Fun, Homemade Silly Putty and its' Uses for Cleaning

Many of us played with things that were gooy and grossed parents or other kids out. My personal favorite was sticky hands. Many of your kids still play with these things. However, did you know that onepopular goop was an accidental invention/discovery during World War 2? That's right: silly putty. The original is a silicone and boric acid (borax) base rubber. Although this recipe does use borax, we will not be using silicone. First, I will give the recipe as usual. Then I will list some uses for cleaning with silly putty around the home.

Materials

1. One small bowl
2. One small cup (tumbler cup works best)
3. One spoon for mixing
4. One teaspoon (do not use for mixing in the bowl)

Ingredients

1. Two Teaspoons of Borax
2. One 4 oz bottle of Elmer's School Glue
3. Water (at least 4 -6 oz)
4. Glitter and or food coloring (optional)

Directions

1. Squeeze the enitre bottle of glue into the bowl (if you are adding food coloring or glitter, pour them into the bowl now)
2. Fill the empty glue bottle with warm water.
3. Pour the water into the bowl and use the mixing spoon to stir it into the glue until the mixture is smooth and consistent.
4. Put 1/4 cup of water into the small cup
5. Using the teaspoon, mix the borax in the cup until disolved.
6. Pour one teaspoon of the borax mix into the glue mix and stir.
7. Repeat step six making sure to stir each teaspoon into the glue before adding more. Do that until the silly putty starts to form together into a rubbery texture. 
8. Knead the silly putty until it stops sticking to your hands (If you want it thicker, add more borax)

Now that you have made your silly putty, here are some things you (and maybe your kids) can clean with it. 

• Your Car (specifically the radio and door buttons)
• Keyboards
• AC vents
• METAL Speaker screens (do not clean fabric on the speaker)
• Smart phone screens
• TV or various other remotes
• Buttons on electronic devices such as tvs, DVD players, stereos etc
• Dusting art pieces with lots of small crevices
• Anything with tiny crevices that are hard to clean loose dirt out of.

Shower Head Cleaner with a Sandwich Bag

Many people have a hard time cleaning the shower head. It is up high, has a lot of crevices, and sometimes has mineral clogs. You could use lime-a-way or other shower cleaner that builds up fumes and (at least for me) causes a nice head ache. On the other hand, you could use a chemical free clean. I have two ways of doing this, a regular and a deep clean, and I have both in this post. Both are very simple and easy to do with little to no effort.

Regular Clean for Weekly Cleaning

Materials

• 1 Rubber band (large enough to fit around the end of the shower head)
• 1 Sandwich bag
• Cloth

Ingredient

• Vinegar

Directions

(If you have a shower head attached to a hose, take it off the hook and let it hang. If water comes out, let it drain before going to step 1.)

1. Fill the sandwich bag 3/4 full with vinegar.
2. Put the bag around the shower head so the holes are completely covered in the vinegar.
3. Use the rubber band to seal and hold the bag on to the shower head.
4. Let it sit for one hour.
5. Remove the bag and let the shower head drain.
6. Use the cloth to wipe the head, hose and wall attachment clean.

Deep Clean for Seasonal  or Spring Cleaning

Materials

• 1 Sandwich bag
• 1 Rubber band
• 1 cloth
• 1 toothbrush

Ingredients

• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Water

Directions

(If you have a shower head attached to a hose, take it off the hook and let it hang. If water comes out, let it drain before going to step 1.)

1. Wet the toothbrush with water 
2. Dip the wet toothbrush in baking soda
3. Use the toothbrush to scrub the baking soda into the crevices, making sure to pay special attention to any clogs in the holes
4. Make a paste with one part water and three parts baking soda and spread it over the holes on the end of the shower head.
5. Fill the sandwich bag 3/4 full with vinegar.
6. Put the bag around the shower head so the holes are completely covered in the vinegar.
7. Use the rubber band to seal and hold the sandwich
8. Let it sit for eight hours.
9. Remove the bag and let the shower head drain.
10. Use the cloth to wipe the head, hose and wall attachment clean.

