Natural Products used for cleaning the bathroom area

• Baking soda: a natural scourer and odour remover
• Lemon/lemon juice: a natural degreaser and lightener for stains
  Carpet Cleaning
• Vinegar: another good degreaser

To Clean Window,  Glass and Mirrors

• Shaving cream prevents the build up of steam on your bathroom mirror.
• White vinegar, rubbing alcohol or dish washing detergent can be used to clean a mirror. Wiping it clean with newspaper or a coffee filter will avoid streaky residue.

To Clean the Bath and Shower

Alkaline in water causes water marks.

Car wax can be used to remove staining

Orange and lime based cleaning products are effective on bath and shower grime. Cleaning is effective on a weekly basis.

Heavy Soap Scums can be cleaned by the following:

• Apply hot white vinegar and continue to scrub until it dissolves, OR
• Sponge with solution of 1 cup of hot water, 2 tablespoons of rottenstone and a cup of water softener, OR
• Use 1-2 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate in 1 gallon of hot water.

To treat bathtub rings, try wiping it with undiluted ammonia or a sponge sprinkled with baking soda. Stubborn stains can be cleaned by scouring with dish washing detergent or rubbed with a white vinegar covered cloth.

If the shower head is particularly clogged, remove it and soak it in vinegar. This will both clean and sanitize it. Blocked holes in the shower head can be freed by poking out the dirt with a pin prior to the soak.

Once the shower base has been cleaned, don't forget to give attention to the shower door or curtain. Lemon juice wiped clean with newspaper will provide a streak-free shower door, while plastic shower curtains can be machine washed. Alternatively, spray it with an orange based cleaner or baking soda solution and wipe clean. Air drying will prevent further mold and mildew build up, and as a further prevention try cutting off the seam at the base of the curtain, as this is where mildew is likely to collect.

To Clean a Toilet

Rings in the toilet are again created by the alkaline water. To combat this and other stains, there are several methods you can try:

• Pour in 1-2 cups of white vinegar on a monthly basis. Leave it for an hour to overnight and then brush and flush.
• Drop in a couple of Alka Seltzer tablets and leave for an hour before brushing.
• Cola poured into the toilet bowl and left for an hour has the same effect.
• Vitamin C capsules or denture cleaning tablets can be left in the toilet overnight.

A sponging solution that is effective contains 1 tablespoon of detergent to 1 gallon of hot water. For stubborn stains, gently buff the surface with a pumice stone and flush to see the results.

To Clean Sinks

To prevent scum and blockages in the sink, pour a cup of baking soda and a cup white vinegar down the plughole on a monthly basis. Leave it for an hour and rinse with warm water.

Shaving cream wiped clean with newspaper is a good general cleaner for the bathroom sink. To tackle stains; rubbing lemon can treat light staining, while borax and lemon juice can remove darker stains like rust.

Taps can easily appear dirty as water deposits collect round these areas. To dissolve this, soak a paper towel in white vinegar and wrap it around the tap, allowing about an hour to loosen the alkaline. Then scrub the tap with a stiff toothbrush.

Orange based or powder cleansers should not be used on brass or gold plated taps and fittings as it can scratch or corrode the surface. To prevent damage, always dry them after use.

To make tile cleaning easier, run the shower on hot for a few minutes so the steam will loosen the dirt.

Ceramic tiles can be regularly maintained with detergent and water or with commercial cleaning solutions that are specific for the job. A general polish and mildew removal can be achieved with either a water and ammonia or water and vinegar solution.

For a more thorough clean, especially concerning tile grouting, sponge on a solution of water with chlorine bleach and leave for several minutes. Do not use bleach on coloured grout. When it is washed clean, you can apply lemon oil or an acrylic sealer to protect the grout.

Mildew - To ensure that mildew does not become as issue in your bathroom, treat your ceiling and potential problem areas every six months with a 50/50 solution of water and hydrogen peroxide. Spray the solution and leave it alone. If you are already affected by mildew, re-spray the area after 24 hours and repeat as necessary.

Accidents and spillages don't have to become stains. The sooner you treat a spill, the more easily the dirt will come out. However, there are a number of tips and tricks that could help you finally remove that stubborn stain and stop you discarding or replacing a cushion or carpet that you thought was ruined, but can be rescued!

Adhesive tape -

This can be removed by sponging or soaking the dry upholstery or fabric with a laundry pre-soak or spot stain remover. Even soaking it in kerosene or a grease solvent will work, however it will require a second clean with soapy warm water following this.

