Clean the Toilet Syphons Easily and Naturally

We all clean the toilets. It is just a fact of life. If we don't then life becomes dangerously disgusting. However, we almost never clean the tank and syphons. Some of you may be asking, "what are the syphons?" They are the holes that the water from the tank that empty into the bowl. The only part we ever scrub on them regularly is what we see in the bowl.

Then if that was not enough, when was the last time the tank got a good cleaning? Most of us just put a blue drop cleaner and that is it. No real scrubbing.

The recipe I have today is similar to the toilet bowl cleaner I posted last week.

Please note that this will be an EIGHT HOUR soak, so please do this when it is most convenient for you. I do this before going to work when no one is home.

Materials

• Duct tape
• Hand Towel

Ingredients

• Four cups Baking Soda
• 2 gallons Vinegar 

Directions

1. Clean the toilet bowl thoroughly
2. Look for the knob behind the toilet (usually close to the floor) and turn it to the right to shut the water off to the toilet. 
3. Flush the toilet to empty the bowl. (Do not turn the water back on yet)
4. Take off the tank lid and pour four cups of baking soda all over the tank. Make sure to get the sides.
5. Use the toilet brush to scrub the tank
6. Dry the syphon holes with the towels
7. Cover the syphon holes with small strips of duct tape so liquid cannot go through.
8. Pour two gallons of vinegar into the tank.
9. Use the brush to wet any baking soda 
10. Allow the mixture to soak for eight hours
11. After eight hours remove the tape to allow the baking soda and vinegar to drain out of the tank.
12. Turn the water back on and flush.

Cleaning Shower Curtains that Cleans the Clothes Washer

Shower curtains and liners get dirty and sometimes down right nasty. They have hard water build up in many homes too. The shower curtains and liners even can contain or develop allergen growth such as mold. Then to top it off due to their size, it can be cumbersome and hard to clean. Here is a easy chemical free way to clean the shower curtain and liners together. Bonus: it will clean and freshen the clothes washer a bit too.

Material

• Washer
• Softener ball (Optional)

Ingredients

• 1 cups baking soda
• 1 cups vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Essential oils (optional)

Directions

1. Take the shower curtain and liners off of the rod and remove the hooks.

2. Place them inside the washer

3. Sprinkle the baking soda into the drum of the washer. If you are using a softener ball, see step 4 a and skip step 4 b. If you are not using a softener ball, skip step 4 a.

4a. Fill the softener ball with the vinegar and essential oils and place it in the washer. Then start the normal wash cycle.

4b. Start the normal wash cycle. When the rinse cycle begins pour the vinegar and essential oils directly into the washer and resume the cycle.

5. When the washer is finished with the spin cycle, hang the shower curtain and liner back on to the rod and allow to air dry. Make sure the bottom of both are inside the bath tub while drying. 

6. Once the curtain is dry you can put the bottom outside the tub again.

This should be done on a regular basis to prevent any mold or other allergen development. However, repeat as needed.

Ten things you can clean in the dishwasher besides the dishes

We all know that you can wash dishes in the dishwasher. Thus the name dishwasher. However, there are many other things you can clean in there besides pots, pans and plates. The fact is you can use this machine to clean and sanitize just about anything that can take on water. Here is a list of ten things you can wash in the dishwasher.

1. Eye Contact Case and Eye glasses.

I started with this one because many readers don't think twice about this.

For eye contacts, many think that the contact solution is enough to keep the case clean. However, that solution does not clean or sanitize most of the case at all. So it is still carrying bacteria that may also end up in your eyes. Throw it in the dishwasher silverware compartment. As for glasses, think about this. How often do you set those on tables, counters, in purses etc? What did you touch today then later touch your glasses? Yeah, any bacteria that was there is now on the glasses on your face. You can set these in the top rack opened like you are wearing them.

2. Plastic sandwich bags

That's right. With a good wash these can be used again. If you set them on four prongs (two on each end) it will keep the bag open for the soap and water to get in there and wash them. They also dry quicker this way.

3. Trash cans

I personally hate scrubbing these things in my tub. If the trash can is short enough, you can wash it in the bottom rack. Just make sure you pulled all the trash that was stuck on the bottom out first.

4. Bathroom containers and soap dishes.

You can put any metal or plastic bathroom containers such as tooth brush holders or soap dishes in the dishwasher. Just be careful with ceramic ones. For those do not use the hottest setting, rather use the coolest.

5. Car Hubcaps

You read that right, car hubcaps. Simply put a small cereal bowl full of vinegar in the top rack, put the hubcaps in the bottom and viola. You have clean scrub free hubcaps while you wash the rest of the car.

6. Pet toys

Do your pet's toys get gross? You can wash them off in the dishwasher. Put plastics in bottom, and stuffed on top.

7. Metal fixtures

You can put clogged shower heads, gunky sink faucets, cabinet and drawer handles all into the dishwasher. I recommend rubbing baking soda and using a bowl of vinegar in the top rack to really combat mineral buildup.

8. Vacuum filters

I put mine in the silverware rack because it is small and even flies off of the top rack. You may also want to rinse off large debris first like hair.

9. Sneakers, sandals and croc shoes

You can put many shoes in the washer such as flip flops and sneakers. The only ones that cannot go in are leather, suede and wood.

10. AC vent covers

This is one thing that rarely is thoroughly cleaned in any home. Just unscrew them, put them in the bottom rack and wash in a pots and pans cycle (hottest and longest).

Bathroom cleaner that is Fun to Watch

This is one of the easiest recipes to use for cleaning the bathroom and frankly fun to watch it work. My niece (age 3) and nephew (age 5) love watching this This helps with the Iron rings I get in my toilet from my hard water. It makes the bowl look disgusting. This can also be used to clean the sink, shower, and tub using the same steps.

materials

• Spray bottle
• brush or cloth for scrubbing

ingredients

• Vinegar
• baking soda
• essential oils (optional)

First, fill the spray bottle with vinegar and essential oils (enough for your liking). Then spray the surface you want to clean with the mixture. Let it sit for about two minutes then (this is the fun part, seriously get your kids) lightly sprinkle baking soda on the area. Let it sit till it stops bubbling or fizzing. If you put it in the toilet bowl, use the brush to scrub the bowl then flush. If you put it on other surfaces use a cloth to wipe it off. Spray one last time to make sure you got all the baking soda dissolved.  Wipe again, and then you're done.