The Many Uses of Baking Soda in the Laundry

By Naturally Clean

Baking soda which has an alkali ph has the qualities to dissolve dirt and grease easily. It helps regulate the ph level in the water by balancing the acidic and alkaline ph. Therefore, by adding about half a cup of baking soda to each laundry, your detergents can work more effectively and reduce bacteria. It is also helpful in homes that have hard water because it prevents stain buildup that come with using hard water. Here are some tips for using baking soda in the laundry by Naturally Clean, the home cleaning experts.

1. Fabric softeners are often toxic and scented with fragrances that can be irritating to sensitive skin and cause asthma. Instead of using fabric softener, pour in one cup of baking soda into a load of laundry and wash.

2. To remove greasy stains, you can add some baking soda to the wash load or pre-treat the stain with making a paste of baking soda and soap or baking soda and vinegar.

3. Baking soda acts a natural chlorine bleach. All you do is add about half a cup of baking soda to your laundry. Washing soda is also very effective.

4. If you are pre-treating diapers in a pail add some baking soda. This reduces the odors from becoming too overpowering between washings. You can put baking soda in your laundry hamper as well.

The Many Uses of…Baking Soda

In our last few blogs we shared some great uses for cleaning with vinegar. Another favorite product that has many uses around the outside and yes even in the garden is Baking Soda. Baking soda just like vinegar is nontoxic and safe to use, and cheap to use. Here are just a few ways you can use baking soda in your kitchen.

1. In the fridge – put a box of baking soda in the fridge to absorb strong food odors

2. Clean your Kitchen- fill a sink or bowl with hot water and sprinkle some baking soda in it or you can put directly on your cloth to clean counter tops, sinks, microwaves, and appliances

3. Great on Greasy dishes – baking soda has an alkaline ph balance which is great on fighting greasy messes. It is also a bit abrasive so can be used to clean grease and grim that is stuck on your pots and pans

4. Freshen up plastic food containers- to remove smelly odors form plastic containers or tough stains, fill your sink with a solution of 4 tablespoons of baking soda to about 4 quarts of water. Let soak for a while. If the containers still have an odor let sit for overnight

5. Clean your silverware- To clean silver, use a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water. Rub the paste onto each item, then rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.

6. Remove odors and sanitize sponges – simply just soap in a solution of water and baking soda to remove odors and freshen up your sponges

7. Rinse fruit and veggies – Mixed with water, baking soda can remove dirt and the waxy coating on produce.

8. Unclog your drain – pour about half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar into the drain. Watching it sizzle is always a fun. Let it sit for 5-10 mins and then flush with water.

9. Cleaning the Kitchen Floor – To remove scuff marks or grease spills from the floor, sprinkle with baking soda and then wipe with a warm, damp cloth. This is even safe for no-wax floors!

10. Fire! – Grease fires can be put out by sprinkling them with baking soda.

In my research on the many uses of vinegar, it did come to a surprise to me all the uses that vinegar can be used for in the garden. At Naturally Clean we like to learn new things especially tips on keeping our environment healthy and safe. Here are just some of the tips that will keep our garden growing.

 1. Vinegar as an eco-friendly organic fungicide, and herbicide.

-use 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 4 litres of a tea compost to help with ailing plants with fungal diseases. Also, use a half and half solution as a fungicide to kill off anything ‘lurking’ on your gardening tool to prevent cross contamination.

-Do you have nasty weeds coming up between your paving slabs? Instead of using a toxic herbicide that is not good for the environment you can use vinegar instead. Boil 1 litre of water with 2 tablespoons of salt and 5 tablespoons of vinegar. Mix altogether, and while hot pour over plants

2. Help Acid Loving Plants to Grow Better.

-the acid in the vinegar increases the acidity of the soil. Azaleas, gardenias and rhododendrons love and thrive on the acid soil. Add 1 cup of vinegar to 4 litres of tap water. It will also release iron into the soil for the plants to use. And if you have too much lime in your garden, add vinegar to neutralize it.

