Can vinegar really clean your windows?
Do you remember being told that cleaning your windows with vinegar and newspaper would leave them sparkling, or that rubbing tarnished silverware with ketchup would restore it to its former glory? Perhaps you recall your grandmother using diluted lemon juice in place of a chemical surface spray, or pouring Coca-Cola down the toilet. So-called ‘old wives’ tales’ have been passed down to generation after generation, and have a new-found popularity today with the growth of sites like mumsnet.com and moneysavingexpert.com.
Though home-made cleaning products can be cheap and eco-friendly alternatives to chemical-based solutions, it’s important to know that they work before you use them, and that they are not going to cause damage to your furniture, upholstery, paintwork or clothes. Hiring a professional cleaner is an affordable and reliable way to ensure your home is kept spotless, with only tried and tested methods being used. For those of you that love to experiment with cleaning techniques, we’ve analysed some common cleaning myths here.
Newspaper is the best material for cleaning windows
This advice has divided opinion. Some people say that the ink on the newspaper leaves stains on the glass (as well as your fingers) and that the soggy material falls apart in your hands. But others praise newspaper for its density and its ability to absorb liquid without leaving streaks on your windows, or bits of fluff like you would get with a cloth.
White wine rectifies red win spillages
Science says that when a drink containing a high concentration of alcohol is poured onto a red wine stain, the alcohol dissolves the pigments. Though white wine can certainly cause a burgundy-red stain to fade to light pink, it doesn’t get rid of it entirely. Clearer and more alcoholic drinks like vodka are far more effective than white wine in treating colour stains.
Walnuts remove scratches from wooden furniture
The oil from walnuts is ideal for repairing blemishes in wood, and is a natural treatment that you can buy in a tin from DIY stores. Rubbing the shelled nut over the wood should be an effective alternative to buying pure walnut oil.
Peanut butter gets chewing gum out of carpets or clothes
Oily peanut butter is supposed to stiffen up the chewing gum and make it less sticky, thus enabling you to brush or scrub it from the affected surface. Freezing gum off with ice seems to be a more trusted method though, especially on carpets.
Foil makes ironing quicker and easier
Placing a sheet of aluminium foil underneath your clothes on an ironing board should, theoretically, help you iron both sides at once. Be sensitive about the increase in heat, though: you don’t want to burn your clothes! Using a professional ironing service is a much safer way to make that ironing pile disappear.
Here at Efficient Cleaning London, our professional cleaners use well-established techniques that leave your house in Esher, South West London or Surrey sparkling. Contact us today to find out more.
