5 household cleaners hiding in your pantry
We have forgotten that sometimes the simple answer to a cleaning dilemma is already in a cupboard. There are several reasons to love home-sourced cleaning products, not least because they are generally non-toxic, inexpensive, easy on the environment and on our bodies to boot.
Vinegar
No home-sourced cleaning kit would be complete without it. Vinegar, especially the white and apple cider varieties, is a home-cleaning all-rounder with uses in every room of the house. Our forebears used it to polish up their brass and pewter but more modern applications include removing ballpoint pen marks from painted walls, polishing up stainless steel, or even cleaning modern appliances like computers and printers (use a cloth only).
A friend whose children suffer from eczema swears that ditching fabric softener in place of vinegar has offered her children some relief and has the added bonus of cleaning her machine on the way through. And no, the laundry didn't come out smelling like a jar of gherkins. Some hardcore vinegar aficionados say it can even be used to keep frosty car windows at bay.
Toothpaste
It's not only teeth that toothpaste can get sparkling clean. Toothpaste is just the thing for cleaning trainers and even diamonds. Yes, diamonds. Did you know that it's a great solution for removing that crayon artwork, or even scuff marks on your floor? Toothpaste, not the gel varieties, is mildly abrasive and so can be quite gentle on surfaces. In fact, carpet stains can also be treated with toothpaste, though it's a good idea to test a hidden patch first to make sure you don't have any unexpected, expensive-to-fix side effects.
Baking soda
Baking soda is just the thing for making Hokey Pokey and it's that crazy chemical reaction you get during the cooking process along with the fine gritty texture that earns it a place in our home-cleaning arsenal. A box of baking soda costs just a few dollars and, as with most things, the bigger the box, the smaller the cost per 100g. Baking soda has long been a friend in the laundry and you can still count on it to help your whites get whiter. But have you also got plastic containers that just refuse to let go of that tomato sauce orange stain? Well, baking soda to the rescue. Use it to freshen up plasticware, the fridge, sinks, bathroom surfaces and even carpets.
Lemon juice
When life gives you lemons, make a green cleaner. Lemon juice's usefulness lies primarily in the kitchen as it has both antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It acts as a good, environmentally-friendly alternative to bleach, as those of you who once used it to lighten your hair can testify.
Try using it to freshen up your microwave by simply mixing juice and water together, and heating in the microwave until boiling. Let it stand inside for a few minutes to let the freshness permeate throughout. Alternatively, put a lemon down the waste disposal as both the oils and juice will help remove any stinky leftovers.
Olive oil
Like all of the other the items on this list, olive oil has too many non-food related functions to list. Of course, it can be used to clean ourselves as well as our home, but if you're looking for a nifty trick to help get your place spick and span, then feel secure knowing this oil can help you repair scratches in leather furniture, polish up wooden items when mixed with vinegar and even help remove grease from your hands when used along with salt. Believe it.
Written by Colleen Simpson. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.
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