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Citric Acid and Baking for a Sparkling Clean Tub

Mama to Many (Tennessee, US) on 04/01/2015

I hope it is a virtue to be able to get excited about a clean bathtub! With a large family living on a farm, our bathtubs see a lot of use! I really, really want to stick to all natural cleaners. Other types give me a headache and are usually not safe around children. My go-to cleaners are vinegar and baking soda. I use them for nearly everything. But I have not been able to find a satisfying solution for cleaning the tub. In spite of scrubbing and scrubbing with baking soda, the tubs still look stained and dull.

Then I read about Citric Acid for cleaning. I bought a container of it and followed the directions I had seen online. I filled a stained bathtub with cold water. I added 1/2 cup citric acid. I let it sit for 8 hours/overnight. (It actually isn't easy to find an 8 hour time period where no one will want to use the tub! ) I drained the tub and was disappointned to see the stains still there. I didn't have time to do anything about it and left the scene. Later, after a couple of people had showered, I noticed the dirt seemed to be smudged. I put some baking soda in the tub and everything scrubbed out easily! Yay! The tub was spotless and shiny! All day I kept walking in to the bathroom to just see how shiny it was. I don't think this works for all stain types. It doesn't seem to work well in my kitchen sink. I think it is dependent upon the type of water you have, the type of dirt, and the material the tub (or sink) is made of.
Short version:
Fill a bathtub with cold water. Add 1/2 cup citric acid. Wait 8 hours. Drain. Sprinkle tub with baking soda. Scrub out the stains and dirt! Enjoy your clean tub!
P.S. I usually add a drop of two of a pleasant essential oil (Lemon, Eucalyptus, etc.) when I clean with baking soda. This just makes the work smell nice. :)

~Mama to Many~

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Safe Cleaning Products Recipes (New Page)

Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 12/14/2013

Hi!

Here are some recipes for some cleaning products I make and use in my home. I do not like to use chemical cleaners because I don't think they are good for you and the smells bother me. Using natural ingredients also makes them safe for children to use with you and it isn't dangerous if they ingest them.

Vinegar Cleaner

  • Orange Peels
  • Vinegar (I used white distilled for cleaning)
  • Rosemary (or another) essential oil

When I get oranges, I make cleaner. I fill a jar with the orange peels and cover with vinegar. Soak for 2-6 weeks. Strain out peels. Add a few drops of Rosemary Essential Oil. I use this to clean counters, windows, bathrooms etc. You can dilute it 1:1 with water, if desired.

Scouring Powder

  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 1 cup borax
  • 1 cup salt (the cheapest you can get)
  • Optional : 1/4 cup dried orange peel powder, or any powdered herb you like the smell of.

Mix all ingredients together and use to clean sinks, toilets and bathtubs. It may require a bit more scrubbing than commercial cleaners but is much safer and even cheaper.

Happy Cleaning!

~Mama to Many~

REPLY   1