Silver and Gold Magazine Autumn 2020 | Page 4

HANDY DANDY CLEANING TIPS Does cleaning your home seem like a never-ending lineup of tasks? Create a schedule for cleaning and keep it on a dedicated calendar, as this helps organize your mind as well: Vacuum on Monday, shopping on Wednesday, laundry on Saturday, etc. Stick to it as closely as possible! This helps ease the mind and make more time for other enjoyable tasks. Everyone’s got a “messy drawer”! Set an egg timer and only take 5 minutes to clean it – even once per month. In a couple of months you will have a lot less clutter – and more space to fill it with new junk! Clean your oven with baking soda: Make a paste, spread it inside the oven and let it sit for 20 minutes, then wipe with a damp cloth. Done! No expensive cleaners and toxic fumes required. Clean your windows with cornstarch, by combining two cups of hot water, 1/4 cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of cornstarch in a spray bottle. You can also add a couple of drops of lemon essential oil for a nice, fresh scent. Bye bye smelly Windex! Vacuum your mattress! Once per month, sprinkle some baking soda on top of the mattress, leave for 5-10 minutes, and then vacuum it off to remove stuck on sweat, dry skin and bacteria that accumulate over time. Did you know...? Bamboo is the best material for a cutting board, as it’s a highly dense wood, meaning resistant to absorbing liquid so it’s less likely to harbour bacteria. Since bamboo is such a hard wood, it will not scuff, crack or dry up as much as other wooden cutting boards. Since bamboo can grow at a rate of over 12” per month, it is considered a highly renewable and sustainable material – a great choice for the eco-conscious consumer. The Dendrocalamus giganteus (Giant Bamboo) species can grow up to 100 feet tall! Many species of bamboo grow quite well in Canada, making them a great choice for fences and decoratives. 4 Read + hear more: www.silvergoldmagazine.ca