Alcohol -

Alcohol stains must be cleaned as soon as possible, as they are often colourless initially, but will brown if left to stand or following a later wash.

As soon as it has been spilt, sponge it clean with warm water. To remove any remaining marks, pour some glycerine on the stain and rub gently, and then rinse with warm water using a spray bottle if it is a carpet stain.

For stubborn and dried stains, use a solution with equal measures of methylated spirits and ammonia. First test the solution on an unseen patch, and if successful, sponge it on the dry fabric and then clean again with warm water. If the material is white, laundry bleach can also be used.

Baby oil -

Use dishwashing liquid and rub it into the stain. Leave it for 10-15 minutes and then wash with hot water and laundry detergent or a similar solution if it is a carpet stain. Repeat the process if necessary.

Ball point pen -

To remove ball point pen marks from leather sofas, use hairspray on the mark and then wipe off.

Candle wax and Chewing gum -

If you find these on a moveable fabric, put the stained article into a freezer until the wax or gum hardens. Once it has become brittle, you should be able to scrape and chop at it until it comes off.

To remove the wax or gum residue, place a clean white blotter over the stain and press with a warm iron. You can then sponge it with a stain remover. If there is still stain from coloured candle wax, this can be removed with an equal solution of methylated spirits to water.

Crayons -

First, scrape off any excess with a butter knife. Wash the stain with hot water and � cup of baking soda for about 10 minutes, perhaps longer if it is a carpet stain. If it is still being stubborn, rub soap paste into the stain and rinse off after 5 minutes. To remove any remaining colour, use a beach or colour remover that is safe for the fabric.

Hair dye -

Dabbing the stain with a cotton wool ball doused in hydrogen peroxide can remove these dye stains.

Egg -

Scrape off as much as you can straight away and sponge with slightly warm water. Hot water will only set the albumin in the egg. If you need something more, cover the stain with a paste consisting of water, cream of tartar, and a crushed aspirin and leave for about half an hour before rinsing.

Faeces -

• 1. Mix a teaspoon of pH balanced, non alkaline and non bleaching detergent with a cup of lukewarm water and blot the stain.
• 2. Mix a teaspoon of ammonia with � cup of water and blot.
• 3. Repeat step 1
• 4. Mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of water and blot.
• 5. Sponge clean with plain water.

Glue -

• 1. Mix a teaspoon of a pH balanced detergent that is non alkaline and non bleaching with one cup of lukewarm water and blot.
• 2. Mix a tablespoon of ammonia with 1/2 cup of water and blot.
• 3. Repeat step 1
• 4. Sponge clean with plain water.

Make up -

To begin, blot or scrape off as much of the make up stain as possible. Then, using a white cloth, paper towel or cotton ball, blot a deep stain with isopropyl rubbing alcohol. If the stain is only on the surface, rub it in one direction. Using a circular motion can destroy the texture of carpeting.

If that does not work, apply a solution of:

• 1/4 teaspoon of dish wash detergent
• 1/4 cup of water

Blot the stain until it is removed, and rinse with a spray bottle, dabbing up any excess moisture.

Motor grease and oil -

Scrape off any excess to start.

Washable materials: Use a spot stain remover, or rub lard or Vaseline onto the dry stain. Wash it in a quality washing detergent.

Unwashable materials: This may prove difficult. Repeatedly blot the area with dry cleaning fluid (you will need to change your pad or cloth frequently). Sponge off with lukewarm water and detergent, and then finally clean warm water alone.

Nicotine and tobacco -

First pour some glycerine over the stain and rub gently between the fingers or with a cloth. A spot stain remover can also be used. Leave this for half an hour and then wash or rinse off. If this is unsuccessful, try thiosulphate or trisodium phosphate to wash and rinse.

Rust -

There are 3 combinations that can be tried. All are safe for white materials, but for coloured fabrics you should test on an unseen area first.

• 1. Lemon juice - This works on slight stains on delicate materials. Spread the fabric over a bowl of boiling water and sprinkle lemon juice over it. For carpets and other non-moveable items, hover a hot iron above the sprinkled stain. Rinse well in each case.
• 2. Lemon juice and salt - Sprinkle the salt over the stain and rub it with the lemon. Position it in the sunlight and keep it wet with juice until the stain is gone. Rinse.
• 3. Cream of tartar - For slight stains, dampen the area and cover with the cream of tartar. Either hold it in the steam of a boiling kettle or hover a hot iron above it. As soon as the stain disappears, rinse it. For more extensive staining, boil in a liquid made from the tartar and 600 ml of water, or apply the solution to the stain. Do not use fabrics that should not be washed in hot water.

