Top 10 Domestic Tips

These are little secrets and hinters that can help in day-to-day, domestic life. Some of the oldest ones are the most tried and tested.

My Top 10

White Vinegar

This is probably the most versatile housewife’s helper! Mildly acidic it can be used to clear grease, as a bleach, as a disinfectant and to help prevent the growth of mould. Its also a fantastic deodoriser.

Lemons

Along with sunlight, lemons are Nature’s bleach. A lemon has loads of uses and mixing the juice with salt or baking soda gives it even more cleaning power. Lemon juice is mildly acidic and is an excellent stain and grease remover. Also a slice of lemon in hot water in the morning, is both refreshing and kick starts your metabolism. A good healthy start to the day.

Salt

Mildly abrasive, salt can be used alone or with lemon juice for a wide range of cleaning tasks. It has antiseptic properties and is an effective disinfectant.

Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)

Mildly abrasive this is an excellent stain remover, cleaner and deodoriser. Baking soda mixed with vinegar makes a powerful cleaner for bathroom porcelain

Laundry borax

A natural alkaline mineral salt it makes a useful disinfectant and water softener when dissolved in water. It can also be used to remove some stains. NOTE: Borax is a natural substance but it is poisonous so take extreme care if children or pets are around. Always wear gloves when using borax as it can irritate the skin. And please don’t confuse borax with boric acid – it is not the same!

Pure soap

Pure soaps are often made with olive oil or coconut oil and contain no animal fats or synthetic chemicals. You can buy pure soap flakes or make your own by grating a bar of pure soap. They can be used for washing delicate clothes by hand or when you just want a gentle soap solution.

Washing soda

This is great for cutting through soap deposits and grease around plug holes and in the sink, bath and shower outlet pipes.

Cream of tartar

Mildly acidic, this is an excellent stain remover – especially for rust marks and greasy collars. Cream of tartar is one of the ingredients that is combined with bicarb of soda to make baking powder

Glycerine

If you make homemade sweets you may have some of this in your kitchen cupboard. A sticky liquid, it helps to loosen some kinds of stains, making them easier to remove

Essential oils

As well as their wonderful perfume, essential oils each have their own important properties. Eucalyptus is antibacterial and both lemon and lavender are antibacterial and antifungal. Other essential oils you might like to try about the house are rose, citronella, tea tree and orange. Remember, you only need a few drops and children shouldn’t handle them.

Anthea’s Ultimate Grime Buster!

This is a fabulous all-purpose cleaner and I use it all the time.
Mix together;
2 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp laundry borax
2 teacups water
3 drops of lavender oil
3 drops of tea tree oil

Now pour into a plant spray bottle and get cleaning!

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