For those who know me personally, this might not be a revelation but, for those that don’t I must confess that I’m a bit of a neat freak. So this might explain why last weekend I did the most thorough cleaning of my kitchen as I have ever done and actually enjoyed it. I have to admit I don’t have the biggest kitchen in the world in fact, it’s only 9.5x10 feet, smaller than my brother’s kitchen and he lives in a condo, whereas I live in a 4-debroom house. But it still took a lot of elbow grease to get all
the built up grim and grease out. I was on my hands and knees for about 4 hours scrubbing and
scrubbing but the end results were well worth it because my cabinets are now so clean, they look almost brand new.
The best part of the project was that I used only vinegar, water and baking soda. I didn’t have to smell any noxious fumes while I was doing back breaking labour, the house didn’t smell like a chemical factory during or after and I didn’t feel guilty about flushing badness down the drain. All in all, my little project was a HUGE success. Now my kitchen looks almost brand new, and I have become an expert at effectively using vinegar and baking soda to get the job done. I know I’m a nerd but what can I say, I’m a clean freak as well as being an environmentalist and that day the two worlds seemed to collide perfectly.
In my quest to be eco-friendly little successes like this make me realize I’m on the right path and the tips and tricks I’m picking up along the way not only help mother earth but also help me save some money. So when I came across a 2011 promotional calendar which had eco-friendly cleaning tips I have to admit I got a bit excited and decided to share them with you just in case you want to try some out and make some positive changes.
So here they are in no particular order:
Stainless steel appliances: Use undiluted vinegar to remove smudges, and a dab of olive oil to polish
Energy saver: Turn down the thermostat at night or when away from home (or purchase a programmable thermostat)
Laundry Room: Add a ½ cup of baking soda to the wash along with your regular liquid detergent. Baking soda has been known to keep your whites whiter, bights brighter, and odour free clothing
Prolong the life of cut Flowers: Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, plus 3 tablespoons of sugar per quart of warm water to the vase
Water Saver: Today’s washing machines and detergents can clean clothes effectively in cold water allowing you to save energy and money. Filling your washer and dryer and even your dishwasher to its full capacity will also save energy.
Weeds? Fill a spray bottle with undiluted, white vinegar. Spray he centre of each flower with the vinegar and again near the ground, soaking the roots. This will kill the weed and prevent it from growing back.
Bathroom cleaning: Use undiluted lemon juice to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits.
Candle Wax: To remove old wax from glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hors. Remove from freezer, turn upside down and the wax will fall out.
If you try these tips and have some feedback, or if you have some more of your own please do share.
Anyway until next time. Take care people.
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