There are two ways to remove adhesives which won’t come off with plain (hot) water -
#1 - Rub oil (like olive oil) into the adhesive and let it sit for a while. Scrape off and wash with soap and water.
#2 - Rub the adhesive with Citrasolv (full strength) and scrape off; wash with soap and water.
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Stoneware is one of the best, greenest, and most efficient cooking surfaces I know of. You don’t use soap or harsh chemicals to clean it. When cared for properly, stoneware becomes naturally non-stick. Here’s a link to an outside article I wrote about using and caring for stoneware.
Technorati Tags: kitchen, dishes, stoneware, baking soda, how to clean stoneware, how to use stoneware
Outside Link to an article I wrote titled, Five Natural Cleaners For Your Home. Covers uses of vinegar, baking soda, lemon, borax, and essential oils for cleaning a wide variety of surfaces.
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Outside Link to an article I wrote: Controlling Cat Box Odors
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The toilet is perhaps one of the hardest areas in the home to clean in an environmentally friendly fashion. Commodes are prone to all sorts of nasties - stains, germs, odors - ick!
There are two basic areas of a toilet that must be cleaned: inside the bowl, and everywhere else.
To clean inside the bowl, I recommend that you mix equal amounts of borax and baking soda in a large-holed shaker bottle (the sort you’d put grated parmesan in works well). You can add a few drops of tea tree oil if you like, just mix well. Use a mop-style toilet scrubber. These can be hard to find - check janitorial supply houses or Fuller Brush. This type of scrubber looks like a big, full pompom on a stick. Use this mop to force the water out of the commode (simply insert it into the hole at the bottom and work it in and out a few times - the toilet will “flush” with no water. Use the wet mop to coat all inside surfaces, then sprinkle the borax/baking soda all over. Use the mop to scrub all areas, then flush. If necessary, use the mop again to get any remaining powder off into the water.
To clean outside the bowl, use either All-Purpose Cleaner #1 or Citrasolv solution. Spray, leave for a few minutes, then wipe.
As far as I know, from knowledge of the chemicals and using them myself for nearly 5 years on a septic system, these chemicals are all safe for use with septic systems.
Technorati Tags: toilet, environmentally friendly toilet cleaner, commode, all-purpose cleaner, citrasolv, safe for septic
Citrasolv can be used to make an environmentally friendly all-purpose cleaner. Simply mix 2-3 tablespoons with water in a large spray bottle. Use on any surface per manufacturer’s directions on bottle.
This solution is good for mold and mildew in the bath… spray and leave on for 15-30 minutes, return and spray again, scrub.
Technorati Tags: citrasolv, all-purpose cleaner, disinfectant
You can safely use this cleaner on most surfaces - countertops, sinks, tubs and showers, floors, appliances, you name it. *
Into a large spray bottle: 1/8 cup of vinegar, 5 drops of tea tree oil, 5 drops of lavender essential oil**, fill with hot water. You need to shake before using each time. Simply spray and wipe to clean and disinfect.
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There are several ways to clean your windows, mirrors, and other glass in an environmentally friendly way.
Solution # 1 - Vinegar Solution
Add 1/8 to 1/4 cup of vinegar to a large spray bottle, and fill the rest of the way with hot water. Shake. Spray on windows and wipe. Old newspapers work well.
Solution #2 - Citrasolv
Add 1-2 tablespoons of Citrasolv to a spray bottle and fill with water. Spray on windows and wipe. (Citrasolv is a natural cleaner made from citrus, it can be found in many health food stores)
Solution # 3 - Microfiber Cloth
I’ve seen two types of cloth marketed as “Microfiber”. The first looks rather like a washcloth. It may work on windows, but I’ve never tried it (if anyone has experience please comment!). The second looks and feels like a very stiff, dried out, thick diaper wipe. This is the kind that I wash windows with. Simply get it wet, wring it out, and rub on your windows. It works beautifully - even on dog slobber! What’s best is that there are NO chemicals. These cloths can be used on any glass safely.
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A freezer needs two things: Enough room for the air inside to circulate over the food, and enough space taken up so that everything remains solid without the freezer having to work too hard. A full freezer will save energy because it can operate efficiently, but do not over-fill your freezer. Don’t block any vents you see inside the freezer.
If your freezer is only half-full, try this trick: Freeze gallon jugs of water (this is a good way to store water for emergencies) and fill in the spaces. Alternatively you could try this: Stuff small cardboard boxes with newspaper, and fill in the empty spots with them. If you only rarely eat food from your chest freezer, stuff the bottoms of the boxes with paper, and then categorize the food in the top for easy sorting.
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If you’ve ever burned something in a pot, or cooked something sticky, you know what it is to be able to clean it! Before I learned this simple, natural dishwashing trick, I scrubbed, soaked, and sometimes prayed for stuck-on foods to come out of my pans.
The first trick, of course, is prevention. We use naturally non-stick surfaces like cast iron and stoneware for nearly all cooking. These get cleaned with baking soda and very hot water.
The other trick is to put the pot something’s stuck in on the stove, and boil water in it. Add about two tablespoons of baking soda (more for a larger pot) and let it boil for a while. Be sure that there’s no food stuck on above the water line! It’ll stick worse. Sometimes you need to keep the water simmering for an hour or more. If you don’t like wasting energy “just” to clean a pot, try adding some orange, cinnamon, and cloves to it. Your whole home will smell wonderful!
Technorati Tags: food, cooking, kitchen cleaning, baking soda, odors