{"id":1461,"date":"2019-03-10T13:42:41","date_gmt":"2019-03-10T18:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chikchikchicken.com\/?p=1461"},"modified":"2019-03-29T19:13:36","modified_gmt":"2019-03-30T00:13:36","slug":"simple-cleaning-products-simple-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chikchikchicken.com\/index.php\/2019\/03\/10\/simple-cleaning-products-simple-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple Cleaning Products \u2013 Simple Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It\u2019s nearly Spring! Daylight savings has begun and my kids are on Spring Break. I usually take a full day this time of year and do some deep cleaning and organizing. I\u2019ve been looking for some simple cleaning products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Mom sent me a list of different uses for Dawn dishwashing liquid. I thought I\u2019d give a few a try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dawn<\/a> has been known for years to aid wildlife in oil spill clean ups. Why? Dawn effectively removes grease, is biodegradable and does not cause damage to the skin of animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn money from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glass and Window Cleaner<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the recipes from my mom is for a glass and window cleaner. Mix 3 drops of Dawn in 1 gallon of water. I didn\u2019t want to mix this much so I used an empty Windex bottle and put in one good drop of Dawn. Then, I filled with warm water and used as I would any glass cleaner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was a little skeptical at first, but it worked beautifully on my glass dining room table and bathroom mirrors. No streaks and cleaned well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repel ants<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Spray countertops, cupboards and any other area with Dawn and water. Wipe dry. The left-over residue will repel ants. Any remaining is safe for kids and animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it\u2019s still too cold for ants but I\u2019m using the above glass and window cleaner mixture on my counters. We occasionally get ants, especially in the summer when the kids are home (they don\u2019t wipe the counters very often). I\u2019ll keep you updated if I see any ants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tub and Shower Cleaner<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mix a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and Dawn. Heat vinegar in the microwave for 90 seconds then add Dawn and stir. Mix well. I used a glass measuring cup. I mixed \u00bc cup of each and poured in my scrubby dishwand<\/a>.  It fit perfectly\u2026just the right amount. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, apply to tub or shower. Let sit for 10 minutes then wash away. It was a struggle to wash off and not get soaked. Next time I think I’ll add before I shower, then I can wash off while I\u2019m in there. It got rid of the slime, grime, and that hard to remove bathtub ring. If your tub or shower is really dirty, you may need to do twice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could pour in a spray bottle and shake well to mix. It may be easier to spray on the shower walls then apply with the scrubby brush.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microwave<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After mixing the tub and shower cleaner, there was some residual left in my measuring cup. I added water and heated in the microwave for 3 \u00bd minutes. With 4 seconds remaining, the door to the microwave blew open! I\u2019ve used the cleaner below so thought why not throw this in the microwave with some water so I utilize all the ingredients! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh Man! Was I in shock! WTH just happened! I shut the door, more than a little stunned and let it sit for a minute. The inside was wet and everything wiped off easily, to say the least. I\u2019m not sure what happened or why it exploded.  Maybe a chemical reaction. I did see the Dawn bubbling up so maybe the gas from that?! It really cleaned well but I think I will stick to the mixture below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multipurpose cleaner<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1 drop of Dawn in 8 oz of water to clean bathroom counters, sinks, tubs, toilets, ceramic tile, baseboards, wood, and shelves. Don\u2019t let sit on wood. Wipe dry as you go. This is basically the glass and window cleaner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not sure I\u2019ll use on wood. I\u2019m a Murphy\u2019s Oil Soap<\/a> girl. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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I\u2019ve used this for years on my dogs. Dawn kills fleas on contact. The first time I used it years ago, my parents had a pregnant dog dumped on their property. After the puppies were born, within a few weeks, they were covered in fleas. We bathed all and within seconds the fleas were dead. Don\u2019t use more than once a month since it will strip the natural oils from your pet’s coat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clarifying Shampoo <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Use once a month in place of your regular shampoo. It will remove any product build up and excess oil from your hair and scalp. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poison Ivy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wash skin with Dawn and cold water. Don\u2019t scrub. Poison Ivy<\/a> spreads due to the oil in the plant. Hot water will open your pores encouraging the oil to spread. As soon as you realize you\u2019ve been in contact with PoisonIvy or Poison Oak, rinse immediately. For best results, it should be within 30 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people are more susceptible to a rash than others. One of my sons breaks out severely while the other isn\u2019t affected at all. Over the counter meds may help if a mild rash develops. Anything else, you may need a prescription. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope that we don\u2019t encounter any Poison Ivy, but I will definitely give this a try if we do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other types of cleaners<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the microwave:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Splash of white vinegar, lemon slices, and water. Cook on high 3 minutes. Let sit for 1 minute after heating. The solution will steam the inside of the microwave. Use a damp cloth or sponge and wipe out.  I do this frequently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shower and Tile cleaner<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve also heard of using Rainx <\/a>on the shower tile and the shower doors. This makes sense because it repels water on cars. If you try it, just be careful not to get any on the shower floor. With my luck (especially after the microwave incident), I\u2019ll probably slip and fall. Some people state that it lasted four to six months. Since I just used the Dawn solution, I plan to try this next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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All-purpose cleaner<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

My fellow blogging friend at The Recipe Bandit <\/a>posted a recipe <\/a>for an all-purpose cleaner using orange peels and distilled white vinegar. With cold and flu season, we\u2019ve been eating lots of citrus. I\u2019ve mixed it up and it should be ready next week. I can\u2019t wait to try it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been using the Dawn glass cleaner mixture on just about everything. It cuts through dirt amazingly well. I can\u2019t say it cleans any better than the commercial cleaners but the nice thing is there\u2019s no harsh chemicals and it cost pennies! If you have any other cleaning hacks or solutions you\u2019ve tried, I\u2019d love to hear about it. I\u2019m always looking for easy, budget friendly, simple ideas.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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