3. Seed Germination –

-I found this very interesting –  you can improve the germination rate of seeds by using vinegar. First, rub seeds gently first between two pieces of coarse sandpaper. Then soak the seeds overnight in 500 ml of warm water, 125 ml of vinegar and a dab of dish soap liquid. Plant the next day as normal. You can use the same method, but without the sandpaper for nasturtiums, parsley, beetroot, and parsnips.

The Many Uses of Vinegar – Laundry and Clothes Care

 Did you ever think that vinegar could have so many great uses for keeping your laundry clean? You can use vinegar for deordizing your machine, preserving fading and colors, as a stain remover, etc. Plus vinegar is non-toxic, chemical free and completely safe to use. Here are a list of tips for different ways you can use vinegar.

1. Protect your clothes from fading by pouring in a ½ cup of vinegar

2. Use to brighten up and whiten up your clothes. Vinegar can act as a whitener and brightener.

3. Stop bright colors from running by immersing clothes in a full strength vinegar solution for about 10-15 minutes than wash.

4. Removes lint from clinging onto your clothes. Adding ½ -1 cup of vinegar to the wash cycle

5. Acts as a stain remover. Rub a straight solution of vinegar onto the stain or use a tooth brush. Scrub stain and then wash.

6. Removes yucky mildew odors from the machine. Pour about 2 cups of straight vinegar into the machine, add hot water and run the normal wash cycle.

The Many uses of Vinegar

I love vinegar. I use it for many different tasks in my own household and used it for years when cleaning other people homes. It is our practice at Naturally Clean to use alot of vinegar. You can clean a whole house with it. Vinegar is versatile and can be used for multiple tasks. It is a cleaner, an herbicide, a brightener, and so much more. And we should mention that it is safe to use and is cheap. Here are just some tips in ways you can use vinegar around the house.

1. Put it in a bowl to freshen up the fridge. It also will eliminate odors on plastic containers.

2. Clean shelves – dilute vinegar and water half and half to make a solution

3. Removes water stains on faucets, sinks, and glassware, and coffee pots. You can add some salt or baking soda to the vinegar. For touch stains take a paper towel soaked with vinegar and wrapped the paper towel around the surface and leave for a few hours.

4. A Germ Killer- spray full strength surfaces, like tub, toilet and sink and wipe clean with a damp cloth

5. Stains on Garments – Rub vinegar gently on the stain and then wipe with a clean cloth

6. A toilet cleaner- I pour a small jug of straight vinegar into the toilet and let sit for hours or overnight. Scrub with a scrubby pad or brush and flush.

7. Static Cling – add a half cup of white distilled to vinegar to your wash cycle.

8. Carpet Stain remover – make a paste of ¼ cup of baking soda or salt with a few tablespoons of vinegar. Rub the paste into the stain and let sit for a few hours or until dry. Then just vacuum the residue away.

In the next blog, I will give you more clever tips on how to use vinegar.

It is now officially summer and renting is a cottage is one of the fun things to do in the summer. The thought of getting away to a vacation spot by the water and being free of any obligations except to lay around and bath by the water, roast marshmallows and enjoy relaxing meals sounds thrilling. Thrilling that is until the last day comes and you are reminded by the To Do List left by the cottage owners/renters.

It may be a bit annoying to think that on your holidays you would have to do chores. One of the everyday household tasks you are trying to escape. But According to Simon Law, vice-president at cottages4you, it’s actually not supposed to be an onerous obligation. “Just as most of us tidy up when leaving a hotel room, we would expect the same courtesy from holidaymakers before leaving a cottage,” he says.

“There are no official rules, it is more about etiquette and leaving your property in good order. Our customers appreciate the houses we offer and know to leave the kitchenware cleaned, towels in the bath and so on, and this is much appreciated by owners and caretakers who have limited time for the turnaround. The property caretaker would then take responsibility for ensuring the property is thoroughly clean for the next guests.”

So if you are wondering, what does tidy mean and what are the rules of a cottage. Here are a few of the tasks that may be requested of you.

1. Bringing your own bed linen and pillow case is expected. I would also bring some extra blankets for the colder evenings

2. Garbage needs to be removed and taken to the nearest garbage deposal area

3. Dishes to be cleaned and put back in the cupboards

4. Do a light tidy around the place and put things back where they belong

5. A quick sweep and/or vac would be nice but not expected.

Just to note, cottage renters if they find that the cottage has not been left in its original condition may charge you a fee. This can be up to $100.00. So doing a quick tidy may be a good idea. Like mentioned it does not have to take long.

