A clean home gives everyone who walks in the door a sense of well-being and health, but many common household cleaners are harmful if ingested or sprayed in the eyes or mouth. Some give off toxic fumes and should not be used in enclosed spaces. Opt for non-toxic, natural alternatives, and your home will be healthy as well as clean.
Windows and Mirrors
Add 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water. If you do not like the scent of vinegar, add a few drops of lemon oil. Pour this into a reusable spray bottle, and use it just as you would a commercial window cleaner.
Kitchen and Bath
For a good all-purpose surface cleaner, combine 1/4 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar, and 1/2 gallon of warm water. Mix well and use to clean and disinfect sinks, counters, and other kitchen and bath surfaces. Use hot water to rinse any residue off the surfaces.
Dusting
A soft rag is often all you need to dust furniture, shelves and other surfaces. However, for cleaning vents and other areas that accumulate a lot of dust, you may need to dampen your dust rag with a little hot water. Do not make the rag wet, just barely damp, or you could damage wooden furniture. A spray bottle with a fine mist setting is ideal.
Mopping
For most tile, linoleum, and hardwood floors, a light mopping with 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar per gallon of hot water is enough to keep them clean. However, in heavy traffic areas such as kitchens, you may need to add 1 or 2 tsp. of liquid castile soap per gallon of mop water. To achieve the scent of a commercially prepared mopping solution, add several drops of lemon or pine oil.
Freshening
The best air freshener is simply fresh air. Open the windows and turn on a fan or two to circulate the air in your home. This is especially helpful when the house has been sealed up for several weeks of hot or cold weather. If you cannot open the windows, consider adding houseplants to your decor; they will naturally freshen the air in your home. For a more immediate boost, light a scented candle or warm a few drops of aromatherapy oil in an oil diffuser.
If you prefer to spray air freshener, mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with a quart of warm water. Pour into a reusable spray bottle and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Shake well and use as you would a commercially made air freshener. The baking soda is a natural odor neutralizer, and the essential oil will give the room a light scent.
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