Author Archives: startm

1. Easy home made cleaning products

   July 26, 2016 9:36 am Leave a Comment

   If you have ever thought about making the switch to all natural and homemade cleaning products you would know that the whole thing can be a bit daunting. But we are here to give you a few tips to make the process nice and simple. First start with the products you use the most around the home, and start making one small change a month and you will be done in no time!

   We have included two of our favourite home made products just to get you started, and will share a few more of our favourites next week!

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   Surface wipes

   

   Instructions

   2 cups water (distilled for long term use, tap water is fine if using within a week )

   ½ cup white vinegar

   15 drops lavender of essential oil

    5 drops lemon essential oil

   5 drops tea tree essential oil

    4 washcloths or Chux

   Method

   1- roll washcloths or Chux and place into a large gar

   2- mix water, vinegar and essential oils in a bowl, the poor over washcloths, making sure they are all wet.

   3- close the lid

   4- remove cloths as needed

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   Disinfectant spray

   

   Ingredients

   1/2 Cup of White Vinegar

   1 Teaspoon of Washing Soda

   20 Drops of Tea Tree Oil

   10 Drops of Orange Oil

    2 Cups of Hot Water

   Method

   1- mix all ingredients in the spray bottle

   2- Shake before each use.

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   Dryer Sheets

   

   Ingredients

   A jar with a lid.

   1 cup white vinegar

   10-20 drops of essential oil, it depends on how strong you want  your clothes to be.  You can also add more to the jar after a few  loads if desired.

   Cut up pieces of fabric

   Method:

   Put fabric pieces into the jar.

   Pour 1 cup of white vinegar and 10-20 drops of your favourite essential oil into the jar.

   Stir your mixture or place lid on top and shake carefully.

   Place a few pieces of fabric into the dryer with each load.

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   Dusting Spray

   

   Ingredients

   1 cup of water

   1/4 cup of distilled vinegar

   2 tablespoons of olive oil

   15 drops of essential oil

   1 spray bottle

   Method

   put all ingredients into the spay bottle and shake until everything is combined.

   Spray onto surfaces that you are dusting

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   Toilet bombs

   

   Ingredients

   baking soda

   1/4 cup citric acid

   1/2 teaspoon vinegar

   1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide

   15 to 20 drops essential oil

   baking tray

   Method

   Add baking soda and citric acid to a mixing bowl and stir together

   In a small glass, mix together the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Drop by drop, add the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide mixture to the baking soda. If you add the liquid all at once, you’ll have a huge mess.

   Add the essential oil to the mixture

   Use tea spoon to scoop mixture out onto the baking tray and spray with equal parts  water and vinegar to create a crust.

   let set over night

   Place in a glass jar next to the toilet to use after flushing if gets a bit smelly.

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   Good luck, and let us know how you go!

   Tailored Cleaning Solutions.

2. How to clean oil stains from concrete

   July 20, 2016 7:41 pm Leave a Comment

   Oil stains on your driveway can make your house go from pristine to unsightly in a matter of seconds. There are a few easy steps in the removal of oil stains. First you will need to soak up as much fresh oil as possible, the the fun begins, getting the stain it has caused removed!

   Below we have included the steps to make your garage and driveway concrete sparkle like new again! We recommend you have your concrete sealed to help prevent future stains.

   PREVENTION: If you know that your car is leaking place a piece of cardboard where you park your car, preventing oil stains is a lot easier than cleaning them!! Once you have noticed the stain occurring the quicker you act the better, concrete is a porous surface and and oil spills will quickly settle in and cause a stain

   CLEAN UP: The best and easiest way to clean up an oil spill on concrete is to simply buy some kitty litter and sprinkle onto the affected area. Let this sit for a little while and you will notice the kitty litter soaking up the oil, if there is still some visible liquid that doesn’t look like it is being absorbed simply rub it in with a bristle brush or stomp on it with your shoes to break up the bigger pieces.

    Leave the kitty litter on the oil for several hours or over night. In the morning simply sweep it up and throw it away. Doing this will get rid of the viscous liquid part of the stain, now you have to deal with the stains that are left behind in the concrete.

   Now that you have soaked up as much excess oil and grease from the concrete as you can, you will need to start scrubbing with a scrubbing brush, hot water and dish washing liquid. Dish washing liquid and hot water will help break up the oil, while the scrubbing brush will make sure you are deep down into the concrete.

   After washing away all the soap and water from your driveway or garage you will need to sprinkle the area with kitty litter once more. Again leave this sit over night to absorb any additional oil and grease. The next day sweep up the kitty litter and check to see how your stains are going, if there is still a little bit of oil left over simply repeat the process again.

   Tailored Cleaning Solutions.

