Tips for “Cleaning Like Mom” from THE MAIDS Home Services
July 9, 2009 by
Filed under
Blog, Front Page, Green Cleaning, Tips
These simple ingredients will make your home sparkle safely. Photo: Joe Hennager
In an attempt to reduce the burden of chemicals in our bodies, we all need to carefully consider the products we use to clean the spaces we live in. Think you have to sacrifice a sparkling clean appearance to get a safely clean home? Not so, according to THE MAIDS Home Services. The following green-cleaning tips, sent to us by THE MAIDS Home Services will help you safely clean and shine your home with ingredients so pure you can eat them (in appropriate quantities, of course!). — Julia Wasson, Publisher
You can undoubtedly find a product for virtually every cleaning need. Sometimes, however, the simplest methods are still best. Dig through your pantry and embrace your inner naturalist with the following solutions from the cleaning experts at THE MAIDS Home Services, a residential cleaning service.
Reach for the vinegar instead of the bleach.
- A simple yet effective surface cleaner can be concocted by pouring equal parts white vinegar and water into a spray bottle. Not to worry, once dry, the only thing you’ll smell is clean.
- Remove odors from your home by simmering vinegar on the stove for 30 minutes.
- Add ½ a cup of vinegar to your laundry’s rinse cycle to help break down laundry detergent – great for family members with skin sensitivities. It also naturally softens your clothes.
Stock up on lemons during your next outing to the grocery store.
- Run a cut lemon half over chrome faucets, then buff it for instant shine.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the surface of the other half to scrub away stains.
- Grind a lemon half through the garbage disposal to freshen.
Baking soda is a wonder cleaner.
- Like vinegar, baking soda is non-toxic, multi-purpose and inexpensive. Use baking soda as a safe, natural scrubber rather than bleach-based abrasive cleansers.
- Absorb odors from the refrigerator and freezer by placing a box inside.
- Avoid clogged drains by pouring ¼ cup of baking soda down the drain and following with one full cup of white vinegar. Do this weekly for the best results.
Courtesy of THE MAIDS Home Services
Blue Planet Green Living (Home Page)
Sounds smelly, but I just might try it.
What do you think about those “ion” laundry balls? Have you or any of your readers tried them? I’m confused about how it can really clean and freshen clothing.
Thanks
Hi Anne. I haven’t tried them yet, but I have heard very good reports that the ion laundry balls are very effective cleaners — and they supposedly last a long time. (I’m curious about how you know when it’s time to replace them.) I’ll be trying them soon, but haven’t actually ordered them yet. If any of our readers have used them, I’d love to hear about it.
These are very helpful tips, and they WORK! I have been cleaning with vinegar, lemon, lime and baking soda for decades. Vinegar also works in dishwashers to alleviate mineral spotting from hard water deposits, and leaves glass shining.
I use vinegar in my laundry rinse water routinely. It’s especially helpful when you live with dogs and cats and have to wash their bedding and soft play toys. Vinegar is also an excellent cleaner for puppy “oops” urine puddles, removing the source of the smell that brings dogs back to that spot again to urinate. Vinegar, citrus and baking soda–I couldn’t live without it!
Hi Debi.
Thanks for sharing your tip about puppy “oops” urine puddles. I stumbled on a similar use with a pesky raccoon, who consistently ripped into our trash cans then left a calling card on our deck. I sprinkled vinegar on top of the cans and doused it liberally in the area he considered his personal toilet. That was several weeks ago, and he hasn’t been back. I feel good that I didn’t have to use any harsh chemicals — and that he no longer comes by for a visit.
BTW, do you use the lime in the same way you use lemon? We’re always looking for great tips!
Julia
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