Easy Cleaning Techniques

Here's some basic cleaning techniques:

Baking Soda and Vinegar

  • To scrub your kitchen sink, bathtub, toiler rim or around your faucet:
  • put some vinegar in a spray bottle
  • take one of the boxes of baking soda that's probably been in the fridge for 6 months instead of the recommended 1 month. They are really cheap, you can replace them...go for it!
  • empty a plentiful amount of baking soda on the surface.
  • spray with the vinegar.
  • take a scrub brush ( I use one that I used to use on the dishes, ikea has them for $1, or the dollar store has good ones too!) and run it under water. then add the wet brush to the baking soda and vinegar. You can spray more vinegar at this point. You'll see that the mix makes this awesome scrub.
  • Make sure you rinse it all off really well. Avoid doing this before guests come over, because your house may smell like vinegar for a while.
  • You can also use an old toothbrush for the faucet to really get the grime off.
Disinfectant spray

  • take a spray bottle (again, dollar store is a sure bet) and fill it with water, about halfway.
  • add tea tree oil, 5-10 drops(I recommend desert essence, and they also have awesome personal care products)
  • add lemon oil, 5 drops
  • add peppermint, 10 drops (it smells really good!)
  • fill the bottle with more water and shake.
  • you can add more or less drops depending on the size of the bottle and how strong you'd like it to be.
  • I use this on kitchen counter tops and to freshen up the toilet. Also is a good glass cleaner.
  • I recommend getting decent essential oils. They should cost around $5-10 per bottle (which is a small bottle, as you'll see at a health food store. but this lasts quite a while, and it's all natural, so I think it's worth it).
Bathroom spray
  • take an old spray bottle that's empty, wash it out well. (I like using an old body spray from bath and body works; the bottle holds up really well).
  • fill the spray bottle half full with water.
  • Take a cheaper essential oil. I like may chang, it's got a citrus-orange-spicy scent)
  • Add 10-15 drops. You want this a little more concentrated because it's got to cover up odors!
  • fill the bottle to full with water.
  • screw on the top and you're good to go!
Mold Control

  • This is a recent find for me. Hydrogen Peroxide is a mold killer. I tried it on my shower and it worked! It takes longer than your chemical mold killer, but just spray it on, leave it, and when you are ready to take your shower, the mold will be gone. Spray the tiles, spray the shower curtain, spray the faucets. It works!
  • Hydrogen peroxide is another good dollar store find. Most of these simple cleaning supply things can come from the dollar store and will save money. Just go to your local health food store for the essential oils. And while you're there, it's an excuse to check out the gourmet cheese and chocolate (now you know what health food store I'm talking about!)

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