7 cleaning tips without nasty chemicals

Cleaning is not a favourite pass time of mine, but it needs to be done! Today I share 7 super cleaning tips without nasty chemicals which I have used with great success. {Please note that this post contains links to blog sponsor ecostore’s fab range of plant and mineral based cleaning products.}

1. The freezer – removing chewing gum from clothes


I did this just this last week. The older three catch public transport to school and more than once they have come home from school with chewing gum on their pants.

This video shows how you can freeze the item of clothing and remove it that way. Prior to using this method I used ice. {Click here to see the video if you are reading via email.}

2. Eucalyptus oil – removing sticker residue

eucalyptus oil
Ever by something from the store, take the sticker off and it leaves a sticky residue behind? Pour some eucalyptus oil onto a cloth, then rub on the sticky area. Let it sit for a minute or two, then it should wipe of easily. (Obviously you need to test on a small unseen patch of the item first.)

3. Water – removing blood from carpet

640 blood on carpet
I frantically searched for how to remove blood from carpet when my eldest had a blood nose and dripped blood all over my sister’s brand new carpet (only a couple of weeks old!). I followed these instructions using water and the dabbing technique to the letter and it worked perfectly.

4.Wool mix – general stains on wool carpet

400 eco store wool wash
My mother in law gave me the best tip for getting the general wear stains out of our wool carpets. It is to mix a small amount of good quality wool mix with water in a jug, then pour a small amount onto the area and scrub gently with a clean cloth.

5. Vinegar – descaling the kettle

640 descaling kettle
The inside of a kettle can get pretty grimy. To remove the build up in the kettle fill it a quarter of the way with vinegar and allow it sit for an hour. Leave the vinegar in and fill it up to the top with water and put the kettle on to boil. Once boiled the grime should wash away when you pour the water out. You then need to rinse the kettle out a number of times with water to make sure the vinegar will not flavour the water for your tea!

6. Bicarbonate soda – removing burnt food from pans

640 dirty pans
I have burnt food onto the bottom of pans on more than one occasion. To remove the burnt food I follow these steps:

  • Add 1/4 cup of bicarbonate of soda a small squirt of dishwashing liquid.
  • Bring it to the boil and allow it to simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and allow it to cool.
  • Scrub as you usually would and the burnt food should come off easily.

7. Lemon and salt – to clean wooden chopping boards

640 wooden chopping boards clean with lemon
My dad always used a combination of heat, lemon and salt, then scrubbing with a newspaper to clean up barbeques. I recently transferred this idea to my wooden chopping board. I grind salt all over the chopping board first, then cut a lemon in half squeeze the juice all over the board. I let it soak in for a couple of minutes, then using the lemon I scrub the wooden board. Wipe it all off with a clean wet sponge a couple of times and then let it dry.

What are your favourite cleaning tips that don’t involve nasty chemicals?