Carpet Cleaner
In a large pail, pour:
2 gallons of hot water
2 cups aluminum sulfate (available at stores and pharmacies)
1 cup white vinegar
¾ cup cinnamon tea
Dip sponge mop into the solution, squeeze out excess, mop one section of carpet at a time.
Rinse the mop in fresh water after each cleaning as you work your way around the carpet.
Toilet Bowl Scrubber
To remove stains from porcelain toilets, mix:
2-3 parts borax
1 part lemon juice
Stir gradually until it’s a pasty consistency. Apply to stained toilet bowl and rim. Let stand for 1½-2 hours. Scrub off with toilet brush.
Ink Stain Remover
In a bowl, mix:
2-3 tablespoons of cornstarch
Whole milk until the mixture becomes a thick paste
Cover the stain and let sit for 3-4 hours. Brush paste off and launder as directed.
Window and Glass Cleaner
In a 32-ounce spray bottle, mix:
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
3 1/2 cups water
Shake well before using. Spray on glass surface, wipe clean.
Tough Multipurpose Cleaner
For cleaning non-wood surfaces, mix:
1 1/2 pints water
1/3 cup rubbing alcohol
1 teaspoon clear household ammonia
1 teaspoon mild dishwashing liquid
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Combine the ingredients in a 32oz spray bottle and shake well before each use. Spray on countertops, kitchen appliances and fixtures, and tile or painted surfaces. Wipe down with a clean cloth or damp sponge.
Citrus Disinfectant
In a quart jar with a lid, combine:
Peel from 1 orange, grapefruit, lemon, or lime
3 cups white vinegar
Fasten the lid on the jar and store the mixture in a cupboard for two weeks, giving it an occasional shake. Remove the peel from the jar, strain the vinegar, and return it to the jar.
To use as a spray cleaner, pour 1 cup of citrus vinegar in a 16oz spray bottle and fill with water.
To clean linoleum floors, add 1 cup citrus disinfectant to 2 gallons water.
Nontoxic Bathroom Cleaner
In a bowl, mix:
1 2/3 cups baking soda
1/2 cup liquid soap
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons white vinegar
Stir with a fork until any lumps have been dissolved. Pour liquid into a 16oz spray bottle.
Shake before using, squirt on area to be cleaned. Scrub with a nylon-backed sponge.
Rinse off with water. Keep cap on between uses.
Oven Cleaner
In a bowl, mix:
¼ cup baking soda
2 teaspoons of salt
Add water, ½ teaspoon at a time and stir until the mixture has a paste-like consistency.
Allow the mixture to set for at least five minutes before applying to a damp sponge and scrubbing oven walls. (Avoid using this mixture on the oven’s heating elements.)
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