Only in Ohio can the weather go from snow and ice to sunny and warm in a 48 hour timeline. That tells me that spring is on its way and puts me in the mood to get started on spring cleaning. There are many products on the market, but you have several at home that will do a good job for you. Read on to see how using bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and baking soda that might help you with some of your cleaning tasks.
When we clean a surface our goal is to remove the dirt from the counters, cutting boards, dishes or utensils that we might use. We can wash most of those with hot soapy water, rinse and air dry for success. When we sanitize an area, that means we are reducing the germs to a safe level so that illness is not likely to occur. We can do that by using a sanitizer and letting it air dry. If you have young children in your home or elderly, then sanitizing is essential to making sure the food you prepare is free from germs. Check out this web site for more information http://extension.osu.edu/news-releases/archives/2011/january/study-inexpensive-household-cleaners-can-effectively-sanitize-kitchen-surfaces.
What other cleaners can be easily made at home? Here are a few to keep in mind.
Ammonia- (only use in a well ventilated area) wash windows, clean ovens, bathrooms and removes wax from floors. Do not combine it with any other cleaners!
Chlorine Bleach – will kill germs and clean bathrooms, kitchens, disinfect garbage cans, and remove mildew.
Baking Soda- is useful in both cleaning and refreshing items. It can be used to clean refrigerators, clean porcelain enamel, and remove stains from countertops.
Vinegar or lemon juice are good basic cleaners that also give a shine. They may be used to clean glass or chrome fixtures, remove rust and hard water spots and clean copper, brass and to remove mildew.
To get the best results:
*use mild detergents and warm water where possible
*DO NOT mix cleaning products and follow any directions given for items you may be cleaning.
*Avoid scouring powders where possible because they will scratch some surfaces
*Small amounts of chlorine bleach will help kill germs
*Avoid getting surfaces too wet.
*Use clean water and tools
*Hard water areas may need a softening agent added to the water
If you are interested in specific details, here’s a web site from our Extension friends in Michigan that gives actual recipes to solve your spring cleaning dilemmas http://www.msue.msu.edu/objects/content_revision/download.cfm/revision_id.499694/workspace_id.-4/01500631.html/ and happy spring!
Melinda Hill
OSU Extension, Wayne County
