Mrs Frugal Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 (edited) I've got a homemade furniture polish recipe which is super. 3oz (75g) beeswax 5floz (150ml) real turpentine Lavender oil Melt the beeswax in a double boiler over hot water (use an old bowl over a pan of hot water because the wax will stick to whatever you use). Stir in the turpentine and lavender oil. Pour into a screwtop jar and leave to cool. Apply sparingly to wooden furniture and buff with a soft cloth. Antiseptic surface spray This can be used anywhere - floors, toilet seats, walls, worktops, doorhandles etc. It's smashing! Almost fill a plant misting spray with water, add 3 tbsp Ecover washing up liquid and 15 drops tea tree oil and 15 drops lavender oil. Shake gently to mix then use where required. Super window cleaner If you can get rid of the residue left by commercial window cleaning products, simple Soda Water is a fantastically effective and cheap alternative. To get rid of the commercial cleaner residue, wash windows with hot water with a little washing up liquid in then rinse with a capful of distilled white vinegar in warm water. Dry with scrunched up newspaper. Once that's been removed, you can use just the soda water in a plant misting spray. Spray on, wipe with a cloth and dry with newspaper. Brilliant! Homemade Barkeepers Friend/Ajax substitute Mix 1 cup bicarbonate of soda with 1 tbsp washing up liquid (Ecover is great) and 1tsp of your favourite essential oil to make a slightly moist paste. Store in a screw top jar and use wherever you need a scouring powder. It's smashing on sinks, hobs, stains in saucepans, mugs and teapots, on baths and toilets etc. I found recently that you can buy bicarbonate of soda in bulk quantities really cheaply from Chinese supermarkets. You can also get large containers of distilled white vinegar and bulk bags of washing soda if you ask! These work just as well as commercial products and are environmentally friendly too. Bathroom Cleaner 1 & 2/3 cups bicarb 1/2 cup Ecover washing up liquid 1/2 cup water 2 tbsp distilled white vinegar 30 drops lemon essential oil (use whichever oil you prefer) Mix bicarb, Ecover and water so there are no lumps then stir in the vinegar. Add the essential oil and mix really well. Store in a squirty topped bottle like an old washing up liquid container. Shake really well before use as the bicarb does tend to settle at the bottom. If it sets, add a little hot water, shake well and it should become useable again. Use as you would Cif or Ajax. Toilet Cleaner 2 cups bicarb 1/2 cup Ecover washing up liquid 1/4 cup water 2tbsp distilled white vinegar 15 drops lavender essential oil 15 drops tea tree essential oil Mix bicarb, washing up liquid and water so no lumps remain. Add vinegar and essential oils (both lavender and tea tree are antiseptic and are therefore excellent for using in the toilet) and mix really well. Store in an old squirty washing up liquid bottle and shake really well before use. Homemade washing powder 6oz soap flakes 2 cups borax 2 cups washing soda Mix together and use one mugful or so per load. Edited September 1, 2005 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Fantastic Kate, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 I use all these and I also didn't clean my windows or mirrors of any residue before cleaning with the Soda and they were fine. They all smell so wonderful and you could even have a quick swig of the window cleaner on a hot day outside - not many cleaners you could say that about! So much better with young children around as well. I bought a couple of palstic baskets and put all the ingredients in one. As I emptied chemical containers, I cleaned them out and refilled with home-made. I labelled them and keep them in the other basket In a hurry to clean the toilet? Sprinkle some Borax in the pan, add some drops of oil and scrub!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Super window cleaner To get rid of the commercial cleaner residue, wash windows with hot water with a little washing up liquid in then rinse with a capful of distilled white vinegar in warm water. Dry with scrunched up newspaper. Brilliant! My Mum taught me this too Kate, and it truely does work. I get all sorts of funny looks when I'm up the step-ladder outside my house, rubbing the glass with newspaper. I bet people think we are so poor we can't afford a cloth! Gina xx - logged in at work so I'm a guest for today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateB Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 I've just made all of these and cleaned the whole house from top to bottom - they are fantastic and the house just smells so clean! Do you think it would be ok to use the antiseptic spray on the eglu?? Can't see it's got any nasties in it at all but better to be safe than sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 12, 2005 Author Share Posted July 12, 2005 Yes, absolutely safe Kate. I use washing up liquid and tea tree oil to clean my Eglu and the spray has very similar ingredients so go for it!! Really pleased you liked the recipes - another convert, I like that ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 My poor hairdresser was trying to get away yesterday and there I was, saying "I'll just show you the Toilet Cleaner" I wonder if she'll ever come back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 I've just made all of these and cleaned the whole house from top to bottom - they are fantastic and the house just smells so clean! ! Could I borrow you for a week or 2 Kate B? I'm so grateful for the recipes & glad others are using them too. But I've so much assorted paperwork/junk/washing/builders everywhere that I have a mammoth task ahead before I get to the fragrant bit! Could I borrow the black sacks & shovel then, Lesley & Kate, its the only way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Join the queue Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateB Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 