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CLEANING TIPS
Domestica
is committed to providing earth-friendly, less-toxic solutions for
all of your household cleaning needs. Below are tips for using our
products as well as other formulas you can make yourself!
As with any
cleaning solution or stain remover, please test on an inconspicuous
area.
If you have any tips you would like to add, or would like to send us your comments, please e-mail us.
Have a cleaning conundrum not covered here? Let our experts help! You may e-mail your questions to:
shannon@domesticaclean.com
Ovens
Drains
Windows
Carpets
Fiberglass Stain Remover
Vinyl Floors
Wood Floors
Removing Black Heel Marks
Bleach
Metal Polish
Ovens*
Use baking
soda to sprinkle and cover the bottom of your oven. Spray the
baking soda with water until very damp, and keep moist by spraying
every few hours.
Leave overnight. In the morning, remove the baking soda and grime with a spatula. Rinse the oven well. Washing soda can be substituted for half the baking soda for really tough jobs but requires more rinsing and is caustic (wear gloves).
Note: Washing soda, made by Arm & Hammer, is found in the
laundry detergent area of some grocery stores.
Drains*
Pour one cup
baking soda or 1/2 cup washing soda down the drain followed
by three cups boiling water.
Windows
Many commercial
window cleaners leave wax buildup. The first time you clean windows
before using our recommended cleaner, you should wash them with
a solution of 1/2 teaspoons vegetable-oil based soap (such
as Dr. Bronner's), 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar and two
cups warm water in a labeled squirt bottle. Shake to blend, then
spray on windows and wipe clean using a cotton diaper.*
For every day window cleaning, as well as mirrors and chrome fixtures,
all you need is club soda in a spray bottle. The sodium citrate
in club soda softens the water and provides superior, streak-free
cleaning. This is what we using in our professional cleaning services.
Carpets*
- For general
cleaning, use soap-based, no-aerosol rug shampoo and vacuum when
dry.
- To neutralize
carpet odors, sprinkle baking soda over entire carpet. Leave on
overnight. Sweep off as much as you can, vacuum the rest.
- Spills:
Blot quickly with cotton towels. Club soda or clear water
is effective on some stains, including alcoholic beverages,
coffee, or tomato-based food. Pulverized chalk will absorb
grease.
- Urine:
A solution of equal parts white vinegar and water may be sprayed
or sponged onto the stain. Let stand for about 10 minutes
before blotting with sponge or paper towel.
Fiberglass
Stain Remover
Squirt Domestica's
Tub & Tile Scrub onto the area and spread with a sponge.
Let site two hours or overnight and rinse.
Vinyl
Floors*
Damp mop using
one cup vinegar in two gallons warm water.
Wood
Floors
- For unvarnished
floors, damp mop using Domestica's
All-Purpose Cleaner. We recommend White Pine for a fresh,
clean scent.
- For varnished
floors, damp mop using one part vinegar to 10 parts water.*
Removing
Black Heel Marks
- Rub a small
portion of Domestica's Tub & Tile
Scrub on the scuff mark using a white-backed scrubbee sponge
and rinse well.
- If the floor
finish is removed, you may be able to restore it using 1/2
cup cornstarch and enough water to make a paste. Rub this mixture
into the spot, let dry, then buff to a polish.*
Bleach*
For laundry,
try: 1/2 cup 3 percent hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice added
during the rinse cycle, or 1/2 cup washing soda added to
warm- or hot-water wash cycles. Note: Washing soda, made by Arm
& Hammer, is found in the laundry detergent area of some grocery
stores.
Metal
Polish*
- Use natural
acids such as vinegar and lemon juice to clean aluminum, bronze,
brass and copper.
- Combine three
teaspoons salt, one tablespoon flour and enough white distilled
vinegar to make a paste. Scoop paste onto a clean sponge and polish
bronze, brass or copper. Rinse with hot water and buff dry with
a soft cloth.
- Rub white
toothpaste into silver, and then polish with a soft, clean cloth.
- Apple cider
vinegar may be used to clean chrome. Polish chrome using club
soda.
*Source:
The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds.
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