I don't enjoy spending hours and hours cleaning my house, especially the bathrooms (there are much better things I would rather be doing) but I am also quite particular about having a clean house and bathrooms within reason & sanity (I think I get it from my mum :-)), so I am including a new section to my blog . I have been thinking about doing this for quite some time now and this new section will see a a collection of hints that work for me, along with recipes for home-made natural cleaning products which I am to add to on a regular basis.
We all have our reasons for not wanting to use chemicals, whether it be for health, preserving our world or just because you want to. It doesn't matter the reason, or if every product is natural or you only use 1 natural product, I find that whichever path you started on usually merges with the other paths and we become united in our quest as we do in sharing what we know.
All I ask is that if you share any of the information contained on my blog that you link back. Thanks for your consideration and I hope you enjoy this new section.
Basin & Sinks
I generally have a Micro-fibre cloth in each bathroom and the kitchen. I wipe the basins & sink with it daily which keeps it looking clean most of the time (unless little & big hands have been around!!). I combine this with a weekly clean using the method below.
Sprinkle with Bi-carb Soda, wipe over all of the basin/Sink including taps then wash off with water.
Wipe dry.
Bath
Hint: I find the easiest way to keep your bath looking clean most of the time is to take a couple of minutes after pulling the plug and wiping around the sides of the bath as the water is draining out. Continue this until all the water has gone and it will generally eliminate the build-up of a dirty water line and keep your bath looking sparkly clean.
Once a week I clean with one of the below methods:-
Recipe #1
Sprinkle with Bi-carb Soad, wipe all over including taps then wash off with water. Wipe dry with Micro fibre cloth.
Sprinkle with Bi-carb Soad, wipe all over including taps then wash off with water. Wipe dry with Micro fibre cloth.
Recipe #2
Mix together in a spray bottle equal amounts of water & white vinegar. Spray on shower doors, glass, tiles or anywhere there is soap scum. Leave for 5 minutes then wipe off. It there is a lot of build-up you can use straight vinegar and a lot of elbow grease :-)
Disinfectant Spray
Today's cleaning recipe uses essential oils. It doesn't matter what brand you use but do make sure it is an "Essential Oil" and not a "Fragrance" as there is a big difference between the two.
Hint: I use the 2nd recipe to spray around a room when somebody has been sick or is sneezing/coughing, especially if they have been sick in bed for a couple of days. Takes away that "ill" stuffy smell and freshens up the room. You can even spray the sheets/pillows with it.
Disinfectant Spray #1
2 cups water
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 tspn Tea Tree Oil
1/4 tspn Lavender
Combine all ingredients and store in a Spray bottle making sure you label it. Shake occasionlly.
Disinfectant Spray #2
2 cups water
10 drops Thyme Essential Oil
Combine in a Spray bottle making sure you label it. Shake occasionally.
Showers
Again I wipe the shower dry daily with a Micro-fibre cloth (generally after my shower). It takes a couple of minutes but saves many, as it eliminates most if not all of the soap scum and my shower always looks clean.
Once a week I give it a really good clean using one of the methods below.
Once a week I give it a really good clean using one of the methods below.
Recipe #1
Mix up a paste with Bi-carb Soda and Water then wipe over all of the shower, including taps and shower arm. I usually give the grout a good scrub every so often with an old tooth brush. Wash off with water and then wipe over with Micro-fibre cloth.
Recipe #2
Mix up a paste with Bi-carb Soda and Water. Add a couple of drops of YL Thieves Essential Oil. You could also use Thyme Essential Oil as it is an antiseptic(any brand).
Mix up a paste with Bi-carb Soda and Water. Add a couple of drops of YL Thieves Essential Oil. You could also use Thyme Essential Oil as it is an antiseptic(any brand).
Wipe over all of the shower, including doors, taps and shower arm. Wash off with water and then wipe over with Micro-fibre cloth.
Recipe #3
Mix together in a spray bottle equal amounts of water & white vinegar. Spray on shower doors, glass, tiles or anywhere there is soap scum. Leave for 5 minutes then wipe off. It there is a lot of build-up you can use straight vinegar and a lot of elbow grease :-)If you have a problem with mould in the shower, make a thick paste of Bi-carb soda & water, scrub with a toothbrush (grout)/ cloth (walls or ceiling) then wipe off with white vinegar.
Toilets
1 cup White Vinegar
1 cup Bi-carb Soda
Pour the Vinegar in first then the Bi-carb Soda (it will all foam up) Leave for 10minutes then clean with toilet brush.
Toothpaste
Recipe #1
Recipe #1
Make up a 50/50% ratio of:-
Coconut Oil
Bi-carb Soda
Warm Coconut Oil on stove until liquid (do not boil). Take off heat and let cool slightly. Add bi-carb soda and mix well. Add optional 1 drop of Peppermint or Spearmint Essential Oil if desired and/or Stevia Powder as a sweetner.
Bi-carb Soda
Warm Coconut Oil on stove until liquid (do not boil). Take off heat and let cool slightly. Add bi-carb soda and mix well. Add optional 1 drop of Peppermint or Spearmint Essential Oil if desired and/or Stevia Powder as a sweetner.
Melissa's Recipe #2 (Thanks for sharing Melissa)
Make up a 50/50% ratio of:-
Salt
Bi-carb Soda
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
Store in glass jar. Wet toothbrush and dip in.
Melissa's Hint: Don't make up too much as the Peppermint does not keep it's flavour for very long.
Bi-carb Soda
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
Store in glass jar. Wet toothbrush and dip in.
Melissa's Hint: Don't make up too much as the Peppermint does not keep it's flavour for very long.
