I’m a cleaning expert and here’s how a teabag and a lemon could save you money – and help the planet too
HARSH chemicals in household cleaning products can be bad for the environment – and expensive.
But everyday items can do the job. And this is not the only way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money.
Expert Elizabeth Ajao says: “Every one of us could make a change to protect our home.”
Natasha Harding brings you some of Elizabeth’s green tips.
- Edited extract from Planet Friendly Hacks, by Elizabeth Ajao (Summersdale), out now, £9.99.
Lemon juice
PLASTIC food containers always end up stained a curry-bolognese orange.
But by rubbing lemon juice all over the surface then leaving it for 15 minutes before rinsing off, you can give all your tired Tupper- ware a new life.
Coconut oil
IF your extractor fan is coated in a dusty, sticky, oily film, loosen it with coconut or olive oil then wipe away using a damp, soapy cloth.
To remove sticky label patches from jars etc mix equal parts baking soda and coconut oil, apply, leave for a few minutes, then wipe clean.
Baking soda
SPRINKLE baking soda over cushions and leave it for 20 minutes before hoovering it off for a fresh-smelling sofa.
Soap-scummy sink? Coat the area with baking soda, scrub with a sponge then spritz with three squirts of hydrogen peroxide.
Let it sit for a few minutes then rinse away.
Eggshells
CLEAN food-encrusted dishes and cast-iron pots and pans by putting a broken eggshell in the pan, then scrubbing it around with a soap-covered sponge.
Also crush eggshells and use them as fertiliser – they contain high levels of calcium, which is great for getting rid of blossom end rot.
Use old tea bags
THROW a used teabag into the toilet and leave it to soak overnight. In the morning, give it a scrub and you’ll have a sparkling clean toilet bowl.
Sick of wasting chemicals and energy scrubbing greasy dishes and utensils?
Try filling a washing-up bowl with warm water, put in two or three used teabags with the dirty dishes and leave to soak for 5 minutes.
The tannins will reduce the grease, making the washing-up less of a chore.
Are streaky glass and stainless steel making your glossy appliances an eyesore?
Simply make a cup of black tea with a teabag you’ve already used (skip the milk) and leave it to cool.
Dip a cloth into the tea and give your glass or metal a good clean with it.
It might look streaky to start with, but it will dry streak-free.
Carpet stains
TRY spritzing the stain with white vinegar, cover it with an old white T-shirt, then, using the steam setting on your iron, iron over the top of the T-shirt.
TIP: Make sure you keep moving your iron around so that you don’t burn or singe the carpet underneath.
The stain should lift away – ta-da.
Food waste
INSTEAD of throwing your veg straight in the compost bin, chop into smaller pieces first and they’ll decompose much faster.
If you’d like to compost but are scared of the smell, keep them in a bag or jar and pop them in the freezer, then, when it’s compost bin day, throw them away.
Rust buster
ALL you need to get rid of the red staining is recyclable aluminium foil, white vinegar and a little elbow grease.
Simply dip the foil in the vinegar, then gently scrub the affected area before wiping it clean with a smooth cloth. Remember to recycle the foil.
Dirty baths
USE a pumice stone to remove tough hard water stains from your toilet, sink or even bath.
TIP: Don’t scrub too hard in case you scratch the surface.