Natural Cleaning Week: All My Favorites!

I'm back!  And happy to be!  Hope you all enjoyed the beautiful weekend!  It was sunny, hot, and not humid (for a change) here in Charlotte.  Family tells me the midwest and upper east coast were likewise.  Hope you had some outdoor fun before returning to the regular schedule on Monday morning.  :)

I've got to play catch up around here...  It's a little embarrassing, I never finished off Natural Cleaning Week before my life exploded with busyness.  I'm going to list off the last cleaning and deodorizing recipes all in this final post.  Sound good?  These are the rest of my favorite all-natural ways to freshen the home!  If you have some fun and must-try recipes to share, please do so in the comments section below or on our Facebook page!


Natural Cleaning Solutions (mixed bag of my favorites)

1.)  For hard water stained toilets, if vinegar and baking soda doesn't seem to be enough, add 3 fizzing denture tablets to the bowl before bedtime.  Give it a good scrubbing with a stiff toilet brush in the morning.  Sure beats all that wrist work using pumice stone.

2.)  Fabric and Room Deodorizer: In a clean spray bottle, add 1 cup vodka, 1 1/2 cups filtered water, and 1 Tablespoon of baking soda.  Shake the bottle gently until the baking soda dissolves.  (You can add about 15 drops of your favorite pure essential oil.  I use a therapeutic grade oil, like Thieves blend or Lavender.)  Spray into the air, on your couches, curtains, carpets, and car seats! The vodka will not leave any alcohol smell or stain, but it will help to deodorize the fabrics.

3.) Bathroom Air Freshener:  Fill a Mason jar about 3/4 full with baking soda, 12-15 drops lavender essential oil (or other oil scent you prefer), and dried lavender flowers (optional - added for a pretty look).  Place a square piece of scrap fabric over the top and screw the cap ring around.  Set on counter or back of toilet for natural freshening for months.  Change baking soda a few times a year.

4.)  Greasy Grimy Stove Tops: This works especially well for flat tops.  Sprinkle the baked on grime with baking soda and spritz with a little warm water, just to form a paste.  Let sit about 15 minutes.  Wipe away with a damp rag.  If you have an electric or gas range, you might enjoy this tip -- remove the grates and burners, and vacuum all the crevices before doing a wipe down.  You won't believe the crumbs that find their way under the burners, and it's 1000 times easier to suck them all up than try to catch them with a rag.  I vacuum my stove top a few times a year for maintenance.

5.)  Oven Cleaner:  Moisten the inside of the oven with a light spritzing of water or by using a damp sponge.  Sprinkle all surfaces and sides with baking soda.  Let sit overnight.  Remove with spatula and wipe clean with water.  Rub gently with fine steel wool on tough spots.

6.)  Drain Cleaner: Pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar.  The resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into soap and glycerin, allowing the clog to wash down the drain.  After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue.  Caution: only use this method with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used.  Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.

I hope you have learned something new through this week+ of natural cleaning solutions!  You can now safely clean you home from top to bottom naturally.  We'll be back to food recipes on Thursday!  Come back then!  :)