Friday, March 24, 2017

Clean Your Entire Home With These 12 All-Natural Baking Soda Solutions


Courtesy of Brian Patrick Flynn
Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Hi Friends,

When it comes to an all-natural cleaner that cuts through grease and grime, baking soda is a total rock star. Get your home sparkling from top to bottom with these quick and effective tips.

Unclog Slow Drains: Before you go the chemical route to clear a slow-moving drain, try baking soda and vinegar. Pour a cup of baking soda into the drain, then heat up a cup of vinegar and pour it on top of the baking soda. After approximately 10 minutes, flush with a pot of boiling water. (Don't use this solution on a clogged drain.)

All-Natural Oven Scrub: A dirty oven can pose a serious cleaning challenge. Avoid corrosive chemicals and toxic odors by whipping up a baking soda and salt paste made with water or vinegar. Spread the paste over the floor, walls and oven door using a brush. (Be sure to wear gloves when you do this!) Let the mixture sit for about 24 hours, keeping it moist with a spritz of water or vinegar periodically. The paste will help soften the burnt-on food and make scrubbing your oven a bit easier. Wipe the paste away with a sponge or cloth, then turn on the oven to around 100 degrees F. Keep it on for an hour to soften any lingering residue. Turn the oven off, then once it's cool to the touch, spritz any stubborn areas with vinegar and wipe down.

Scour a Ceramic Stovetop: Baked-on food residue tends to build up on cooktops no matter how hard you try to keep them clean. Luckily, a paste of warm water and baking soda spooned onto the surface will help loosen the residue. Let it sit for several minutes, then scrub to remove the gunk. Finish by spritzing with glass cleaner, then wipe dry.

Shine-Up Stainless Steel: If your stainless-steel sink is looking dull, sprinkle baking soda onto a soft cloth and buff it back to life. Rinse well after buffing. Avoid harsh, powdered cleansers, as they may scratch the sink’s surface.

Refresh the Refrigerator: It’s easy for crumbs and spills to gunk up your fridge in no time. Remove those mishaps with a paste of baking soda and dish soap. Use a scrub sponge to get up stubborn spots, then wipe away the mixture with warm water. Be sure to microwave your sponge for two minutes after use to keep it from harboring germs.

Quick Scour a Slow Cooker: Getting caked-on food out of your slow cooker doesn’t have to be a headache. Just fill the pot with water, then add 1/4 cup of baking soda and cook on high for three to four hours. The heated mixture will soften up any crusty residue. After a few hours, pour the water out, then lightly dust the inside of the pot with baking soda and scrub well. With a clean, damp cloth, rinse and wipe the pot out. You’re now ready for your next recipe!

Pretty-Up Tarnished Silver: Line a pan with aluminum foil and place silver pieces on top of the foil. Next, bring a pot of water to a boil, then turn off the heat. Add baking soda into the hot water and stir. Once the chemical reaction kicks in, the water will become foamy. Next, pour the baking soda mixture over the tarnished pieces, and let them soak for about 10 minutes. This reaction causes the tarnish to change back to silver, while the sulfur attaches itself to the foil. Give the chemical reaction time to do its thing! When the pieces are ready, remove them with tongs, then rinse and dry each piece with a clean towel. Lightly buff each piece to a gorgeous sparkle.

Deodorize a Front-Load Washer: Front-load washers look great, they're more efficient and they use less detergent than a traditional top-loading model, but they’re also prone to smelling funky over time. Pour a half cup of baking soda into the detergent cup, then run a wash cycle with hot water to cut soap scum and deodorize the machine. A clean machine ensures your laundry smells its best, so deep-clean it monthly.

Clean Toilets: You’ll need a 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of borax and 1 cup of vinegar. Pour the vinegar onto the toilet stains, then sprinkle with the baking soda/borax mixture. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then scrub and flush.

Blast Nasty Grout: Baking soda paired with warm water and bleach will knock out stubborn grout stains on tile floors and walls. If you need a heavy-duty cleaning, amp up the bleach (but wear gloves to protect that manicure).

Remove Carpet Stains: If you've got an unsightly spot on your area rug or carpet, sprinkle it with baking soda to wick out any excess moisture. Let it sit for a few minutes, then vacuum it up. Next, blot the stain with 1 cup of warm water mixed with 1 tablespoon of vinegar, working from the outside edges inward. Blot until the stain has transferred from the carpet to the cleaning cloth, then allow to air dry.

