Wednesday, March 7, 2012

To Help In The Spring Cleaning...!

As we all know, it won't be long until Spring cleaning time is here.

I know that many of you make your own cleaners, or at least some of them. I've got a little list of homemade cleaners from the Old Farmer's Almanac that might come in handy. You may already know these, but just in case you don't...here it is!

Make Your Own Cleaners

Make your own cleaning products. Homemade cleaners are simple and a great way to save money.

WARNING: Never mix cleaning products containing bleach and ammonia, as dangerous fumes will result.

Oven Cleaner
2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid
2 teaspoons borax
1/4 cup ammonia
1–1/2 cups warm water

Mix the ingredients together, apply to oven spills, and let sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Scrub with an abrasive nylon-backed sponge and rinse well.

Easy Scrub
3/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup borax
dishwashing liquid

Combine the baking soda and borax. Mix in enough dishwashing liquid to make a smooth paste. If you prefer a pleasant smell, add 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice to the paste.

Jewelry Cleaner
1/4 cup ammonia
1/4 cup dishwashing liquid
3/4 cup water

Mix all the ingredients well, then soak your jewelry in the solution for a few minutes. Clean around the stones and designs with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Buff dry. (Caution: Don't use this with gold-plated jewelry; with soft stones such as pearls, opals, or jade; or with costume jewelry, because it could ruin the plastics or loosen the glue.)

Heavy-Duty Disinfectant Cleaner
1/4 cup powdered laundry detergent
1 tablespoon borax
3/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup pine oil, or pine-based cleaner

Slowly stir the detergent and borax into the water to dissolve. Add the pine oil (available at hardware stores and supermarkets) and mix well. For bathroom cleaning, use the mixture full strength. In the kitchen, dilute it with water.

Wood Floor Polish
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Mix the ingredients well, rub on the floor, and buff with a clean, dry cloth.

Rug Cleaner
1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
1 cup lukewarm water

Combine the ingredients. Use a spray bottle to apply the solution over a large area, or use the solution to spot-clean nongreasy stains. (Don't use laundry detergent or dishwasher detergent in place of dishwashing liquid, as they may contain additives that can affect the rug's color.)

Toilet Cleaner
1 cup borax
1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice

Combine the ingredients to make a paste. Apply it to the inside of the toilet bowl, let sit for 1 to 2 hours, and scrub.

Mildew Remover
1 tablespoon powdered laundry detergent
1 quart chlorine bleach
2 quarts water

Combine all the ingredients in a pail. Wearing rubber gloves, wash off the mildew.

Floor Wax Remover
1 cup laundry detergent
3/4 cup ammonia
1 gallon warm water

Mix all the ingredients together and apply to a small area of the floor. Let the solution sit long enough for it to loosen the old wax, at least 5 to 10 minutes. Mop up the old wax (or scrape it up, if there's a lot of it, using a squeegee and a dustpan). Rinse thoroughly with 1 cup vinegar in 1 gallon water and let dry before applying a new finish.

Furniture Polish
1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
1 tablespoon boiled linseed oil
1 tablespoon turpentine

Combine the ingredients in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake until blended. Dampen a cloth with cold water and wring it out until it's as dry as you can get it. Saturate the cloth with the mixture and apply sparingly to a small area at a time. Let dry for about 30 minutes, then polish with a soft cloth. Note that this mixture gets gummy as it sits, so make just enough for one day's work.

Glass Cleaner
2 tablespoons ammonia
1/2 cup alcohol
1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
a few drops blue food coloring
water

Combine the ammonia, alcohol, dishwashing liquid, and food coloring, then add enough water to make 1 quart. If you prefer a nonammoniated cleaner, substitute 3 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice for the ammonia.

Carpet Freshener
1 cup crushed dried herbs (such as rosemary, southernwood, or lavender)
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda

Combine all the ingredients in a large jar or other container with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well to blend. Sprinkle some of the mixture on your carpet, let it sit for an hour or so, and then vacuum it up. It will give the room a pleasant smell and neutralize carpet odors.

Scrubbing hand General-Purpose Cleaner
1 teaspoon borax
1/2 teaspoon washing soda
2 teaspoons vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
2 cups hot water

Combine all the ingredients. If you don't have washing soda (generally found in the laundry section of supermarkets), use 1 teaspoon baking soda instead. For a more pleasant smell, use lemon juice instead of vinegar. Be sure to label the bottle accordingly. 

I do hope that some of these recipes help a little. Never hurts to know how to make some of these products, especially if you run out of your regular cleaner.

Fresh coffee in the kitchen this morning. looks like the rain just might move back in!

12 comments:

Phyllis (N/W Jersey) said...

Just LOVE that good old 20 Mule Team Borax - cleans everything! Send the rain this a-way, we have a fire/wind warning alert for today from the weather service. Coffee in the kitchen sounds good. I'll bring the honey biscuits!

Ben in Texas said...

Thanks for the money saving tips again.
As for Spring Cleaning Think I'll just call "Maids 'R Us" and turn them loose here inside. :-)

BBC said...

Don't buy your ammonia at a dollar store, get some better stuff.

To remove oder from something spray some vodka on it.

JO said...

Got to try the window cleaner one. If the wind ever stops blowing I can clean mine they are covered in dirt and sand.

coffee in the kitchen sound like a good idea. Tired of eating dirt.

linda m said...

Great ideas, thanks.

Bob from Athens said...

Wow just reading that list of cleaning supplies makes me tired. Didn't realize that there was that much around to clean. And some say that retired old farts don't have anything to do.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the post. My wife is in love with the mass advertised toxic chemical cleaners, (I worked in a chemical plant when I was young and the air there was better than in our house) but she will use the homemade ones IF I make them.

BBC said...

DO NOT USE AMMONIA TO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF A FRIDGE.

The fumes will knock you over the next time you open it.

HermitJim said...

Hey Phyllis...
Honey biscuits sure do sound good this morning!

Sorry to hear that your weather is still being nasty! It's not too bad here!

Thanks so much for coming by today!


Hey Ben...
Now that's not a bad idea, buddy! Might have to warn the kitties ahead of time, though!

Thanks for dropping by today!


Hey BBC...
I saw a Mythbusters show where they used vodka for different things! Seemed to work for them!

Thanks for coming by today!


Hey JoJo...
Boy, ya'll are really getting the wind lately!

Hope you can get the windows cleaned pretty soon!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming over this morning!


Hey Linda...
You are certainly more than welcome!

Thanks for coming by today!


Hey Bob...
Being retired myself, seems like the only things I'm short on is time and money!

Old farts always have more than enough to do!

Thanks for coming over this morning!


Hey Anon 9:06...
A lot of it is what we are accustomed to using, I guess!

I'd go ahead and make up some and see how she likes using them. Might save some money in the long run!

Thanks for dropping by!


Hey BBC...
Yeah, I learned that the hard way! Thanks for reminding me, though.

I appreciate the visit today!

TROUBLEnTX said...

I've used the glass cleaner for years, better than anything u buy. I make a gal at a time. Got it from the Ann Landers column in the paper yeas ago.

Sixbears said...

It's amazing what we can put together with a few basic ingredients.

Now if I could only figure out what they use in those fancy boat cleaners . . .

HermitJim said...

Hey Trouble...
I think that in some ways the homemade is better than store bought!

Thanks for the visit!


Hey Sixbears...
I would imagine that would certainly come in handy for you, huh?

I'll look around and see if I can find one!

Thanks for dropping by today!