Even with the army of high-tech appliances at our disposal, most of us are not exactly a fan of cleaning chores. The dreadful pile of laundry, the zillion dust-covered surfaces, or a bathroom that needs a good scrubbing are the stuff of many a nightmare.
Imagine if we had to go down by the local river to wash clothes or spend hours cleaning the house, just like in the olden times. Sounds scary?
Fortunately, here we are enjoying the fruits of modern cleaning technology, which has advanced by leaps and bounds over the last few decades. But you might be surprised to know that while we have left old cleaning techniques far behind us, many cleaning products from yesteryears are still widely in use.
If not used directly, several of these products feature prominently as major constituents in our cleaning solutions today. So let’s take a look at some of these products, shall we?
Damp Cloth
Yes, we know this is basic, but a damp cloth is perhaps one of the best cleaning products humanity has ever used. You can use it anywhere, it is inexpensive, and even your granny will approve of it!
Salt & Lemon
While you might not want to rub salt on your wounds, you can definitely rub it along with some lemon and boiling water on wooden boards to give them a thorough cleaning. Or, you could use this classic combination to keep your copperware sparkling. This mixture, where lemon acts as an antiseptic, has been in use as a disinfectant since even before people knew the word “pandemic.”
Baking Soda
The Egyptians started using it to clean their pots and pans, and the world has been in love with it ever since. It is environment-friendly, readily available, and can work wonders on accumulated dirt. What’s more, it works as a deodoriser as well! The natural fragrance it leaves behind is sure to keep your kitchen fresh and ready for the next meal prep.
Bleach
Bleach has been in every housekeeping manual since time immemorial. The sodium hypochlorite compound present in it is an excellent disinfecting agent and can kill bacteria, fungi, and mycobacterium. This is one of the few items of daily use that every company doing a house cleaning in Sydney still uses!
Vinegar
Vinegar is known for its versatility and can be one of the best cleaning products for your kitchen. It can efficiently remove the build-up from the bottom of your kettle, dishwasher stains, and even the tough grease from your pans.
French Chalk
Popularly known as talc, French chalk is something that is being used since the 17th century. You can apply it on any light stain, soak it overnight, and see the stain removed in the morning. Besides being used for home cleaning, dry cleaners are also widely used to remove stubborn grease stains.
Toothpaste
You know it keeps your pearlies healthy and bright. You might also know that it prevents burns from becoming blisters. But did you know that toothpaste can also keep your bathroom neat and clean? Yes, it’s as versatile as a cleaning product can get. From the sink to the showerhead, everything goes spotless in a matter of minutes with just your regular old toothpaste.
Cleaning products may come and go, but the utility of these “old-fashioned” products will probably never wear off.