda could be found in the fridges of almost every household, keeping the food fresh and the fridge deodorised.

In 1986, the Statue of Liberty was cleaned and restored ahead of its 100th birthday, using only baking soda, leaving its inner copper walls undamaged and pristine.

Today this adaptable all-rounder can be found in almost every home. Along with its success in the kitchen, it is an important ingredient in toothpaste, cat litter, deodorant and antacid tablets and is the main component in fire extinguishers. This resourceful product is probably one of the most important natural green cleaning ingredients available. It is extremely alkaline with bactericidal and stain-removing properties, and is particularly renowned for absorbing grease and spills, and neutralising food, pet, smoke and stale odours around the home. Baking soda also makes an effective scrub for cleaning tough stains and blemishes from work surfaces while being gentle enough not to scratch.

Note: When baking soda is mixed with vinegar and lemon, the solution bubbles and effervesces. This is quite normal and results from the acetic acid in the vinegar and lemon reacting with the sodium bicarbonate, a compound in baking soda. This process forms carbonic acid, which is unstable, and immediately falls apart into carbon dioxide and water. The bubbles you see from the reaction come from the carbon dioxide escaping the solution that is left.

How to clean Lamp Shades

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


Lamp shades tend to get forgotten and certain cotton and fabric styles prove quite tricky to clean. Some lampshades, however, are simply cleaned with a vacuum attachment, but for more delicate materials, I advise a lint roller, which captures the dust quickly and easily, leaving your shades looking brand new again. Lint rollers work amazingly on fabric photo frames and cushions that harbour unwanted dust.

Keep your cloths clean
Cleaning cloths, dishcloths and tea towels harbour the most germs and bacteria so it is crucial to systematically clean your cloths and keep them germ-free. Change tea towels daily and allow washing up to air-dry whenever possible. Soak dirty dishcloths in undiluted vinegar each night to kill germs and bacteria then finish by rinsing in hot soapy water the following morning. Always wash cleaning cloths after every use to ensure they are free from dust, germs and bacteria; you will only reap great results from clean cloths.

What you put on your body is just as important as what you put in it!

| Health & Beauty | Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips | Uncategorized

Your skin is the largest organ of your body and since it is porous, it absorbs whatever you put on it. Healthy skin is vital for our survival both emotionally and physically. To boost these capabilities, we need to understand its role and importance in our overall health and learn how to better care for our skin. With everything from chemicals in the skin care products we slather on, environmental toxins and pollutants, harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, pathogens, antigens and UV radiation attacking it, skin needs to be in tip top shape to ward off illness and keep us healthy.

Homemade body scrubs are non toxic, easy to make, inexpensive and extremely effective at reviving over worked, dehydrated, tired out skin. Explore our Health & Beauty Blog Section with little D.I.Y. scrub wonders that are excellent at removing dead skin cells, leaving behind a healthy glow. Your skin will instantly feel soft and hydrated to the touch. The essential oils can be added to accentuate your mood, for example lavender to relax and sooth or grapefruit to awaken and invigorate the senses. The choice is yours, feel free to experiment.

The Rose recipe is one of my particular favourites, it is especially soothing and calming to the skin and the senses, enjoy!

Ingredients
1 Cup course sea salt or Himalayan pink
4 Tablespoons melted unrefined coconut oil
4 Tablespoons grape seed or almond oil
2 teaspoons Crushed Dried Rose Petals
5-10 Drops rose essential oil

Mix salt and oils together with a fork or spoon. Add the rose petals until everything is combined. Decant into a pretty glass jar and enjoy! Keeps for up to 1 month.

The Cleaning Power of Salt For Non-Toxic Cleaning Purposes

| Chemical Free Cleaning Services | Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips | Uncategorized

Salt is a chemical compound of sodium and chlorine, and is one of the most basic, plentiful molecules on earth. This simple compound is essential to life itself, as our bodies require salt to function correctly and to regulate our fluid levels.

Salt is present in our vast expanse of oceans and seas. It can be found on the surface of the ocean as brine and below the skin of the earth in the form of salt licks. The salt forms in white veins and is often mined from shafts over half a mile deep.

We are all aware of the significance of salt in cooking, but this resourceful compound is widely employed in over 14,000 commercial applications, from paper production to road safety. This makes it an important and essential mineral for humankind. For centuries, it has played a key role in economic, religious, social and political practices and it is a common topic in many stories, fables and fairy tales.

Today, salt occupies a momentous role in our daily lives with its ability to season and preserve food. It transforms our dependence on seasonal availability, and enables us to store and ship consumables around the world without them spoiling. Salt is inexpensive, easy to obtain and a commodity that we often take for granted. However, in ancient times, it was highly valued and its production was legally restricted, hence its historical use as a method of trade and currency. In fact, the word ‘salary’ derives from salt, and in Roman times it was common practice to pay soldiers wages with this highly prized mineral.

