Ever wondered why we clean our spaces during the festive season, especially the ones celebrated towards the end of the year? There is the 'brighten up all aspects of our life by driving away darkness of ignorance and ushering in the light of knowledge and divinity' theory and we simply love it! However, there is a scientific reason to it as well! With the monsoon season getting over, the cleaning makes sure all the germs and infestation that monsoons brought with them get eradicated with the whitewashing, and other pre-festival cleaning activities.

Cleaning is a great thing to do, whatever your reason might be! Here is a our small effort to bring at one place, few tips to naturally clean up the tiles in various parts of your living space.

• A 50/50 vinegar and water solution will clean tile, counters, cabinet fronts and soap scum in the shower.
• A baking soda and water paste will clean stuck on gunk in the shower and tub (use vinegar instead of water for really tough stains).
• For grout, sprinkle baking soda on the floor and spray with undiluted hydrogen peroxide and scrub with a gentle toothbrush.
• For wall tile, painted door frames, spots on the doors, outside of toilet, etc, my homemade all purpose cleaner will clean and disinfect.

• Clean tile with mild detergent and clean water, using a rag or chamois-type mop rather than a sponge mop. Change water frequently while cleaning.
• If your tiles look hazy, use acid like fresh lemon juice on ceramic tiles (but never on marble). Rinse thoroughly with clean water, and buff dry with a clean lint-free cloth.
• For great looking grout, clean using a paste of baking soda and water. Rub it on the stain, let it sit overnight, then scrub the stain in the morning with a stiff nylon brush (a metal brush will damage the grout).

• Wrap a dusting rag around the bristles of a broom. Fasten it in place with safety pins or binder clips, arranging them so they won't scrape the wall.
• Dust the wall from top to bottom with the broom. Get into the upper corners where spider webs and dust tend to collect.
• Fill one bucket with ¼ cup of liquid cleaning detergent and 1 gallon of warm water. Add up to 1 cup vinegar if the walls have a grease film. Fill the other bucket with clear warm water.
• Dampen a sponge in the soapy water. Wash the walls beginning at the bottom and working your way up. Wipe down the wall in small sections, using a circular motion.
• Moisten food stains with a small amount of water and allow it to soak and loosen the stain for five minutes before wiping it off with the sponge.
• Scrub stubborn stains lightly with a mildly abrasive sponge, taking care not to damage the paint or tile. Wipe the wall a second time with the clear water. Dry it with a clean towel.

With the most difficult areas of your house clean, cleaning the rest of the house is just a piece of cake :-) Have a great #FestiveSeason and celebrate the #BeautifulLife!