Household Cleaning
Air freshener
Place one teaspoon baking powder soda in a spray bottle and add to it two
tablespoons of white vinegar and two cups of clean water. After the foaming has stopped replace the spray top and shake well.
Ant repellent
Wipe down the effected area with a solution of half vinegar and half water to
keep ants at bay.
Bottle cleanser
To remove sediment stains from bottles, jars and vases. Half fill with white
vinegar and shake well. Leave for a few minutes, and then wash in the normal
way.
Burnt pots and pans
Cover the burnt area with equal quantities of water and vinegar. Bring to the boil,
remove from heat and soak overnight.
Carpet shampoo
Add one cup of vinegar to five litres of water. Clean the carpet with a soft brush dipped in the solution. In case the carpet colours are not fast; always test on an inconspicuous area of the carpet before using.
Chewing gum
Dissolve chewing gum on carpets, upholststery or clothing by applying hot
vinegar to the gum. Egg white removes chewing gum from washable fabric.
Cleaning without Chemicals
"Microfibre" cleaning cloths, mops do NOT contain any chemicals, neither do
they need to be used with any added chemicals. Dry dusting -attracts dust to the cloth where it stays;
Damp-dusting for all other surfaces; and Wet-start wet cleaning i.e. the car or bath and finish off damp.
Clogged shower-head
Dismantle the shower head. Soak the pieces in a bowl of white vinegar for two to three hours. Clean off any sediment with a stiff brush.
Clothes brightener
Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse after washing clothes.
Cooking smells
To remove smells from the kitchen: boil a cup of water with one tablespoon of vinegar added to it.
Crystal
After washing crystal glassware add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water when rinsing. It will give it that extra sparkle.
Cut flowers
Cut flowers will keep longer if they are kept in water containing a solution of one teaspoon of vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar made up with 570ml of hot water.
Cutlery cleaner
Makeup a solution of two tablespoons of vinegar with one teaspoon of borax and two cups of hot water. Immerse the cutlery in the solution and then rinse in hot soapy water.
Drain cleaner
Make up a solution of 200ml (8fl oz) vinegar with 75g (30z) of baking soda. Pour directly into the drain. Leave for ten minutes. Then run clean hot water down the drain to clear the grease and debris.
Dish washer
Instead of using Rinse Aid in your dishwasher use White Vinegar and you will get the same result.
Fish smells on plates and utensils
Add a tablespoon of vinegar to the washing up water. Rinse thoroughly in clean water before drying.
Hard water deposits
To clear the scale in the lavatory, bale out the water to below the line of deposit. Make up a mixture of domestic borax and vinegar in equal quantities. Spread the mixture on the deposits and leave for two hours. Brush off the sediment with a stiff brush. Treat all hard water deposits on bathroom fittings as necessary.
Hard water film on tiles and glass
Rub the surface with undiluted white vinegar. Leave for fifteen minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Repeat if necessary.
Ink stains
Soak the stained fabric in milk for one hour. Makeup a paste with vinegar and cornflour. Cover the stain with the paste and when it has dried, wash the fabric in the normal way. To remove ballpoint ink mark from cloth, rub a paste of baking soda and milk over it. Rinse and then wash in your normal way.
Ironing
To prevent clothes becoming shiny when pressing with a hot iron, place a cloth over the garment that has been sprayed with a solution in the ratio of one part of vinegar to two parts of water. Keep a small piece of damp sponge handy when ironing. When there is a dry crease, rub the sponge over it and the fabric will be lightly and evenly dampened.
To clear a clogged iron, use I cup vinegar instead of water and steam until the jets release.
If the base of your iron is stained or sticky, unplug and rub with a cloth dipped in vinegar.
Use melted ice from the fridge tray as sterilised water for your steam iron.
Kettle descaler
Cover the element with equal quantities of water and vinegar. Bring to the boil and leave to soak overnight. Brush off the sediment and wash thoroughly.
Leather softener
Combine 150ml(6fl oz) hot lavender vinegar with 150ml(6fl oz) olive oil. Blend well.
Microwave ovens
Smells can be difficult to remove from the microwave oven, particularly fish. Try heating a quarter cup of vinegar diluted with one cup of water in the microwave.