There are  many forms of salt produced today: unrefined salt such as Celtic, Himalayan, kosher, and sea salt; as well as refined, iodised table salt. All these salts can be used to deal with the toughest jobs around the house.

One of the most common, inexpensive household products, salt is an extraordinary cleaning and deodorising agent that can be used as an abrasive for scrubbing and eliminating mould and mildew, or diluted and dissolved into various cleaning solutions. It quickly absorbs foul odours and prevents grease and grime build-up as its granular texture acts as a gentle yet effective scourer.

Salt is extremely versatile and can tackle a wide range of household cleaning tasks. It can be used alone, or mixed with other natural agents; for example, lemon, vinegar and baking soda to boost their cleansing and deodorising powers.

All you need to know about Hydrogen peroxide

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Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with a formula of H2O2. It is the only germicidal agent composed solely of water and oxygen. This astounding solution kills dangerous germs and micro-organisms through a process of oxidation and is considered to be the world’s safest, all-natural disinfectant and sanitiser. Now that’s an impressive accolade! It was first discovered in 1818 by Louis Jaques Thenard,  who happened to stumble upon it quite by chance, while burning barium salts to produce barium peroxide. Thenard noticed that when barium peroxide came into contact with water and dissolved, hydrogen peroxide was produced. Over many years, he worked tirelessly to improve this process and his was the most common method of production until the mid-twentieth century.

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with a formula of H2O2. It is the only germicidal agent composed solely of water and oxygen. This astounding solution kills dangerous germs and micro-organisms through a process of oxidation and is considered to be the world’s safest, all-natural disinfectant and sanitiser. Now that’s an impressive accolade! It was first discovered in 1818 by Louis Jaques Thenard,  who happened to stumble upon it quite by chance, while burning barium salts to produce barium peroxide. Thenard noticed that when barium peroxide came into contact with water and dissolved, hydrogen peroxide was produced. Over many years, he worked tirelessly to improve this process and his was the most common method of production until the mid-twentieth century.

In 1863 it was proved that hydrogen peroxide was present in rainwater and the American Medical Association announced that this had long been Mother Nature’s way of sterilising herself.

Hydrogen peroxide has a lengthy history as a bleaching agent, steriliser, oxidiser and disinfectant. Both gentle and non-toxic, it is used in a variety of industries around the world. A recent study showed hydrogen peroxide to be a powerful and highly effective disinfectant for surfaces in research labs, animal labs, and hospital rooms, thus rendering it an excellent product for bathrooms and kitchens. This natural commodity offers endless cleaning possibilities. You can purchase 3-10% hydrogen peroxide at most supermarkets and grocery stores. I usually use 3% strength and find this is adequate for most cleaning tasks around the home.

Often referred to as “The Wonder Cleaner”, hydrogen peroxide is non-toxic, practical, inexpensive and an excellent green cleaner. Hydrogen peroxide kills germs and organisms through oxidation and is considered the safest and most effective natural sanitiser available. Therefore, it is a fantastic environmentally-friendly alternative to bleach.

A Brief History of Toothpaste and How you can use it to Clean!

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The first known tooth cleaning formula was originally created by the Egyptians as long ago as 4 AD. The powder was made up of crushed rock salt, pepper, mint and dried iris flowers. The Egyptians used the powder to treat many of the same dental concerns we have today, such as cleaning and whitening teeth, gum health and maintaining all-round oral hygiene. However, this original formula was quite harsh and could cause bleeding of the gums, yet research into the cleaning agent proved it to be quite effective compared to other toothpastes and powders used as recently as a century ago.

There have been some weird and wonderful solutions throughout the ages for oral hygiene. Perhaps one of the most bizarre was a powder formed from ground ox hooves, ashes, burnt eggshells and pumice.

The Greeks had a preference for extremely abrasive cleaning agents and would add powdered bones and oysters to their recipes. By 1780, people were scrubbing their teeth with a cleaning powder made initially from burnt bread! Other strange ingredients in toothpastes have included bark, charcoal, chalk and betel nuts.

In 1824, a dentist named Peabody invented a formula that contained soap, as he believed this would add extra cleaning power to the paste. The soap obviously tasted extremely unpleasant and was later replaced.

It wasn’t until 1873 that the first commercially-produced toothpaste was released onto the market. It was manufactured by Colgate and sold in little glass jars. In 1892, Dr. Washington Sheffield placed the pastes into collapsible tubes, and other manufacturers soon followed suit.

The addition of fluoride happened in 1914, when it was believed that fluoride significantly decreased the number of cavities and halted tooth decay. In 1975, a range of natural herbal toothpastes became available as an alternative for people who did not agree with the addition of fluoride. These pastes were made up of plant extracts, essential oils such as peppermint, rosemary and myrrh, and are still being produced from many of the original ingredients.

