Cleaning on a Budget
- A general cleaning solution can be easily made with home products. Mix ½ cup of ammonia, 1/3 cup vinegar, 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 gallon of water.
- Another general cleaning solution that can also be easily made with home products consists of a mixture of 2 tablespoons of ammonia, 2 tablespoons of liquid detergent and 1 quart water.
- Use a solution of water and vinegar to wash windows. If cleaning outside windows consider using ammonia. A squeegee or newspaper work well to wipe off the solution.
- To freshen any room, closet, or small space (even the refrigerator) soak a cotton ball in vanilla and place in a cup. For the refrigerator consider adding a teaspoon of vanilla to your wash water.
- To clean cutting boards and butcher blocks that smell of onion or garlic sprinkle the board with baking soda, rub in with a wet cloth, then rinse well.
- When washing glass light fixtures place a towel in the sink or bath tub to prevent the fixture from breaking as easily if you should drop it. .
- Tile can be washed with a paste of baking soda and bleach. Use a small brush to scrub the area. One gallon of hot water with ½ cup of ammonia will also do the job.
- Glass shower doors can be cleaned with a wet sponge or rag and white vinegar to remove soap and water marks.
- Shower curtains can be put in the washing machine with ½ cup of bleach to remove mildew and soap scum. Hang dry. For lighter cleaning or spot cleaning use baking soda to remove mildew.
- For sticking runners on windows or drawers rub the tracks with a bar of soap, candle, or paraffin wax.
- To lightly clean blinds rub each side of the blinds with a wet cloth. For heavier soil fill the bath tub with hot soapy water. Place blinds in the tub and use a cloth or soft scrub brush to clean both sides of the blinds. Drain the tub and refill to rinse. If soil was heavy you may need to rinse the blinds more than once.
- For pans with badly burned on food place a rag saturated with ammonia on the burned surface, put the pan in an air tight plastic bag. Let sit over night then wash in water and dishwashing liquid.
- Clean no-wax floors with a solution of 1 tablespoon white vinegar to 1 gallon of water.