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Living room cleaners

Sustainable living  ›  Healthy home  ›  Clean green  ›  Living room cleaners

These recipes for less-toxic furniture polish, wood and leather cleaners can help you save money and protect your family and the environment.

Furniture polish

• Mix 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice. Apply with a soft cloth, rubbing into the grain. Buff with a clean corner of the rag.
• Mix 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar and a few drops of food-grade linseed oil, jojoba or olive oil. Test on wood first, and then polish.

Wood furniture polish

Mix 3/4 cup olive or other vegetable oil, 1/4 teaspoon vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon lemon oil (optional) in a squirt bottle. Squirt on furniture or rag and rub into wood. Shake well before each application.

Wood cleaning formula

• • Combine 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon liquid vegetable oilbased soap, a few drops of jojoba or olive oil, 3 to 5 drops essential oil (optional) in a bowl. Saturate a sponge with the mixture, squeeze out the excess, and test wood surface. Rinse sponge in warm water in between washes.
• To remove water spots on wood, allow the spots to dry out completely. Apply real mayonnaise over stain and let stand for at least an hour. Clean and buff with a clean rag.

Leather cleaner

Mix 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup vinegar in a squirt bottle and shake before each application. Rub with soft cloth into leather for cleaning and conditioning. Do not use on suede.