Homemade and Natural Cleaning Products
Homemade
and Natural Cleaning Products
You don't have to walk down
a cleaning aisle to find your best options for cleaning your home. Just open
your pantry! Vinegar, lemons, baking soda and other natural cleaners do a
fabulous job of cleaning, disinfecting, removing stains and more.
Using
Vinegar to Clean
Vinegar actually cleans
almost as well as most all-purpose cleaners. Just mix a solution of equal parts
of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean
most areas of your home.
Vinegar is a great natural
cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. It can discolor or
damage some surfaces, however, so test it on a hidden area first to make sure
no color change or damage occurs. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can
also eat away at tile grout. Vinegar isn't a good idea to use on marble
surfaces, either. And, don't worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The
smell disappears when it dries.
Bathrooms: Clean
the bathtub, toilet, sink, and countertops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl
to get rid of unsightly rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go
down before pouring the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub
down the bowl. You can also mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water
solution. Vinegar will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on
your fixtures and tile, leaving them shiny and beautiful.
Small Changes, Big
Impact
Kitchens: Clean the
top of the stove with equal parts vinegar and water. Most appliances can be cleaned
with this same all-purpose mix of vinegar and water. Countertop surfaces can be
cleaned and disinfected with the same spray. Use vinegar to clean floors and be
amazed at the fresh shiny results.
Laundry rooms: Use
vinegar as a natural fabric softener which can be especially helpful for
families with sensitive skin issues.
Add1/2 cup of vinegar to
the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added
benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. Try it to clean your
washing machine as well!
Cleaning
With Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is another
natural substance that can be used to clean your home. It can be used to
dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits and it's great for shining brass and
copper. Try mixing lemon juice with vinegar or baking soda to make cleaning
pastes. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section of the
lemon. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces and stains. Be aware that lemon
juice can act as a natural bleach, so it's a good idea to test it out on a
hidden area first. Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a
furniture polish for hardwood furniture. One of our favorite uses for the
fruit: Put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal -- it freshens the
drain and the kitchen. Try orange peels! Lemon juice can also be used to
treat stains given its natural bleaching qualities.
Cleaning
With Baking Soda
Baking soda is actually one
of the most versatile cleaners on the planet and it can be used to scrub
surfaces in much the same way as commercial non-abrasive cleansers.
Baking soda is also great
as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors.
In fact, put it anywhere you need deodorizing action: trash cans, laundry, and
even your son's super smelly sneakers. Baking soda makes a great addition in
the laundry room as well.
Using
Other Natural Cleaners
There are quite a few other
options for natural cleaners. You might be surprised to learn that things like
ketchup, rice, coffee grounds and other kitchen ingredients can actually do a
fantastic job at cleaning house.
You can also always buy
commercially available natural cleaners, but be aware of what you need to look
for in a green cleaning product before you buy. Learn how to read labels on the products; many
of these commercial products use natural ingredients that you may have in your
home, but not all green cleaners are created equal.
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