In this blog post we will reveal our secrets for the sparkling cleanliness of our bathrooms, the living spaces and the fabrics at our property. In the past couple of years we have been testing new cleaning options, and have compared the results with the usage of conventional cleaners and detergents. And guess what? We found that the eco friendly cleaners are not only harmless for humans, pets and the environment. They also smell so much nicer and are far more efficient in removing dirt, bacteria and stains compared with the conventional cleaners, often used in households, that contain dangerous chemicals such as chlorine or ammonia.
So get rid of that smelly nasty bleach that makes your fabrics irreparable, start experimenting and find out about the many sustainable ways of keeping your home healthy, fragranced and clean like never before!
Our complete eco friendly cleaning concept is based on the usage of fruit and citric acids, essential oils and sodas.
Floors and surfaces
People have used vinegar for centuries to clean wooden and glass surfaces. Prepare a solution of one part of apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar) and three or four parts of water, then fill it into a spray bottle. Spray and wipe with a dry cloth.
Vinegar has natural antistatic properties and helps repel dust from surfaces. This solution is also wonderful for cleaning your windows as it makes all glass surfaces perfectly shiny. For very dirty spots or after a heavy rain try cleaning the dried dust with a wet cloth and the vinegar-water solution before using the spray with the dry cloth, to return the surface its previous shine.
Vinegar is very efficient for removing cigarette smell as well. You can use it on your furniture and fabrics, and even on the walls of your home.
You can also add the solution into the reservoir of your steam cleaner, or use it with your classical mop to wipe the floors in your home and neutralize all smells.
Curious tip: We've been using our filter coffee machine for quite some time now. A few months ago the thin elastic pipe that pumps the water from its reservoir got clogged, so the performance of our coffee machine became worse and worse with every single day. We filled the reservoir with apple cider vinegar and turned the machine on. After the third time we got another coffee pot full of hot vinegar and a pipe completely unclogged. Our coffee machine is again functioning flawlessly and we hope to continue to use it for many more years to come. :)
The incredible story of our eco friendly super bathroom cleaner
The maintenance of bathrooms can be very challenging, time consuming and tiring. Not anymore, with your eco friendly super bathroom cleaner. In 1 litre of white vinegar add 5 table spoons of citric acid powder and about 30-40 drops of lavender essential oil that is famous for its antibacterial properties. Stir well until the citric acid powder dissolves in the liquid. Fill into a spray bottle and start spraying and wiping with a dry cloth.
Always shake well before starting to use the spray. Use it on everything in your bathroom and see all surfaces becoming sparkling clean and shiny in no time.
On stubborn dirt spots and on toilets add soda, baking soda or borax. Then rub onto the spot after spraying with your eco friendly super bathroom cleaner. Then wash or wipe away the soda rests, and you're done!
The eco friendly super bathroom cleaner works great for cleaning of ovens and cooking plates. Don't forget to first remove that tough hardened dirt with the scraper for your cooking plates.
Maintenance of fabrics
Croatia's wines are so good and we very much enjoy exploring different tastes. That is why we have become very experienced in removing wine stains. The best thing to do is to apply baking soda onto the fabric right after the wine spill. Baking soda absorbs the liquid, and also the oil from oily stains (table salt is another good option for oily stains).
Then, before washing try soaking the table cloth into hot water for a couple of hours, with dissolved laundry detergent in it, and some soda (try baking soda, or borax, or even the strongest option, washing soda).
Before you turn on your washing machine, adding some baking soda, or even washing soda to your laundry detergent can be very helpful against stains. It is safe for your colored wash as well, and baking soda specifically makes your white sheets sparkling white.
Instead of buying laundry softeners, try adding to the softening or the rinse cycle some white vinegar with appx. 20 drops per litre of your favorite essential oil. White vinegar softens and fragrances your laundry, and helps protect your washing machine's motor from build up of mineral deposits.
Some of the toughest stains on fabrics that are almost impossible and in some cases actually impossible to remove, are caused by sunscreens. Prevention is the best way of keeping your fabrics and clothes beautiful and clean for a long time. So getting the habit of showering the sunscreen off your skin right after returning home is essential.
The best option for your health and for the environment is to use eco friendly sun screens, and to apply common sense approaches to sun protection.
To get rid of the most stubborn stains on fabrics soak the cloth in preferably hot water with hydrogen peroxide and washing soda dissolved in it. Don't forget to choose the water temperature in accordance with the type and the color of the fabrics.
You will be amazed how efficient this solution is, especially after knowing the mess that bleach products cause: they ruin fabrics and your skin, smell terribly and in many cases produce holes instead of removing stains.
Curious tip: There is a way of getting rid of rust stains, too. Apply some lemon juice and then rub table salt onto the rust stain (the best is to squeeze a lemon directly onto the stain). It will help even more if you can then leave the cloth exposed to natural sun shine. Leave it for a couple of days. Then soak the cloth into hot water for a few hours, or even for a whole day. In the water you can dissolve some washing soda (or baking soda for colored fabrics), or hydrogen peroxide, or both. Then wash on high temperature and preferably add baking soda to your washing cycle.
Washing the dishes
Here again the best dish washing liquid is the eco friendly one that you can make at home. For 1 litre of dish washing liquid please mix 0.5 litres of a mild liquid soap (we use this product of the brand Frosch) with 0.5 litres of white vinegar. Add 4 table spoons of citric acid powder and 4 table spoons of table salt. Then add appx. 30 drops of lavender essential oil and stir well until the salt and the citric acid powder dissolve in the liquid.
Use this home made washing liquid with baking soda for cleaning tougher surfaces such as cooking bowls and pans, and to clean your kitchen sink.
Unclogging of pipes
Mix powdered citric acid and baking soda and pour into the drain. Add a litre of hot water. It will cause a foaming explosion where the pressure will push the dirt out of the drain. This is a wonderful way for prophylactics on your pipes that also brings a fresh lemon smell. Do not mix baking soda and citric acid powder for any other purposes.
Another way for unclogging the pipes is to pour hot water, then a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Then after about 10 minutes pour another litre of hot water into the drain.
The sustainable disinfectant
Eucalyptus essential oil is known to kill viruses and bacteria. Prepare a mixture of 30 % white vinegar and 70 % pure alcohol (I buy the cheapest vodka in the store). Add appx. 50 drops of eucalyptus essential oil for appx. 300 ml. od disinfectant and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Always shake well before using this disinfectant. You can spray it on your hands or use it on the surfaces and the fabrics at home.
The natural insect spray
You can even make your own insect spray to protect yourself from mosquitoes and flies or ants during summer. Prepare an alcohol mix of vodka + white vinegar and add lots of peppermint essential oil (appx. 50 drops on 0.5 l), eucalyptus essential oil, lemongrass and citric essential oils (orange and lemon essential oils), and cloves essential oil. Mix well before spraying and feel free to use it on the plants in your garden too, to protect them from parasites.
Curious tip: cinnamon is a very efficient remedy against ants, simply apply cinnamon powder on the affected surfaces in your home and the ants colony will disappear in no time.
We hope that this blog post can give you some new ideas about how to take care of your home in a healthier, harmless way. We keep experiencing the numerous positive effects from switching towards sustainable home care and just could't wait to share our excitement with others and hopefully spread this excitement further.
Let us know what your thoughts and experience are, if there are any other sustainable ideas you wish to share with our community.