Toothpaste today is an essential daily commodity for people throughout the world and has been an extremely successful and important invention to mankind.

Due to its mild abrasives and antibacterial agents, it is a powerful scrub for removing stains and dirt. Use only regular formulas in household cleaning, as gels, tartar control and whitening solutions may contain unwanted chemicals and harsh abrasives that will damage fragile surfaces such as silver. Toothpaste is mildly abrasive and the addition of antibacterial agents render it a potent stain fighter. It is particularly effective at polishing chrome taps and fixtures.

Note: Use standard herbal toothpaste and not gel formulas.

How To Vacuum Properly: The vavoom to vacuuming

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First, replace the large head with the small crevice edging head and clean the whole outer perimeter of the carpet or hardwood floor as this will eliminate the dark build-up of dirt and dust from gathering around the edge of the carpet and flooring. If this is not carried out regularly, dirt will collect here, forming a bold line of discolouration. Once this happens, it is very hard to remove. So, clean by the motto that ‘prevention is better (and so much easier!) than cure’.

Second, inspect underneath items that are difficult to move for precious objects that might have dropped on the floor, then apply the crevice and flat head attachments and clean under the furniture. Third, vacuum sofas, chairs and upholstery, remembering to clean under the cushions.

Last, vacuum all soft furnishings such as cushions, throws, lampshades, etc. Fragile and delicate fabrics unsuitable for vacuuming can be placed outside in the sunshine to be naturally dusted by the elements.

Now it is time to replace the main head and begin vacuuming the whole room. Always ensure that the head is adjusted correctly to the type of floor covering you are cleaning.

Starting from the farthest corner away from the door, move the vacuum from left to right and then forwards and backwards; this will ruffle the fibres of the carpet and dislodge trapped dirt and dust. Remember to vacuum slowly as this allows the brush head to penetrate and agitate the carpet fibres, freeing any stubborn dirt and grime. For a perfect finish every time, always work your way out of the room. To maintain flooring and ensure it is pristine and dust free, vacuum regularly (at least twice a week). This will halt the build-up of grime, dust mites and allergens. Address stains immediately to lift them out of the fibres quickly and easily.

I suggest using a home-made carpet freshener, and deodorising every second week to maintain your carpets’ freshness and cleanliness.

Natural & Luscious Lemon Wood and Furniture Polish

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


A homemade wood and furniture polish provides a safe, natural alternative to chemical- and petroleum-based polishes. This simple polish made from olive oil and lemon juice shines furniture and offers a familiar lemony scent, evoking an essence of clean air. Since the polish contains actual lemon juice, it should be used within a few days or stored in a refrigerator to ensure freshness. 

Ingredients
1 organic lemon–peeled and juiced
2 cups of olive oil

Directions 
Place the juice and olive oil in a glass jar. Finely chop the lemon peel and then add to the jar. Tighten the lid on the jar and leave the mixture to infuse overnight (at least) in a cool, dark place. Strain the solution with a small strainer and, with the help of a funnel, filter the polish into a spray bottle. Spray, wipe and buff to a high shine.

Note
As with all new cleaners, always do a test patch first, especially on wood.

Natural Ceramic and Stainless Steel Sink Scrub

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips


If your kitchen sink is a bit dingy, then make it look just like new with only natural ingredients you already have in your kitchen. There is not much scrubbing involved with this natural recipe that is low cost and safe for the entire family. Buff your way to a fresh and sparkling basin that will stay cleaner for longer as you haven’t smeared any chemicals on to the surface.

Ingredients
1/2 orange
salt

Directions
Cut an orange in half and dip it into a dish of salt. Rub the salted orange halves around the inside of the sink, leave for 5 minutes then rinse with hot water and rub dry with a clean cloth. This will have your sink gleaming in no time.

Natural Lemon and Rosemary Room Freshener

| Homemade Cleaning Recipes & Tips | Uncategorized


Smells are everywhere in our home, and sometimes they aren’t too fresh. What do you do with a kitchen that smells like it’s full of garlic or seafood? Or a bathroom that doesn’t smell like a bouquet of roses? Before reaching for an air freshener that may contain chemicals (some of the “natural” air fresheners can contain them as well), take a deep breath and make your own green alternative. Here is one of my favourite recipes that is easy, cost-friendly and uses simple ingredients. They are are great household addition to battle bad smells and keep your home smelling fresh naturally.

Ingredients
1 sliced organic lemon
2 tablespoons rosemary oil
2 cups of water
A dash of vanilla

Method 
Simply mix all ingredients into a pot, simmer on low heat on the stovetop. As the water evaporates, feel free to add more. You can use this over several days, adding more water as needed. Enjoy!