ECO AND ECONOMICAL HOUSEHOLD TIPS WITH SIMPLE MATERIALS
Clever household tips can be found in magazines, friends and TV, or you may even have invented some yourself.
In the spirit of Greening Beeston we’d like to share some tips which will save you money and save you having hundreds of different products languishing under the sink, in cupboards and anywhere else you have put them.
In the spirit of Greening Beeston we’d like to share some tips which will save you money and save you having hundreds of different products languishing under the sink, in cupboards and anywhere else you have put them.
GENERAL
BATHROOM
KITCHEN
BAD SMELLS
STAINS
MOTHS (make holes in clothes & carpets)
GARDEN OR ALLOTMENT
*available in large quantities in Chinese supermarkets
- Protect a surface (carpet, floor or table) from scratching or dirt: use a layer of newspaper.
- Crayon marks: use toothpaste on soft cloth.
- Wet shoes: stuff with newspaper; remove & repeat regularly till dry.
- Clean inside a microwave: after a lemon has been squeezed, add to a bowl of water & heat on HIGH for 5 mins; wipe clean inside oven.
- Emergency dry shampoo: mix 1 tsp. bicarbonate* and 1 tsp. cornflour in a cup, sprinkle over hair, rub into scalp; then brush out (removes oiliness).
- Scuff marks on hard floors: use bicarbonate* to remove them.
- Grubby wall (e.g. around switches): try ‘squidged up’ white bread.
- Clean carpet/rug/mattress: sprinkle bicarbonate*; vacuum after few hours.
- If newspaper is too dirty to recycle, then compost it.
BATHROOM
- Shower head: soak overnight in white vinegar.
- Grouting between tiles or stubborn tide marks on bath: mix paste of lemon juice and baking powder and clean using an old toothbrush.
KITCHEN
- Fridge, freezer or microwave: sprinkle bicarbonate* on damp cloth to clean.
- Kettle lime scale: remove with a cupful of white vinegar left overnight.
- Stale smell in fridge: an egg-cup of bicarbonate* removes it for a few weeks.
- Stop hands smelling of raw fish: rub with an already squeezed lemon.
BAD SMELLS
- Cigarette smoke: a little vinegar in a saucer in the room will remove the smell.
- Urine smells on pet bedding or elsewhere: spray on mix of 3 parts soda water to 1 part white vinegar; shake bedding outside, if possible.
- Any bad smells (e.g. on carpet) from pet’s or baby‘s unwelcome fluid: sprinkle bicarbonate* fairly generously, leave a few hours and vacuum.
STAINS
- Tomato & perspiration: apply a tablespoon of white vinegar, leave for 30 minutes, then rinse; rub in detergent and wash on cool cycle.
- Candle wax: (e.g. carpets) chip off large lumps, then cover with damp towel & move warm iron on top; repeat until all residue soaked up.
- Fat, grease and red wine: spread on a paste from bicarbonate* mixed with a little water, leave for 1/2 - 2 hours (keep checking), then wash in biological detergent; or rinse wine with fizzy water.
- Biro & ink: soak biro stains in spot of milk; spray ink stains with hair spray and dab - if not gone, soak in milk, wipe with nail varnish remover.
MOTHS (make holes in clothes & carpets)
- Cedar balls (natural oils): kill moth larvae but won’t protect clothing.
- Eucalyptus or bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cloves: strong repellents.
- Fresh conkers: skins contain a mild insecticide (triterpenoid saponin).
- Disturb the eggs: vacuum, move furniture, beat with broom, brush seams and under collars.
- Once a month: clean and vacuum thoroughly, shake all clothes out.
- Cool rooms: open windows occasionally and allow air to circulate.
- Launder, dry clean or freeze clothes etc., then store in sealed bag.
GARDEN OR ALLOTMENT
- Newspaper can be used to line a trench before planting, and then it will hold extra moisture for the growing plants. !!!NEW!!!
*available in large quantities in Chinese supermarkets
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(Print double-sided, flipping on the short edge and then cut in half to make 2 leaflets.) |
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