I only said the house was clean - it still looks like a bomb has hit it and I really need a skip to sort it out but at least it's clean mess now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Yes, Kate, I always think 'clean' messess are ok too! Wouldn't it be lovely to live in a clutter free, harmonious household Or is it just my house, that's in 'clran' chaos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateB Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 I can never find anything when I've had a tidy though and I live with a squirel - we have to keep absolutely everything 'just in case'... Does anyone know of a good way to freshen up a washing machine? I've just noticed it's smelling a little damp/musty... Many thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 13, 2005 Author Share Posted July 13, 2005 Stick a cupful of distilled white vinegar in the drum and put it on for a quick wash. This usually does the trick as vinegar is a natural deodoriser and will also kill any bacteria lurking which might be causing a pong. Oh and make sure you leave the door ajar at the end of each day's washing session so the inside dries out too. Good luck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 My washing machine manafactuer recommended a hot wasah with vinegar in to clean out soap residue and deoderise so I can back that one up, it does work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 These are BRILLIANT - I already use vinegar for quite a few things but will be using a lot of the green recipes as suggested. Much nicer to use things that aren't going to do harm. After you have been borrowed by all the others KateB can you come round to my house and do a spring clean. I can come round to yours and tidy up - I'm very good at making lists and piles etc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 17, 2005 Author Share Posted July 17, 2005 Glad you like the recipes. It's nice to find something that is kind to us and the environment which is cheap and which works!! I've been using them for the last 2 years now and won't go back to commercial chemical filled cleaners. Although saying that, I have had to resort to a little bleach on my very discoloured grouting today . Haven't used any for 2 years so can I get let off with a caution please ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 Go on then, special dispensation - just dont do it again I have just printed some of the recipes off - strange how i was drawn to the ones with chocolate in the title Its great to see so many gluten free recipes as him is Coeliac and has been for a number of years. Unfortunately I didnt win the lottery, so wont be able to give up work and devote my time to baking home made goodies or paying a cleaner to use all the green cleaning stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 17, 2005 Author Share Posted July 17, 2005 I was in the doghouse yesterday with my eldest son (14 - typical Kevin stereotype) because we ate junk food at lunchtime! We were out, it was hot and to be honest, I couldn't be bothered to make the drop scones I'd promised them so we had Hog Roast rolls from a van on the market. Much humphing from eldest who thinks junkfood was made by the Devil - wonder who he got that idea from. Anyway, I've pacified him by sweating away in the heat baking chocolate cake, choc chip muffins, shortbread cookies and homemade bread as usual for his lunchbox. They won't let me get away with buying things I can make at home anymore . Nice to have time off for good behaviour yesterday though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 That's why we have dogs = they tend to eat whatever they are given (including chicken poo which they seem to have a real liking for YUK Very impressed you have done all the baking - but perhaps son should learn to bake too so he can keep himself in lunch box goodies Any chance of sending some of the choc chip muffins down this way please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 17, 2005 Author Share Posted July 17, 2005 Eldest son is doing cookery as an option for GCSE. He has Asperger Syndrome (very mild form of autism) and is determined to live on his own when he's old enough and is sensible enough to want to learn how to cook first! He's a dab hand in the kitchen and is making chapatis with me this afternoon! Both boys love to help with baking and as it's something I'm always doing, they're often in the kitchen with a pinny on (very butch, macho ones, you understand - none of this flowery rubbish!!) I'll send some muffins by carrier pigeon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 Your sons are always welcome down here to Dorset to practise their baking skills - like to see a man in a pinny! Am eagerly awaiting the pigeon......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 17, 2005 Author Share Posted July 17, 2005 Hope Dick Dastardly doesn't get that pigeon first!! Oh dear, I forgot I can't use the "Richard" word!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 Glad you like the recipes. It's nice to find something that is kind to us and the environment which is cheap and which works!! I've been using them for the last 2 years now and won't go back to commercial chemical filled cleaners. Although saying that, I have had to resort to a little bleach on my very discoloured grouting today . Haven't used any for 2 years so can I get let off with a caution please ? I'll let you off Kate because I had to resort to an evil spray when we came back the other day to a utility room filled with flying ants. I sprayed it, shut the door and ran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 17, 2005 Author Share Posted July 17, 2005 Hmmmm, on reflection...... I would have done exactly the same ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 You should have thrown the chooks in Lesley - a feast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
