Natural Household Cleaners
Sensible Alternatives for Cleaning Inside the Home
In the kitchen cabinets, under the bathroom sink and sitting in the basement there are probably cleaners in your house that contain harmful irritants and dyes. Some of them will have solvents. Anyone who comes into contact with these materials can suffer allergic reactions, asthma and bronchitis. Advertising for new cleaning products will say something like with the added power of baking soda! Wouldn't it be better to use just the baking soda instead?
There are natural and much safer choices and chances are they are already in the home. Here are some non-toxic cleaners that can be used on appliances, windows, kitchen or bathroom fixtures and clothes.
White Vinegar Can Clean So Many Things
This is great for polishing metal surfaces and removing grease, mildew and wax buildup. Mix one part water with one part vinegar and you will have a solution that can clean almost anything. It's inexpensive and it can be used to clean most surfaces, except varnished wood and marble. Here's where it can be used safely.
- Use it to disinfect bathtubs, toilets and sinks. The vinegar will eat away at the tough soap scum and hard water stains on the bathroom fixtures. Mix it with water and mop the floor.
- Use it on kitchen stovetops, counter surfaces and floors. Lime deposits in a tea kettle can be reduced by adding 125 millilitres of vinegar with two cups of water and boiling it on a low heat for a few minutes. Rinse it out with fresh water while the kettle is still warm.
- Vinegar is good for cleaning mirrors and windows. It doesn't leave streaks on the glass.
- Get rid of clogged detergent in the washing machine with vinegar. Put half of a cup in the rinse cycle instead of a fabric softener.
How to Use Lemon Juice in the House
Non-toxic and one hundred percent natural, this can be used to clean solid brass and copper fixtures as well as removing greasy stains on porcelain and aluminum surfaces. Lemon juice is a natural deodorizer and can clean cutting boards, stainless steel pots and microwave ovens with little effort. Mix it with water and use it to freshen all of the household drains. To make the kitchen smell nice put some lemon rinds in the garbage bin.
If there are rust and mildew stains on clothes, apply some lemon juice on the garments then add some salt. Let it dry under the sun for two hours then wash it. Those two ingredients will act as natural bleach and those stains will totally disappear.
Baking Soda – All Purpose Deodorizer and Stain Remover
Soda bicarbonate is cheap. It doesn't give off noxious fumes and is more effective than the rough and tough household cleaners. If used in all areas of the house, including the kitchen, the living room, the laundry room and the bathroom lots of money will be saved and everyone can breathe easier. Here's how it can be used in the home.
- It causes dirt and grease to dissolve in water so it's wonderful for refrigerators, counters and ovens.
- For burnt-on food left on the bottom of pots and pans, sprinkle some baking soda then add hot water. Let them soak overnight and the next morning that hard, crusty residue will peel off easily. It's also good for removing stubborn stains in tea/coffee cups.
- Baking soda can remove scents and stains from carpets and clothing. Apply some to sweat stained collars and cuffs. For heavy duty stains let it sit for an hour or two then wash the clothes normally.
- Better yet, use a combination of baking soda and borax (a laundry booster) to clean a load of dirty clothes instead of regular detergent. You'll notice how fresh they will be without the use of harmful chemical ingredients. The washing machine will not harbour unpleasant odours either.
Caution will still have to be exercised when using natural cleaners. Do not mix vinegar with bleach because it will produce chlorine gas – a toxic substance. Use them carefully on painted surfaces and always keep vinegar and lemon juice in spray bottles with nozzles. Be patient with these natural cleaners; they work more slowly than commercial chemical agents. For tough stains, use some elbow grease after letting the natural solution do the work.
Lemons Are Also Great for Cleaning
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