I asked what to do next, and natural cleaners was the answer.
Most of what I know about natural cleaners I have learned through researching the internet, learning from the little old lady I used to help, and Some I have learn through trial, and error.
Today I just want to share the e-mail I got today that is very interesting!
It is from realsimple.com
"Use white bread to: Dust an oil painting. Gently dab a slice of white bread over the surface to pick up dirt and grime."
"Use ketchup to: Remove tarnish from copper and brass cookware. Squeeze ketchup onto a cloth and rub it on pots and pans. They should go back to their coppery color in minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry with a towel."
Oatmeal
"Use it to: Scrub very dirty hands. Make a thick paste of oatmeal and water; rinse well."
Oatmeal can also be used to help dry skin.
Rice
"Use it to: Clean the inside of a vase or a thin-necked bottle. Fill three quarters of the vessel with warm water and add a tablespoon of uncooked rice. Cup your hand over the opening, shake vigor-ously, and rinse."
Tea
"Use it to: Scour rusty garden tools. Brew a few pots of strong black tea. When cool, pour into a bucket. Soak the tools for a few hours. Wipe each one with a cloth. (Wear rubber gloves or your hands will be stained.)"
Tea bags can also help with pink eye
Glycerin
"Use it to: Remove dried wax drippings from candlesticks. Peel off as much wax as possible, then moisten a cotton ball with glycerin and rub until clean."
Club Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
"Use club soda to: Shine up a scuffed stainless-steel sink. Buff with a cloth dampened with club soda, then wipe dry with another clean cloth."
"Use hydrogen peroxide to: Disinfect a keyboard. Dip a cotton swab in hydrogen peroxide to get into those nooks and crannies."
Hydrogen peroxide can also be used in place of bleach
Cornstarch
"Use it to: Clean grease spills on carpets. Pour cornstarch onto spots and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes before vacuuming."
I am going to try this one on an old stain from my BB aromatherapy sugar scrub....hopefully it works on set grease (oil) stains
Rubbing Alcohol
"Use it to: Erase permanent-marker stains from finished wood floors or solid-surface countertops. Pour rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and apply."
Elbow grease, and a little salt may be required.
Hopefully this is interesting to you too!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
More Laundry Tips
This is the last blog on laundry, so it will be a tad longer, and may repeat some of the previous tips.
Hang Drying Inside: A big help to the environment, and your wallet!
If you want to hang dry clothes, here are some places you can do it. Sturdy curtain rods, buy a rack to go above your washer, and hang off of it, find a garment rack, use your closet if it is big and open, sturdy shower rods, find a place to hang a line in your house, etc. I recommend investing in plastic hangers! I was lucky and found tons for free!
Now some odd and ends:
Adding Washing soda to laundry helps remove stains! I bought some Tide Stain release, and wish I would have researched! Washing Soda is different from Baking Soda!
Baking Soda: the sky is the limits! I found a good website on uses of baking soda! It helps with stains in many ways, can remove gum from washer, etc. Just use the link below!
http://housekeeping.about.com/od/laundry/qt/bksd_washmachin.htm
Shampoo also, the sky is the limit! It helps with yellow spots, blood spots, grease stains, etc!
Stain remover: Pre-treat with dish soap, My mom swears Palmolive is the best, but I am a Ajax person, and it works just as good.
If one does not prefer bleach, peroxide works as well. I personally do not use bleach at all, because I buy tide with bleach (now when I make my own, I probably will have to start).
To treat a stain on a white shirt, use lemon juice and put in the sun.
Wash with cold water. It saves on the water heater, and your energy bill! If your detergent is a good brand, it will still clean the clothes!
Do not under or over load your washer, it helps with washing, and energy. Over the years I have learned the perfect size load. Just load to middle level. My washer does not have a load size option due to the energy efficient mod on it!
Wash during the non-peak hours. I do laundry when my dachshund Leo wakes up at 1-5 in the morning! I used to dread getting up, but now I know if I get up I can start laundry, and save! But if one is not up at these hours, try doing a load before bed (most loads do not get musty or mildew over night, just do not forget about it in the morning), or doing a load early morning when you wake up!
Re-use dryer sheet till they have no smell!
