Cleaning tips

**bclements514** · 12-23-2007, 02:41 PM

I know that a lot of you have said that you use vinegar and bleach to clean household items. What does you use to clean toilets, showers, tubs, floors. I have hard water and rust so it's hard to clean our showers. Let me know what you use for your household cleaners. I would like to spend less on cleaning supplies this year. Also what do you use on your kids toys besides Clorox wipes. Please help!!!!!

**bumplett** · 12-23-2007, 04:30 PM

toilets/showers/tubs - I use baking soda and rinse well.

floors - I use vinegar/water.

**wulong32** · 12-23-2007, 04:40 PM

I use bleach water or vinegar water to wash floors, bathroom and counters. Vinegar water is also really good at cleaning carpet, it does a really good job of cleaning out stains. I use baking soda on the bath tub, its just abrasive enough to get soap scum etc. off, it also works pretty well at getting rid of rust rings.

**PrairieRose** · 12-23-2007, 05:46 PM

I use bleach to clean the kitchen sink and toilets and sometimes spray around in the shower. I use vinegar and water to remove hard water stains. I'd use vinegar and water for a cleaner on kids toys too as it's an anti viral too. Just spray and wipe dry.

**bumplett** · 12-23-2007, 06:13 PM

oh, and don't forget that you can make your own homemade laundry det. also - this is a huge $ saver.

**adavant** · 12-23-2007, 07:04 PM

How do you make your own laundry detergent??

**changed4life** · 12-23-2007, 09:32 PM

I love, love, love using white vinegar as a fabric softener. I swear it removes the leftover soap from clothes and when you sniff the clothes they smell like they've been hanging on the outdoor line in the breeze all day! I'm never going back to fabric softener again. Now, that I use vinegar, I can even feel the difference on my clothes...it doesn't feel like there's soap residue anymore.

**Early Bird** · 12-23-2007, 10:21 PM

I use a pumice stone to clean hard water stains in the toilets. Makes an amazing difference.

**dianne9106** · 12-23-2007, 11:50 PM

if you do not use a tumble dryer? We do not have a tumble dryer so hang our clothes in our bonus room. We really kind of need the softner to make the clothes soft. Do you think this would still work for us? I might try it on a load of dishes towels and bibs.
I agree with the ideas listed so far, but I would recommend using a daily shower spray. This keeps down the water marks and soap scum. I do not have a receipe for a homemade one, would love on by the way. I use Method because it's a somwhat more environmentally friendly and smells nice.
Dianne

**shortcake** · 12-27-2007, 09:11 AM

Changed4life how much vinegar do you add to a load of laudry?
Bumplett are you willing to share how you make your laundry detergent?
Thanks

**Lady_V** · 01-06-2008, 06:57 PM

I have been making my own laundry detergent for a while now... or I should say, I made it and have been using the -same- batch a while now. It really really lasts a long time -- seriously!

Ingredients -
1 bar Fels Naptha soap
1/2 cup Borax/20 Mule Team
1/2 cupWashing Soda (I use Arm & Hammer)

I grate the soap using a callous remover set aside for just this.

Mix and store in airtight container or bag. For light loads, use 2 tablespoon. For heavy loads, use 3 tablespoons.

**faw42077** · 01-07-2008, 08:49 AM

I also use vinegar and baking soda to clean everything. For really hard stains baking will usually do the job.

As far as the kids toys go, just like another poster said, I use white vinegar since it is a natual disinfectant.

**Edna_E** · 01-07-2008, 07:43 PM

I use white vinegar and rubbing alcohol and water (equal parts) to clean ALL slick surfaces. Have to be careful with fibers. If the V&A&W doesn't do something, I resort to bleach. I dislike the idea of many artificial chemicals - and even more the dyes and perfumes that are added.

**cheles2kids** · 01-13-2008, 03:05 PM

I use them to dry dust with.
I will run water in the kitchen sink and add a bit of Mr. Clean, wet them and ring them out really good and wipe down walls, wet dust windowsills, kitchen cabinets, etc.

I use one dampened with water and one dry one to clean windows and mirrors.
Swipe with the wet one first and then go over with the dry one.

These are also good for wiping up spills on the floor or of course for cleaning the inside of your car.

I personally like using a cheap shampoo diluted in my tub with water for wiping down the tub, batheroom cabinets, toilet etc.
Again, for wiping down the cabinets, I'll use a microfiber.

Then just toss them in the washer and they're ready to be used all over again.
I bought mine in the automotive section at Costco, I got 25 in a package for like $7.99 and they are probably 20x20.

Oh & they also come in handy for wiping the puppies feet when they come in from outside if it's been raining.

I personally don't like the smell of vinegar or what my house smells like after using vinegar, so I'd rather just dilute down some other type of cleaner and have the house smelling a bit less like salad dressing, kwim?

I do however use baking soda to scrub my drip pans from the stove, or to take up a stain on the kitchen counters.
Baking soda also is excellent at scrubbing out your kitchen sink to remove any stains or rust and it also makes it extra shiny as well.

**PrairieRose** · 01-13-2008, 07:28 PM

I want to warn everyone about using vinegar and alcohol to clean things made of wood with a stain and/or varnish on it. It works great. In fact so good that it will eventually take the finish smooth off of it. That goes for wood floors too. Ask me how I know

(see my new kitchen post...that's why I had to have those cabinets refinished, they were fine for 20+ years and then I started using vinegar or alcohol with water to clean them...).