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Cleaning. A simple three-syllable word that has led to the creation and growth of billion-dollar industries. There are many different kinds of cleaning that are devised to suit different purposes- one has the age-old but still effective frequent wielding of the mop on grimy floors, there is vacuum cleaning for carpets and upholstery, spring cleaning to rid the house of the dirt it has accumulated once every year, and deep cleaning which signifies a process that siphons out dirt from the deepest recesses of a home.
Amish cleaning, too, is a type. Derived from the culture of Amish women and men having spotless homes always, this method of cleaning relies heavily on discipline and time management.
The organization, you will soon discover, is key. Amish cleaning does not leave room for negligence or laziness- it is not the sort of cleaning that has ties to concealment and distraction. And while only possible if one can inculcate a habit for accountability, it can most certainly bring about positive change.
Following is a list of Amish cleaning hacks that make one’s home and life both, easier.
13 Amish Cleaning Hacks You Must Know
1. Mothballs
A practice almost as popular in South-Asian and Middle-Eastern society as it is in the Amish community, the use of mothballs as a method to keep away rodents is one you must adapt.
An insecticide that is nearly 100% active, the primary ingredient in mothballs is naphthalene. It emits a certain toxic vapor, universally shunned by mice and other rodents who might decide to prey on furniture or storage. It is an effervescent compound, meaning that it has a shelf life before it turns entirely into vapor.
A practical embodiment of “Prevention is better than cure.”, place a few mothballs in select locations around the house to keep insects and small animals at bay. Buy mothballs
2. Salt Solution Degreaser
A home remedy that has proved itself adequately sufficient to do the trick, a salt solution degreaser is one of the many tricks one could adapt from the Amish.
Non-toxic and completely devoid of chemicals, the salt solution is sponged onto the grease stain. Leave it on for a period of 5-10 times, so that the mixture is absorbed by the fabric. Following this, rub the stain gently with a dry washcloth. Steer clear of applying too much force- salt is abrasive and can effectively rid the fabric of the oil stain. However, unnecessary force or harsh scrubbing can lead to scratches and tears.
3. Lime Juice As a Cleaning Liquid
We have all used cleaning supplies with lime juice or vitamin C extracts. Not only do they leave the house smelling fresh, but they are also natural disinfectants and can be used to bleach surfaces.
Take a leaf out of the Amish book, and put to use the real deal. Often used in combination with other compounds or sometimes just by itself, lime juice is a handy hack that cleans, deodorizes, and disinfects.
Squirt a few drops into sinks and toilet bowls, use it to clean window sills and closet crevices, or use it to scrub floors- the options are endless.
Pro Tip: Lime juice can often leave surfaces feeling sticky, that attract ants and other insects. To prevent this, always remember to rinse or wipe with a damp washcloth after use.
4. Crochet Hook to Declog Sinks
Unconventional, effective, and a traditional cleaning method that has been passed down by generations.
Sinks and drains are known to be difficult in very much the same way, they clog easily. And while store-bought chemicals do help dissolve the sludge and clear the drains, they are not advisable when it comes to frequent use.
Amish women use crochet hooks to unclog sinks. The sharp spoke nudges the entrapped material down the drain and simultaneously clears a path.
5. Vinegar-based Disinfectants
A staple home remedy in Amish households, put together a mixture of baking soda and vinegar and use the solution as an inexpensive but effective disinfectant.
The baking soda should be used sparingly. The commonly used ration of both materials is 1 spoon of baking soda for two cups of white vinegar. Quantities vary with respect to the area to be covered.
Baking soda and vinegar are both natural disinfectants and are easily available.
6. Citrus Peel
As mentioned in the third point, the Amish reserve a special place for the use of citrus in their homes. This recipe is one that highlights the use of the same.
A citrus peel solution is composed of a cup of water, one cup of vinegar, and one cup of citrus peels. [One can use any citrus peels of their choice, although lemon and orange are the most popular options.]
