Now that the holidays are over, many of us are left with the post holiday cleaning blues.
All of that pre holiday and during the holiday cleaning wears us out and may have worn our cleaning supply out too.
If you are one of the many who have cleaned so much that their furniture cleaners and all purpose cleaners are out of stock, then maybe it's time to turn over a new leaf or make your new years resolution to go green.
Below are a few environmentally friendly cleaners that are perfectly good for cleaning your home. Go ahead and give them a try.
All purpose cleaners
4 tablespoons baking soda
1 quart warm water
Dissolve baking soda in warm water. Apply with a sponge and rinse with clear water.
Or try applying baking soda with a wet sponge and rinse with clear water.
Furniture cleaner
3 cups olive oil
1 cup vinegar
Mix together until well blended and apply with a soft cloth.
Lime and mineral deposit cleaner
Soak paper towels in vinegar and apply them to the lime deposits around the faucet and leave them for about an hour.
When removed the deposits should be softened and easy to remove.
Drain cleaner
Use a flexible metal snake, thread it down clogged drain and push it away.
Or try 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup white vinegar and boiling water.
Pour baking soda down the drain. Add white vinegar and cover the drain. Let set for 5 minutes.
Then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain. Do not use this method if you have used a commercial drain cleaner and it is still present.
Toilet bowl cleaner
Baking soda
Vinegar
Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl, add vinegar and scour with toilet brush.
Oven cleaner
While oven is still warm sprinkle water on the spill and then sprinkle salt.
When the oven cools, scrape the area and wash.
Or try baking soda and very fine steel wool.
Sprinkle water on oven surface and apply baking soda. Rub with the steel wool. When the oven cools, scrap the spill and wash the area.
Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension at 255-1183 for more information about alternative household cleaners.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County can also answer your questions on agriculture, natural resources, 4-H, nutrition issues, small business and much more. Find us at www.cce.cornell.edu/cayuga.
Renee Jensen is a community educator of environmental issues at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County
If you are one of the many who have cleaned so much that their furniture cleaners and all purpose cleaners are out of stock, then maybe it's time to turn over a new leaf or make your new years resolution to go green.
Below are a few environmentally friendly cleaners that are perfectly good for cleaning your home. Go ahead and give them a try.
All purpose cleaners
4 tablespoons baking soda
1 quart warm water
Dissolve baking soda in warm water. Apply with a sponge and rinse with clear water.
Or try applying baking soda with a wet sponge and rinse with clear water.
Furniture cleaner
3 cups olive oil
1 cup vinegar
Mix together until well blended and apply with a soft cloth.
Lime and mineral deposit cleaner
Soak paper towels in vinegar and apply them to the lime deposits around the faucet and leave them for about an hour.
When removed the deposits should be softened and easy to remove.
Drain cleaner
Use a flexible metal snake, thread it down clogged drain and push it away.
Or try 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup white vinegar and boiling water.
Pour baking soda down the drain. Add white vinegar and cover the drain. Let set for 5 minutes.
Then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain. Do not use this method if you have used a commercial drain cleaner and it is still present.
Toilet bowl cleaner
Baking soda
Vinegar
Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl, add vinegar and scour with toilet brush.
Oven cleaner
While oven is still warm sprinkle water on the spill and then sprinkle salt.
When the oven cools, scrape the area and wash.
Or try baking soda and very fine steel wool.
Sprinkle water on oven surface and apply baking soda. Rub with the steel wool. When the oven cools, scrap the spill and wash the area.
Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension at 255-1183 for more information about alternative household cleaners.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County can also answer your questions on agriculture, natural resources, 4-H, nutrition issues, small business and much more. Find us at www.cce.cornell.edu/cayuga.
Renee Jensen is a community educator of environmental issues at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County
