| 0000 steel wool |
is a very fine grade steel wool. Available from hardware shops. |
| Acetone |
is a volatile, flammable ketone. It’s used as a solvent for resins, primers, nail polish and heavy plastics. It’s available from the supermarket or hardware store. |
| Aquadhere |
is a wood glue and sealant available from hardware stores. |
| Beeswax |
is the wax produced by bees when making honeycomb. It’s a great polishing agent. |
| Bicarb (sodium bicarbonate) baking soda |
is a salt and an alkaline. It’s also known as bicarbonate. Bicarb neutralises acid. During this process it releases carbon dioxide and water which is great for penetrating stains or dissolving grease. It’s available at the supermarket, generally in the cake baking rather than cleaning aisle. |
| Bleach |
is a whitening agent. |
| Borax |
is a crystalline sodium borate. It is a fungicide, insecticide and detergent booster. It is mildly toxic and should be applied with care. Avoid contact with skin and avoid ingesting it. It’s available at the supermarket. |
| Bran |
is the ground husk of wheat or other grain. It’s absorbent and a scourer and good for cleaning fabrics and furs. |
| Camphor |
is a ketone from the camphor laurel tree. It has a strong vapour which most insects, particularly moths and cats, don’t like. It makes a great protector of gardens and wardrobes. It’s very flammable so never heat it. |
| Carpet cleaners |
come in many varieties. They can be soap-based, bicarb-based, detergent-based or alcohol-based. |
| CLR |
stands for Calcium, Lime and Rust. It removes calcium deposits from glasses and kettles, lime scales from coffee machine, toilets and sinks and rust from cement, porcelain, chrome and fabric. It’s available from the hardware store. |
| Cloves |
are a spice. They come from the dried flower bud of the clove tree. Oil can be extracted from them and used to inhibit mould. |
| Cornflour |
is a starch of maize, rice and other grains. It’s absorbent and a very fine abrasive. |
| Creosote |
A liquid, oily wood tar distillation used as a preservative and antiseptic. Available from hardware shops. |
| Dry cleaning fluid |
is a mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons. It’s a solvent and also known as white spirits or Murlex. |
| Epsom salts |
are hydrated magnesium sulphate and named because they were found at Epsom in the UK. They are good as a bath soaker and for unshrinking jumpers and other woollens. |
| Eucalyptus oil |
is an essential oil distilled from the leaves of certain eucalyptus trees. It’s a paint stripper, adhesive solvent and also releases vapours. Unlike most oils, it mixes with water. It’s available at the supermarket or chemist. |
| Fuller’s Earth |
is high calcium clay with a bleaching agent. It’s very absorbent. It acts as a wool relaxant and is used to unshrink or shrink woollens. It’s available from chemists. |
| Goanna oil |
is an oil made from goanna fat. It’s used as a lubricant and liniment. It’s available from chemists. |
| Glycerine |
is an odourless, clear liquid. It’s used as an agent in cosmetics, toothpaste and shampoos and is soluble in both water and alcohol. Glycerine helps loosen stains. It’s available from chemists. |
| Gumption |
is a greyish cleaning paste which has many uses. It’s great for cleaning the bath and kitchen sink. It contains a mild bleaching agent and abrasive. It’s available from the supermarket. |
| Hydrogen peroxide |
is an oxidising liquid used as an antiseptic and bleaching agent. |
| Lavender oil |
is derived from lavender flowers and has many uses including insect repellant, dog inhibitor or air freshener. Buy it at the supermarket, chemist or health food stores. |
| Leather dew |
is a combination of soap and oil and used to treat leather. It’s available from shoe repair shops. |
| Lemon oil |
comes from the oil in a lemon peel and is used as a furniture polish, spider and insect inhibitor, and stain remover. |
| Methylated spirits |
is a raw alcohol with menthol. The menthol gives it a strong smell and taste so it isn’t mistaken for water. It’s a solvent for paints. |
| Oil of cloves |
is cold pressed oil from the dried flower bud of the clove tree. It’s useful as a mould inhibitor, insecticide, toothache soother and an ingredient in cooking. It’s available from chemists. |
| Oil of pennyroyal |
is oil from a small-leafed mint. It’s useful in deterring moths and fleas, but is harmful to pregnant women (and pets) and shouldn’t be used by them or near them or in large quantities. |
| Potter’s plaster/plaster of paris |
is a white powder made of calcium sulphate. It forms a paste when mixed with water and can be shaped before setting. It’s also absorbent and good for removing stains from granite. It’s available from art supplies stores or hardware stores. |
| Rotten milk |
is formed by leaving milk in the sun until it forms into solids. The time taken to rot varies according to the weather and age of the milk. Rotten milk is great for removing inks. |
| Shellac |
is a varnish made of a resinous substance secreted through the pores of the carapace of the Coccus lacca scale insect. This substance is then dissolved in alcohol or a similar solvent. It’s used for making varnish, polish and sealing wax. |
| Slurpex |
is a fine-grade, chamois-like block. It is a very absorbent sponge that removes moisture from carpet and other surfaces. It is only available directly from the company, Slurpex. |
| Sugar soap |
is a highly caustic soap. It comes in powder or liquid form. The powder form has a mild abrasive. |
| Sweet almond oil |
is the oil from almond nuts. It’s useful for cleaning bone and ivory. Available from supermarkets and chemists. |
| Talcum powder |
is ground from a soft greenish grey mineral. It’s a super fine abrasive, lubricant and is also very absorbent. |
| Tea-tree oil |
is an oil extracted from a tea-tree bush. It’s used as an antibacterial and mixes with water. |
| Turpentine |
is a volatile oil and resin distilled from trees. It’s a solvent for oil-based paints. |
| Vanilla essence |
is extracted from vanilla beans. It is combined with alcohol and provides fragrance and flavour to food. Also a deodoriser. Available from supermarkets. |
| Viraclean |
is a hospital grade antibacterial and antiseptic used for cleaning bodily fluids. |
| Vinegar |
is an acid. It’s a preservative, condiment, beverage and for our purposes, cleaner and sanitiser. Cider vinegar is best on hard surfaces and white vinegar is better on fabrics and white marble. It’s available from the supermarket. |
| Wet-and-dry |
is a very fine (2000 grade) abrasive paper. Available from paint supply and car accessory shops. |
| Whiting |
is a powder used in cleaning and polishing glass. The powder removes excess oil and putty from leadlight panels. It’s available from leadlight stores. |
| Witch-hazel |
is extracted from the bark and leaves of a shrub, Hamamelis virginiana: witch-hazel or spotted alder. Used as a soothing and mildly astringent and lotion. Available at supermarkets and chemists. |
| Woolwash |
is a mild soap combined with eucalyptus oil and bicarb soda or detergent. As the name suggests, it’s useful in washing woollens. Buy it at the supermarket. |
| WD-40 |
stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt. It’s a high-grade penetrating oil and stops corrosion. |