Wipe Down Outdoor Furniture: The gentle abrasiveness of baking soda is perfect for cleaning stains off painted outdoor furniture. And a baking soda mixture works well on outdoor fabric stains, too.

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Thursday, March 23, 2017

11 Satisfying Deep Cleans You Can Do in 1 Hour or Less


Courtesy of Brian Patrick Flynn
Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Hi Friends,

Giving your house a deep clean can be kind of life changing. Use these top tips to knock out your most thorough spring cleaning ever — one hour at a time.

Degunk Cabinets: Kitchen and bathroom cabinets take a beating. Get them extra clean with a light scrub of 1/2 cup of vegetable oil and 1 cup of baking soda. Wipe away the mixture with a clean, damp cloth.

Refresh the Microwave: Your microwave is one of the most used and abused appliances in your kitchen, so its interior is likely spotted with cooked-on food and liquid. To loosen the mess, combine one cup of water with a splash of vinegar, a couple of drops of vanilla extract and two tablespoons of lemon juice. Heat the mixture for one minute on high. Let the bowl sit for several minutes before opening the door. This allows the aromatic steam to get to work softening the burnt-on residue. Open the door and carefully remove the bowl. Using a damp, clean cloth, wipe out the inside of the microwave.

Deodorize the Dishwasher: Your dishwasher is supposed to clean your dishes, but is it actually clean? To give it a nice bath, first remove and clean the filter by soaking in warm, soapy water for 15 minutes. Rinse, then replace. Pour one cup of white vinegar into the dispenser of an empty dishwasher, then run a heavy cycle. If you want some extra deodorizing, sprinkle one cup of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and leave overnight. The next day, run an empty cycle and scrub any remaining debris with a toothbrush.

Renew Shower Fixtures: Mineral deposits and calcium buildup can cause your showerheads to clog up and look spotty. Go the extra mile, and submerge them in zipper storage bags filled with warm, white vinegar. Just be sure to fill the bags so that the fixtures are completely submerged, then secure the bags with a zip tie.

Disinfect the Washer: White vinegar is an easy, natural way to disinfect your washing machine. This will help eliminate mold, mildew and their accompanying odors. If you’ve got an extra stinky situation, run a wash cycle with bleach afterward.

Deep Clean the Iron: A dirty iron can put a major wrinkle in your day. Avoid that by keeping your iron's surface super clean. Sprinkle a generous amount of salt onto a cotton napkin or piece of paper, then iron over the salt. The dirt will cling to the salt and come off the iron. Genius!

Freshen-Up Mattresses: We spend a lot of time in our beds — 3,000 hours per year, actually. That's the equivalent of four months! So, keeping your bed clean is important. First, vacuum your mattress, then sprinkle baking soda mixed with a few drops of lavender essential oil on top. Let this sit for a couple of hours, then vacuum the mixture away.

Pamper Window Treatments: Window treatments can cost a pretty penny, so it's wise to protect your investment. A thorough vacuum with a soft brush attachment can help remove any dust and lint that may have built up over time. Your draperies may require professional cleaning, so check the fabric care label. Some types of fabrics can be washed at home, just be sure to test for colorfastness before you toss them in the washer. At the very least, give them a good steam or ironing so they look like new.

Bust Baseboard Dust: If you want to truly deep-clean your home, you need to deal with those dusty baseboards. Go over them with a vacuum brush attachment or a stiff broom to blast the first layer of dust. Next, wipe them clean with a mixture of warm water and a splash of vinegar. Lastly, dry them off with a clean cloth, then swipe them with a dryer sheet which will reduce dust in the future.

Dust HVAC Vents: Your HVAC system controls the quality of air you breathe indoors, so you should keep it as clean as possible. Thoroughly dust the vents with a damp cloth, then dab car wax onto a clean microfiber cloth and wipe the vents down. Use a knife slipped inside the cloth to get into the crevices. The wax coating will help repel dust buildup in the future.

Blow Off Electronics: Use a paint or makeup brush to loosen dirt and dust from nooks and crannies, then blast with compressed air.

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!





Live well,
Yvonne