When God gives us lemons, we rub them in kosher salt and scour our pots and pans.
That’s how our moms kept the copper shinning bright in the kitchen: with plenty of (pent- up frustration focused into) serious elbow grease… and lemons and salt, nature’s abrasive. You dip the lemon half into the salt, and then you have the perfect handle to scrub with.
Anyone else with a good home remedy to share?
You have me laughing so hard, Andree.
Seriously, though... in one of the Mrs. Appleyard books from the 1940s (devoted and slightly wacky New England mother cooks, decorates, and manages her adorable urchins), the author recommends oiling tables and says she trained her children that, whenever someone spilled something oily on the dining table, they were to take a cloth and rub it in thoroughly.
Wende: I guess I never really thought about it before, but furniture has been around longer than "Pledge" and they had to do SOMETHING to keep it looking good. Same with all those other gorgeous things that were crafted in the Pre-Pledge days. Silverware. Copper. Bronze. Etc.
I'm now thinking we could do many things at once. Just serve dinner on the table (no plates) and when it drizzles over the edge onto the wood floor, all the people that took off their shoes at the door and are wearing the provided Peds can drag their feet to polish the floor...and when the oil soaks into their socks, it gives them a spa treatment for softer feet.
No dishes to clean up. And your guests have just polished the table and the floor. In exchange they got a free dinner and foot spa treatment. Even Steven!
Now, for the lemons and salt and pots, I suppose you could add some tequila, see if limes work, and have drunken people scrubbing the pots with their spilt drinks.
Here's a whole listing of Homemade Cleaners:
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/mod02/01500631.html
Looks like a few basic ingredients around the kitchen and laundry room will take care of most household cleaning.
Maybe do two things at once, like toss your pasta with a little olive oil directly on the dining room table to add a taste of Italy to your dish, and the sheen of ice to your table.