ecobites.com

Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

Removing Wax from Candlesticks

Hot method: Re-melt wax with a hair dryer on hot setting, and wipe the wax as it softens.

Cold method: Place candlesticks in the freezer for about an hour. This makes it easy to peel the wax off.

Carpet Freshener

Combine 3/4 cup baking soda, 2 tbsp corn starch, and 1/4 cup perfumed talcum powder (favorite essential oil added to arrowroot). Sprinkle on dry carpet, let stand 5 to 15 minutes, then vacuum.

Cobwebs

For hard to reach spots, slip a sock over the end of a yardstick and secure with a rubber band, then sweep the area. This method works well for cleaning under radiators and refrigerators also.

Pet Urine

Dab area with toweling, wash with suds of liquid eco-friendly dish detergent, and rinse with 1/2 cup vinegar diluted in 1 qt warm water. Lay towels or paper towels over the spot and weight down to absorb excess moisture. Let stand 4 to 6 hours, then remove toweling, brush up nap and allow to dry completely. To speed drying, use an electric fan.

Ovens

When you do have to clean the oven, try one of these alternatives to harsh proprietary cleaners.

1) The first step is prevention. Put a sheet of aluminum foil on the floor of the oven, underneath but not touching the heating element.
2) Clean up the spill as soon as it occurs.
3) While the oven is still warm, sprinkle salt or baking soda on the spill. If the spill is completely dry, wet the spill lightly before sprinkling on salt. When the oven cools, scrape away the spill and wash the area clean.
4) Baking soda, water; salt; vegetable oil-based liquid soap. Sprinkle water on oven bottom. Cover with baking soda. Let sit overnight. Wipe off and apply liquid soap with scouring pad. Rinse.
5) Retard grease buildup in your oven by dampening your cleaning rag in vinegar and water before wiping out your oven.
6) Sprinkle/spray water followed by a layer of baking soda. Rub gently with a very fine steel wool pad for tough spots. Wipe off scum with dry paper towels or sponge. Rinse well and wipe dry.
7) Wet the surface and sprinkle with baking soda. Rub with fine steel wool. Wipe off the residue with a damp cloth. Repeat if necessary. Rinse well and dry.
8) To clean very dirty shelves; soak in a mixture of 1 part washing soda to 4 parts hot water. If the shelves are too large submerge fully in the sink, turn every 20 minutes, or use the bath or laundry sink.

Pots and Pans - Burned, and Crusted,on Foods

1) To clean a badly burnt saucepan, pour in a little olive oil, heat gently and leave to satnd for 1 to 2 hours. Pour off the oil into a container, ready to use for the next burnt pan, and wash the pan as usual.
2) For burnt-on food in the bottom of pots, sprinkle with baking soda, and then add hot water. Let soak overnight; the dried on food will come loose much more easily.
3) Dampen spot slightly and sprinkle well with baking soda. Leave overnight and scrub clean with a scrubber.

To clean burnt food from a pie dish, dip in very hot water, then quickly turn upside down onto a flat surface. This traps steam which loosens the residue.

Copper Pans
Sprinkle surface of pans with coarse salt. Rub salt into stains with the cut half of a fresh lemon.
 
Baking Dishes - Enamel, Ceramic or Glass
Soak in hot soapy water, then scour with salt or baking soda and rinse thoroughly.To restore an enamel baking dish that seems burnt beyond repair, soak in a mixture of water and strong soap powder. After a couple of hours, pour off the water and rub the dish with a soft cloth. To whiten enamel-lined pans, finely crush eggshells and rub with a cloth dipped in salt to remove stains.

Grease

Rub greasy spots with a mild or moderate abrasive, such as fine steel wool, and a dish detergent until they disappear.

Fixtures

To clean stainless steel, chrome, fiberglass, ceramic, porcelain or enamel fixtures, dissolve 2 tbsp baking soda in 1 qt of water.

Rust Stain and Hard Water Deposit Remover

Apply full-strength vinegar or lemon juice and let stand until spot disappears, then rinse. Repeat if necessary.

Soap Scum

Apply baking soda dry or as a thick paste, rub vigorously with a wet sponge, then rinse.

Combs and Brushes

Fill a basin with hot water, and add 1 teaspoon liquid eco-friendly dish detergent. Drop in combs and brushes and soak 10 minutes, then use combs to clean brushes. Rinse thoroughly and air dry.

Hair Brushes

To clean brushes the old-fashioned way, dissolve a walnut-sized piece of washing soda in hot water in a basin. Comb any hair out of the brushes, then dip the brushes, bristles downwards, into the water, keeping the backs and handles out of the water as much as possible. Repeat until the bristles seem clean. Rinse in a little cold water, shake well and wipe the handles and backs, but not the bristles, with a towel. Place in the sun to dry.