DIY Household Cleaners
Grease Cleaner
What you'll need:
- 1/2 cup sudsy ammonia
Sudsy ammonia contains detergent that helps remove tough grime. Mix 1/2 cup with enough water to fill a one-gallon container. Then clean your oven racks, stove hoods, and grills by dipping a sponge into the solution and wiping over the surface before rinsing with clear water. You can also soak oven racks and grill grates in the mixture directly, with a little extra ammonia if they're particularly dirty.
Glass Cleaner
What you'll need:
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup white or cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol 70% concentration
- 1 to 2 drops of orange essential oil for smell (optional)
The next time you need to wash your windows and mirrors, combine these ingredients and pour them in a spray bottle. Hint: Don't clean windows on a hot, sunny day, because the solution will dry too quickly and leave lots of streaks. For mirrors, spray the solution on a paper towel or soft cloth first before wiping.
Kitchen Deodoriser
What you'll need:
- 4 tablespoons baking soda
- 1 quart warm water
To clean kitchen counters, appliances, and the inside of your refrigerator, all you need is baking soda. It makes a great deodoriser and can be used to shine stainless steel sinks and appliances. Just pour the above solution on a clean sponge and wipe.
Brass Cleaner
What you'll need:
- White vinegar or lemon juice
- Table salt
To clean non-lacquered cabinet pulls, bathroom appointments, and more, dampen a sponge with vinegar or lemon juice, then sprinkle on salt. Lightly rub over surface. Rinse thoroughly with water, then immediately dry with a clean soft cloth.
Heavy-Duty Scrub
What you'll need:
- 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 cup borax powder
Rust stains on porcelain or enamel sinks and tubs are no match for this cleaner. Dip the lemon into the borax and scrub the surface, then rinse. (This is not safe for marble or granite.)
Important Safety Tip:
Never combine ammonia-based cleaners with chlorine bleach or products containing bleach, such as powdered dishwasher detergent. The fumes they'll create are extremely dangerous. Before doing any mixing, read the product labels first. Always label any bottles of DIY cleaners with all the ingredients inside. In case a child or animal gets into it, it’s important to know what the mixture contains.