Paint removal from glass
Rub the paint with hot undiluted vinegar to soften it. Remove the paint and clean the glass in the normal way.
Painted surface cleaner
The following cleaner will make you paint shine as never before. Make up a thin paste of 15g of cornflour, 30ml(lfloz) of vinegar and 275ml(10 fl oz) of hot water.
Perspiration and deodorant stains
Dab the effected area with undiluted white vinegar. Then wash in the normal way.
Rust stains
Soak the effected area with vinegar, then rub salt into the stain. Allow to dry, and then wash in the normal way.
Salt stains on shoes in winter
Wipe the shoes with a solution of one tablespoon of vinegar in a cup of water.
Scorch Marks
Lightly rub the scorch cloth with lint tree cloth soaked in vinegar. If heavily marked continue to rub lightly with a silver coin.
Scratched tabletops
If a beeswax-polished surface becomes scratched or spotted, rub the scratches or spots with white vinegar and polish again with beeswax whilst the surface is still wet.
Slimy sponges
Soak the sponge in one tablespoon of vinegar mixed with 570 ml (20 fluid ounces) of water for one hour. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.
Smelly drains
Boil 200ml (8f1oz)of vinegar and pour directly into the drain. Leave for ten minutes before using the drain.
Stain on aluminium pans
Pour a solution of vinegar and water in equal quantities into the stained pan. Bring to the boil and soak overnight. Or boil cabbage leaves in the stained pan.
Tea and coffee stains
Soak china and glassware in hot vinegar. Then wash in the normal way. For
stubborn stains on cups and pots add a teaspoon of salt to a little of the hot
vinegar and rub onto the stain.
Windows, mirrors, and glass
To clean glass add two tablespoons of vinegar to a small bucket of warm water. To finish off, buff the surface with a clean dry cloth.
Mould
To remove Mould from Window frames and sills. etc. and prevent the re-growth of mould. Mix Borax Powder with a little water into a paste consistency. Using a stiff brush (an old toothbrush is ideal) scrub the area of mould with the paste, then wipe clean.
To remove stains on cloth
To remove coffee, tea or cocoa stains - stretch the stained material over a small basin, dampen with water, sprinkle with borax then pour boiling water through. Leave to soak in the solution, then rinse and wash.
To remove beetroot stain - soak a piece of bread in water and dab it on both sides of the cloth. The bread will absorb the red colour.
Other useful household tips
Salt will keep dry and flow freely if kept in the refrigerator. Restore cream coloured fabric to its natural colour by soaking in strong hot tea. Add a pinch of salt to keep the colour fast.
Tips for the Garden
Eggshells ground finely may be used not only as a fertiliser but also as a slug deterrent.
Bury banana skins and crushed eggshells near the roots of rose trees to supply them with extra vitamins. 1 tablespoon full of Epsom salts dissolved in 1 pint of lukewarm water will provide a good tonic for all plants but especially roses.
Tips for Decorating
Add a good tablespoonful of baking soda to each bucketful of water when stripping wall paper and it will make the job easier.
Or
Use hot water containing vinegar. Dip a paint roller or large sponge into the solution and wet paper thoroughly. After two applications the paper should peel easily.
To remove the smell of paint from a newly decorated room, cut an onion in half and leave in the room.
Loosen tight screws in wood by dripping a little vinegar on their heads. When the vinegar penetrates the threaded section they will be easier to unscrew.
To remove paint from glass: Rub the paint with hot undiluted vinegar to soften it. Remove the paint and clean the glass in the normal way.
Rinsing brushes - After wallpapering rinse the paste table and brushes in salted water before washing. This removes the paste more quickly and leaves the brushes soft and springy.