Weekly Shower cleaner

We all know scrubbing the tub and shower can be a real pain in the rear. Especially on the lower back. I find this is doubled when you have hard water. My state in particular has a ton of calcium and lime in the water. So how do you scrub that off without breaking your back for too long or putting a few chemicals on the tile and porcelain? Baking soda and salt. Both have great scrubbing qualities that do not require a lot of muscle at all. The baking soda can also easily scrub the grout which I find is the hardest spots. This recipe I find works for me but if you do not have a shower head with a hose, I highly recommend having a regular cup ready to rinse at the end instead.

Materials

Sponge

Shower head with hose (or Cup if you do not have a hose attached to the shower head)

Bowl

Measuring cup

Tablespoon

Cloth

Ingredients

1 cup Baking soda

1 tbsp. Salt

Water as needed

First measure and mix the ingredients together in the bowl until salt is evenly distributed. Wet your sponge or cloth and dip it in the bowl on the side you intend to use for scrubbing. Rub it onto the tile and tub in circular motions. Do this until the bathing area looks and feels clean. The tub and tile should feel smooth but not slimy with the exception of the mixture being on it. Use the shower head hose to rinse off the baking soda and salt when finished. To polish wipe dry with a clean dry cloth.

Fun to Watch Homemade Sink and Drain Cleaner

So this one is a very familiar recipe. That is because it almost the same as the toilet cleaner recipe, if anything it is just simply doubled. However, its use is a bit different than just cleaning the porcelain sides. This recipe can also help clear your pipes of minor clogs and also for regular maintenance of your bathroom and kitchen pipes for both sinks and tubs.  Also much like the toilet cleaner, this recipe is fun for kids to watch as the baking soda “magically” disappears.

Materials you will need to make and use this recipe are

2 measuring cups (one for dry baking soda ONLY and the other for vinegar ONLY)

1 scrubbing sponge or cloth

Ingredients

2 cups of baking soda

4 cups of vinegar

Water (enough to wet sponge, fill sink, and check the drain)

To use

First, wet your sponge and dip it into the baking soda with scrubbing side down. Scrub the sides of the sink with it. Do not worry if you do not get everything off during this part. Every four to five scrubbing motions (whether circles or up and down is up to you) dip the sponge again. When you are done cleaning the entire area take the drain stopper out if you have one. Pour half of the baking soda (1 cup) down the drain. Slowly pour half of the vinegar (2 cups) down the drain. Let that sit for 30 minutes before going onto the next part.

Now after 30 minutes go get the kids. Put the drain stopper back in and close the drain. Fill the sink with water. Pour the rest of the baking soda into the sink. Then slowly pour the rest of the vinegar. Put the sponge in there with it as that will rinse it out and sanitize as well. Watch as the sink and sponge starts to fizz. Let that sit for about five minutes and then open the drain. If the sink is still slowly draining you can repeat the first part. Run some water once the sink has drained to rinse the porcelain and the drain. 

Air and Fabric Freshener Spray

This is one of the simplest recipes I have ever run across. I use it as a fabric and air freshener. This can be easily used to create an aromatherapy in your home as well.

All you will need is 

1 cup Distilled Vodka

1 1/2 cups of Water

Essential Oils (I did one tsp)

and a spray bottle

Pour them all into the bottle, shake it up and you are done.

To use just spray either onto fabrics or into the air.

Easy Outdoor Window Cleaner

So cleaning the house windows in the hot sun is no fun and usually time consuming. I have found that the chore just was not worth doing most of the year. I looked into the windex outdoor cleaning system but it was like many of the other cleaners just was expensive and full of chemicals. This was cheap, quick, and easy to make. I have included two sets of steps for single story and multi-story homes. Materials are slightly different but the ingredients are the same.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Water
• 1/4 cup of White Vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon of either castile soap or dish detergent (both work well)

For the single story.

