Category Archives: Cleaning

Taking Care of Wood

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I never liked using harsh chemicals to clean. The idea of using items from my kitchen, things I can eat to clean always appealed to me. However, when my son was born, it became a mission – create a non-toxic home for Mathew.

I did a lot of research but also a lot of experimenting.

One of my favorite experiments was to stain an unfinished wood desk for Mathew to use. I decided to use tea. I simply steeped several bags of black tea in a Mason jar over-night and painted it on. It took four coats to get the desired color but it looked good. I only sealed it with olive oil, so over the last 7 years, it had gotten worn, but what doesn’t?

Here are some other ways I take care of wood in our home:

Wood Polish – I mix 70% olive oil with 30% fresh lemon juice in a small jar (it will keep for a while in the refrigerator). When I want to use it, I shake vigorously, and then apply. The acid in the lemon juice cleans the wood and the olive oil nourishes it. I was so glad to choose this method of cleaning my wood as Mathew starting to chew on our coffee table, when he was teething.

Scratches in wood – walnuts or pecan, whichever matches your wood better. Simply rub the nut into the scratch; it will camouflage the scratch.

Water rings – Mayonnaise, leave on water ring over night and rub off. The ring should disappear.

Wood Floors – Gotta love Murphy’s Oil Soap but a lovely homemade recipe works as well and is cheaper.  In a bucket of warm water add an ounce of Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap, I prefer peppermint for its scent and anti-bacterial properties, and then add a ¼ cup of white vinegar.

How do you take care of the wood in your home? Please share and I will continue to share.

Not Just for Baking

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So who doesn’t have baking soda in their home? Anyone? Anyone? I didn’t think so. I bet most people even have an open box in their refrigerator. But, beyond baking and removing odors from the refrigerator, baking soda is another amazing household ingredient that is simply often ignored.

Baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate, helps regulate pH.  When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, it neutralizes that pH. Beyond that, baking soda has the ability to retard further changes in the pH balance, known as buffering. This dual capability of neutralizing and buffering allows baking soda to do wonderful things like neutralize acidic odors (like in the refrigerator) as well as maintain neutral pH (like in your laundry water, which helps boost your detergent’s power). It’s a simple reaction, but one that has far-reaching effects for a number of cleaning and deodorizing tasks.

 Here’s what I use baking soda for:

  • It is a gentle non-abrasive cleanser, which is great for scrubbing kitchens, bathrooms, and fiberglass.
  • Cleaning sterling silver – add a little bit of water to some baking soda, make a paste, then rub it all over your jewelry or silverware, it gets into all the fine detailed areas that a polishing cloth seems to miss; after all the tarnish is removed, simply rinse off and dry.
  • To deodorize carpets – sprinkle on the carpet, let stand for 10 minutes and vacuum up.
  • To deodorize the refrigerator and freezer – put a cup of baking soda in an open container and leave in the back, replace every couple of months.
  • Add it to toothpaste for an added whitener.
  • Add a cup to the wash, it removes perspiration odors; neutralize some chemical smells along with brightening and softening the clothes. Your laundry will look brighter and smell fresher.
  • For skin irritations like poison ivy, measles or chicken pox – add a half cup of baking soda to a bathtub full of warm water and soak. The baking soda will help relieve the itching and irritation as well as help soften skin.
  • Add some baking soda and hot water to a pan with burnt-on food, let it soak and then clean it with a lot less effort.
  • Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase.
  • Sprinkle it inside stinky shoes, litter box, or the garbage can to soak up odors.

One of the most amazing things about baking soda is that it’s cheap. You can do all these things for a very small cost. Baking soda is truly a miracle product, whether it’s used for baking or not.

What do you use baking soda for? Please share and I will continue to share my journey with it.