Spring Cleaning The Green Way
February is upon us, are you daring to dream of springtime? Brighter mornings, longer evenings and the hint of summer to come cannot fail to cheer us up…until the sun starts showing just how much the windows have been neglected over the winter, that is!
You could, of course, pay your local window cleaner to add your grimy glass to his rounds or you could dig out the chemicals and cloths from under your sink and give it a good go yourself. There is a greener way of tacking those filthy panes. We have rediscovered this blog post from 2012 which explains all…
Old fashioned white distilled vinegar.
Buy in bulk and not only will it save you money on expensive harsh cleaners, be kinder to the environment, it will also save you valuable cupboard space. Although admittedly it may not look as pretty as the creams, cleansers and mousses on the cleaning shelf that can sometimes be mistaken for a makeup counter.
Don’t believe me? I challenge you to try your choice of least three spring clean tips from the list, if you aren’t won over then I’ll eat my feather duster (or I might delegate the task!).
The Kitchen
Live in a hard water area and of course we do in London? Your kettle will need descaling every 6 months to keep it limescale free.
For a thorough clean use 1 cup of white wine vinegar to 2 cups of water. Boil and leave overnight or at the very least 3 hours. Rinse well and boil again before use. For a top-up clean, use the same measurements as above, and rinse away thoroughly. Contrary to popular belief, there is no vinegary after taste if you remember to rinse thoroughly.
Get rid of microwave food splatters by boiling ¼ of a cup of the good stuff mixed with 1 cup of water. The steam and acidity will easily loosen any food debris and also keep the odours at bay. Wipe with a clean sponge.
Pots’n’Pans
Tomato ketchup and vinegar make an excellent brass and copper polish. Rub it on with a soft lint free cloth, and buff until shiny. A word of warning: after 2 hours of brass buffing I came to the conclusion that genies do not exist.
Don’t neglect your washing machines and dishwashers
Give them a little love by indulging in a clean of white vinegar. Use the highest setting on a washing machine, and run it empty. Not only will it clean out the pipes, and help to get rid of lingering odours, it will also give the machine a much needed pampering.
Bathroom
For limescale around taps try soaking a paper towel or thin cloth in vinegar and wrapping decoratively (optional) around the taps. For particularly large build ups try sprinkling a little household salt inside the towel as this will act as an abrasive. Leave for as long as you can, overnight is ideal and then remove and buff with a soft cloth. Sparkling!
General Household
Did you know that this magic ingredient is also excellent for mould? For discoloured spots or dreary grouting let a soaked cloth sit on the area for 10 minutes. Arm yourself with an old toothbrush and get ready to scrub to your heart’s content.
Carpet looking a little tired and lifeless? Give it a dose of sunshine by mixing one cup of vinegar for every gallon of water. Brush over gently but firmly and allow to dry.
If, like me, you aren’t the handiest with a paintbrush but every now and then get the urge to colour something then you may spot windows and woodwork splattered with paint. Soak vinegar into an old cloth and wipe liberally over the painted area. Leave for 30 minutes to give the paint time to soften before gently lifting off with a knife or razor blade. For really stubborn areas such as windows warm the vinegar first.
For more tips on the joys of white distilled vinegar including stain removal and health (yes you read this right)
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