Food and lifestyle with a dusting of magic
Spring means it is time for Spring cleaning. Why not try some old fashioned cleaning tips that work well today.
Who is not familiar with Marigold products? Everyone must have a pair of their rubber gloves lying around the kitchen. I remember my mum using rubber gloves to clean the kitchen and my granny wearing them to do the dishes. It is not surprising that have memories of Marigold from the past as this year Marigold celebrate their 70th birthday. Not only do they make rubber gloves but they have a great range of cleaning products to help you clean your home.
Have you ever wondered what it was like to clean a home in the fifties? These days women spend around 18 hours on housework every week. Fifty years ago women were spending around 44 hours a week on cleaning, shopping and cooking. These days we have machines that help us with the housework such as microwaves, vacuums and dishwashers.
On an average day as well as doing the cooking, and getting the kids to and from school a fifties mum would spend about three hours a day on cleaning. Beds were made and bedrooms tidied whilst the kids were getting ready for school. In the afternoon the bathrooms, kitchen, living room and floors were done whilst a load of laundry went though. Most cleaning was done with simple products from the cupboard like baking soda, vinegar, ammonia, lemon and borax and a lot of hard work.
Daily cleaning meant that the rooms could be cleaned reasonably quickly. The bathroom got the surfaces wiped down, the toilet cleaned and a quick sweep and mop. Kitchens got the same treatment with the fridge getting a clean on a weekly basis. Finally the living room was dusted and swept with any clutter tidied away. The final touches were a shake out of the rugs and a clean of the floors. These days whilst the process is similar it takes a lot less work to stay on top of the house.
Spring is here and it is time to start thinking about Spring cleaning. The bright sunshine coming in the windows shows up the cobwebs that have been lurking unseen in the corners in the winter darkness. Cleaning the house gives you a chance to get rid of clutter and makes it feel much fresher. When it comes to cleaning Granny may have know best. Why not try some of these old fashioned cleaning tips that work.
To remove grease and grime from your kitchen and bathroom surfaces mix together one part white vinegar with two parts water and a squeeze of lemon juice. This works really well and leaves a lovely fresh smell in the room as well. Pull on your Marigold rubber gloves and use Marigold’s thirsty sponge to get those surfaces sparkling.
Do you have pans with stubborn stains that won’t shift no matter how hard you scrub? Take a tip for Mrs Beeton and use a solution of warm water and baking soda scrubbed in hard with a crust of bread. I tried this on one of my pans which had bunt on stains on the bottom. I had accidentally left something on the stove too long. It works like a charm, my pan is now shiny again. Marigold’s cleaning me softly scourer helps as well. It removes dirt without scratching.
Mix up one part white vinegar with three parts water and decant into a spray bottle. Use this to spray bathroom tiles and the edge of the bath. It will help prevent mildew forming. Wipe down with Marigold’s wiper upper to help keep the bathroom fresh.
White vinegar is not only good for banishing mildew it helps get windows, mirrors and shower screens sparkling. Make a mix of half vinegar and half hot water and spray this on any glass surfaces. A quick wipe and the surface will sparkle.
To tackle that greasy oven mix 500g baking soda with 100g washing soda. Wet the oven sides with a cloth and sprinkle the mixture onto the oven. Repeat and leave overnight. In the morning wipe the mixture off and the grease with it. You will need to give the oven a wipe to get rid of any residue and may need to use a Marigold scourer for any stubborn stains.
For a great air freshener mix lemon juice with water and add to a spray bottle. A good squirt of this will make the house smell fresh. If you have any lavender in your garden why not pop some in a vase. As well as smelling nice it keeps moths away. You could also make your own lavender bags to add to drawers if you dry some.
Sinks have a tendency to clog up. Keep your drain running smoothly by pouring 170g baking powder down followed by 230ml white vinegar. The mixture will fizz and clear out your drain. After a few minutes rinse well with cold water.
Do you have any good cleaning tips? Let me know below.
I was sent some Marigold products to try out. My opinions are honest and my own.
Hi, I have been using baking soda for bathing only, making masks. Now I can use it in my kitchen for cleaning pans, dirty woven as well. Have you tried to clean faucet and by baking soda? Just take some amount, wet faucet and wipe strongly. It works.
I will have to give that a try. thanks for the great tip
Thanks for sharing. Happy weekend !
Do let me know if you try any of these
Haven’t known that Mrs Beeton’s tip for cleaning dirty pans, must try it. I love marigolds, and they are great for garden jobs too, as I can tackle the nettles easily.
I never thought of doing that. Fortunately we don’t get nettles but we do get thistles which are really spiky