10 Common Household Items You Didn’t Know Could Clean

Suzanne Whitton • Jan 16, 2015

 

This year we have focused hard on reducing our carbon footprint. Back in June of 2014 we introduced a Rapid  Green Team  with the aim of improving our awareness of the environment and controlling the impact we have on it.

You might recall us introducing a chemical dosing system in 2014, meaning that instead of carrying litres of chemicals around the country, highly concentrated liquids are now diluted on site.

In an attempt to go one ‘green’ step further, our operations team has been researching the use of household products (things that we would all find in our homes) that we can use as cleaning agents. I asked them to share some of the best they have discovered so far. I guarantee there will be a few ‘ well I never knew that ‘ moments!

1. Baking Powder and Lemon Juice.

Combine equal parts lemon juice and baking powder, spread on mildew, leave for two hours and rinse with warm water.

2. Hairspray.

Spray on walls and wipe to remove marks such as crayons.

3. Tomato Ketchup.

Rub on brass to give it a shine.

4. Tennis Ball.

Rub on scuff marks to remove from painted walls, tiles or woodwork.

5. Distilled vinegar.

Combine with water and use to remove coffee stains on carpets, marks on laundry, descaling shower heads and taps,cleaning glass.

6. Olive Oil

Use a soft cloth and a little olive oil to remove oil-based paint from your skin.

7. Bicarbonate of Soda.

  Use in kitchens to sanitise fridges and worktops.

8. White Bread.

Small chunks of crustless white bread can be rubbed on wallpaper to remove scuff marks and fingerprints.

9. Shaving Foam

Old-fashioned white shaving foam squirted on the mirror and then wiped off with a soft cloth, not only cleans brilliantly but helps to keep the mirror fog-free after a shower.

10 Banana Peel

Rub the inside of a banana skin on plant leaves to remove dust and encourage shine. Also use to clean silverware, leather shoes and sofas – wipe off with a soft cloth afterwards.

Surprised? We might not be quite ready to throw out all of our cleaning chemicals just yet but it’s definitely worth thinking outside the box – it will not only save you money but the planet as well!

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