Taking care of household cleaning is an undesirable task in itself, but when harmful chemicals and dangerous toxins are thrown into the mix, it’s a wonder anyone ever actually sets out to get the work done. By using basic natural cleaning supplies instead of paying for expensive cleaning chemicals the risk can be eliminated and the budget wont have to suffer.
Natural Cleaning Products
Some of the basic cooking ingredients lying around the kitchen can be used as natural cleaning products. Most homes always have at least vinegar, baking soda and salt on hand at any time, all of which have many cleaning properties. Before chemical cleaning products gained popularity these were the green cleaning items used by almost everyone for scrubbing and sterilizing homes.
Vinegar and Citrus as a Sterilizer
White vinegar is a great product for sterilizing any surface and because it is organic there is no fear of ingesting harmful chemicals if there is some left on surfaces. It’s is a naturally acidic product, making it ideal for killing bacteria and germs and leaving no harmful toxic residue behind. Using a spray bottle with a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water can be an excellent window washer and vinegar in warm water is an effective way of washing dishes.
Citrus is another great product, really shining in greasy cleaning projects. It is also naturally acidic, making it easy to break through tough, caked on dirt and grease. Lemon is perhaps the best citrus fruit for cleaning, great for getting out rust stains and bleaching clothes, but almost any of them can be used and mixed for all purpose cleaning. There is also the added bonus of a leftover citrus fragrance when this method is used.
Tough Cleaning with Baking Soda and Salt
Baking soda is well known as a deodorizer when used in the fridge but it can also be very useful for cleaning around the house. Cleaning surfaces, polishing silver and removing bad smells from carpets are among many of the uses for this inexpensive product. It is possibly the best organic all-purpose cleaner to be found in the home. Non-toxic and easy to use, baking soda is the optimum choice for families with pets and small children.
Salt is one of the lesser known housework aids but is equally as effective. It can be used in warm water for washing dishes and to clean spills on the stove. It is another product that is great for stains in carpets too.
Combining Natural Cleaning Supplies
All of these products work great on their own, but their effectiveness really shows through when they are mixed together. Combining vinegar and baking soda makes a great cleaner on tough spills and caked on dirt. This combination can be used instead of any all purpose kitchen and bathroom cleaner. It cleans just as effectively as any store bought cleaning product and is safe to use on almost any surface.
Due to the organic nature of all of these products they are the safest choice for families with small children and animals. They are also the more eco-friendly option, not adding chemicals and waste to an already polluted environment.
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