a. me

SPRING IS the natural time
for cieaning, organizing and
refreshing your home.

Now is the time to begin do-
ing the chores you’re thinking

about, before the kids get out”

of school and summer ac-
tivities are in full swing. Here
are ideas to get you inspired,
followed by some environmen-
tally safe cleaning substances
that will help you get the job
done right:

1. Clean windows first.
Then Iet those fresh breezes

blow! Sparkling windows and
refreshing air will lessen the
boredom of cther household
duties. So, put on some good
music, grab your rubber gloves
and a bucket with your
favorite cleaning supplies
(white vinegar, water and
newspapers will do the job)
and go to work. Remember,
window cleaning is lots easier
if you do it when the sun isn’t
shining (to prevent streaking).

2. Don’t let the whole house
discourage you, Put one room

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in order, then move on. Begin
where you spend lots of time,
like the kitchen.

3. Arm yourself with the
right cleaning tools. Look
for brushes and brooms
designed for the job you must
do, with handies that are com-
fortable to hold.

4. Plan your stategy. Write
down what you hope to ac-
complish as you tackle each
room. Then check off finish-
ed projects. Ah, feels great,
doesn’t it?

Kitchen Tips: Place foods
that leak (flour, sugar,
crackers) and foods you want
to keep crispy fresh in tight-
sealing food containers for
cabinets that don’t attract in-

17 ~ Friday,

sects and stay neat as a pin.
Attach space-saving
organizers to kitchen cabinet
doors and walls to free other
areas. Foil and waxed paper
slip into wrap and bag
organizers that easily mount to
cabinet doors with screws.
Similar organizers are
available for cleaning supplies,
brooms and mops, and your
iron and ironing board too.
Just hang on a door, pan-
try wall or whatever you
like.

Now is also the time to
set up a kitchen recycling
system for papers, glass,
metals and compost. With
a little organization, recycl-
ing becomes easy.

Bedroom Tips: Empty
closets and drawers one
by one, placing out-of-

season contents
in storage
boxes.

SAFER
SUBSTANCES
The follow-
ing six sub-
stances were
listed in the

Canadian
Green Consumer Guide as the
“big six” of environmentally-
friendly cleaning. While all are
safer than their manufactured
chemical counterparts, some
still need to be handled with
care. For more information,
consult the consumer guide,
prepared by Pollution Probe
and published by McClelland
and Stewart, or other environ-

ment infoimation groups.

® Vinegar removes mildew,
stains and wax buildup. Use it
to clean coffee pots, glass,
paint brushes, grout, windows
and fireplaces.

° Pure soap. cleans
everything from dishes to cars.
¢ Baking soda is the all-round
champion. Baking soda
cleans, deodorizes, scours,
polishes, removes stains and
softens fabrics. Use it on

March 9, 1990 - North Shore News
plastic, vinyl, carpeting and
upholstery: on silver and
stainless — steel; inside
refrigerators and down drains.

* Borax cleans wallpaper,
painted walls and floors. It
deodorizes, removes stains
and boosts the cleaning power
of your detergents.

© Washing soda cleans
clothing and softens water.
But it is moderately toxic.
Wear gloves and use it in well-
ventilated areas to avoid irrita-
tion of mucous membranes.

* Ammonia, a hardworking
liquid, cleans carpets and
linoleum, copper and enamel,
and most appliances. Am-
monia can irritate the skin and
the eyes, so wear gloves and
use it in a well-ventilated area.
Never mix it with chlorine
bleach; the mixture creates a
poisonous gas.

These ingredients, on their
own or in combination, can
become your household
staples. You can make up
economy-sized batches of
various cleaners in the
strengths you need, and store
them in reusable containers.
One factor to consider when
mixing your formulas is what
sewage treatment is like in
your area: at the cottage or in
municipalities with no sewage
treatment, go easy on the am-
monia and the bleach.

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
50 mL baking soda

250 mL ammonia

125 mL white vinegar

4 L warm water

This combination provides
a low-cost cleaner for
bathroom fixtures, floors, tiles
and painted walls. After
washing, rinse surfaces with
clear water.

© Oak Construction

© 42 Diameter with 18"

© Bahlinced Geared Slide

* Exeenders for Ease of
Opening

* Adjustable Levelers on Feet

PRICE Reg. $595.
$5900 sate 239500

Quantity
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Sale taking place « at all four locations.
2 : DIS COVER

F MAPLE RIDGE:
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With the free services of a professional decorating
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Call for an appointment at your convenience.

925-1518

Carol Gorash
Ken Walker

Lear

SOLID OAK CROWN,
PRESS BACK DINING
CHAIR. Reg. $199.00

SALE 9900
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Antiques

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