Cleaning the Home

Typical home cleaning products on the market are full of harsh and harmful chemicals. But you already have some natural cleaners around the house and might not have realized it. Vinegar, lemons and baking soda are great natural cleaning products.

These natural cleaning products are easy to find, inexpensive and have no damaging effect on the environment. They also contain no additives so they are unlikely to cause allergic reactions, and are not tested on animals.

Pure Soap

Hot water and plain soapflakes with a little washing soda with perform most cleaning jobs.

Baking Soda

A naturally occurring mineral, baking soda or bicarbonate of soda is a versatile cleaner. It's non-toxic and cheap! It can be used to scrub surfaces pretty much the same way as other abrasive cleansers. Baking soda is also a great deodorizer.

• keep a box or small bowl of baking soda in the fridge, freezer and cupboard to keep away unpleasant odors.
• sprinkle the bottom the trash can with baking soda and again after you put a new bag in to keep away odors.
• Clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces with a past of 3 parts baking soda to one part water.
• Remove scuff marks or grease spills from the floor by sprinkling with baking soda, then wipe with a warm, damp cloth.
• Soak pots with burnt-on food overnight with a mix of baking soda and hot water. The food will come loose much easier.
• Avoid clogged drains by pouring ¼ cup baking soda with equal amount of vinegar down weekly. Wait for the mixture to bubble and follow with hot water.
• Replace half of your laundry detergent with baking soda to keep clothes fresh. This will cut down on detergent costs and is better for the environment.

Vinegar

The acetic acid in white vinegar cuts through dirt brilliantly. Use to clean glass and tiles and to remove tea stains on cups and teapots. Vinegar is both inexpensive and not at all poisonous to humans.

• Mix half vinegar with half water in a spray bottle. This is really useful to have vinegar in a dispenser of this type.
• Clean windows with half vinegar, half water mix. Wipe clean with either newspaper or cloth.
• For tough grime such as soap build up in the bathroom, clean with a mix of 1 part salt to 4 parts vinegar.
• Spray shower walls and shower curtains with vinegar to help prevent mildew.
• Use ½ cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle of your washing machine, replacing fabric softener. It is a great way to eliminate odors and soften clothes.

Borax(sodium borate)

A natural mineral that kills mold and bacteria. An alternative to bleach, it deodorizes, removes stains and boosts the cleaning power of soap.

Lemon Juice

Cuts through grease and removes perspiration and other stains from clothing. A bleach alternative.

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