All Natural General Purpose Cleaning and Maintenance Ideas - 3

• No-drip candles
  1/3 cup (100g) salt
  2 cups (500ml) warm water
  
  No-drip candles are a great idea, but they're typically more expensive than their regular-burning counterparts. You can render tapered candles practically drip-proof with a simple overnight soak in saltwater. Mix the salt and warm water in a plastic container wide enough to hold the candles. Stir until the salt is dissolved and add the candles. Put a can or other weight on top of the candles to keep them submerhed and soak overnnight. Let the candles dry completely before using. For best results, make sure the burning candle is perfectly upright and in a draft-free place (both factors can make a candle burn unevenly, which may result in dripping).

• Choose certified organic
  Choose certified organic products that disclose the purpose and origin of all ingredients. The more specific the information on the product label, the more green and healthy it's likely to be.

• antique appliances
  For cleaning antique appliances: Pour white vinegar straight out of the bottle onto a sponge to soak stubborn buildup for a few minutes. After your appliance's first-time cleaning, future quick cleanups are easiest using a small spray/squirt bottle with a diluted vinegar-water mixture. 

• cleaning fireplace doors
  Put vinegar on newspaper and use to wipe down the insides of glass fireplace doors. Cleans instantly and does not streak. 

• paintbrush softener
  2 to 3 cups (500 to 750ml) vinegar
  
  No matter how well you wash out a paintbrush, odds are it will have stiffened by the next time you want to use it. Of course, vinegar offers an excellent means of softening and restoring paintbrushes. Place the brushes in a small, heavy-bottomed pot (one that you can dedicate to household situations and not use for cooking) and pour enough vinegar (2 to 3 cups, or 500 to 750ml) over the brushes to soak the bristles. Let sit for 1 to 2 hours. Then place the pot over medium heat and simmer for 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water, and you're ready to paint! 

• All-Purpose Cleaner
  suggested uses: hard surfaces like countertops and kitchen floors, windows and mirrors
  
  2 cups white distilled vinegar
  2 cups water
  20-30 or more drops of essential oil (optional)
  
  Tip: Warming in microwave until barely hot will boost cleaning power for tough jobs. Only microwave in a glass container. 

• cleaning eyeglasses
  Eyeglasses will clean up and be free of streaks when wiped down with water to which a splash of vinegar has been added. (Note: Rum works well too!)(Do not drink the rum) 

• Shine pennies
  1 small bowl lemon juice
  pennies or copper coins
  
  The acidic property of lemon juice is great way for transforming dingy pennies into shiny coins. Just soak your pennies in a bowl of lemon juice for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and let dry on a paper towel, and your pennies will look brand new! 

• removing stickers
  Remove stickers by soaking a cloth in vinegar and covering for several minutes until the vinegar soaks in. The stickers should then peel off easily.  

• holiday ornament care
  1 16-ounce box (454g) baking soda
  
  Those family keepsakes that we hold so dear-holiday ornaments-are especially vulnerable to developing musty odors during the off-months if they're kept in a place susceptible to dampness (e.g., the basement or back of a closet). To minimize the chance of an unpleasant unpacking, consider placing a box (454g) baking soda in the storage container before putting away holiday decorations. If you find that things are stale, try sealing them in a plastic bag for a few days with 2 tablespoons (28g) baking soda to neutralize the smell.