Chatelaine_April_May_2019

BAKING SODA

—

In addition to

the magic it

brings to baked

goods, sodium

bicarbonate is a

great deodorizer

and gently

abrasive cleaner.

VINEGAR

—

About fi ve

percent of white

vinegar is acetic

acid, making

it an eff ective

disinfectant and

deodorizer.

• A half-and-half solution
  of water and vinegar is
  great for wiping down
  most surfaces.


• To remove smudges from
  stainless steel, clean with
  straight vinegar, and then
  dip a cloth in olive oil and
  wipe again for a nice shine.


• Deodorize your
  dishwasher by running
  a cup of vinegar through
  on an empty cycle.
  
  
  • Clean sofa stains by
    sponging the area with
    a solution of one part
    vinegar to fi ve parts warm
    water. (Test it fi rst on an
    area that isn’t seen.)
  
  
  • Use a half-and-half
    solution of water and
    vinegar for windows
    and mirrors.
    
    
    • To remove lime scale from
      your chrome showerhead,
      soak it overnight in a bowl
      fi lled with equal amounts
      of water and vinegar , and
      then wipe clean. (Only use
      this on chrome—the acid
      in the vinegar can damage
      other metal fi nishes.)
    
    
    • Pour a cup of vinegar
      around the top of the
      toilet bowl, let sit for
      15 minutes and fl ush.
      
      
      • Eliminate yellow sweat
        stains by soaking the
        garment overnight in
        a solution of equal
        amounts of water and
        vinegar before laundering.
      
      
      • Refresh black clothing
        that’s starting to grey
        (likely from detergent
        buildup) by soaking it
        overnight in a sink fi lled
        with warm water and
        ½ cup white vinegar.
        Rinse and machine-wash.
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Remove stains from
  plastic food containers
  by scrubbing them with
  a brush sprinkled with
  baking soda.


• Keep an open box in
  the fridge to tackle
  food odours.


• For pots and pans with
  baked-on food, sprinkle
  baking soda on top
  of your dish soap.
  
  
  • Remove crayon marks
    from walls by scrubbing
    lightly with a damp
    sponge sprinkled with
    baking soda.
  
  
  • To get rid of water stains
    on wood furniture, mix a
    paste of equal amounts of
    non-whitening toothpaste
    and baking soda. Dab a
    damp cloth in the mixture
    and rub with the grain
    to buff out the stain.
    Dry with a cloth.
    
    
    • To banish moldy grout ,
      apply a paste of baking
      soda mixed with water.
      Let it sit for a few minutes
      before scrubbing with an
      old toothbrush.
      
      
      • For brighter whites and
        colours, add 1∕2 cup baking
        soda to your usual amount
        of liquid laundry detergent.
      
      
      • Instead of fabric softener,
        add 1∕2 cup baking soda
        to the rinse cycle.
      
      
      • To get rid of the smell
        of smoke or sweat, soak
        clothes in a sink full of
        water and a cup of baking
        soda before washing.
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• To clean your microwave
  oven, place lemon slices
  in a bowl of water and
  nuke on high until the
  window is steamy. Wait
  15 minutes before
  opening the door and
  wipe away the grime.


• Remove stains and smells
  from cutting boards and
  wood countertops by
  rubbing them with the
  cut side of a lemon.
  
  
  • For a fresh-smelling
    furniture polish, mix
    1 tbsp olive oil with
    1 ½ tsp each vinegar
    and lemon juice and
    2 cups warm water
    and pour into a spray
    bottle. (Do a test patch,
    as wood fi nishes vary.) It
    will keep for six months.
    
    
    • Run the cut side of a
      lemon over faucets and
      drains to remove mineral
      deposits. Rinse and
      dry thoroughly.
      
      
      • Dab lemon juice on
        yellow sweat stains and
        let sit for a few hours
        before laundering.
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

HYDROGEN

PEROXIDE

—^

Unlike chlorine

bleach, this mild

antiseptic breaks

down into oxygen

and water.

• To disinfect countertops,
  spray with a three percent
  hydrogen peroxide
  solution and let air-dry.
  
  
  • To keep houseplants
    happy (and fungus-free),
    add 1 tsp hydrogen
    peroxide to 1 cup water,
    transfer to a spray bottle
    and spritz your plants.
    
    
    • Instead of toilet bowl
      cleaner, use ½ cup
      hydrogen peroxide. Pour,
      let it sit for 30 minutes
      and follow up with your
      toilet brush.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Sources: David Suzuki Foundation, The Miracle of Vinegar by Aggie MacKenzie and Emma Marsden

• To brighten a load
  of whites, pour a cup of
  hydrogen peroxide into
  your washing machine’s
  bleach dispenser.


• To remove blood stains,
  apply hydrogen peroxide
  directly to the area, let
  sit for a few minutes and
  dab with a clean cloth.
  Repeat as necessary
  before laundering.

KITCHEN LIVING ROOM BATHROOM LAUNDRY

LEMON

—

Lemon juice

is a mild

antibacterial

acid that acts

as a natural

bleach.

Cheat sheet Cuts greaseDeodorizesDisinfectsLifts dirtWhitens

VINEGAR

BAKING SODA

LEMON

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Don’t use vinegar on natural

stone, as it will mark.

Freshen up carpets with

a dusting of baking soda

before you vacuum.

For a zesty air freshener,

simmer lemon rinds in a pot

of water on the stove.

Never mix hydrogen peroxide with

vinegar—it creates peracetic

acid, which will irritate your skin,

eyes and respiratory system.

A greener spring clean

These grime fi ghters make it easy

APRIL/MAY 1019 • CHATELAINE 45

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