Materials

•  a spray bottle 
• a swiffer sweeper mop (or similar style mop)
• 2 microfiber cloths
• Garden hose attached to a spigot (make sure you can reach all of the windows with it)

First mix all of the ingredients in the spray bottle. Then if you have screens on your windows make sure you take those off. Now put one cloth on the end of the swiffer sweeper (do not use the swiffer pads for this as they do not hold up well). Spray the first window with the hose to wet it. Then Spray the  mixture on the window. Now wipe or scrub the entire window with the mop. Now use the Garden hose to rinse the window. Take the wet cloth off the swiffer sweeper and put the dry one on it then use that to dry the window. Repeat till done with all of the windows. When you are finished with the windows put the screens back onto them.

For multi-story

Materials

• A bucket
• soft brush with an optional, extension pole 
• Garden hose

First mix all of the ingredients in the bucket. Then if you have screens on your windows take those off. Now prepare the brush. Spray the first window to wet it with the hose. Then dip the brush in the bucket and scrub the entire window with the brush. Now use the hose to rinse the window and let them air dry. Repeat till all the windows have been washed. Finally put the screens back onto the windows.

Liquid Laundry detergent

I have told you all that I make my cleaners to save money. Well, this one came about not to save money, but because I have an allergy to most store detergents including powders. I have found that this recipe alleviated that annoying, bumpy, itchy rash I perticularly got on my chest and thighs. It works well in my hard water combinded with my HE washer. It takes a bit of slaving over a hot stove, but the recipe is very simple. The recipe also is in bulk (yields 5 gal) and will last some time.

Materials
1 Ten Gallon Bucket with a lid
1 Large Pot
1 Cheese Grater (I used a food processor)
1 Large Mixing Utensil
2 - 3 Empty Laundry Detergent Containers (optional)

Ingrediants

1 cup of Borax
1 cup of  Washing Soda (NOT baking soda!)
1 Bar of Fels Naptha soap (or 5.5 oz of Zote soap)
Water (enough to fill half the bucket)
1 tbsp of Essential Oil for scent (optional it smells good without it too)

Instructions
Heat 1 quart of water in the pot on the medium high till it is steaming. While doing that, grate the Fels-Naptha soap. Add the grated soap to the hot water. Stir until completely melted - about 10 minutes. There should be no clumps in the water. Be careful with the foamy bubbles.

Fill up  the 10 gallon bucket halfway with hot tap water. Pour in the melted soap mixture & give it a quick stir. Stir in the borax & washing soda till it is disolved. If you're using essential oil, now is the time to add it. You add in ½oz to 1oz, depending on how scented you want. Stir the contents again.

Snap on the lid, & let it sit for 24 hours to gel up. It will have the consistency of egg noodle soup - watery with glops of gel. If you would like a smoother consistency like the store-bought brands, you can use an immersion blender at this point to smooth it out.

AFTER 24 HOURS HAVE PASSED you can divide it up between the empty containers.

Slow Release Air Freshener made with Toys!!!

So as I stated in my last post, moving and renovating has given me a few new ideas. When we first moved to this house it stunk of cat pee. Yeah EEEEWWWW!!! We cleaned the grout with bleach and a lot of elbow grease, but the stench was still there and now added with bleach smells. Any suggestions to add to this freshener are welcome. Until I find an effective recipe for getting the smell out of grout I have needed to use air fresheners. I love using the fragrance spheres like the ones that Yankee Candle has, but they are so expensive and full of chemicals. After some trial and error I have found a extremely easy recipe that is cheap and the materials are reusable. Better yet one of them is found in the toy isle at many stores like Walmart. That's right. I said the toy isle. Specifically usually found in the girls toy isle. The toy I am talking about is Orbeez. This one is very fun to watch when you put the liquid in the jar, and in the end is very pretty looking. That being said I do feel the need to say the next thing as I know many of you use chemical free cleaners because of young ones.

WARNING: Orbeez is a CHOKING HAZARD. Although the liquid used in this recipe is safe for young ones, swallowing Orbeez can cause Choking, Serious Injury, and even lead to DEATH. DO NOT KEEP IN REACH OF CHILDREN.

