Metal Cleaners

Silver

• To magnetize tarnish away, soak silver in salted water in an aluminium container; then wipe it clean or soak it in a mix of boiling water, baking soda, salt, and a piece of aluminium foil.
• To prepare a quick dip for silverware, create a mix of 1 litre of luke warm water and a level teaspoon or baking soda and brush with a soft toothbrush.
• To clean metal, gently rub with a paste of baking soda and water.

Brass

• Mix equal parts salt and flour with a little vinegar and then rub.

Chrome

• Rub the item with undiluted vinegar.

Copper

• Rub the item with a mix of either lemon juice and salt, or hot vinegar and salt.

Stainless Steel

• Rub the item with a paste of baking soda and water.

Glass and Mirror Cleaners

• For a no-streak glass cleaner, create a mix of 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 litre of warm water. Mix the ingredients together and apply it with a sponge or pour it into spray bottle and spray on. Wipe it dry with crumpled newspaper instead of paper towels for a lint-free and more environmentally friendly result.
• If you don’t have any corn starch at home you can also create a mix of equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, ½ lemon juice and 2 cups water in a spray bottle or even just alcohol.

Top Tip

• Do not wash windows or glass when the sun is on them or if they are warm as this causes the solution to dry too quickly creating unwanted streaks.

Furniture Polish

There are a few natural furniture polish mixes that you can make:

1. Make this natural polish mix fresh every time you use it

• Lemon juice extracted from 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon water

• Mix with oil and water.
• Apply a thin coat on your wood surface and let sit for five minutes.
• Use a soft cloth to buff to a deep shine.

2. You can also mix 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice. Apply the mixture to your furniture with a soft cloth and wipe it dry.

3. If you have linseed oil at home mix 1/8 cup linseed oil, 1/8 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup lemon juice for a natural wood polish. Apply with a soft cloth.

Top Tips

• Hide wood scratches by rubbing the scratches with the meat of a walnut.
• To remove water stains on wood furniture, dab white toothpaste onto the stain. Allow the paste to dry and then gently buff off with a soft cloth.

Floor Cleaners

For greasy, no-wax floors mix:

• 1 cup vinegar
• ¼ cup baking soda
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil-based liquid soap
• 2 gallons hot water

Combine all the ingredients, stirring well to dissolve the baking soda. Mop your floor as per usual with this mix.

Top Tip

• A pencil eraser removes heel marks from a floor.