It always feels nice to be able to use common household items to clean around the house.  Not spending money on harsh chemicals and cleaning with environmentally-friendly products made from simple ingredients, can not only save time, but play a huge role in keeping your family safe as well as play a critical role in saving the environment.

Floors

Porcelain & Tile

• Baking Soda & Water: Dust surfaces with baking soda, then scrub with a moist sponge or cloth
• Lemon Juice or Vinegar (Stains, Mildew or Grease): spray or douse with lemon juice or vinegar.  Let sit for a few minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush
• Disinfectant (homemade): 2 cups water, 3 tbsp liquid soap & 20-30 drops of tea tree oil

Carpet & Rugs

• Club Soda: Lift off any solids, then immediately pour liberal amount of club soda on stain.  Blot with an old rag.
• Cornmeal: for big spills, dump cornmeal on the mess, wait 5-15 minutes, and vacuum up the gunk
• Spot Cleaner (homemade): mix ¼ cup liquid soap or detergent in a blender with 1/3 cup water.  Mix until foamy. Spray on, and then rinse with vinegar.
• Deodorize: sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on carpet or rug, using about 1 cup per medium-sized room.  Vacuum after 30 minutes.

Hardwood

• Restore Natural Glow: Whip up a solution of ¼ cup white vinegar and 30 oz of warm water. Put in recycled spray bottle, and then spray on a cotton rag or towel. Mop floors with rag/towel, scrubbing away any grime

Antique Linens

• Sunlight: sanitize and remove stains with sunlight (no fragile items as they can break down)
  • Simply lay your old lace, curtains and other fine linens on the grass in the sun for a few hours.  Dirtier pieces can be dampened first.
• Boiling: if sunlight doesn’t work, fill a pot with water and bring to a boil on the stovetop.  Drop in linens and let steep until stains lift
• Detergent & Borax: mix dishwasher detergent and borax together until you get a thick rubbing paste.  Rub into soiled linens, then rinse clean
• Peroxide: if you have stubborn stains, try spraying them with peroxide, then rinsing with water