Alternative Cleaning Products

Lemons
Get rid of tough stains on marble. You probably think of marble as stone, but it is really petrified calcium (also known as old seashells). That explains why it is so porous and easily stained and damaged. Those stains can be hard to remove, but here is a simple method that should do the trick. Cut a lemon in half, dip the exposed flesh into some table salt and rub it vigorously on the stain.

Clean tarnished brass. Say goodbye to ­tarnish on brass, copper or stainless steel. Make a paste of lemon juice and salt (or substitute bicarbonate of soda or cream of tartar for the salt) and coat the affected area. Leave it on for about 5 minutes. Then wash in warm water, rinse and polish dry. Use the same mixture to clean metal kitchen sinks, too. Apply the paste, scrub gently, then rinse.

Salt
Make fireplace clean-ups easy. When you're ready to turn in for the night but the fire is still glowing in the hearth, douse the flames with salt. The fire will burn out more quickly, so you’ll wind up with less soot than if you let it smoulder. Clean-up is easier, too, because the salt helps the ash and residue gather into easy sweepings.

Remove wine from carpet. Red wine spilled on a white carpet is the worst. But there's hope. Firstly, while the red wine is still wet, pour some white wine on it to dilute the colour. Then clean the spot with a sponge and cold water. Sprinkle the area with salt and wait about 10 minutes. Now vacuum up the whole mess.

Clean grease stains from rugs. If someone in your family is paying more attention to watching football than the greasy food on their plate, and it ends up on your nice white carpet, don't kill them. Just mix up 1 part salt to 4 parts methylated spirits and rub it hard on the grease stain, being careful to rub in the direction of the carpet's natural nap.

Remove water marks from wood. Water marks left from glasses on a wood table really stand out. Make them disappear by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt with a few drops of water to form a paste. Gently rub the paste onto the ring with a soft cloth or sponge and work it over the spot until it's gone. Restore the lustre of your wood with furniture polish.