So, you finally decided to take the plunge and a hire someone with helping you clean your house. When making this decision, there are a few questions that are important to ask yourself. Making a list of questions will be beneficial in making the right choice in the person or company you will hire.

The first step than is to make the decision if you are going to hire a company verses an individual person. Here are a few things to consider for both.

A personal housecleaner more than likely will not insured. This means that if the person gets injured in your home you may be responsible to provide them compensation. Also, if something gets broke and the individual is not able to pay for it then you are solely responsible. You are also not covered for lost or stolen items. Another downfall, is that the person will get sick, take holidays or may need to reschedule your cleaning day because they are too busy.

A professional cleaning company, such as, Naturally Clean, will always provide you with a backup team if your team is not available. Although, a cleaning company can be a bit more money, it is worth it in that they can offer flexible scheduling. A cleaning company will also be insured, bonded and should have workmen’s compensation.

Now that you have decided to hire either a personal cleaner or a cleaning company, here are some other questions to make note of to ask when interviewing.

1. Do they conduct their quotes over the phone or do an in home estimate. I would be suspect of receiving a quote over the phone. Seeing the layout of home and the life style of the individual can help you in receiving an accurate quote. This also gives you the opportunity to make a connection with the potential client and build a working relationship. Also, you may leave yourself open to having the person or company come back and charge you more. Claiming that they did not see thee home.

2. If you are hiring a cleaning company, ask them how many cleaners they send. Two cleaners are reasonable and they provide you with security because they are watching each other, More than two cleaners is not necessarily more efficient and can waste time when delegating tasks.

3. Ask them about their cleaning system. How do they wash floors? Do they get into the corner and edges? How do they clean toilets…with a scrub brush that they use from home to home or disposable scrubber? A healthy cleaning system can give you some assurance that dirt and germs are not being spread around

4. Are they insured, bonded and have workmen’s compensation. Very important to ask. As mentioned above, if the company or perhaps the individual is insured then you are covered if something happens in your home.

5. Ask how many years they have been in business. And don’t be afraid to ask for reference.

6. Do they bring their own cleaning equipment and supplies? Some companies will bring in their own equipment but not necessarily the products. Also, ask what kind of products they use if they are bringing in their own. This is important to ask, especially if you want to use o only environmentally friendly cleaning products.

7. Finally, how do they maintain the quality of the service? Do they offer a satisfaction guarantee if you are not happy? Do they perform a quality check at the end of each clean? Is the company open to receiving feedback?

Cleaning Pet Urine off the Carpet

 Naturally Clean has been in the residential and commercial cleaning business close to ten years, We have cleaned many homes with servere carpet odours and stains from pet urine.

Commercial stain-removing products are quite often hazardous and contain toxic chemicals and solvents that are dangerous to your health and to the environment. For example, some of the health risks are cancer and central nervous system damage. Other risks include, skin irritation, nausea, dizziness, respiratory problems. Chemicals such as perchloroethylene and isopropyl are carcinogenic. Butyl cellosolve is a central nervous system toxin and propylene glycol methyl ether is an eye, skin and respiratory irritant. They may also include surfactants (detergents) which can irritate skin, the carcinogen1,4-dioxane, ethanol, ammonia and fragrances.

Naturally Cleans recommendation, if you want to clean pet odour and stains from your carpet, there are some non-toxic and safer solutions to cleaning them. Just to note, it is crucial, if you are able, that the stain be cleaned as soon before it settles too deelply into the fabric.

Carpet Stain Remover

Label a 500 ml spray bottle. Fill half with warm water and half with vinegar. Add a tablespoon of liquid castile soap. Spray the carpet stain until it is soaked. Then with a damp cloth rub the stain.

Carpet Stain Remover for Heavy Duty Stains

In a bowl mix, ¼ cup each of salt, borax, and vingar. Rub the paste into the carpet and let sit for a few hours, and then vacuum.

If you have any questions or want to share some of your comments, please email Naturally Clean. We always love to hear from you.