If you've been heavy-handed with the salt shaker when cooking a soup or stew, simply drop a few apple (or potato) wedges into the pan. After cooking for another 10 minutes or so, remove the wedges, which will have absorbed the excess salt.
aspirin
Before giving up hope of removing a stubborn perspiration stain from a shirt, try this. Crush two aspirins and mix the powder in 100ml warm water. Soak the stained part of the garment in the solution for two to three hours.
bread
You can remove most dirty or greasy fingerprints from painted walls by rubbing the area with a slice of white bread. Bread does a good job of cleaning non-washable wallpaper as well. First cut off the crusts to minimise the chance of scratching the paper.
baby oil
Buff up a dull-looking stainless steel sink by rubbing it down with a few drops of baby oil on a soft clean cloth. Rub dry with a towel and repeat if necessary. This is also a terrific way to remove stains on the chrome trim of kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures.
bicarbonate of soda
Even the smelliest shoe or trainer is no match for the power of bicarbonate of soda. Liberally sprinkle powder in the offending loafer or lace up and let it sit overnight. Discard the powder in the morning. (Be careful with leather shoes as repeated applications can dry them out.)
crayons
Crayons make an excellent filler for small gouges or holes in resilient flooring. Select a colour that closely matches the floor. Melt the crayon in the microwave on medium power over a piece of greaseproof paper, until you have a pliant glob of colour. With a plastic or putty knife, fill the hole. You can use a softened crayon to cover even quite deep scratches on wooden furniture.
carpet remnants
Place a series of carpet off cuts upside down and cover them with bark mulch or straw for a weed-free garden path. Use smaller scraps as mulch around your vegetable garden.
correction fluid
Dab small nicks on household appliances with correction fluid. Once it dries, cover your repair with clear nail polish for protection.
emery board
If a favourite pair of suede shoes have become stained and tired, an emery board can revive them. Rub the stain lightly with the emery board, and then hold the shoe over the steam from a kettle to remove the stain. This technique will work for suede clothing too.
fabric softener
End clinging dust on the TV. To eliminate the static that attracts dust, dampen a duster with a little fabric softener straight from the bottle.
ice cube trays
Here's what to do with a half-drunk bottle of red or white wine. Freeze the wine into cubes that can be used later in pasta sauces, casseroles or stews.
ice cubes
If you're putting sealant around the bath, run an ice cube over it to get a nice even bead - it will never stick.
jars
If you've taken a break from gardening, help your gloves dry out by pulling each one over the bottom of an empty jar. Stand the jar upside down on a radiator or hot-air vent. Warm air will fill the jar and dry damp clothing in an instant.
ketchup
Keeps silver jewellery sparkling. Soak it in a small bowl of ketchup for a few minutes. If it has a tooled or detailed surface, use an old toothbrush to work ketchup into the crevices. To avoid damaging the silver, don't leave the ketchup on longer than necessary. Rinse and dry.
lemons
Get rid of tough stains on marble. Cut a lemon in half, dip the exposed flesh in some table salt and rub it vigorously on the stain. You will be amazed how well it works.
milk cartons
Keep drinks cold at a barbecue or party with ice blocks made from empty milk cartons. Rinse them, fill them with water and put them in the freezer. Peel away the container when you're ready to put them in the punch bowl. If you intend to use them as cooler blocks, leave the container in place.
olive oil
Make your own furniture polish. Combine two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice or white vinegar in a clean recycled spray bottle, shake it up and squirt it on. Leave the mixture on for a minute or two, then wipe off with a clean cloth or paper towel. If you're in a hurry, apply olive oil straight from the bottle on to a paper towel. Wipe off any oil that remains with another towel.
salt
Watermarks from damp glasses or bottles left on a wooden surface are unattractive. Make them disappear by mixing one teaspoon of salt with a few drops of water to form a paste. Gently rub the paste on to the ring with a soft cloth or sponge until the spot is gone. Restore the lustre with furniture polish.
tights
To find lost small objects, cut the leg off an old pair of tights, making sure the toe is intact and pull it over the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner hose. Secure with a rubber band. Turn on the vacuum and you will soon find your valuable attached to your homemade filter.
yoghurt
Put 200ml plain active-culture yoghurt into a blender, along with a handful of moss and about 200ml water. Blend for about 30 seconds. Use a paintbrush to spread the mixture wherever you want moss to grow - between the cracks of a stone path, on the sides of flowerpots - as long as the spot is cool and shady. Keep misting the moss with water until it is established.
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