Now lets get started.

Materials

• Mason Jar with a lid (I used an 16 oz jar)
• Bowl 
• Spoon
• Hammer
• Phillips Screw Driver
• 2 packets of Orbeez (I only used red for this one)

Ingrediants

• 2 cups of water
• 1 tsp Essential oils 

First you will need to make holes in the lid of the mason jar. Leave the lid on the jar. Put the end of the screw driver onto the lid, and use the hammer to hit the handle so it will punch a hole in the top. do this repeatedly till you get a desired number of holes in the top. you will want about a 1/4 inch between each of them to maintain structural integrity of the lid. Unscrew the lid and set it aside with the jar.

Use the bowl and spoon to mix the water and essential oils.

Pour both packets of Orbeez into the mason jar. Now pour the liquid mixture from your bowl into the jar with the Orbeez. Now here is the fun part. Wait a few minutes and they will be fully grown to almost 300 times their original size.

When they are dried up you can make a new liquid mixture and just pour it right in. Here is a picture of my finished product.

I am Back/ Aquarium and Equipment Cleaner

I know I have not posted in awhile. I have been very busy with more hours at work, moving and home renovations. Moving has given me many ideas which I will post about later, especially moving and organization strategies. Anyway back to the article for today.

There are not a lot of chemical free cleaners for aquariums that help to disinfect anything in the tank such as the filter or the decorations. A normal 25% water change is what most of us tank owners do and it can be frustrating. If you have to do a full tank change it is really a pain in the rear. I have made a recipe that can be used for a FULL TANK CHANGE. Do not do this with a partial as it will kill your fish when mixed into their water. I have made it to best suit a 10 gallon tank but is easily increased or decreased to fit your needs.

Materials

• A measuring cup
• two clean rags 
• old toothbrush
• a bowl
• container large enough to put your fish in
• Dishwasher (if you have one)
•  sink.

Ingredients

• 1tbsp vinegar 
• 1tbsp vodka
• 2 cups water
• Old tank water (enough to put in fish container while you clean)
• new tank water (enough to fill tank)

First if you have recently done the dishes in your dishwasher, start a rinse cycle only. This will get rid of any soap residue before using it for cleaning the decorations. Fill a container with water from the fish tank. Take out the fish and put them into that container and set them aside. with the exception of real plants and gravel, take out decorations, and all equipment out of the fish tank. Put the non plant decorations inside the top rack of the dishwasher and put the fake plants in the silverware container. Close it and set it to the normal wash cycle. Rinse aid is fine just DO NOT USE SOAP.  If you do not have a dishwasher you can wash them by hand with the filters later.

While the dishwasher is running, drain the tank. Now mix the vinegar, vodka and one cup of water in a bowl. Dip a clean rag into the mixture and wipe the inside of the tank. Take a old toothbrush and use it to scrub the corners of the tank. Get one cup of plain water and another rag. repeat the same steps you did with the mixture. now dump the plain water on the gravel, especially around any real plants to rinse the mixture  off the surface then drain that. You may need to fill the tank till water covers the gravel and drain it to get a thorough rinse of the gravel. Allow it to dry while you do the next steps.

For the filters (and decorations if you don't have a dishwasher) take them apart as instructed by the manufacturer and was all the non electrical parts in the sink, again DO NOT USE SOAP. Then set them up with new filters as per manufacturer instructions.

When the dishwasher is finished with the last rinse cycle go ahead and open it up. You do not need to dry them. Set them up in the tank however you like. Fill the tank up but leave enough room to put the entire container of water your fish are currently in into the tank.

You will need to re-acclimate the fish. Put the fish container into the water and let it sit in the new water for 15 minutes. Pour half of it into the tank and then refill it with the new tank water. Let it sit for 15 more minutes.  Now put your fish back into the tank and pour the container into it. I know that sounds weird but the old water has good bacteria in it that will keep your fish healthy.

Now you are done.