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Natural Wood Cleaner

A Natural Cleaning Product That Won't Harm You or Your Woodwork

Jun 27, 2008

A home full of natural woodwork may be warm and enticing, but it can be a nightmare to clean. This quick to make and all natural product will make cleaning a breeze.

Most homes these days contain some type of woodwork. Whether it is merely windowsills and skirting boards or a kitchen full of cedar cupboards, cleaning them with natural products can involve a lot of elbow grease. This cleaning product is not only easy to use and removes dirt and built up grime quickly, but it can be made up just as easily from common ingredients that are safe for the environment.

Ingredients

1 Spray bottle
2 tbsps vinegar
2 tbsps methylated spirits
10 drops Eucalyptus oil
Water
Bi-Carbonate of Soda

Method

To the spray bottle, add the vinegar, methylated spirits and Eucalyptus Oil. Fill the rest of the bottle with water.
Now spray your wooden surface and rub off with a cloth. Where grime is heavily built up, spray the wood with the cleaning solution and then dab the cloth into a little Bi-Carbonate of Soda before rubbing the area.

Why Does it Work?

The grime build up on woodwork is usually made up of oily substances. In the kitchen this would be cooking oil accumulation, in other areas it would be oily residues from fingers and hands. Vinegar, being an acid is perfect for dissolving grease and oil. Eucalyptus Oil has been used for many years mainly for its antiseptic antibacterial properties. It too is an excellent solvent, and is the natural solvent of choice now that Trichloromethane is being phased out.

Be careful though when using Eucalyptus Oil, as there have been some concerns over its toxicity. Bi-Carbonate of Soda is a naturally occurring substance that can be used to deodorise and clean stains. When used with this cleaning product though, it is its abrasive nature that helps to scour away excess grime. Methylated Spirits is an alcohol which is needed to make the Eucalyptus Oil water soluble. If the oil is not made water soluble, it will sit on the top of the other ingredients and be of no use to anyone. If you do not have any Methylated Spirits, any alcohol can be substituted.

Other Uses

This natural cleaning product can also be used to clean the rest of the house. It works extremely well on surfaces that are subject to mould, such as showers and bathroom walls. The cleaner can be used effectively as a window and mirror cleaner. Simply spray it on and buff off with a soft cloth. As a disinfectant, it is great in the toilet, and can even be used to mop and floors.

So there you have it, a natural cleaner that makes cleaning woodwork a piece of cake. Not only is it easy to make and gentle on your wooden items, it is safe for our Earth.

The copyright of the article Natural Wood Cleaner in Natural Products is owned by Rachel Tsoumbakos. Permission to republish Natural Wood Cleaner in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.