Well here we are in mid-February and I do believe we have had the odd glimpse of spring, so I guess it’s coming to that time of year when your thoughts turn to spring cleaning……don’t they?

 

With the price of cleaning supplies going up in leaps and bounds, and with us having a septic I have looked into more natural based cleaners and ideas.  This week I am going to feature lemons and what they can be used for.

1. Mix up a tough solution of lemon juice and tap water, and your stove, countertops and appliances will be shining like new. Pour a quarter of a cup of lemon juice in a spray bottle, then fill it up with tap water. Shake it a few times to mix the solution, then use it to remove stubborn grease.
2. Remove tarnish from copper and brass, mix up a quarter cup of table salt and just enough lemon juice to make a paste. Then, apply a coating of this onto any tarnished copper or brass pots, pans and other items you may have. Leave the lemon juice/salt paste set for five to ten minutes. Next, wash the item in warm tap water and then rinse it well. Use a soft, clean cloth to buff it dry. If any tarnish remains, repeat the process again.
3. Clean a microwave oven by adding four tablespoons of lemon juice to one cup water in a microwave-safe, four-cup bowl. Boil for five minutes in the microwave, allowing the steam to condense on the inside walls of the oven. Then wipe clean.
4. Mix 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 ¼ cup lemon juice and 12 cups water to create your own eco-friendly bleach.
5. To clean grout around tiles, apply lemon juice and water with a toothbrush and scrub.
6. To clean glass shower doors, apply lemon juice with a sponge. Dry with newspapers for a sparkling shine
7. To make your own furniture polish that is much better for the wood than what you can buy, prepare enough for a single preparation (make fresh each time you use it.) Mix the juice of one lemon, one teaspoon olive oil and a teaspoon of water. Apply a thin coat to furniture and buff to a deep shine.
8. Make your own all-purpose cleaning solution. Combine lemon juice, vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
9. To clean drains, mix hot lemon juice and baking soda to clean out and freshen drains. Safe for septic systems.
10. Lemon juice can dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits
11. After washing glassware rinse them in water that has a few lemon skins in it. The acid from the lemons will make the glasses sparkle.

 

**Please be aware I have not tried every one of these tips personally, so please use at your own risk.** 

 

For more of what I have been up too, please pop by my blog: That British Woman

 

I often wonder why we moved up here as I am not a fan of snow.  I don’t like outdoor winter activities.  If I have to blow out the driveway one more time I am going to scream.  Did I not know about this when we moved up from the city….of course I did?  Its just last year we were spoiled with how little snow we got.

 

I have been posting photos on my blog of all the snow and people have been gushing over how pretty it is; it looks like a Winter Wonderland.  Winter freaking Wonderland my foot!!  When it’s blowing a gale force wind outside and you’re trying to clean off the driveway and bringing in the logs for the fire, the last thing you are thinking about is how pretty it all looks.

 

I am glad we don’t have any outside animals to look after.  How the farmers with stock manage in this weather is beyond me.  I admire them immensely as they are a dedicated bunch.

 

We are lucky though in Dufferin County as there is one thing I can say they spend the money on keeping the roads cleared of snow.  They are out and about in all weathers keeping the roads clear, which is more than what they did when we lived in the city.  I also have nothing but good things to say about our garbage men, they too provide great service what ever the weather.

 

Would you believe before we came to Canada I don’t remember ever having a White Christmas in Britain?  We used to go and play outside with our new bikes or whatever we got on Christmas Day.  So I will admit to enjoy having a White Christmas, but if I had my way, it would snow on Christmas Eve and all be gone on Boxing Day.  Somehow or other I don’t think that’s going to happen?

 

Regardless of whether you love the snow or not; I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope 2011 is a super year for you all!

 

Translation: you’re a grown up and you’re still scared of that? 

My number one fear is frogs/toads; I have been frightened of them since childhood.  So image my horror when someone told me we have tree frogs up here.  At first I was confused as I knew there were tree frogs in the Amazon and other jungle areas, but had never heard of them elsewhere.  Then fear hit, as our driveway is lined with trees and we have other trees all over the property.  What if they were to jump out at me as I was walking along the drive way?  I will admit to keeping one eye on where I was going and one eye on the trees for quite a while, after I was told about them!!  Still have yet to see one in the trees, so not as paranoid about it. 

My next fear is snakes…icky, icky, icky things.  Pleased to say every snake I have seen on the property has looked like an over sized worm.  Mind you will admit to not hanging around for a better look!!

My next one is bats.  Have this image where they will swoop down and get tangled in my hair.  I have no idea where that image sprung up from, but it’s firmly implanted in my brain.  The closest encounter I have had with a bat is when at 1am Molly (doggie) was all in a dither about something on the stairs.  So I went to have a look and saw a bat sitting on the stairs.  Now there is not only a dog in a dither but a middle aged woman jumping about like a crazy person.  So poor husband was dragged out of bed and told to get rid of it.  He must have known I meant business as he got rid of it without argument!!  We have no idea where it came from, but haven’t seen another one since, touch wood! 

I’m not keen on mice, but after catching/trapping 17 mice in one week in the fall of 2009, I have got used to them.  The coyote’s I don’t like but as long as they don’t come near the house, I can live with them.  I had more problems with the Raccoons in the city than I do in the country, but they have sharp claws so keep my distance from them as well. 

I am sure I could list a lot more animals, and I know you are saying “Why on earth did you move up here?”  Because I want to be up close and personal with nature!!!  Just make sure they don’t get too close to me though!!