Clean Sweep Really Cheap Pictures and Recipes

We started our Enrichment meeting with Build-Your-Own Hawaiian Haystacks. The recipe for the chicken gravy was very simple: Two cans of Cream of Chicken Soup, one can of chicken broth and one can of water. Heat this up and add some cooked chicken that you have shredded. Use this to top a plate of rice, chow mein noodles, cheese, pinapple, tomatoes, celery, green onions, cashews, coconut, mandarin oranges, peas... You get the idea. Everyone loves this because they can put exactly what they like on their own plate. It is a good and light dinner for hot summer nights.































Christie talked about 72 hour kits and gave us an assignment to start or continue storing water. She will give us monthly assignments to help us continue or start our home storage.



April taught a class on cleaning products made primarily from food storage items. The focus was on the use of salt, vinegar, baking soda, and borax. We were able to take home a sample of homemade laundry detergent, along with some great recipes and cleaning ideas.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 bar Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
1/4 cup powder Oxyclean (optional)
Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container. Use 2 Tbs. Per large load or 1 Tbs per small load. Dilute in warm water if you prefer liquid form For fabric softener and static add 1/4 cup vinegar to your rinse cycle.

Borax

Borates, borax and boron compounds are with us throughout our lives. Mothers use it to soak and wash diapers and other laundry, but it’s also an ingredient in cosmetics, medicines, ceramics and building materials. The biggest industrial user of borates is the glass industry (especially fiberglass), and it’s an important ingredient in agricultural chemicals and fire retardants. In earlier times, Borax was proclaimed to be a magical crystal and was used to aid digestion, keep milk sweet and even cure epilepsy. Common sense and modern technology have brought us better solutions to these and other problems, but Borax still has a place in your home. Borax acts as a water conditioner, boosting the cleaning power of detergent by controlling alkalinity, deodorizing the clothes and aiding the removal of stains and soil. Add ½ cup Borax to each washload along with the recommended amount of detergent.

Clear a Clogged Drain

Use a funnel to insert ½ cup Borax into the clogged drain, then slowly pour in 2 cups boiling water. Let the mixture set for 15 minutes, then flush with hot water. Repeat for stubborn clogs.

Rub Out Heavy Sink Stains

Make a paste of 1 cup Borax and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Put some of the paste on a cloth or sponge and rub it into the stain, then rinse with running warm water. The stain should wash away with the paste.

Remove Mildew From Fabric

For upholstery and other fabrics, soak a
sponge in a solution of ½ cup Borax dissolved in 2 cups hot water, and rub it into the affected areas. Let it soak for several hours until the stain disappears, then rinse well. To remove mildew from clothing, soak it in a solution of 2 cups Borax in 2 quarts water.

Liquid Dishwasher Detergent

1 part baking soda
1 part borax
1 part water
1 drop lemon or orange essential oil per cup of detergent Directions: Mix the ingredients thoroughly and store in a sealable jug. Use 2-3 Tbs per load. If you are having a cloudy dishes problem after using the homemade detergents try adding a few drops of liquid dish soap to the powder compartment when you add the powder. You could also try cutting back on the amount of soap used (if you are using 2 Tbs, try cutting it back to 1 - 1½ Tbs). Make sure to use vinegar in the rinse cycle.

All Purpose Cleaner

You’ll need a large spray bottle, a half cup of baking soda, and enough water to dissolve. To this, slowly add a cup of vinegar (it will fizz like mad for a bit), then top off with more water. Let this mixture sit overnight, then flip end over end to mix. Be prepared for more fizzing. When fizzing ends, it is ready to use.

All Purpose Cleaner that Cuts Grease

Use the same recipe as above, but add a teaspoon of dish detergent. Organic detergent was my one splurge. After all, you are spraying this into the air.

Carpet Cleaner and Deodorizer

Sprinkle baking soda over carpet and let it sit. You will get better results if you let it sit for an extended period of time. It is okay to walk on it and grind it in the carpet. Then vacuum thoroughly.

To Prevent Mildew

Wiping down surfaces with vinegar helps prevent mildew because acid kills mildew fungus. Try rubbing the article with white vinegar and lemon juice. Saturate the stain. Sprinkle a good bit of salt on the area and scrub in. Place in the sun to dry. (Sunshine is an excellent bleach). This may need a few treatments, but it does work.

To Deodorize a Room

Place a small open cup, half full of vinegar, in the kitchen. It will absorb even the strongest odors.

Rings Around the Collar

Apply a paste of vinegar and baking soda and let set for a quarter to a half hour. Then wash as usual.

Cleaning Electronics

Your electronics will work better if you keep them clean and dust-free. Shut down electronics. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bucket. Dampen a clean cloth in the solution (never use a spray bottle) squeeze it out as hard as you can, and start wiping.; use cotton swabs for getting to the buildups in tight spaces.

Baking soda

Baking Soda can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers. Baking soda is great as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Put is anywhere you need deodorizing action. Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy bathtub rings, scour vanities, or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink. For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10-20 minutes. Dirt, soap scum and deposits soften and are easier to remove. Slow-running drains? Keep bathroom drains running freely by pouring ½ to 3/4 cup baking soda into the drain, and dribbling just enough hot water to wash the solution down. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then flush thoroughly with hot water. The deodorizing effect is an added bonus! (Do not use this method on blocked drains.)




Jeannie, our president, led us in a quiz about green cleaning and passed out prizes for correct answers. Thanks to all of the members of the committee for helping out. Thanks to the sisters who participated by giving our recipes a test drive. It was a wonderful evening. I overheard more than one sister say that she was excited to go home and clean house. Now that is success!