Latest news with #SustainablyLazy
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Just one natural item will remove toilet stains in a matter of minutes
We've all tried using harsh chemical cleaners to remove stains but there is a simple natural alternatives and one cleaning guru tells us how you can save money and remove limescale stains Maintaining a sparkling loo can often seem like an endless task, but if you're grappling with stubborn stains that won't shift, you might need more than just a toilet brush. Limescale is a tenacious stain commonly found in toilets and occurs due to mineral build-up from hard water left behind after evaporation. Many people fall into the trap of attempting to scrub away these toilet stains with cleaning products like bleach, but it's futile as no disinfectant can dissolve the minerals. Using bleach on limescale will merely lighten the stain, yet the mineral deposits will persist and become even tougher to remove as they continue to accumulate. However, Sophie, a cleaning guru and the brains behind Sustainably Lazy, has revealed that the most effective way to tackle toilet stains is actually through natural cleaning alternatives such as citric acid. Sophie explained: "The acid of my choice is citric acid because it is cheap and plastic-free. Alternatively, you could use white vinegar but I find citric acid is more effective and works out cheaper." Limescale solidifies over time and clings to surfaces, meaning these stains must be dissolved with an acidic agent to be fully eradicated. Citric acid is naturally derived from the juice of citrus fruits like lemons or oranges, making it gentle enough for your loo and safe for cleaning, yet potent enough to break down limescale. It is eco-friendly, biodegradable and incredibly affordable as a crystallised version of citric acid can be found in most supermarket cleaning aisles. At Tesco and ASDA, a box of citric acid only costs £1.75. You can also use white vinegar to get rid of limescale if you have any in your kitchen, but it has a very strong pungent smell so many people dislike using it in an enclosed space like a bathroom. How to get rid of limescale using citric acid Instead, boil the kettle, let the water cool down slightly and then pour it down the toilet bowl. Then, add 120g of citric acid to the toilet bowl. Let the citric acid and warm water sit for at least 30 minutes but preferably leave it overnight. Citric acid needs time to break down the limescale, and it will need longer if it is a particularly stubborn stain. When the time is up, simply scrub your toilet bowl with a toilet brush and any remaining limescale stains should easily come away. This is an easy and almost effortless way to keep your toilet clean so you never have to spend ages scrubbing at it ever again.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Washing-up liquid warning issued to UK households
The ingredients in washing detergent and the bottles themselves can cause harm. The majority of UK households use washing-up liquid multiple times per day. It's a staple in most homes because of how quickly it rids our dishes of dirt. However, what many people don't know is how harmful the detergent can be for the planet, especially our seas. Buying dishwasher detergent that is sold in plastic bottles has a major impact on the environment and shoppers are now being warned of the consequences. According to cleaning experts, both the ingredients in washing-up liquid and the bottle it comes in are harming the environment every time you wash up. Every time you drain your sink, you are releasing fossil fuels and chemicals, potentially putting aquatic life at risk. It was recently revealed that British households dispose of millions of plastic bottles of washing up liquid every year and only half are recycled. Eco-friendly blogger Sustainably Lazy said dish soap has 'surfactants', which are the active ingredient which strips dirt off dishes and keeps it suspended in the water. But, warned: "Mainstream brands use fossil fuel-derived surfactants, many of which end up in rivers and harm aquatic life." Ethical Superstore backs up the warning. It says: "Most conventional washing up liquids contain sodium lauryl sulphate or SLS. This acts as a surfactant, meaning it reduces the surface tension of the water and creates foam, leading to extra cleaning power. But it's not without its issues. "SLS doesn't just dissolve away to nothing when it's used. After it goes down the plughole it can end up lingering in our waterways, endangering marine life and doing untold damage to the ecosystem." A study in the Journal of Applied Microbiology revealed the extent to which surfactants can damage marine life. It said: "The use of surfactants in households and industries is inevitable and so is their discharge into the environment, especially into the water bodies as effluents. Being surface-active agents, their utilisation is mostly seen in soaps, detergents, personal care products, emulsifiers, wetting agents, etc. "Surfactants are capable of penetrating the cell membrane and thus cause toxicity to living organisms. Accumulation of these compounds has been known to cause significant gill damage and loss of sight in fish." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. As well as the ingredients, the bottles themselves can cause harm to the environment. The UK produces more than 170 million tonnes of waste a year, but only one third of plastic packaging is recycled. Burnham Coastguard Rescue Team said back in 2018 that it had found a bottle of washing-up liquid on the beach, which was 47 years old and had not broken down. It urged people to "try and reduce our day-to-day plastic use, which is difficult with current manufacturing." Sustainable washing up liquid alternatives If you are ready to ditch plastic bottles, for £4.50 at Ocado, Fairy sells a refill carton for its plastic bottles which allows you to refill a typical Fairy liquid bottle 'more than twice". Fairy says: 'Fairy Max Power antibacterial washing up liquid refill carton allows you to refill your 370ml upside-down bottle more than twice and helps you to save up to 85% of the plastic. The refill is recyclable. 'The Max Power bottle with no flip cap gives you Fairy's ultimately convenient cleaning experience. It helps you get out of the kitchen faster by making washing dishes fast and easy.' Other options include solid washing up liquid bars, which tend to work better in soft water areas than hard water areas, and also, environmentally-friendly washing up liquids which are plant based and refillable.
