Nana was a miracle cleaner!

How Nana Used It:

• Polishing Wooden Furniture: Nana would mix lemon juice with olive oil to create a natural furniture polish. This mixture not only cleaned the wood but also nourished it, leaving it with a beautiful shine.
• Cutting Boards and Countertops: For tough odors on cutting boards (like garlic or fish), Nana would rub half a lemon over the surface, letting it sit for a minute before wiping it off. The citrusy scent neutralized odors, and the acid helped remove stains.

4. Salt: The Multi-Purpose Scrubber

Salt was another household staple that Nana kept on hand at all times. While it’s often associated with seasoning food, this humble ingredient also played an essential role in her cleaning arsenal.

How Nana Used It:

• Cleaning Cast Iron Pans: Nana knew that salt was a great abrasive cleaner. She would sprinkle salt in her cast iron skillet and scrub it with a paper towel to remove stuck-on food. The salt was abrasive enough to scrub away residue without damaging the seasoned surface of the pan.
• Dealing with Stubborn Stains: Salt can help lift stains from fabrics and even carpets. Nana would sprinkle salt on the stain, then gently rub it in before washing. It helped lift and remove even tough stains, like wine or grease.

5. Borax: The Heavy-Duty Cleaner

Borax, a naturally occurring mineral, was another key ingredient in Nana’s cleaning routine. While many people today may have forgotten about this old-fashioned cleaner, Nana used it for everything from deodorizing carpets to boosting laundry power.

How Nana Used It:

• Laundry Booster: Nana would add a little Borax to the laundry along with her regular detergent to help remove odors, brighten whites, and fight stubborn stains.
• Bathroom Cleaner: When cleaning the bathroom, Nana would use Borax to scrub away soap scum and grime. It was particularly effective on bathtubs and tile grout, leaving surfaces gleaming and sanitized.

6. Essential Oils: Nana’s Natural Fragrance Secret

Nana’s house always smelled wonderful, and it wasn’t due to synthetic air fresheners or candles. Instead, she relied on essential oils to create a natural, fresh aroma in her home.

How Nana Used It:

• Air Freshener: Nana would add a few drops of essential oil to a bowl of baking soda, then place it around the house to absorb odors and release a pleasant fragrance. Lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus were some of her favorite scents.
• Homemade Cleaners: She’d mix essential oils like tea tree, lavender, and peppermint with vinegar or water to create all-natural surface cleaners that were both effective and smelled amazing.

7. Old-Fashioned Elbow Grease

Perhaps the most important secret in Nana’s cleaning routine was the power of elbow grease. While modern cleaning gadgets can be helpful, Nana always believed that a little hard work and patience went a long way. She would scrub floors, polish furniture, and wash windows with a dedication that made everything shine.

How Nana Used It:

• Scrubbing and Polishing: Whether it was the floor or the furniture, Nana didn’t mind putting in the effort. She would take her time scrubbing surfaces until they were spotless. Her attention to detail made her home feel like a sanctuary.

8. Old Clothes for Rags

Nana never wasted anything, and old clothes were no exception. She would cut up worn-out shirts, towels, or sheets to use as cleaning rags. These rags were perfect for dusting, wiping down surfaces, and even cleaning windows.

How Nana Used It:

• Cleaning Cloths: Instead of buying disposable wipes, Nana reused old fabric for all types of cleaning. The soft, absorbent fabric was great for dusting and wiping down surfaces without leaving streaks or lint behind.

Final Thoughts: Nana’s Cleaning Magic Lives On

Nana’s cleaning secrets were not about fancy products or expensive gadgets—they were about using simple, natural ingredients that worked wonders on every surface. Whether it was baking soda, vinegar, or essential oils, she knew how to make the most of what she had. The best part? These cleaning tricks are still just as effective today as they were when Nana used them. So, next time you’re looking for a way to keep your home sparkling clean, remember Nana’s time-tested methods, and you might just find that the best cleaning magic is simple, natural, and old-fashioned!