Burst Of Sunshine,
originally uploaded by ♥babybee.
We are all looking for ways to reduce our costs these days, so in that spirit here are three ways to both save money AND be good to the environment.
- Let the sunshine in, but don’t buy harmful window cleaning fluids that cost a lot of money. Instead, use a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and hot water to wipe off the windows. Then, use a good-quality squeegee to remove the solution from the windows. It works better than paper towels and doesn’t create waste.
- If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven, try a paste of baking soda and water. Coat the oven surfaces with the paste (avoiding bare metal and heating elements), let stand overnight, and, while wearing gloves, use a plastic spatula to remove it. To prevent future buildup, line the oven floor with aluminum foil, and wipe oven walls and ceiling after each spill. If you do have a self-cleaning oven, remove oven racks before running the cycle.
- For washable clothing that gets stained, act quickly before it has a chance to set. Scoop up any solids with a dull-edged knife, and blot liquids with a white cloth, working from the outside in to avoid spreading. Dab the stain with cool water. Sprinkle an oily stain with cornstarch and scrape up after 10 to 15 minutes, repeat as necessary, dab with water solution, and rinse. White vinegar, lemon juice, and hydrogen peroxide are all mild bleaches (test a discreet spot first) that can take care of many spots. Presoaking an item in nontoxic laundry detergent or oxygen bleach is another effective treatment. Heat sets stains, so check clothes to make sure spots are gone before you put them into the dryer.
Just a few ideas that I personally use. In my experience, most household cleaning can be taken care of with baking soda, vinegar and lemons. Natural, and cheap!