The water and vinegar mix is set to boil, and once that is done, the citrus peels are added. Cover the container bearing said solution and let it seep overnight. Following this, the mixture is strained and put into a spray bottle.
It can be used to cleanse, disinfect, and deodorize. it also works as an effective insecticide when in frequent use.
7. How to tackle Mildew
A common problem: bathroom tiles and shower curtains are especially prone to, mildew can also be gotten rid of, Amish style.
One needs hot water, borax, and either thyme or a thyme essential oil. The ratios and quantities vary with requirements. [For reference: 4 cups of water, half a cup of borax and eight sprigs of fresh thyme]
Boil the water, and add the thyme sprigs until they are diffused into the liquid. After a sufficient period of time allotted for infusion, strain and dissolve the borax into the solution.
Spray it onto shower curtains, and use it as a natural scrub for bathroom walls and floors.
8. Fabric Softener
Amish cleaning is all about the recognition of the versatility of everyday ingredients that one has lying around the house.
White vinegar used in combination with your favorite essential oil, when added judiciously to detergent acts as a fabric softener.
Borax is another easily viable product that can be used as an alternative. It is a naturally occurring mineral that softens and purifies water.
9. Floor Disinfection
As with most other things with the Amish, this too is a home remedy. And a very good one, at that.
Whip up a cleaning solution using 4 cups of hot water and 1 cup of vinegar. The hot water kills microorganisms, and especially well when in conjunction with peppermint oil. The addition of the essential oil is also recommended for it leaves behind a fresh, snappy aroma.
Vinegar, white vinegar is a natural disinfectant and is quite up to the task of cleaning grimy floors.
10. Stovetop Cleaning
Stovetops are infamously vulnerable to the accumulation of grease and char, albeit with good reason.
The Amish are a proud race, and like to keep all their surfaces spotless- even when it comes to relatively neglected kitchen equipment. Like stove steps.
The remedy, however, is quite simple. The solution comprises vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap. Let the solution sit for a few minutes before you start to scrub. Rinse or wipe down with a damp cloth.
11. Homemade Pesticide
Borax can be used to kill insects that plague the insides of our homes.
Mix borax into a regular powdered sugar. Use a healthy amount. The temptation of sugar will lure the insects to consuming this deadly mixture. Put quantities of it in the corners of your home most frequented by ants, cockroaches, and other bugs.
Disclaimer: Not advisable if you happen to have small children or pets.
11. All-Purpose Cleaner
Borax again, you might ask wearily? And you would be quite right. The Amish discovered and implemented (and still continue to) the many uses of this miracle compound. It might do well to follow their example.
Mix 4 tablespoons of borax into 4 cups of hot water. Let the powder dissolve. Put the solution into a spray bottle and use it to clean floors, walls, countertops, bathtubs and showerheads, and kitchen equipment.
12. Washing Soda to Brighten and Whiten Clothes
The title gives away much of the purpose of this point.
Adding half a cup(or more, depending on your laundry load) to laundry does more than anticipated. It brightens fabrics, removes stains, and also acts as a fabric softener.
It can also be sprinkled on tough stains to lighten and eliminate them. However, keeping the powder on for more than five minutes is ill-advised. Washing soda is strongly alkaline and can cause holes in delicate fabric if left on for too long.
13. Pot Cleaner
Another washing soda hack, and the last on the list. Caked- on grit and grease is often the hardest to get rid of, regardless of the strength of the cleaning solution or the force of scrubbing. Combat this seemingly insurmountable problem by putting to use a few spoons of washing soda, some water to moisten it, and a considerable amount of elbow grease. Pro Tip: Leave the washing soda on for 20-30 minutes before you start to scrub.
The conclusion to this article, if you have not already guessed at it, is quite simple. leaning is not an isolated activity, at least it ought not to be. It is a routine, a practice that must be included in one’s daily routine in order to be truly effective. The Amish know it, it is time for you too.