Cleaning for the Elderly

These days it is not uncommon to remain active and healthy until well into our 80s and 90s. However, it is natural to slow down as we age – and to require some help with housework. Naturally Clean, the All-Natural cleaning experts takes great pride in helping seniors in their cleaning needs. Here are some ways we can help.

It’s all about you

Our cleaning services are personally customized to meet the individual needs of each and every one of our customers. Naturally Clean understands that everyone’s life style is unique. It is our goal, as residential cleaning professionals, to meet, and exceed your expectations and cleaning needs, to make your life easier, and to provide you with more free time to enjoy the more important things in life.

The First Step – Getting to know you.

We always start by providing you with a free home estimate. An in-home estimate allows us to get to know you better and to determine if there are any special needs or requests. With understanding your specific cleaning needs, we are than able to provide you with an accurate quote for services.  This meeting is at your convenience, and of course, is free of charge.

The First Clean: No Surprises

There will be no confusion when our caring team of Home Service Professionals arrive. Prior to your clean we discuss the day and time that our professional cleaners will be arriving. You may want to be home or you may want to supply them with access to your home which is most comfortable for you. Naturally Clean has a top-middle-bottom cleaning system that all our teams are trained in. Nothing is ever overlooked. We even clean corner and edges and bathroom floors by hand. Naturally Clean prides themselves in providing you the highest quality of professional home cleaning services.

Quaranteed Safety Policies

All of our staff are bonded and insured and covered by the Worker’s Compensation Act. They are all trained and follow healthy safety practices.

Our Environmental Commitment

Naturally Clean has created a green cleaning housecleaning program that tops the industry standards for green cleaning services. We practice only the healthiest and safest cleaning techniques. All our products are Eco-logo certified, but again, we do use a lot of water, vinegar and soap. Our cleaning cloths are all color coded, and designated to specific cleaning tasks. Also, very important all cloths are freshly sanitized and never reused in another clients. Bucket water is always fresh, hot and clean, and we check our vacuum cleaners from home to home. Our green cleaning program is developed to prevent any spreading of germs and dirt from home to home and from within your own home.

Our Promise

Naturally Clean promises and guarantees that you will always have a quality thorough clean. We are not an in and out service and take great pride in our cleaning abilities. We guarantee if you’re not happy with your clean, we will come back and re-clean the area to ensure your satisfaction.

We, also, promise you that you will always have a team available to clean your home, even if your regular scheduled team are not available. All our teams are friendly and courteous and arrive ready to clean your own and help you in any way they can.

At Naturally Clean we only practice the healthiest safest cleaning methods. Our cleaning methods include a lot of vinegar, water, and soap, but, also, products that are Eco-logo certified. However, did you know that there are things right in your home pantry that you can use. Although, these are unusual methods, they are worth giving a try.

KETCHUP:  This is a great cleaner for copper.  Simply work it in with a paper towel.  Let it sit a few minutes, rub until you see the copper shine and then rinse well.

DRY MUSTARD:  It’s a great odor remover for plastic storage bowls.  Fill the bowl with warm water, add about ½ teaspoon or so or dry mustard and let soak a few hours.  Wash, rinse and dry.  If you have onion or garlic smell on your hands work dry mustard into wet hands. Rinse and dry.

FLOUR: You can use dry flour on a dry stainless steel sink to polish it.  Sprinkle in the flour and rub firmly with a paper towel.  Rinse and dry well.

LEMON JUICE:  Mix some lemon juice with cream of tartar and apply to stained countertops or breadboards.  Let sit an hour or so or even overnight and then rinse and dry.  Light stains can be wiped away immediately with this combination.  Do not use on stone.

ONION:  If you have brown stains on knifes from tomato products or the dishwasher, stick them into an onion.  Let sit for a while the then pull out, rub the stain, wash and dry.

SALT:  Pour it on spills or run-overs in the oven to absorb grease.

VODKA:  Swish diamond jewelry in undiluted vodka to clean.  For heavily soiled pieces let soak 15 minutes.  May be used on gold and hard stones. Vodka is, also an excellent disinfectant, and can be used as an all purpose cleaner to clean your whole house