Sparkle & Smile

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Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

The Many Wonders of Baking Soda

April is a perfect time for spring cleaning.  This year, try using baking soda to clean your home like I do.  Here are some ideas that I use to help get you started:

Place a bowl of baking soda in your refrigerator to help absorb odors.

Sprinkle baking soda on a wet sponge and clean your refrigerator.

Dissolve a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in water in a microwave safe bowl, then bring to the boil in your microwave. Let it sit for a minute, then wipe clean. 

Sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of garbage bags or cans to control odors.

Clean your dishwasher by running it through a cycle but adding baking soda instead of detergent.

Wash chemicals and pesticides off fruits and vegetables in a pot filled with water and 3 – 4 tablespoons of baking soda added.

Anywhere that moisture is a problem, such as cupboards under sinks, place a bowl of baking soda to help control humidity. Stir the powder every once in a while for maximum effective life.

Mix baking soda and water together, grab an old toothbrush, and scrub crayon marks off of walls.  

Water stains on wooden floors can be removed with a sponge dampened in a mix of baking soda dissolved in water.

Sprinkle some baking soda into your vacuum bag to help reduce musty/pet smells being spread throughout your house when vacuuming.

Sprinkle baking soda on rugs and carpets before vacuuming as a deodorizing treatment. Do not sprinkle in areas that are very humid, the baking soda may stay in the carpet.

Clean you mop in a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda and a gallon of water.    

Stains on porcelain sinks, toilets and plastics can be removed by applying baking soda to a damp sponge.  

Unclog drains by pouring a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a couple of pitchers of boiling water.

Baking soda can deter ants by pouring a solid line in areas of activity.  Ants will not cross the baking soda line.  

Mix a tablespoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of dish detergentent and a gallon of water to make a spray for treating roses against black spot fungus.

Make a paste of baking soda and water and brush onto stains on clothes before washing them. 

Add a half cup of baking soda to your laundry in the washing machine to help remove odors and brighten clothes.  

To remove rust, mix a paste of baking soda and vinegar.  Apply with a pot scourer.  

Apply baking soda and water to chrome surfaces to clean chrome!

Baking soda applied to grease and oil spills on your garage floor will draw away the oil, which can then be scraped off.

Baking soda sprinkled and mixed into cat litter will help control odor.

Eliminate odor after you've cleaned up pet accidents by sprinkling over the dampened area with baking soda.  Let dry.  Vacuum.  

Fill up old socks with baking soda and place into shoes overnight to help remove odors.

A thick paste of baking soda and water applied to bug bites can provide relief.

Make your own mouthwash by adding a half teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of water.

Sprinkle baking soda onto regular toothpaste to create a whitening toothpaste

To clean jewelry, use a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water.  Rinse, then polish.  
 

 Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to http://greencleancertified.com and http://maidbrigade.com.  To learn more about the asthma and allergy triggers in your home, or to learn more about household products and breast cancer, please log on to http://www.greencleancertified.com/greentv.

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