Aunty Ann’s Homemade Home Cleaning Solutions
In this day and age everything seems to be expensive, especially brand name home cleaning chemicals. Here are a few tips to make your own cleaning solutions that are equally as good, but for a fraction of the cost. They can also be a great ‘green’ alternative to their nastier manufactured counterparts.
White Vinegar
This is a non toxic acid which has been used for centuries to cut through grease. It’s great for use on kitchen and bathroom floors, countertops, sinks and toilets. If anything needs a really good deep clean, you can add some salt to the mix which will give you a scouring action – just beware that this may scratch delicate surfaces. To make a cleaning solution for everyday use dilate 1 part vinegar to 1 part water. Neat vinegar can be used in the toilet bowl to get rid of nasty stains.
You can also use vinegar when doing your laundry – it makes a great fabric softener. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the rinse cycle and it will effectively break down laundry detergent. For those in the family that have sensitive skin, this can be a better alternative to regular softener.
Note! Never use undiluted vinegar on tile grout because it is acidic and will eat away the grout. Never use vinegar on marble. As with anything if in any doubt, test a small, inconspicuous area first with your solution first.
Baking Soda
Baking Soda is great for scrubbing away built in grime. It’s non toxic, odour free and can be used for many purposes around the home. Baking Soda is also a deodorizer, so it’s great for cleaning bathrooms and toilets.
If your carpets need cleaning you can sprinkle neat baking soda on them, leave for 20 minutes and then simply vacuum them. This can be especially useful if you have lots of pets in your house.
To make a simple baking soda cleaning solution mix a healthy squirt of liquid soap, a small amount of baking soda and some water in a spray container. Once you’ve cleaned the area in question make sure you wipe away the residue with a clean, damp cloth dipped in water.
Lemon Juice
This is a natural alternative for dissolving soap scum and limescale. It can be mixed with vinegar or baking soda to make cleaning solutions. It is very effective when applied as a polishing agent to brass and copper.
Mix two tablespoons of good quality olive oil with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and you’ve just made yourself an excellent furniture polish.
Lemon juice and baking soda combined make light work of very dirty dishes!
Did you like this article? Find more on my home page: http://www.triond.com/users/anndavey650
If you think you could be a writer and would like to earn money by writing stories, articles, poems or blogs then click here: http://www.triond.com/rw/453549
It’s free to join and you’ll get paid for doing something you love! What are you waiting for?
Liked it
Published in: Homemaking
lillyrose | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Fantastic tips Aunty Ann!… I knew baking powder was good but I didn’t know about the vinegar in your washing, brill
lillyrose | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Fantastic tips Aunty Ann!… I knew baking powder was good but I didn\’t know about the vinegar in your washing, brill
magus magus | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
good sshare
lapasan | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Useful tips for these very common items in our home. It will also save me money buying the more expensive cleansers.
vijayanths | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Useful information.
Agasthya | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Excellent tips! Never tried white vinegar before. Great share!
anndavey650 | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Thank you for the comments!
Steve Weitzner | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Definately good way too save $. Great useful article.
foxpete88 | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Great tips aunty Ann…!
DaYong | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Great tips and advice, thanks
Freethinking | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Well there Aunty Ann it is funny you wrote this article because just yesterday I bought baking soda that I refer to as the miracle cleaner.
OhSugar | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Excellent tips that I will certainly take advantage of.
LadyElena | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Aunty Anne – I love your catch titles.
Thanks for these useful tips. I’ve made a mental note.
LadyElena | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
**Catchy titles (sorry typo)
cometbballgrrl | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Nice tips! Baking soda is just so great!
anndavey650 | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Can’t beat arm and hammer lol
Raquel | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
toothpaste is a good abrasive
Bloom Again | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Very good tips and very safe for the environment too.
Starpisces | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
wonderful tips! I love anything DIY.
GameLive | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
good tips ann………………..
gvgatchalian | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
These are really helpful tips. We don’t have to exert so much effort in shopping around for the right products, as the solutions just right there in our own cupboard. Great post!
Brewed Coffee | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
Great alternatives here. It’s always better to go natural. They are just as effective for cleaning purposes as you have said and they are safer to use as well.
lemuelwantstowrite | Feb 21, 2011 | Reply
nice topic..
^_^
lonelyplanet | Feb 22, 2011 | Reply
Nice post with helpful tips.
CHAN LEE PENG | Feb 22, 2011 | Reply
Great household solution.
Lynn Hollis | Feb 22, 2011 | Reply
I think the current state of the economy will have many of us using these solutions.
XtineTheWriter | Feb 22, 2011 | Reply
What great ideas — I tend to use bleach but will try these because it makes my eyes water when I clean the bathroom.
youthinksokiddo | Feb 22, 2011 | Reply
I always wondered why my neighbor kept lemon juice when she never seemed to like the taste of it.
martinrojas | Feb 22, 2011 | Reply
Very nice.
genicuta | Feb 22, 2011 | Reply
Good article,thanks.
tiffany uk | Feb 22, 2011 | Reply
jewelry has and definately will often be the item of one’s woman’s undying interest.good thanks for sharing.
mtrguanlao | Feb 22, 2011 | Reply
Lol,I was thinking of your title with the “Aunty Ann” on it,I thought you’re advertising some products of Aunty Ann,I never realized it was you! Great tips Aunty Ann,best alternative for the costly products we are using now,thanks for this!
sweetncool40 | Feb 23, 2011 | Reply
good work!!!! it’s quite helpful!!
JoniJones | Feb 23, 2011 | Reply
Nice tips 10Q
tiffi | Feb 23, 2011 | Reply
Very nice! This will help people save money!
Lee Ness | Feb 24, 2011 | Reply
Very good informative article
This will defienetly help me save money too
Thanks Lee ness
Launie and Melynda Sorrels | Feb 25, 2011 | Reply
Wife writes articles and these products all the time. Great info.
leo604 | Feb 25, 2011 | Reply
nice cleaning advice thanks
Fleur D | Feb 27, 2011 | Reply
Wow, I did not know the lemon can be used to clean soap scum is that on all tile though?
jennifer eiffel01 | Mar 4, 2011 | Reply
I will have to show my mom this since she is the main cleaner of the house. Great ideas. I have heard of vinegar, but never knew you could add salt.