Ammonia

Another no no. Bad for your chest and pets really hate it. It has no noticeable cleaning results. Ammonia smells linger longer than bleach and vinegar. This is one of those products pushed hard as an alternative cleaner and we cannot think why. It is the most horrible stuff on this earth to use, and the final result is indifferent (to be nice about it)

Rinse after

All detergents and cleaning agents should be rinsed off after application. A good quality commercial hard surface detergent will lift the soil off the surface, and rinsing takes it away. In certain circumstances only, do we leave detergent on a surface, and you will never meet those circumstances

Scouring power

Usually ground up pumice but why use it? it damages all surfaces it touches, and worse, it is usually mixed with bleach. Two nasties for the price of one.
Coming soon, our complete guide to detergents and detergent use, watch this space.

Home-made cleaning products

We think you might be interested in these. 60 years ago, detergent chemistry was in its infancy and the world was in its “make - do and mend” mindset. So, many people made their own cleaners, especially those on farms without instant access to a shop. Here are some of these old recipes we came across. Why don’t you give us your granny’s old recipes?

Furniture cream.
3ozs white wax melted, and 8oxs turpentine and 8ozs of warm water added to this. Liquid ammonia is dropped into this, sufficient to thicken the mix to a cream.

Furniture reviver
Take equal parts of turpentine, linseed oil, and vinegar. Now add a teaspoonful of sugar to each half pint of mix and shake well.

Polishing cloths
Here are polishing cloths you can make from strips of old sheets or old linen. Excellent for silver and brass and other metals.Dissolve 8ozs shredded soap in 1/2 pint of boiling water. Add 4ozs of whitening and a tablespoon of ammonia. Beat to a smooth jelly, and then lay in it squares or strips of linen or cotton sheeting for around 12 hours. After soaking, squeeze them out and leave to dry. Use as and when.

Toilet soap
Dissolve 8ozs caustic soda in 11/2 pints of water and leave it to cool. Now melt 21/2 pounds of clarified fat, and pour the caustic soda solution into this. While stirring, add1 pound of coconut oil, 2 tablespoons of glycerine and some of your favoured perfume. You have soap! Pour it into a wooden box lined with damp cotton, and put it into a warm place for 24 hours. Cut with wire, and store.

Lavender oil
To make lavender oil, which you can use for your personal use or on your furniture, take fresh lavender blossoms which should be picked before bright sunlight has dried the oils (pick before 10am) and cover with sunflower oil in a jar. Put a lid on the jar and leave the jar in a window in full sunlight for a month. The result is a sweet smelling oil which has many use.

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