Ever heard the saying ‘an old soldier never dies’? This is the case with some vintage cleaning products. Some of the oldest cleaning products that were in use in the 90s are still very powerful and efficient today.
While we are happy with the recent developments in cleaning products, the efficiency of some of those old products is incomparable.
If properly observed, you would notice that some of the modern cleaning products are packed majorly with harsh chemicals to enhance their efficiency. Constant use of these harsh chemicals is not healthy as they pose a health risk to your family and pets.
Do you need a safe escape route around these toxic cleaning products? We have got you covered.
We have compiled 10 effective vintage cleaning products that will help clean your home and office with no hassle.
Lemon
The good old lemon has been a highly beneficial fruit over the years. Besides its health benefits, it has been used as a cleaning product since forever, making house chores easier.
Its acidity level gives it an antiseptic and antibacterial touch, making it useful as a natural bleach. To remove stains from the bottom of pans and pots made with copper, simply add a mixture of lemon and salt to the stain and watch it disappear after a while.
Leave a slice of lemon to sit atop kitchen counter tops to remove stains from them. Mix lemon with hot water and pour the mixture down the drain to freshen it.
Due to the level of acid, putting it in contact with a greasy stain will eventually remove the stain. The usefulness of lemon in cleaning cannot be overstated.
Murphy Oil Soap
The distinction of this soap comes from the fact that it is oil-based. It contains Trisodium MGDA, which is an environment-friendly agent, making it safe for use. The fragrance is also lovely. The soap can be used in cleaning wooden upholstery, furniture, and all wooden surfaces.
It gives out an undeniable glow when used in cleaning. The Murphy oil soap is still very useful today.
It can also be utilized to clean leather, bathroom equipment and stains on clothes, making it multi-purpose.
If you have a wooden surface you would like to shine; you can consider hunting for Murphy oil soap, as it still has its essence.
Baking Soda
Besides its cooking functions, baking soda can also be used as a cleaning agent. This product is highly versatile and can be used both as an abrasive and as a deodorizer. Where you would use a cream cleaner, the use of baking soda will come in handy.
By simply applying baking soda to a surface and using a piece of cloth to wipe it, you can clean off dirt and grime and leave behind a natural fragrance. Baking soda can also be used to clean toothbrushes by soaking them in a mixture of baking soda and water for some hours.
They can also degrease oven doors, remove stains from mugs, and even neutralize bad smells in the kitchen.
What’s more? Instead of the new teeth whitening products, you can use baking soda to whiten your teeth naturally.
Mix a few spoons of baking soda with water, form a paste with the mixture and apply it on your teeth. Rinse the mixture off and continue for some days, you will notice a change.
Vinegar
Vinegar is another product known for its versatility. It can come in very handy as a cleaning product, especially in the kitchen. If you feel like your dishwasher needs to be freshened, a combination of white vinegar and baking soda can do the trick for you.
The same thing goes for the refrigerator, carpets, toilet bowl, shower head, microwave and even denim. Vinegar will also, without question, remove limescale from the bottom of your kettles.
One of the fascinating uses of vinegar is as an oily skin treatment. If you have been dealing with oily skin for some time, by combining shampoo, rubbing alcohol, water, and vinegar, you can be able to fight off oily skin finally.
French Chalk
Remember the age-old French chalks? You probably know it as Talc. Despite being first used in the 17th century, this product is still very useful as a cleaning product.
It is most effective when used for light stains on materials. When using the French chalk, apply on the stain and leave overnight to soak in, you would be amazed at how easy the stain washes off. It is mostly used by dry cleaners.
The French chalk is also known to remove grease stains from surfaces. If you have a stubborn grease stain, try applying the French chalk and watch it clean off easily.
Eggshells
You probably have heard about this but never tried it. As vintage as it may seem, you might need to start saving up your eggshells from now.
Eggshells can be used as a cleaning product in a lot of ways. Back in the days, granny probably made an unbeatable abrasive out of ground eggshells which did wonders to the back of hopeless pots.
If you have a stubborn stain at the back of your pots and pans that just would not go away, try using ground eggshells and soapy water.
A very good part of this cleaning agent is that it is generally seen as a waste. With this method, you can now put your eggshell waste into meaningful use.
Eggshells can also treat skin irritation and clean off dark spots on the face when used as a face mask. Eggshells come with numerous advantages besides being used as a cleaning product, remember this the next time you want to throw away all of your eggshells.
Baby Powder
From cleaning shiny surfaces to refreshing bed sheets, baby powder has always been useful in the cleaning sector. Baby powder can be used to remove potential smells from spills.
Also, if you get an oil stain on a cloth, the fastest means of removing it is by applying baby powder on it and leaving it to soak in. By sprinkling light amounts of baby powder inside shoes, you can keep them fresh all day long.
Baby powder is also great for cleaning grease off books.There are numerous other ways in which you can easily engage baby powder besides using them for bodily purposes.
Toothpaste
Yes, toothpaste is generally used to keep the mouth clean. However, there are other cleaning benefits of toothpaste. Before the regular bathroom disinfectants and cleaners were introduced, toothpastes were used in keeping the bathroom neat.
From sinks and showers to almost all bathroom fixtures, it gets a little shinier when you use toothpastes. Its abrasive content works just perfectly in removing stains from anything, including the toilet bowl.
Just like powders, toothpastes are also effective shiny surface cleaners. So, if you have a foggy mirror or a dirty one, wipe it with toothpaste. For other uses, you can also use them to clean silverware pans and add a shine to your jewelry.
Vegetable Oil
It may surprise you to know that something as greasy as vegetable oil can be used to clean grease, but it is absolutely true. If you get a stubborn grease stain on your pans that would not go out, try adding a little vegetable oil, and cleaning again, you would be surprised.
If you have wooden floors and all other cleaning methods you have attempted do not seem durable enough, go old school by mixing vegetable oil with vinegar and using it as a solution, then shining with a clean cloth. It won’t be long before you notice the sparkle.
Brasso
Brasso is a vintage cleaning product you may or may not recall. The ammonia and alcohol combined in Brasso make it extremely efficient. It is used for cleaning brass surfaces, hence the name. Brasso was part of a lot of homes a century ago.
However, other products have replaced it in homes with time. This does not stop or reduce the efficiency of this product. It works perfectly for polishing brass surfaces, copper surfaces, stainless steel surfaces and other similar surfaces.
Do well to make good use of Brasso the next time you lay your hands on it.
"Ten vintage cleaning products that are still useful" is intended to give readers some knowledge of cleaning products that have been on the market for many years and there is still none to be compared to them.10 Vintage Cleaning Products That Are Still Useful Today
Instructions
Lemon
Murphy Oil Soap
Baking Soda
Vinegar
French Chalk
Eggshells
Baby Powder
Toothpaste
Vegetable Oil
Brasso
They are also multi-purpose, implying that they can be used for several cleaning chores within and around the home. You may have learnt new uses of materials that you never knew before now. You can try out them out to get personal confirmation on the product.
By simply adjusting your list, you will be doing you and your family so much good. The next time you go shopping for cleaning products, do ensure you consider adjusting your list to these environmentally safe cleaning products.
