While chemical detergents and cleaning products are solely meant to clean your surroundings, they might be negatively impacting your health in the long run. Products that we use commonly to clean furniture, home appliances, carpets and the like may be containing toxic chemicals, commonly known as carcinogens. It’s time to try alternative natural home cleaning solutions to keep harmful toxins at bay and ensure a chemical-free home environment. Even though picking up everyday cleaners at the supermarket is highly convenient, environmental friendly ways of cleaning should be given second thought.
Natural cleaners can be made at home easily, they are chemical free, improves indoor air quality, and is much safer for children.
Here are some ingredients guaranteed to make the toughest cleanups a breeze.
1. Vinegar
Vinegar is an acidic wonder, it can wipe out mineral deposits, soap scum, tarnish and more. Vinegar is a life saver in the truest sense. It can be used to clean coffeemakers, dishwashers, drains, floors, glass wear, and moldy walls. Following are some natural home cleaning remedies, in which vinegar is used.
Coffeemaker: Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the machine’s water chamber, then switch on the brew cycle. Halfway through, turn off the coffeemaker and let the solution sit for about an hour. Turn it on again to complete the cycle, then run several cycles with clean water.
Dishwasher: In order to disinfect the interior of the machine, pour ½ cup of vinegar into the reservoir and run an empty cycle.
Drains: By pouring vinegar down the drains and pipes and flushing with cold water, can clean drains in no time.
Floors: Any type of floor can be cleaned with the help of vinegar except marble or wood, by just adding ¼ cup vinegar to a bucket of warm water.
Glassware: Add one cup vinegar to the rinse water for spotless hand-washed glasses.
Moldy walls: Spray vinegar on the affected area, leave for 15 minutes, rinse and let it dry.
Showerheads: To combat mineral deposits, pour vinegar into a plastic grocery bag and knot the handles over the neck of the showerhead, securing with rubber bands. Let soak overnight, rinse with water in the morning.
Windows: 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 cups of water are all that you need. Spray it over windows, and wipe with a sheet of newspaper.
2. Lemon
Lemon is a very useful natural home cleaning ingredient, lemon juice removes dirt and rust stains. It’s especially effective when mixed with salt. Lemon is used to clean:
Countertops: Cut the lemon in half, dip the cut side in baking soda to tackle countertops, wipe with a wet sponge and dry. It’s not effective on marble, stainless steel etc.
Cutting boards: Tough stains can be hard to remove from wood and plastic cutting boards. All you need to do is to cut lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Dishes: To increase grease-cutting power of your dish washing detergent, add a teaspoon of lemon juice.
Hands: Smell of raw fish can linger on your fingers, after you touch it. Rub your hands with lemon juice, it help to neutralize the odor.
Laundry: To brighten whites, add ½ cup lemon juice to rinse cycle for a normal-size load.
3. Baking soda and washing soda
Baking and washing soda absorb odors. They both are natural home cleaning ingredients, however, unlike baking soda, washing soda is slightly stronger, it can’t be ingested; one must wear rubber gloves while handling it.
These two are used to clean
Can openers: Make a paste of 2 tablespoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon water, dip a toothbrush in a paste, and use it to dislodge gunk.
Garage floors: Pour washing soda on oil and grease spots and sprinkle with water until a paste forms. Let stand overnight. The next day scrub with a damp brush, hose down, and wipe clean.
Grills and barbecue utensils: To combat tough grease stains, dip a moist stiff-bristled brush in washing soda and scrub away.
Scuffed walls: Erase crayon marks by applying a baking- soda paste (equal parts baking soda and water) to white painted walls. Let dry before brushing it off with a clean cloth.
There are number of ingredients that can be used effectively to get rid of any type of stain. A basic ingredient tool kit is all you need. At first, it may seem that gathering fancy ingredients is a hassle or you might need sound chemistry knowledge to make up a concoction that would do justice to the greasy, slimy stains around your house. However, that is far from reality.
Use eco-friendly, green products to clean your house because hygiene is utmost priority. Professional cleaning services also make sure to do so!