Have children play outside in clothes that are from the day before (as long as they are not dirty from this purpose, or are nice clothes). I personally have clothes for Madalynn just for playing (outfits she has ruined), and she knows she has to switch outfits, but it saves on the good clothes, and she plays outside most of the time!
Clean your dryer lint trap out after every use, and check your vent frequently! Cleaning these two, helps with air flow, performance, and longevity of the dryer!
What to do with clothing that get's stains, and you just cannot remove them!
Another way to save on children's clothes, is PJ's. My daughter has never really been able to wear PJ sets due to her tall skinny structure! So what I do with clothes she gets too stained up (and she is very good at this...paint, marker, etc), I turn them into PJ's...no one really sees these clothes! Also when knit/cotton lounge pants get too short, they go to the PJ drawer. I seriously get another 1-3 years wear out of these pants! It helps having a skinny child though! I also use my stained clothes for PJ's!
If you plan on re-selling baby/children's clothes, never dry them in the dryer! It helps them stay nicer, and prevents stains from being permanently set!
If you have feather down coats/ comforters...and dry in the dryer...use a tennis ball.
Finally always have a system for laundry, break the process up, and keep up on it!
These are many of my tips that I can remember, some have become subconscious!
Hang Drying Inside: A big help to the environment, and your wallet!
If you want to hang dry clothes, here are some places you can do it. Sturdy curtain rods, buy a rack to go above your washer, and hang off of it, find a garment rack, use your closet if it is big and open, sturdy shower rods, find a place to hang a line in your house, etc. I recommend investing in plastic hangers! I was lucky and found tons for free!
Now some odd and ends:
Adding Washing soda to laundry helps remove stains! I bought some Tide Stain release, and wish I would have researched! Washing Soda is different from Baking Soda!
Baking Soda: the sky is the limits! I found a good website on uses of baking soda! It helps with stains in many ways, can remove gum from washer, etc. Just use the link below!
http://housekeeping.about.com/od/laundry/qt/bksd_washmachin.htm
Shampoo also, the sky is the limit! It helps with yellow spots, blood spots, grease stains, etc!
Stain remover: Pre-treat with dish soap, My mom swears Palmolive is the best, but I am a Ajax person, and it works just as good.
If one does not prefer bleach, peroxide works as well. I personally do not use bleach at all, because I buy tide with bleach (now when I make my own, I probably will have to start).
To treat a stain on a white shirt, use lemon juice and put in the sun.
Wash with cold water. It saves on the water heater, and your energy bill! If your detergent is a good brand, it will still clean the clothes!
Do not under or over load your washer, it helps with washing, and energy. Over the years I have learned the perfect size load. Just load to middle level. My washer does not have a load size option due to the energy efficient mod on it!
Wash during the non-peak hours. I do laundry when my dachshund Leo wakes up at 1-5 in the morning! I used to dread getting up, but now I know if I get up I can start laundry, and save! But if one is not up at these hours, try doing a load before bed (most loads do not get musty or mildew over night, just do not forget about it in the morning), or doing a load early morning when you wake up!
Re-use dryer sheet till they have no smell!
Have children play outside in clothes that are from the day before (as long as they are not dirty from this purpose, or are nice clothes). I personally have clothes for Madalynn just for playing (outfits she has ruined), and she knows she has to switch outfits, but it saves on the good clothes, and she plays outside most of the time!
Clean your dryer lint trap out after every use, and check your vent frequently! Cleaning these two, helps with air flow, performance, and longevity of the dryer!
What to do with clothing that get's stains, and you just cannot remove them!
Another way to save on children's clothes, is PJ's. My daughter has never really been able to wear PJ sets due to her tall skinny structure! So what I do with clothes she gets too stained up (and she is very good at this...paint, marker, etc), I turn them into PJ's...no one really sees these clothes! Also when knit/cotton lounge pants get too short, they go to the PJ drawer. I seriously get another 1-3 years wear out of these pants! It helps having a skinny child though! I also use my stained clothes for PJ's!
If you plan on re-selling baby/children's clothes, never dry them in the dryer! It helps them stay nicer, and prevents stains from being permanently set!
If you have feather down coats/ comforters...and dry in the dryer...use a tennis ball.
Finally always have a system for laundry, break the process up, and keep up on it!
These are many of my tips that I can remember, some have become subconscious!
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