Shoe polish -

Sponge and blot the stain with a little bit of dry cleaning solvent, then mix a teaspoon of mild pH balanced detergent with a cup of lukewarm water. Blot and sponge the stain with clean water.

Unknown -

If you encounter a stain of unknown origin, first try to clean it with cool water and sponge it with a liquid detergent.

If this has no effect, try a solution with equal measures of methylated spirits and ammonia. Always test it first, and if the colour is affected leave out the ammonia. As a last resort, try a mild bleach.

Urine -

As urine differs in composition, so do the stains and the solutions to clear them. Normally urine is acidic, and so the fabric should be soaked or sponged with a sanitizer containing sodium percarbonate, or with a solution of ammonia and � cup of warm water.

If this is unsuccessful, try a solution containing equal measures of vinegar and warm water to see if the stain is alkaline. Stubborn stains may require sponging with diluted hydrogen peroxide.

Vomit -

Once you have scraped off as much as possible, sponge the stains with warm water and some ammonia. If the vomiting is extensive, dampen the area and sprinkle on pepsin powder, leaving it for 30 minutes.

Wine -

The key to removing wine stains is to clean them as soon as possible starting with the mildest solutions. Combat red wine stains by pouring white wine over the top and soaking it up. Wash with cold water and ammonia and then rinse thoroughly. For white wine, use cold water and ammonia, or go onto other treatments seen under Alcohol.

Walls will always become grubby, particularly in a home with children. However, even in a child-free home, keeping the walls clean and free from finger marks can be difficult without strictly enforcing a 'no touching the wall' rule! Obviously, this is both impractical and difficult to enforce.

Should you have to clean your wallpaper, the most effective way is to use baking soda. This will not harm the wallpaper, but is usually highly effective on stains. Alternatively, should the baking soda not work, a solution of half rubbing alcohol and half water may work. Alternative solutions include two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water, or a cupful of bleach in a gallon of water. Wet the wallpaper with the solution, and rinse thoroughly. Some newer cleaning technology uses peroxide and detergents, or 'Bio-Ox' citrus detergent to penetrate soiled areas. These can then be wiped clean.

Before using any cleaner or solution on a wall, you should always test on a hidden or discreet area of the wallpaper first, to ensure that the solution will cause no damage nor discolouration to the covering.

The above is all very well for a typically grubby wall, however, what about more specialised marks and stains such as wax crayon, or ink?

Crayon - sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth, and rub at the stain gently. Baking soda should be gentle enough for both wallpapers and paint.

Ink - ink can be removed using either hairspray or lemon juice. Simply spray the area liberally, before wiping clean. You may need to repeat this several times in order to achieve the best results.

Marker - If the marker is alcohol-based, spray the mark with a non-oily hairspray or use rubbing alcohol. For an oil-based marker, it is possible to apply some lighter fluid (care should be taken, lighter fluid is flammable). For a water-based marker, a mix of washing up liquid and colour-safe bleach or prewash spray. Spray lightly to apply, rub gently and then dry.

Wax - to remove wax from a wall, you should first wait until the wax has cooled and dried. Then, remove as much as possible using your fingers, or a credit card to scrape the wax. Next, using an iron on low heat, hold a tissue against the wax and heat it. The wax should melt, and be absorbed by the tissue.

Pencil - In many cases, simply using a normal pencil eraser will be sufficient to remove any marks. Otherwise, the same techniques for cleaning a grubby wall should be used (baking soda or a citrus concentrate).

Smoke Film - It should be possible to remove a smoke film using a solution of � cup of borax, 2 tablespoons of soap flakes, 1 tablespoon of ammonia and a gallon of warm water. This can either be used full strength in a spray bottle, or two cupfuls can be added to a bucket of warm water.

Mould - If you need to remove mould from your walls, there are a couple of options you can take. First of all is the creation of a homemade remedy solution of either 1 part rubbing alcohol and 1 part water; 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water, or a cup of bleach in a gallon of water. Wet the surface of the wall covering with one of these, and rinse thoroughly, repeating as required. Alternatively, you can try a more modern method, using a citrus concentrate such as 'Bio-Ox'. Allow this to penetrate for a few minutes, before wiping the area clean.

It is all too easy for the kitchen to become messy, grimy, and smelly. However, it is equally easy to keep it clean if you wipe up after yourself and spend a little time on frequently used appliances and sides. Wash up your utensils as you cook and mop up spills as they happen, and your kitchen will instantly become a tidier and more manageable room.