Each Wednesday we enjoy a Potluck of inspiration at Hot Pink Apron.com.
We bring the conversation starter, you bring your own personal touch.
The days are becoming longer, temperatures are [finally!] rising, and your windows are reflecting a lovely shade of “YUCK!”. Before you rush to the shop and fork over your winter earnings for those chemical cleaners, check out what some of the Apronites are pulling from their kitchen cabinets to take on the spring cleaning beast – naturally.
Dana: Last spring I discovered that corn starch and water make a a pretty decent window washing solution. Then CrunchyBetty.com blew my mind when she added rubbing alcohol and white vinegar to the mix. Your glass will glisten with this:
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 2 cups lukewarm water
Throw it all in a large bowl or spray bottle and mix well.
Bonus tip: for extra-shiny, streak-free windows and mirrors, do a final wipe with black & white newspaper.
Jodi: I use vinegar to clean glass and mirrors, baking soda and vinegar to clear drains, and salt to clean an iron pan. I tell myself I’m being environmentally aware, but I may just be cheap.
Kirsty: I use vinegar as well for windows, etc.. But honestly, I usually buy most of my cleaning stuff from Elemi Organics in Uxbridge, Ontario. She makes it all with zero chemicals and it’s amazing stuff.
Ship: Pinterest turned me onto 1/4 cup Blue Dawn dish soap & 1 cup vinegar heated to boiling then combined into a spray bottle to clean soap scum from shower doors and coffee stains out of porcelain coffee cups! Um, no I don’t eat Blue Dawn dish soap.
Caitlin: I use white vinegar and baking soda to clean the bathroom–i made the choice to go as non-toxic (and cheap) as possible when i moved into my house, and i haven’t looked back. I met someone at a yoga workshop who extolled the virtues of tea tree and oregano oils for disinfecting the b-room and i am a total convert–throw a couple drops into your vinegar solution for best results. the only caveat is that if you go with the oregano oil your bathroom will smell like an Italian restaurant, but i am OK with that.
Kristina: Does whiskey as mouthwash count?
Nah, but if you live in a 100 year old building in the city and you’re prone to mice and other nasty rodents, peppermint oil/extract on cotton balls dabbed around your baseboards does wonders. Alternately you can dilute it with water and spritz around your baseboards as well. Lavender extract works great too. Those scents are so strong for their little noses that it deters them completely. Great for the environment, not cruel toward animals and your house smells amazing. Everybody wins!!!
Just when the house started to sparkle, the conversation turned to skin…
Feed your face, with a martini chaser.
Dana: Speaking of baking soda, I always have a box of baking soda sitting on my bathroom counter. A few times a week I make a face exfoliating paste with a little baking soda and water and every so often I’ll sprinkle some on my toothbrush for a little natural whitening boost. Great for those post-red-wine-evenings, otherwise known as weeknights.
Kristina: My friend Ami educated me on the benefits of topical capsaisin. I suffer from dry itchy skin, so a paste of cayenne pepper and olive oil is supposed to help and improve circulation. I haven’t tried it yet, but I would advise readers to proceed with caution and make sure they wash their hands THOROUGHLY before resuming any other activities. I’m willing to guinea pig myself for this tonight.
Reagan: For a natural topical remedy, try coconut oil. That stuff is amazing – anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, moisturizing. Just buy the kind you find in the grocery store (or health food store) for cooking. I use it for baby bum rash and it always clears it up right away.
Caitlin: I use white sugar as a skin exfoliator–cheap as hell and works like a charm (and also delicious, haha). I’m also a big fan of grapeseed oil (or any oil) for moisturizer.
What are YOU pulling from the pantry to spring clean yourself and your home?
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I don’t often use food for cleaning, but I have found that there really is nothing better for getting the persistent smell of raw garlic off your hands (and under your nails… eurgh) than a quick scrub with fresh lemon.
Good call, Amanda, same goes for wooden cutting boards. A little sprinkle of salt to lift any food and a scrub with half a lemon will have your cutting board super clean and smelling fresh again.
When it comes to cleaning the house, I’m a white vinegar kind of gal. It works, it is cheap, and the smell of it reminds me of a chip truck… I mean, come on! What’s not to like about it?!
for 20 years, I go through a big jug of vinegar about every 2 to 3 weeks. Some checkout people do start to ask me how much pickling I do. This give me an opportunity to give a little enviro talk. I put 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar(size of load) in my rinse cycle. Takes all the trapped soap out of your clothes and they will stay newer looking, brighter and wear much better. And helps with static.
Please mothers with children, do NOT use the sheets or liquids for softening, they cover any fire retarding qualities of your children’s clothing and even make them more flammable. I do teach textiles at the college level. Remember all those fleecy fabrics are made from recycled pop type bottles and are therefore plastic and will melt if near a hot heat source.