All Natural General Purpose Cleaning and Maintenance Ideas - 4

• removing newsprint stains from surfaces
  The print can be a real pain to get rid of if you leave a newspaper lying on a slightly damp surface, or drop of rain gets the paper wet before delivery. Make a paste with baking soda and a little water and rub gently until the stain disappears.   

• soften paintbrushes
  Soak a paintbrush in hot vinegar, then wash out with warm, soapy water to soften it up. 

• cleaning fluid for copper and brass
  Make a brass and copper cleaner by combining equal parts of lemon juice and vinegar. Wipe it on a paper towel and then polish with a soft, dry cloth.

• septic tank maintenance
  1 cup (220g) baking soda
  
  Flushing 1 cup (220g) baking soda into your septic system once a week is an easy way to maintain a neutral pH range in the tank. This basically means that the bacteria present are able to thrive, and, thus, process the other organic matter. A bit of baking soda also helps keep those rotten egg smells that sometimes accompany a septic system to a minimum. 

• Replace disposable for Re-Useable
  Identify all of the disposable items you use to clean your home. Replace disposable products with reusable ones whenever possible. Use old cotton clothing as rags for cleaning floors and sinks. Purchase highly absorbent and inexpensive cloth alternatives to paper towels for cleaning up kitchen messes and spills. 

• urine smell eliminator
  2 cups (500ml) vinegar
  1 cup (250ml) water
  1 cup (220g) baking soda
  
  Repeated bedwetting not only makes for unpleasant sleep, but also a ruined mattress. Fortunately, you can rely on vinegar to get rid of the smell of urine. Mix the vinegar and water and apply with a sponge to affected areas. Blot dry with a towel and cover the spot with baking soda. Remove the baking soda with a handheld vacuum when it is dry to the touch.   

• dissolve chewing gum
  Saturate the area with vinegar. If the vinegar is heated, it will work faster. 

• Remove mold and mildew
  Remove mold and mildew growth with lemon juice or vinegar combined with salt. 

• berry and beet stain remover
  1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  1 tablespoon (18g) salt
  
  Berries and beets contain natural pigments that enhance their health-promoting virtues, but the downside is that these same pigments can leave stains on your cutting board that are hard to get out. Fortunately, the duo of lemon juice and salt have a strong reputation for being the perfect cleaning team. The salt provides an abrasion while the lemon is a natural bleach and deodorizer. To use, combine equal parts of each, apply the mixture to the board, and scrub with a clean cloth. If you think the stain will be particularly stubborn, let the mixture sit for a few minutes before scrubbing. Rinse thoroughly once the stain has lifted.

• cleaning the garbage can
  Use a fairly strong solution of baking soda and warm water to wash the kitchen garbage can out. It will keep the smell down as well. This is good for all plastic and stainless steel cans. 

• all-purpose baking soda cleaner
  1 cup (250ml) warm water
  1/4 cup (60ml) dishwashing liquid
  1 16-ounce box (454g) baking soda
  
  A simple squirt of this all-purpose cleansing scrub and a damp sponge are all you need to clean most non-porous surfaces around the house, like counter tops, sinks, tubs, and toilets. Start by putting the warm water in a large mixing bowl and stirring in the dishwashing liquid (stir slowly to avoid creating a lot of bubbles). Next, add the box of baking soda and stir until the mixture forms a smooth, uniform consistency. Transfer the mixture to a jar and use as needed around the house (wait 30 minutes before putting a lid on the fresh batch to let the carbon dioxide bubbles escape). Tip: Be forewarned that the solution will separate between uses, but if you set the jar upside down for a few minutes, the layers will loosen; you can then follow up by giving the contents a gentle stir. 

• wood paneling polish
  2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
  1/4 cup (60ml) vinegar
  2 cups (500ml) warm water
  
  You can restore the warm, rich glow of most wood paneling with this simple formula: Combine the olive oil, vinegar, and warm water in a wide-mouth jar with a lid (an empty mayonnaise container works well). Shake until well combined. Wipe evenly on paneling with a clean cloth and let dry.