A prior post about green clean covered the more common products to use, such as vinegar, baking soda, borax and lemons. This post will cover a few ideas you may not have heard about but are probably already in your cabinets: cream of tarter and hydrogen peroxide
CREAM OF TARTER
Found in the spice aisle, cream of tartar often is only pulled out to make an angel food cake.
But it can be a great non-toxic source for laundry stains, warding off bugs and cleaning.
A byproduct of the wine making process, cream of tartar is acidic enough to tackle tough cleaning jobs.
1. Ring around the collar
Dampen the shirt collar with a little water and then sprinkle the area with some cream of tartar. Rub the fabric together to work in the powder and then launder as usual.
2. Whiten whites
Pretreat white clothes with a cream of tartar soak. Add a tsp. of powder for each quart of water and soak the clothes before washing.
3. Remove stains on clothes and carpets
Mix some cream of tartar and lemon juice to form a paste. Apply the paste to the stain and let sit for at least an hour. Machine wash clothes as usual or with carpets, blot with a damp cloth. Think of this idea for those ink stains that can ruin a good dress shirt.
4. Cleaning toilet stains and bathtub rings
Mix some cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide (or white vinegar) to form a paste. Apply the paste to the stains and wait till it dries before rinsing with water.
5. All-purpose kitchen cleaner
Mix some cream of tartar and white vinegar to form a paste. Use on stove burner pans, grout, ovens, kitchen sinks, spigots, stainless steel appliances, coffee pots, even cleans mildew.
6. Clean copper
Mix 2:1 cream of tartar to lemon juice (2 tbsp. cream of tartar and 1 tbsp. lemon juice). Rub onto copper pots and wipe clean with a damp cloth
7. Clean silver
Tarnished silver can be cleaned by dipping a damp magic eraser into some cream of tartar and wipe away the tarnish on old trays and utensils.
8. Sooty fireplace
Wet some cream of tartar with water and apply to the soot. Wipe away soot with a damp cloth.
9. Deter ants
Sprinkle where you suspect the ants are coming into the house.
10. Out of baking powder?
Mix 2:1 cream of tartar and baking soda (2 tsp. cream of tartar and 1 tsp. baking soda) to make 1 tbsp baking powder.
Note:
Be careful with how you clean granite counter tops. Acids such as vinegar and lemon juice can what they call "etch" granite and dull the surface.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
We all recognize the typical brown bottle of hydrogen peroxide usually found in the first-aid section next to the rubbing alcohol. You want the 3% H2O2 antibacterial strength, nothing higher.
Hydrogen peroxide is amazing stuff and so cheap, keep a bottle in stock at all times. You'll be amazed how many different ways you'll find to use this safe and natural product.
Hydrogen peroxide is a weak acid, consisting of water (H2O) and an extra oxygen molecule (H202). It could even be called oxygen water and is so safe to use since it quickly breaks down into oxygen and water. Hydrogen peroxide can even be found in rainwater and snow.
All living things contain this oxygen water. Our white blood cells naturally produce it to fight infection and being it is in fruits and vegetables, that is another reason to eat more of these foods.
H2O2 FOR THE KITCHEN
Have two bottles under your sink, one with the cap it comes with and one replace that cap with a sprayer top.
1. Remove dirt and pesticides from fruits and vegetables. Add 1/4 cup H2O2 to a sink of cold water, add your produce, wait a bit and rinse thoroughly with water.
2. Help your dishwasher sanitize your dishes by adding 2 oz. to your regular detergent.
3. Regular dish soap can be improved too by adding 2 tbsp. to the dish soap bottle.
4. Spray counter tops and cutting boards with hydrogen peroxide, let it bubble for a few minutes before wiping clean.
5. Spray the interior of the microwave and refrigerator to clean and disinfect. Spray and wait a few minutes before wiping it away.
6. Clean those kitchen sponges. Mix hydrogen peroxide and water at a ratio of 50:50 and soak sponges for about ten minutes. Rinse the sponges afterwards.
7. Clean crud from the bottoms of ovens, pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide and enough baking soda to form a paste and rub onto the dirty areas, let sit for a while before scrubbing.
8. Clean floors by combining 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of hot water. Because this mixture is so mild it is safe for floors as well as pets and children who'll be crawling around on those floors.
H2O2 FOR THE BATHROOM
1. Soak toothbrushes and hairbrushes in hydrogen peroxide to keep them clean and fresh.
2. Make your own mouthwash to kill bacteria and freshen breath. Use at a 50:50 ratio with water.
3. Help whiten teeth by mixing a little salt and baking soda with enough hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Do not overdo this. Using higher concentrations than 3% H2O2 or using too often can harm tooth enamel.
4. Add natural highlights to hair by making a 50:50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water, add to spray bottle and spray onto wet hair.
5. Add a bit of hydrogen peroxide to a cotton square and apply directly to pimples.
6. Help kill foot fungus by spraying a 50:50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water onto feet or make a foot bath with it and soak the feet.
7. Deter bacteria on shower curtains and shower stall by spraying down with H2O2.
8. Wash shower curtains to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in washer with a bath towel and regular detergent. Run through the usual wash cycle but then add a cup of hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle.
H2O2 FOR KIDS AND PETS
1. Spray lunch boxes, toys and anything else your child touches.
2. Clean pet bowl with hydrogen peroxide to keep them fresh and slime free (often the case with plastic bowls).
3. De-skunk recipe solution for your pet. Combine 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 tsp Dawn dish soap and 2 quarts warm water. Apply this mix to your pet's fur and wait a bit before rinsing it all off.
