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The Citizen, 1992-12-23, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1992. Environmentally yours By Rhea Ha mi It on-Seeg er and Klaus Seeger Safe ways to polish Nothing seems to get a homemaker bustling around with cleaners and polishes more than a holiday. Christmas is coming and there is a frantic rush in some homes to get everything clean and sparkling for the big event. We succumb to glitzy ads showing us the easy way to get the job done and yet it may be the most harmful way for our environment. There are three basic ingredients you should have in your cupboard ready to tackle any problem, which will not create problems for your kids in the future; salt, vinegar and baking soda. Here in Canada we use over 20,000 chemicals and we add another 100 - 200 every year. Most of these do not create environment problems but some can. I must admit I am more cautious about what I use in the garden than what I use in our home; probably because there isn't too much you can't clean with soap and water and a bit of elbow grease. One of the first areas to come under the cleaning cloth are those tired looking brass candlesticks or grandmother's silverware. I must admit that before researching for this column I had only used commercial cleaners. I know I will not buy any fabulous silver in my life so I must take particular care of the one or two pieces I've inherited. I have used commercial cleaners for two reasons: one, because they're not used often, and two, because they've been developed to take gentle, careful care of my silver. 1 trust the manufacturer to develop a cleaner that I trust. The problem is that as consumers we have to think in broader terms than just getting one small job done. So with this thought in mind, and armed with soda, salt and a pot of boiling water I first tossed my dessert spoons into the cleaning broth to see if this method would work. I boiled the spoons for exactly three minutes as the directions said, then pulled them out and polished with an old soft diaper (one of the many benefits of cloth diapers for babies). But to my dismay there was no difference between the polished spoons and the ones that still had to be done. This called for further research. I laid a piece of foil shiny side down in the sink. I used the same measurement of salt and baking soda in the boiling water and poured it over the silver in the sink. You know what? ... It worked! I then talked to Robert Stoddart, Goderich silversmith/goldsmith, who admitted there is no real harm done to silver by using this simple household method. Any cleaning of silver whether with a commercial cleaner or with household ingredients will cause some wearing of the finish. So here are some tried and true recipes for cleaning around the home which will save you money and more importantly help reduce some of the wear and tear we are putting this poor world of ours through. Silver Polish Take special care with silver ornamental objects that are plated rather than sterling. The plating on silver objects is only a thin layer of silver over a base metal. Boil all pieces in 1 qt. water, 1 tbsp, baking soda and 1 tbsp. salt. Line your kitchen sink with a sheet of aluminum foil, shiny side down and lay your silver on lop. Make sure you make enough of the cleaning mixture that it will cover your silverware. Pour the hot mixture over the silverware and let sit until the tarnish has faded, then polish with a soft cloth to remove the residue. I get nervous about that mixture on the silver, so I went a step further and washed the silver again in warm soapy water, then dried with a cloth. Copper Polish Make a mixture of equal parts of salt and vinegar (or salt and lemon juice). I put this mixture of lemon and salt in a small dessert dish and dipped the comer of my cloth into it to use instead of a commercial polish. Pewter Pewter has come back into fashion again. Once known as the poor man's silver, pewter has made a remarkable comeback thanks to the craftsmanship of some talented artists. I tried rubbing a raw cabbage leaf over the pewter but I must have missed something in the directions I was given. All I ended up with was a handful of mushy cabbage and no difference in my one and only dismally dull pewter plate. I next tried the soda, salt and foil trick but it didn't make an appreciable difference. Sorry, I went back to a bit of commercial silver polish. Here are some recipes for basic cleaning around the home - All Purpose Cleaner I - 125 mL ammonia, 75 mL washing soda, and 4 L or warm water. Mix well and use on walls, floors and woodwork. All Purpose Cleaner ll - 50 mL baking soda, 250 mL ammonia, 125 mL white vinegar, 4 L warm water. Remember ammonia has very strong fumes and is considered a dangerous substance, so use carefully around children. Don't underestimate baking soda. Armed with a saucer of soda and a damp cloth I climbed into the shower and used the soda just as I would a commercial dry powder cleanser. The baking soda worked like a charm. We have very hard water and my husband is always extolling the virtues of soaking the showerhead in vinegar in the bathroom sink. This does double duty since the showerhead gets the lime buildup decreased and the hard water stain is reduced in the sink. If you are trying to perk up laminated countertops, consider using lemon juice fresh squeezed and allow it to sit for 45 minutes, then sprinkle it with baking soda and clean with a soft cloth. For tougher cleaning jobs, try rubbing with half a lemon dipped in salt, rinse well, and wipe dry. Carpet Deodorizer - To clean and deodorize carpets you can mix together two cups cornmeal and one cup borax; sprinkle over area to be cleaned and wait one hour then vacuum. I wouldn't recommend this recipe unless you have a vacuum with good suction power. Increase your vacuum power by making sure you start with clean machine. We all have one floor which always needs cleaning, yet you haven't time to get out the polish and do a really big job. Try a cupful of baby oil to your usual soap and water. On the popular no­ wax flooring use 1/2 cup vinegar in your rinse water. As you will have noticed a lot of these safer ways of cleaning may be a little more time consuming. If you do not use the more convenient products don't underestimate the damage they can do over time. Disposal of chemicals down your toilet or sink into the septic system does not eliminate the problem of dealing with chemicals. The residue could very well leach into your water system and that is another problem to deal with. One final note to leave with you. If you are running out of time and there is still much to be done, then do the basics like a quick wipe of the floor and dusting of major surfaces. A close friend once told me a very good trick to cleaning before entertaining; as long as your bathroom is clean and the kitchen dishes done up then your home, on first impression, will be considered neat and tidy. Save your energy for your family and friends not for the gleam and shine. There will be plenty of time to polish for the sake of polishing after the holiday season is over. Rhea Hamilton Seeger is a member of the North Huron Environment group and a columnist with Rural Voice. ********** Q. I left the chicken casserole on the kitchen counter overnight. Is it safe to eat? A. No. Chicken casserole, like other cooked foods such as meat, poultry, fish, milk and milk products, dressings and gravies, should not be left at room temperature more than two hours. These foods may contain harmful bacteria which multiply rapidly at room temperature and could cause food poisoning when eaten. For more information contact a public health inspector at the health unit - (519)-482-3416. ********** ^tfHave a Fire Safe Holiday! ■»•** Enjoy the holiday season but be cautious with your Christmas tree. Buy a fresh cut tree and keep it away from all heat sources. Don't place your tree in an exit way. Check all decorative lights before placing them on the tree and discard any frayed or damaged lights and cords. Once large amounts of needles begin to fall off, it's time to get rid of the tree. Never burn trees, decorations or wrapping paper in the fireplace; sparks can set your roof or home on fire. These are just a few tips from your local fire department for a Fire Safe Holiday. 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