Once upon a time, it was not so common to use the commercial cleaning products that are available to us today. The entire household was cleaned with all-purpose homemade recipes created by our grandmothers. They had a few simple yet powerful methods and knew how to combine them. Without bric-a-brac, they kept the house sparkling clean and hygienic. So now we are sharing some of these tried-and-tested household recipes with you. Let us start with an all-purpose cleaner.
The ingredients needed are:
- Vinegar
- Orange or lemon rind
- Spray bottle or mason jar
- Essential oils, such as lavender, rose, etc.
- Clean cloth
How To Make The Magic
First, put equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle and add some drops of the essential oil of your choice. You can also fill the mixture in a mason jar with orange or lemon rind and let it infuse for a week before transferring it to your spray bottle. Lemons and oranges are great for cleaning; they contain d-limonene, a natural solvent that cuts through grease and dirt and will leave your house smelling fresher than ever.
Clean with Lemons: The Magical Power of Citrus
Lemons are also great to use as air fresheners to battle odours and disinfect surfaces, for example in your kitchen. What do you need? The ingredients needed are:
- Lemon juice
- Spray bottle
- Water
- Lavender, herbs, or spices
- Clean cloths
Step By Step Guide To Get All Your House Sparkling Clean
First, pour the lemon juice into a small spray bottle and, depending on your preference, dilute it with as much or as little water as you desire. Be playful and add lavender, herbs, or spices. You can create your very own, individual scent. It will not just deodorise your home but also have strong anti-bacterial characteristics, which make it a spectacular cleaning agent.
If you are going to use it to clean wooden floors, add a few extras to keep them not only clean but shiny. Mix these ingredients together:
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Clean cloth
How to: Mix together two parts of olive oil with one part lemon juice. Use a clean cloth to polish your wooden furniture or floor.
Get your toilet sparkling clean
Toilet cleaning is done best when using these ingredients:
- 1 to 2 cups of vinegar
- 2-3 tablespoons of natron powder (also called bicarbonate of soda)
- Toilet brush
How to: Pour 1 to 2 cups of vinegar into your toilet bowl and add 2–3 tablespoons of natron powder. The fizzing effect is immediate! Use your toilet brush to rub extra-dirty spots. Give the chemical mixture 15 minutes to do its ‘magic’ before flushing. This process can be repeated a 2nd time, if necessary.
Grandma’s Hack for Drain and Clogged Pipe
The last grandmotherly household hack we share today is a drain and pipe cleaner. If your drain is clogged, then use this remedy:
- Natron or bicarbonate soda
- Vinegar
- Boiling water
How to: Put a good amount of bicarbonate soda into the drain or pipe, followed by vinegar. Before pouring boiling water into your drain, let it foam and sit for about 10 min. This should take care of your drainage problems in a flash.
Wrap up
All of these recipes are environmentally friendly, toxin-free, and they can assist you in avoiding the unnecessary plastic litter of empty and used-up cleaning bottles. If you enjoyed his article, you might also like our piece on zero waste living – a life based on BEING rather than having.
You are fab!
Cheers
