Try our budget and eco-friendly tips.
With the longer days, warmer temperatures and more flowers blooming many people feel now is the time of year to get the infamous spring clean underway (or at least think about it)! We’ve come up with some easy ways to give your home a spruce up using everyday household items, which means they’re both eco-friendly and could save you a few pennies.
Lemons
Lemons are naturally acidic and leave a lovely citrus smell, a reason they’re frequently used in cleaning products. However, lemons are efficient cleaners without the other chemicals. Sprinkle your chopping boards with salt and then scrub a lemon half over the top. This removes any smells and bacteria. Scrubbing a lemon half over the metal taps in your bathroom will also remove stains.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a real jack of all trades when it comes to cleaning. Sprinkle over your sofa or a patch of stained carpet, leave for 20 minutes and then hoover the area leaving it brighter and stain-free. When mixed with vinegar, baking soda makes a cleaning paste great for carpets, tough dirt and baked on grime and grease. Make the paste by stirring together 30ml of vinegar with 55g of baking soda. This is a great chemical free cleaner for your oven, pans and stove tops.
White Vinegar
Vinegar can be mixed with water (equal parts) to create a household disinfectant which can be used to clean plastic surfaces, fridges and microwaves (place a small of the mixture in the microwave on a high heat for two minutes, then wipe down). Vinegar can also be used to make a diluted all-purpose cleaner. Mix 700ml of water with 230ml of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Put this mixture in a spray bottle and use to clean counters, walls, tables, toys and other surfaces. Vinegar makes an effective bathroom cleaner too as it can prevent mildew and mould. Just soak a cloth in vinegar and add liberal amounts of baking soda before scrubbing. De-scale your shower by filling a plastic bag with vinegar and placing your shower head in it, getting your shower power back in no time.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste can be used for all sorts of cleaning purposes (as well as your teeth). Avoid gel or whitening varieties. A little toothpaste can be used to remove scuffs from leather shoes as well as clean and whiten the rubber part of trainers. Toothpaste can also be used to clean the bottom plate of your iron (whilst cool), polish silver jewellery and even reduce the appearance of scratches on glass screens. Just remember to wipe down surfaces with a damp cloth after using toothpaste.
Old Socks
If you happen to be having a spring clear out alongside your cleaning, don’t throw away any pairs of old socks. They can be re-used in your spring clean as dusters or cloths, it doesn’t even matter if they have holes in them.
Remember: If you’re using a new cleaning product, always try on a small area first to check the technique does not damage the surface.
Have you got any homemade cleaning techniques that have saved you money?
