homemade cleaners

Floor Cleaners and Floor Polishes

Vinegar. A few drops in the cleaning water will help
remove grease panicles. Dull, greasy film on no-wax
linoleum can be washed away with 1/2 cup white vinegar
mixed into 1/2 gallon water. Your floor will look
sparkling clean.

For Linoleum: Mild Detergent. Damp mop using a mild
detergent and water for day to day cleaning. Keep water
away from seams and edges to prevent loosening of the
tiles. To preserve the linoleum floor you may wish to add
a capful of baby oil to the mop water.

For Wood Floors: Vegetable Oil and Vinegar. Mix a 1
to 1 ratio of oil and vinegar into a solution and apply a
thin coat. Rub in well.

For Painted Wooden Floors: Washing Soda*. Mix 1
teaspoon washing soda into 1 gallon hot water and wash
the floor with a mop, sponge, or soft bristled brush.
This solution can also be used to remove mildew.

For Rubber Tiles: Mild Detergent. Avoid oils,
solvents, and strong alkalis as they will harm the
surface. Wash with clear water, a mild detergent, and a
clean mop.

For Brick and Stone Floors: Vinegar. Mix 1 cup white
vinegar into 1 gallon water. Scrub the floor with a brush
and the vinegar solution. Rinse with clean water.

For Ceramic Tile: Vinegar. Mix 1/4 cup white vinegar
(more if very dirty) into 1 gallon water. This solution
removes most dirt without scrubbing and doesn't leave a
film. Washing ceramic tiles with soap does not work very
well in hard water areas as it leaves an insoluble film.

Club Soda. Polishing your floor with Club Soda will
make it sparkle.

Oil Soap. Use according to package directions.

Wax Remover

For Vinyl and Asbestos Tiles: Club Soda. Remove wax
buildup by pouring a small amount of club soda on a
section. Scrub this in well. Let it soak in a few minutes
and wipe clean.

For Linoleum Flooring: Isopropyl Alcohol*. To remove
old wax by mopping, mix a solution of 3 pans water to 1
pan rubbing alcohol. Scrub this in well and rinse
thoroughly. Be sure the area is well-ventilated and wear
gloves.

Special Problems

To remove black heel marks: Baking Soda. Rub the heel
mark with a paste of baking soda and water. Don't use too
much water or the baking soda will lose its abrasive
quality.

To remove tar: Scrape up excess tar with the side of
a dull knife. Rub again with your fingernail, a popsicle
stick, or anything that won't scratch the floor. Finally,
wipe up the tar with a dry cloth.

To remove crayon marks: Toothpaste. Crayon marks on
the floor may be removed by rubbing them with a damp
cloth containing toothpaste. Toothpaste will not work
well on wallpaper or porous surfaces.

To remove grease from wood floors: Ice Cube or Cold
Water. If you spill grease on a wood floor, immediately
place an icecube or very cold water on the spot. The
grease will harden and can then be scraped off with a
knife. Then iron a piece of cloth over the grease spot.

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bathroom cleaners

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

IF YOU DO USE BLEACH TO CLEAN YOUR TOILET BOWL, NEVER
MIX BLEACH WITH VINEGAR, TOILET BOWL CLEANER, OR AMMONIA.
The combination of bleach with any of these substances
produces a toxic gas which can be hazardous.

Baking Soda and Vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda into
the bowl, then drizzle with vinegar and scour with a
toilet brush. This combination both cleans and deodorizes.

Borax* and Lemon Juice. For removing a stubborn stain,
like toilet bowl ring, mix enough borax and lemon juice
into a paste which can cover the entire ring. Flush
toilet to wet the sides, then rub on paste. Let sit for 2
hours and scrub thoroughly. For less stubborn toilet bowl
rings, sprinkle baking soda around the rim and scrub with
a toilet brush.

Tub And Tile Cleaner

Baking Soda. Sprinkle baking soda like you would
scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge. Rinse thoroughly.

Vinegar and Baking Soda. To remove film buildup on
bathtubs, apply vinegar full-strength to a sponge and wipe
with vinegar first. Next, use baking soda as you would
scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge and rinse
thoroughly with clean water.

Vinegar. Vinegar removes most dirt without scrubbing
and doesn't leave a film. Use 1/4 cup (or more) vinegar
to 1 gallon water.

Baking Soda. To clean grout, put 3 cups baking soda
into a medium-sized bowl and add 1 cup warm water. Mix
into a smooth paste and scrub into grout with a sponge or
toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dispose of leftover paste
when finished.