General Cleaning
Some general tips for cleaning around most of your home.
Bins
Sprinkle 60g (1/2 cup) of borax in the bottom of your bin or nappy bin to stop the bacteria that causes odour.
Carpets - deodorising
If you carpet is holding onto odours from pets, then just sprinkle some baking soda onto the carpet before vacuuming. For best results leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
For extra luxury mix the 175g (1 ½ cups) of baking soda with 20 drops of your favourite essential oil.
Carpets - fleas
Mix 60g (1/2 cup) of borax and 175g (1 ½ cups) of baking soda on your carpet before vacuuming.
Carpet stain removal
An important point is never to apply heat (i.e. warm or hot water) to a stain, it will make it almost impossible to remove.
Always use a blotting action rather then rubbing. You are more likely to blot a stain away from your carpet rather then rubbing it in.
Use a mixture of 1 cup of baking soda and four cups of water in a spray bottle (mix well). Spray on the stain as soon as possible and blot to remove it.
Carpet coffee stains
Start with a wet cloth and blot immediately, keep blotting until you cant lift anymore coffee. Then use baking soda or salt onto the stain, leave for one hour then vacuum. Failing that use vinegar either neat or 1 part vinegar and two parts water, and blot again.
Carpet grease spot
Lift as much grease as with cloth or sponge, then gently run the area with baking soda leave overnight then vacuum.
Carpet red wine
Blot up as much as possible, sprinkle the area with Salt. Leave for 15 minutes and vacuum. This might leave a pink stain which you can remove with a solution of 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water.
Alternatively worth baking soda into the stain, leave for 15 minutes and vacuum.
Childrens toysNone electrical toys can safely be cleaned with a solution of 30g (1/4 cup) baking soda and 1.2ltrs (2 pints) of water. Submerge in the mixture ir wipe with a damp cloth then rinse in clean water and dry.
China
Dissolve borax in a sink full of hot water and clean.
Dusting
The very best way to dust is just to use a damp cloth around your home.
Floors general cleaning
Try a few drops of vinegar in your cleaning water or steamer. For vinyl floors add a capful of baby oil to the water for a clean and shiny floor, it also preserves it.
Floors remove heal marks
A pencil eraser should easily remove heal marks.
Floors painted wooden floors
Mix 1 teaspoon of washing soda into 4ltrs (1 gallon) of hot water.
Floors wood floors
Just use warm water and a few drops of soap. Ensure you mop or rag is only damp. Clean and buff to a high shine.
To avoid streaks on your floor add 55ml (1/2 cup) vinegar to your water.
To polish wood floors dilute one cup of citrus oil into 4ltrs (1 gallon) of hot water and use a mop as you would do normally.
Metal - aluminium
Clean with a solution of cream of tartar and water.
Metal - brass
Mix equal parts salt and flour with a little vinegar and rub. Afterward run with a little baby oil to bring a shine back. This will also stop tarnishing,
Metal - Chrome
Use undiluted vinegar. Polish with baby oil.
Metal - Copper
Rub with lemon juice and salt (or hot vinegar and salt). Clean tarnished copper by boiling it in water with 1 tablespoon of salt and 225ml (1 cup) of vinegar.
Metal - pewter
Make a paste with sale, flour and vinegar.
Metal Stainless Steel
To clean run with a paste of baking soda and water. Polish with baby oil.
Metal gold
Clean gold with toothpaste.
Metal Stainless Steel
Many methods for cleaning silver, but the best way is to clean using toothpaste.
Shoes - leather
Apply a cold oil like pressed nut, walnut or olive oil or beeswax, then buff to a shine. Lemon juice is good too.
Shoes patent leather
A dab of petroleum jelly protects. To shine, moisten a soft cloth with white vinegar and simply wipe clean.
Shoes shoe polish
Mix 55ml (1/4 cup) olive oil with a few drops of lemon juice for a great natural shoe polish.
Shoes remove water stains
Gently run with a cloth dipped in a vinegar and water solution.
