Clever cleaning tips!

by Rachel Robson on 16 June 2009  |  6 comments
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I spend far too much money on cleaning products in my flat... So it's time I found a cheaper way to tackle the dirt!

As I was cleaning my flat the other day, I started to think about how much money I spend on household cleaning products.

Probably quite a lot when you take into consideration furniture polish, bathroom cleaner, toilet cleaner, window cleaner, kitchen cleaner...the list goes on and on...

So it struck me that it was about time I found an alternative way to keep the house clean. I mean, do I really need all of these different products for separate tasks? Surely there must be a simpler, and cheaper, way to tackle the dirt!

And then I remembered reading something about old fashioned cleaning remedies.

In fact, by simply using the following four ingredients you can keep your home spotless and save a whole heap of cash!

1) Baking soda

If you're into baking, you're bound to have some of this stuff stashed in your cupboards. But did you know it's a fabulous all-purpose cleaner and stain remover when mixed with water? Not only does it cut through grease and dirt on most surfaces, but it's particularly good for cleaning stainless steel items and removing tannin stains from tea and coffee.

2) Lemon juice

Because lemon juice contains citric acid it's great for bleaching, deodorising and cutting through grease. It's also a great stain remover.

3) White vinegar

White vinegar is particularly useful when it comes to cleaning glass as it leaves it sparkling and streak-free! It's also a natural disinfectant and stain remover and is very effective on limescale deposits from hard water.

This means you can even pour a cupful into your washing machine and run it on a normal cycle (without clothes) once a month to dissolve any limescale deposits - leading to a much happier washing machine!

4) Olive oil

Finally, olive oil can be used as an alternative to furniture polish - and don't worry because you don't need to waste your money on the expensive stuff either! Just your bog standard stuff will do the trick.

So if you have any of these items sitting in your kitchen cupboards, you've got not excuse but to start cleaning! And not only will you be helping your bank balance, you'll also be helping the environment.

If you'd like further tips on how to mix them up and use these products correctly, these fabulous tips from Channel 4 should give you some inspiration. Alternatively, the Cleaning Expert website is also worth a browse!

Right I'm off to do a spot of polishing with my olive oil...