The environmental movement has made people aware that their consumption of packaged or processed products can be harmful to the planet and their own health. Many people are switching to natural soaps, unprocessed foods and even bar shampoos. What about the cleaning products in your home?
Some people are reluctant to remove chemical cleaners from their routine because don’t want something less effective. However, there are several viable alternatives available on the market. One of the problems buyers face is the price of these so-called ecological alternatives. They can cost up to twice as much.
Limestone is found in wetlands and accumulates quickly or slowly depending on the levels in your running water. This mineral is a well-known nuisance, and has been tough to clean naturally – until now!
Here’s how to remove limescale from your home with a magic ingredient: white vinegar. This strategy is 100% natural and economical.
1. The Bath and the Shower
Given that the bathroom is the wettest place in your home, ideally, you should maintain it every week. Because we use this room a lot, we tend to want strong products for it.
To clean your bath or the walls of your shower, mix equal parts biodegradable dishwashing liquid and white vinegar. Put the mixture into a non-scratch dishwashing brush, then close the lid. Make sure you don’t use a scrubber that could damage your bath’s ceramic. Run the water on the walls of the bath or shower and scrub with the brush until the surface is smooth to the touch. You can keep the brush for doing this job. This technique is particularly practical because it’s easier to clean with a brush than with a cloth or sponge. The product is also spread around easily.
2. The Showerhead
If your shower head starts clogging and doesn’t flow properly, you will need these three items: a Ziploc-type plastic bag, a rubber band or hair elastic, and of course white vinegar. Fill the bag with enough white vinegar to submerge the showerhead. Then attach the bag to the base of the showerhead with the elastic and let it sit for about an hour. Remove the bag, and keep it to repeat the process as needed. Let the shower water run for one or two minutes and wipe off the showerhead. That’s it – your shower is like new!
3. The Shower’s Glass Door
In modern homes, glass doors have quietly replaced the classic shower curtain. Why? They look great and don’t need to be frequently replaced like a plastic curtain. However, it’s a challenge keeping the glass clean in a wet place like a bathroom. You can buy a squeegee and wipe the glass after each shower. But let’s be honest, that’s not always realistic. Limestone tends to accumulate on the glass and make the doors look less nice. To eliminate it, reuse an empty bottle by adding a spray tip. Fill it with equal parts water and white vinegar. Spray the mixture on the shower door and leave it for between 5 to 30 minutes depending on how much limestone there is. Then put on a pair of reusable rubber gloves use a sponge (always use the less abrasive side) and rinse the vinegar off the surface. Then wipe the glass with a microfiber cloth and repeat if there are still residues of limestone and soap.
The kitchen is another room where there is often limestone residue. It’s also a room that needs cleaning every day, to maintain a healthy space to prepare our food. There are a few places, in particular, the limestone builds up.
4. The Kettle
Whether the water in your home is hard or not, a layer of tartar will form in your kettle over time. To avoid having to buy a new machine, follow these steps on a regular basis. Fill the kettle with equal parts of white vinegar and water. You can also add a few drops of lemon for extra disinfecting. Heat it to the boiling point. Then empty the liquid from the device. Afterwards, rinse the kettle as many times as necessary to remove the vinegar odour. This technique is safe for your health. You can also use it for your coffee maker.
5. The Faucet
This technique can be employed daily. In addition, the cleanser recipe is effective on all surfaces of your home, with the exception of wood. You’ll need 2 tablespoons of baking soda, lemon essential oil, peppermint essential oil and white vinegar. Mix the baking soda and vinegar in a bottle with a spray tip. Then shake lightly. Add about 30 drops of lemon essential oil and 5 drops of peppermint. Lemon is recommended for its disinfecting properties, while mint is added for the fragrance. Once in the bottle, the mixture will create a foam, so you’ll have to wait a few seconds before you can use it. Afterwards, spray it on your faucet. Wait a few seconds and wipe it with a dry cloth. This natural household product allows you to keep chemical products out of your kitchen.
6. Stainless Steel Items
This quick trick lets remove limescale from all the stainless steel items that are affected by it. Simply cut a lemon in half and rub it on the items in question. Rinse with cold water and dry with a microfiber cloth. You can use this technique on faucets and drains in the kitchen and bathroom. Now, limestone is history in your whole house!
Adèle Express is constantly evolving to include green initiatives in its regular house cleaning and Airbnb service. We believe it’s possible to better understand housekeeping and change the way we clean up to protect the planet. Learn more about our eco-friendly products!
