Low-cost cleaners - Oily Rag Column for 15 July 2013

Low-cost cleaners

By Frank and Muriel Newman

Lots of readers have sent in tips about cleaners – probably because cleaning solutions cost so much and there are loads of cheap alternatives.

The best cleaner we know of is called elbow grease and best of all, it’s free! When added to a few everyday household ingredients, it provides low-cost alternatives to expensive cleaners.

Aliza from Dunedin has some favourite cleaning formulas. 

·         Toilet cleaner. “Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into the bowl and leave for a few hours or overnight. Scrub with brush and rinse.”

·         Silver jewellery. “Line a bowl with tin foil, and place in it your pure silver bracelets, rings etc. Add a mixture of 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 tablespoons baking soda and soak for two to three hours. Rinse them under cold water and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. There is nothing nicer then wearing beautiful shiny bangles.”

LS from Christchurch has this window cleaning tip. “To wash windows, get one piece of wet newspaper scrunched up into a loose ball and wipe all over the area of window, rubbing over dirt until it moves then wipe over with a piece of dry newspaper scrunched into a loose ball until the area is dry and clear of marks.”

The good folk at Bin Inn also have lots of great ideas for low-cost cleaners. Here are some of their suggestions.

Oven cleaner. All you need is a cup of baking soda and water. Sprinkle the baking soda on the base of the oven. Mix with enough water to make a paste and spread the paste over the walls and door. Leave it overnight then wipe clean.

Fridge cleaner. Mix baking soda and water to form a thin paste. Apply the paste to a sponge and wipe the inside of the fringe.

Tile grout cleaner. Mix three cups of baking soda with one cup of warm water to form a smooth paste. Scrub the paste into the grout using a toothbrush, then rinse clean with water.

Drain cleaner. Mix two cups of baking soda with two cups of salt and ½ a cup cream of tartar and store in a container. Pour ¼ cup of the mixture down the drain followed by one litre of boiling water. Leave it for five minutes then flush the drain with tap water for a few minutes.

Chopping board cleaner. To clean and deodorise wooden chopping boards sprinkle baking soda over the board then spray with white vinegar. Leave it for five minutes then rinse clean.

Auto dishwasher powder. Mix one cup of baking soda, one cup washing soda, quarter cup of salt and quarter cup citric acid. Store in a sealed contained. Use one tablespoon per load. Use white vinegar as a dishwasher rinse aid.

Floor and wall cleaner. Mix a quarter cup of borax with two litre of hot water and wipe on floors and walls.  To make a cleaner for a timber floor, pour 2 cups of strong black tea and ½ cup of white vinegar into a bucket and add warm water.

Scouring powder. To make a scouring powder for sinks and bathtubs, mix half a cup of borax with quarter cup of baking soda.

Kettle limescale cleaner. To remove the lime scale, fill the kettle with water and add half a cup of white vinegar. Leave it overnight then rinse thoroughly the next day.

Shower door cleaner. Mix one cup of water and one cup of white vinegar. Place the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray on, leave for an hour and wipe.

Happy cleaning!

Do you have a favourite money-saving tip you would like to share with readers? If so, please send it to us at www.oilyrag.co.nz or write to Living off the Smell of an Oily Rag, PO Box 984, Whangarei.

*Frank and Muriel Newman are the authors of Living Off the Smell of an Oily Rag in NZ. Readers can submit their oily rag tips on-line at www.oilyrag.co.nz. The book is available from bookstores and online at www.oilyrag.co.nz.

ENDS

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