3. How to clean your pillows

   July 19, 2016 8:50 am Leave a Comment

   If you have ever wondered if you can clean your pillows, then this post is for you! Not only can you wash your bed pillows, but it’s pretty simple! Two easy steps and a little bit of time and you will be sleeping on beautiful smelling fresh pillows in no time! If you have either a synthetic or feather pillows you can wash them. Foam pillows can also be put in the washing machine but are a definite no no when it comes to putting them in the dryer – the will melt and disintegrate.

   WASH YOUR PILLOWS

   Start by removing your pillow cases and pillow protectors, now if you don’t have a pillow protector you should go out and purchase one straight away as it is an absolute must when trying to extend the life of each pillow. Add 2 pillows to your machine to balance it out if you add any more than 3 they may not get a thorough cleaning! Use a gentle detergent on a gentle cycle when washing, when the washing cycle has completed run it again on a rinse cycle to ensure the all the detergent has been removed.
   DRY YOUR PILLOWS

   After your pillows are washed and you have wrung out as much excess water as you can, throw them into the dryer. If your pillow is foam you will need to hang them out on the line to to dry. For any other synthetic materials you can dry these on a low to medium heat cycle and avoid any high heats. Down and natural materials can stand a much higher heat. So put them into the dryer and allow them to dry thoroughly. To keep your pillows fluffy throw a couple of  rolled up socks in the dryer to agitate the fibres. Rotate your pillows every 30 mins to make sure they are drying evenly.

   By spending a little extra time on your pillows they will feel like brand new again, So go and wash and dry them and enjoy a good nights sleep.

   Just Blue Home services.

    

4. How to clean glass.

   June 20, 2016 10:01 am Leave a Comment

   Cleaning glass can be tricky, often you will either get a streaky or a cloudy finish to the mirror. But once you get the method for a perfectly clean mirror down pat, it will become second nature and the easiest part of your weekly clean.

   When cleaning windows, mirrors or your shower screen there are a few things you will need to avoid in order to achieve a perfect finish. Stay away from and soaps, detergents, towels and paper towels. Instead opt for either Windex, water mixed with vinegar, a microfibre cloth, squeegee or chamois.

   1- First gather all you your cleaning tools such as, Windex, Vinegar and water, microfibre cloth, squeegee, chamois, you might even want to include a toothbrush and cotton tip if you are doing  a thorough clean.

   2- If you have wooden floors always remember to put a few towels under the window so you don’t get any water marks on the floor.

   3- Then spray the cleaning product onto the window and using your microfibre cloth rub away all the dirt marks using a circular motion. Then when all the marks have been removed start using a horizontal motion to make the glass shiny and streak free.

   4- Now if you are cleaning a window or glass door, use a horizontal motion to clean on one side, then a vertical motion on the other side. This way if you do end up with any streaks you will be able to tell what side it is on.

   5- If you are doing a deep clean of your house, you might want to clean all the the tracks and around the edges. Now this is when the cotton tip and toothbrush will come in handy!

   6- To finish off take a dry microfibre cloth and give the glass a quick wipe over to make sure it is dry and sparkling clean!

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   EXTRA TIPS

   When cleaning extremely dirty glass, begin by cleaning it with a microfibre cloth soaked in a cleaning solution. Finally, polish the glass by rubbing it with a crumpled-up newspaper sheet or a dry microfibre cloth.

   Coffee filters are also considered effective for cleaning glass.

   If the glass is waxy, you can mix two cups of water, a quarter cup of vinegar, and a half cup of liquid dish soap.

   Another recipe for the same involves mixing two tablespoons each of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol, one and a half teaspoons of cornstarch in a cup of warm water. Store it in a spray bottle and shake it before every use.

   If the glass is cloudy, you can use a mixture of a half cup of rubbing alcohol, two tablespoons of ammonia, and a quarter teaspoon of liquid dish detergent.

   Another easy way to clean cloudy mirrors is to use a little shaving cream (not gel).

   Use a little lemon juice to clean a glass table and then rub it with a newspaper. Do not rub too hard, or else it may cause scratches.

   Tiny scratches on glass can be polish using a little white toothpaste

   Tailored Cleaning Solutions.

5. Removing oil stains

   June 17, 2016 12:13 am Leave a Comment

   Most of us know how hard it is to remove oil stains from our clothing.  Unfortunately getting those fibres to let go of the oil can be a little tricky. It doesn’t help that drying the stain can set it permanently. They key to getting out oily and greasy stains is to wash clothing in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric. Follow a few of our favourite tips here.

