Cleaning stainless steel eg taps, sinks

Here's a great tip for cleaning your kitchen sink...

Sprinkle with bicarb
Rub with the flesh of a used lemon
Rinse with water

I've never had such shiny sinks...too easy!

Dishwasher Powder

I've decided I work best if tackle things one at a time so for now I am continuing my search to make home made cleaning products. Here's one for the dishwasher, can be made with or without thermomix.

125g Citric Acid
250g Bicarb
125g Lectric soda
20 drops of essential oil - I used eucalyptus

Mix together!

Store in an air tight container. It's important to label it or put it in an old plastic dishwasher powder container with child proof lid.  Most importantly keep it out of reach of little people.

Use as normal and add vinegar as a rinse aid.

Cleaning spray

Here's a good 'spray and wipe' alternative that helps use up all those citrus peels.

collect citrus peels in a jar, ripping them up as you go or smushing them with a pestle to help release the oils. Cover the peels with vinegar, pop the lid on and leave the jar in a dark spot for 2 to 4 weeks.
Strain the liquid from the peels into a spray bottle and add a squirt of eco dishwashing liquid.

Discard the peels in the bin- they will be too acidic for the compost

Washing powder

Washing powder

Ingredients
2 bars sunlight soap
1 cup (or slightly less) Borax
1 cup (or slightly less) Lectric Soda

Carve up soap into small pieces (I use bread knife) and blitz together with Borax and Lectric Soda in thermomix speed 8-9 for 1 minute in 2 batches. And there you have a great everyday washing powder!

I also add eucalyptus oil to my wash and a splash of white vinegar to the fabric softner compartment!

DO NOT USE ON SILK OR WOOL - be warned! I only wish someone warned me!!!

You can buy all ingredients at the big supermarkets usually on the bottom shelf of the laundry product aisle.