Today Dimly ; Tomorrow Face to Face - Glass Stovetop

I like shiny things.
I like sparkle.
I like clean.
I like order.
I especially like spaciousness - a rare commodity in the Latin Quarter of Paris.
So, if I can clear off the kitchen countertops I feel at peace. Of course I have to find nooks and crannies to hide my stuff in for that to even be possible. Sometimes small kitchen appliances end up in the guest room, but any cost is worth a clear shiny countertop.

My glasstop stove also plays a big roll in this illusion of orderliness. If it's not shiny then life feels cruddy and out of place.

I used to buy that chemical stuff that comes in a microscopically small spray bottle carrying an inflated big price tag.

But now-a-days I'm trying to save the planet (or am I trying to save money $$$, I always forget ;p) and so I've started making my own stovetop cleaner. My first attempt was a little scary.

Knowing what I've learned about natural cleaning I got out my favorite gentle abrasive - Baking Soda.
Dampen your sponge, sprinkle baking soda on the stovetop, rub-a-dub-dub.

Water is safe, but was taking too long. I had a big baked on mess. Take-two!

Moisten the stovetop mess with vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda on the vinegar. Watch it fizz. This happy little all-natural chemical reaction is going to fizz away your baked on food. Wipe with a dry cloth. Repeat as necessary.

Fizz. Fizz. Fizz. I just love it!

Windows

Keep the spray bottle when your window cleaner runs out. Refill it with plain ordinary white vinegar. Safe, fast, and a great clean shine. It's the natural ecological choice, and it just works great!

AU NATURAL
To save even more trees and money, trade out your store bought paper towels for yesterday's newspaper. That's right, reuse an old spray bottle, with ecological vinegar, on old newspapers - for sparkling clean windows!

Ceramic Tile and Slate Floors

Clean tile and slate with warm water only. Prevention becomes essential with these floor surfaces. Regularly apply a sealant found in tile stores to slate, tile and especially the grout. Clean spills immediately. 

(If warm water alone sounds disturbingly simple, you can clean ceramic tile floors with vinegar. Fill one bucket with clean water. In the other bucket, mix a solution of 1 cup vinegar and 1 gallon of warm water. Wash with the vinegar mixture, rinse in the clear water, repeat.)

Cleaning stains out of grout can test your patience. The porous nature of grout means liquid cleaners seep right through. First thoroughly spray a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water directly on the spot. Let that set 15 minutes and repeat. Do not use this mixture on colored grout. Peroxide is bleach, safe but nonetheless bleach. It removes the color from colored grout.

If the stain refuses to budge, soak a heavy-duty paper towel with straight peroxide laying the towel on top of the stain. Cover the towel with plastic wrap to prevent the peroxide from drying out quickly. The towel holds the peroxide on the surface giving it time to dissolve the stain. If that doesn't work, mix a paste of straight peroxide and baking soda. Allow the bubbling to subside. Apply to the stain and let it set. Re-spray with peroxide as it dries out.

Shaving cream sprayed on stains also does a good job removing them. If your grout is colored test an inconspicuous spot first. Tile stores now carry a cleaner stick that resembles chalk. It is safe to use on colored grout and works wonders. After you remove the stains from the grout, seal them.

Hardwood Floors

Great idea. No filthy residue. Dries quickly and easily leaving an eye catching shine! What's the secret? Vinegar and water will shine up your hardwood floors better than any newfangled product out there. I got this idea from some friends with impeccable sparkling floors! I was blown away when I found out how simple their secret was.


Mix 1/2 cup (.25L) of vinegar with one gallon (4L) of warm water. Wipe your floors with a soft cotton cloth. A Tee-shirt tied to a dust-mop or swiffer will do large surfaces quicker. Immediately dry with a soft towel.


Vinegar just happens to be antibacterial too, so that's a plus for some people out there. You can throw in a splash of dish soap if you want to add a light scent, but you'll really be surprised at how quickly the vinegar smell dissipates as the liquid evaporates.