A Cleaning We Will Go!

Anyone who knows me well, knows how much I love my Enjo. For those of who don’t know what Enjo products are, I encourage you to look them up. They sell cleaning cloths and fibres for every cleaning job you can possibly think of, designed to be used only with water and their own chemical free cleaning agents. The fibres are specifically designed to pull dirt and bacteria from deep down in surfaces, leaving them spotlessly clean and germ free. And they really work!

With mine and Little Lady’s sensitive skin, I have always been an advocate for chemical free cleaning. Besides which, most of the cleaning products you buy in the supermarket are hugely overpriced, and full of who knows what? I do have to admit, Enjo products are not cheap. In fact, it will cost you $200 or more to set yourself up with your basic Enjo household cleaning products. But, they are top quality and last for years.

So, again we come to the difference between living cheaply and living frugally. Living frugally does not always mean spending the least amount of money. Often, it means spending money in the short term, to save money in the long term. Think of growing a vegetable garden, or buying chickens. It costs money and time to do both, but in the long run, you’ll be collecting veggies and eggs from your own backyard for free, instead of buying them each week.

The purpose of this week’s blog is not to encourage you to go and spend all the cash you’ve been saving on Enjo products. But, it is to encourage you to look for ways to clean your house frugally, instead of using overpriced, chemical-filled, supermarket cleaning products. Your wallet and your body will thank you!

For every day cleaning jobs in the kitchen and bathroom, I use my Enjo products. But, I also have a wealth of cleaning tips that I’ve picked up from other mums, including my own, and various frugal living blogs, websites and magazines. This week, I share some of them with you!

-          Grimy surfaces ie. Stove tops and soap scum on bathroom surfaces. Any surface where you would usually use some kind of household spray or gel to cut through grease.

You will need: Bi carb soda, White vinegar, a clean cloth or chux and a pair of old stockings or pantihose. Sprinkle the bicarb over the surface and pour enough vinegar over to cover it. The bicarb will start to fizz. When this happens, take the pantihose and scrub the surface. The wetter the pantihose are, the more abrasive they will become, removing grime. Wipe over with a clean, damp cloth to remove the excess vinegar and bicarb. For more delicate surfaces, simply use a damp cloth, sprinkled with bicarb and wipe over.

-          Cleaning windows and mirrors. You will need: A large bowl of warm water, white vinegar and paper towel. Add ¼- ½ cup of vinegar to the warm water. Soak a paper towel and rub over the surface. Dry with another piece of paper towel. Also suitable for cleaning the interior of the fridge.

-          Mould. You will need: A spray bottle, some clove oil, a clean cloth and water. Add ¼ of a teaspoon of clove oil to 1 litre of water (the measurements need to be exact!) in the spray bottle. Spray over mouldy surfaces and wipe with a damp cloth. Clove oil is a natural mould inhibitor. Not only will it remove mould, it also helps stop it from growing back. The ¼ teaspoon to 1 litre water measurement can also be used for soaking items that have become mouldy ie. Soap racks and other bathroom items, clothes and shoes. Simply rinse, or wash as normal afterwards.

-          A grimy microwave. You will need: Bi carb soda, white vinegar, water and a microwave safe bowl. In the bowl combine 1 tbsp of bicarb, ½ cup vinegar and 1 cup water. Cook on high for 1 minute, until just boiling. Remove and wipe over the interior of the microwave with a damp cloth.

-          Smelly and blocked drains. You will need: Bicarb, white vinegar and boiling water. Pour half a cup of bicarb, followed by half a cup of vinegar down the drain. Leave for half an hour and then pour a full kettle of boiling water straight down the drain. If the drain is still blocked, repeat. A badly blocked drain may also need to be plunged afterwards.

-          Carpet stains. You will need: two large bowls, warm water, a grease cutting dishwashing liquid eg. Palmolive, paper towel and two clean facecloths. In one bowl squirt a small amount of dishwashing liquid and fill with warm water. Fill the other bowl with clean warm water. With one facecloth soaked in soapy water, rub gently over the stain until it starts to disappear. With the other facecloth soaked in clean water, blot the stain to remove the soap. Use the paper towel to soak up the excess water.

-          Shining silver or silver plated cutlery. You will need: a baking dish, aluminium foil, bicarb soda and boiling water. Line the baking dish with foil, place silverware inside and sprinkle ½ - 1 cup of bicarb over the top. Cover with boiling water and soak until the tarnish disappears. Dry well.

Undiluted white vinegar can also be used for:

-          Killing germs –simply wipe over surfaces with a clean cloth.

-           Wiping bench tops.

-          Cleaning cloudy glasswear –wipe over with vinegar soaked cloth and leave for a few minutes before rinsing.

-          Removing paint spatters- with a vinegar soaked paintbrush.

-          Unclogging the pores of a steam iron- fill the iron with vinegar and leave to steam on full heat for 4-5 mins before draining. Make sure to repeat this process with water before ironing any clothes.

The best part about cleaning with Bicarb soda and vinegar is that are CHEAP! Clove oil is not, but will last for a long time. I recommend wearing rubber gloves if using undiluted vinegar, it can be harsh on skin.