   Steps to Remove Oil Stains

   1. Do not make your job any more difficult than it has to be. Remove as much excess oil as possible with a dull knife or spoon. This will make it more easy to treat the area of the fabric that is stained. It will also prevent any oil from seeping into other parts of the fabric, creating new areas that need to be treated.
   2. Apply liquid detergent to the stained area. Most liquid laundry detergents are able to remove grease, but for tough stains you may need to try a liquid dish soap. You want to put enough on the stain that it soaks through both sides.

   1. Allow the liquid to sit for 3-5 minutes to allow it to go completely through the fabric. As it soaks into the fabric it begins to break down the grease.  If you let it sit for up to 10 minutes it will still be fine, but you don’t want the area to dry.
   2. Wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Check tags to determine what water temperature to use for washing. The warmer the water, the easier it will be for the oil to be fully removed.
   3. After washing, check to make sure the stain is fully removed before you dry the clothing. If any hint of the stain still remains, repeat the previous steps. I recommend allowing the clothing to air dry to make sure there is not hint of a stain or darkened ring in the area.  If there isn’t, the clothing is safe to be washed and dried normally.  If there is a hint of a stain, you’ll need to repeat the steps above.

   Tips for Removing Oil Stains

   1. You can also use a good basic dish soap to get cooking oil stains out instead of laundry detergent. The fancier dish soaps that are great for your hands may not be as effective, but the basic soaps are great at getting out grease. Look for one that promises to remove grease.
   2. Instead of washing the entire garment in hot water, you can try using hot running water just on the part of the clothing that is stained after you treat it with laundry or dish soap.  Then wash normally. Always be careful about reading the tags of the clothing you are working with.  Some fabric types can be damaged by very hot water.

   Tools to Remove Oil Stains

   • Dull knife or spoon to remove excess oil.
   • Liquid laundry detergent to dislodge the oil stain.
   • Liquid dish soap, but be sure to get a basic kind that doesn’t have lotion added.

   Tailored Cleaning Solutions.

6. Easy oven cleaning

   June 14, 2016 8:14 pm Leave a Comment

   Cleaning your oven can be one tough job, it requires a whole lot of elbow grease and an array of chemical filled products. So we have found a way to make oven cleaning super simple and easy, all with products you have at home.

   Materials

   • Baking soda
   • Vinegar in a spray bottle
   • Water
   • Sponge

   Instructions

   1. Sprinkle the base of the oven with baking soda.
   2. Spray vinegar over the baking soda until it produces a light foam.
   3. Apply a paste of baking soda and water to soiled areas on the sides of the oven.
   4. Spray the applied paste with vinegar.
   5. Allow all this to sit overnight.
   6. Wipe clean in the morning!

   Additional tips:

   If your oven has removable knobs, go ahead and toss those in the dishwasher. Non-removable knobs can be cleaned using a 50/50 solution of warm water and vinegar.

   Clean oven racks in the sink or bathtub using a spray bottle of alcohol and a sponge. Spray baked-on grease with alcohol, then allow the racks to sit for a minute. Use the sponge to clean away residue and repeat as needed. Just make sure to do this in a well-ventilated room and away from open flames!

   Just Blue Home services.

7. Rose Petal Bath bombs

   June 13, 2016 4:22 pm Leave a Comment

   How amazing do these Rose petal bath bombs look! The petals and geranium oil give off a fizz and a beautiful rose aroma.  These bath bombs look especially beautiful when you use a dark red rose petals. If you use light rose petals they can turn brown when added to the mixture.

   

   Makes 8-10

   500 g bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
   100 g citric acid
   50 ml (1/4 cup) dried rose petals (torn into small pieces)
   30 drops rose geranium essential oil
   30 – 60 ( 2 tbsp to 1/4 cup) ml filtered water

   1.Place the bicarbonate of soda and citric acid together in a plastic bowl.
   2.Mix and crush the powder with a metal spoon until lump free
   3.Add the dried rose petals and essential oil and mix.
   4.Add 30 ml (2 tbsp) of the water and mix, stirring and crushing the mixture with the spoon until you have the consistency of wet sand. Add more water if needed
   5.Scoop a generous amount of mixture into each half of the a table tennis ball or round molds if you can find them and push them together. Squeeze to combine the two halves.
   6.Carefully remove each half of the table tennis balls and place the bath fizz balls on a cloth to dry out. Once the fizz balls have hardened completely and are safe to handle, place them in empty egg trays to dry completely (if they are smaller sized balls)
   7.The fizz balls will be dry within an hour – package and decorate as you like!
   Add a fizz ball to the bath. If you chose to make large ones, you can allow it to dry on a soap dish and use it again for another bath. They also make a soothing addition to a foot soak.

   Tip: Keep your red roses after they are no longer suitable for display in a vase. Remove the petals from the stems and place onto newspaper. Set aside for a few days until completely dry, and then store them in a glass jar or airtight plastic container.

   Not only are they amazing to have in your bathroom and relax in a bath with, but they will make amazing gifts.

   Tailored Cleaning Solutions.

8. Unconventional uses for household items

   June 10, 2016 10:06 am Leave a Comment

   Toothpaste

   

   1–Remove crayon marks

   Use a little bit of toothpaste on crayon marks on the walls.

   2–Deodorize hands

   Can’t get the garlic smell off your hands? wash them with a little bit of toothpaste.

   3-Whiten runners

   Clean scuff marks of rubber shoes by rubbing a bit of toothpaste using an old toothbrush on the marks.

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   Dryer sheets

   

   1 – Deodorize shoes

   Place a few dryer sheets in your shoes or gym bag and leave overnight to eliminate the odour.

   2 – clean pots and pans

   any of your pots and pans that have baked on food. Place a dryer sheet in the pan and fill with water, let this sit for a few hours and everything will easily wipe away.

   3 – Freshen up showers

   rub a wet dryer sheet over your shower screen and walls to remove soap scum and mineral deposits.

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   Hair dryer 

   

   1- remove crayon or wax spills 

   Blow dry the area with the heat on high until the wax melts then wipe it up with a sponge.

   2- remove wrinkles

   Remove wrinkles in plastic table cloths or a shower curtain by blow drying the area, this relaxes the plastic and removes the wrinkles!

   3- Set icing or frosting

   want your baking to look perfect? cool air helps harden icing, hot air make dull glaze look bright!

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9. Cleaning tips

   June 9, 2016 8:08 pm Leave a Comment

   Most of us live pretty busy lives and sometimes the cleaning can get out of hand pretty quickly. Instead of spending hours cleaning try some of our household hacks to make cleaning a little easier and help you become more time efficient.

   1-Beauty tricks

   An easy way of keeping all your beauty tools clean and sanitized is by just throwing them in the dish washer. You can put hair brushes, make up brushes, clips toothbrushes, you can clean everything by just popping them into the dishwasher.

   2-Duster buster

   An easy way to dust, especially blinds is to just put a clean sock on your hand like a mitten and dust away! To add a little extra to you dusting spray some vinegar or dusting spray on to your sock!

   3-Magic microwave

   The best and easiest way to clean your microwave is by filling a bowl with equal parts vinegar and water, put on high for ten minutes. The steam will make the microwave super easy to wipe all the dirt and grime away!

   4-refresh plastic containers

   A great way to clean stained lunch containers is by filling them with water, a dash of dish washing liquid and bleach. Microwave until boiling and wash clean, and all the stains will be gone!

   5-Ceiling fan fun!

   Cleaning your fans is probably the worst chore you can do, but to make it a bit easier all you need to do is put a pillow case over the fan blade collecting all the dust and build up, then throw it into the washing machine!

   6-blender help

   Give your blender a quick and thorough cleaning by filling with water and some dish washing liquid, blend on high for 30 seconds and then rinse and leave upside down to dry.

   7-sweat scents

   add a few drops of essential oil to toilet rolls for a beautiful smelling bathroom.

   8-pet hair

   run a squeegee over furniture to remove pet hair instantly

   9-garbage help

   Store extra rubbish bags at the bottom of the bin so you will have one waiting every time.

   10- Sparkling shower

   keep a squeegee in the shower, so that when you finish showering you can give it a quick clean, to help cut back on soap scum!

   Tailored Cleaning Solutions.

10. Master chef brookies

    June 8, 2016 7:23 pm Leave a Comment

    Master chef Brookies
    

    Ingredients

    Cookies:350g 70% dark chocolate45g butter

    225g caster sugar

    80g cornflour

    1 tsp baking powder

    3 eggs

    1 tsp vanilla essence

    100g dark chocolate chips

    Chantilly Cream:200ml thickened cream

    80g caster sugar

    60ml Frangelico

    Garnish:extra dark chocolate, grated

    Method

    1. Preheat oven to 180C.
    2. Place 70% chocolate and butter in a bowl and set over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir to melt and combine. Remove from heat and set aside to cool until needed.
    3. Combine remaining ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat until light and fluffy. Add cooled chocolate butter mixture and mix until well combined
    4. Spoon tablespoons of mixture onto baking trays lined with baking paper. Dot the top of the cookies with the dark chocolate chips, pressing gently into the dough. Bake for 12-13 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
    5. Meanwhile, to make the Chantilly Cream, combine cream and sugar in bowl of electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk until soft peaks form.
    6. Stir the Frangelico through the cream mixture.
    7. Serve Brookies topped with a little extra grated chocolate and a dollop of Chantilly Cream

    Tailored Cleaning Solutions.