Many traditional cleaning products contain chemicals and ingredients that can be harmful to your health. According to Annie Berthold-Bond, author of "Better Basics for the Home," you can clean your home with a few all-natural ingredients that do not require complicated recipes or a great deal of time. Many natural ingredients deodorize and sanitize in addition to cleaning so you can rest assured that your home is just as clean as when you use traditional cleaners.
Baking Soda
Jeffrey Hollender, author of "Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe and Healthy, Non-Toxic Cleaning," writes that baking soda is a natural deodorizer and can be used to scour grimy surfaces. A sprinkle of baking soda on your carpets when you vacuum will help eliminate odors, and an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator will help neutralize a variety of food smells. A paste of baking soda and water can be used to clean sinks and bathtubs. A baking soda paste can also help remove baked-on grease from your dishes.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is a natural cleaning ingredient that can remove stains and odors and clean a variety of surfaces, says Berthold-Bond. Use white vinegar to clean bathroom surfaces, such as toilets and bathtubs, to remove grime and neutralize odors. White vinegar can also be used to clean mirrors and windows without leaving streaks. Hollender adds that white vinegar can be used to remove hard water buildup by soaking the surface in vinegar for several minutes and then wiping it clean. White vinegar will also remove tarnish and clean and deodorize wood surfaces.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a natural sanitizer and can kill many kinds of mildew and mold. Berthold-Bond writes that you can mix 2 tsp. of tea tree oil, 1/2 tsp. of liquid soap and 2 cups of water to make an effective mold-killing cleaner. Mix the ingredients in a squirt bottle, shake well and spray on any mold or mildew. Leave the solution on for a few days. According to Hollender, tea tree oil will also kill fungus, bacteria and many germs that can cause you to get sick. Tea tree oil will also help neutralize odors.
Borax
Borax has many different cleaning uses, writes Hollender, including acting as a scouring agent, a deodorizer and an all-purpose cleaner. Borax can also remove mold and rust stains. Make a paste of borax and warm water, recommends Berthold-Bond, and scour any surface that has grime, mold or rust stains. Leave on for a few minutes and rinse clean. Borax is effective at cleaning greasy kitchen sinks and can help remove the ring around your bathroom trub. It will also remove pet stains and odors from your carpet. Apply a paste of borax and water on the stain, leave until it is dry and then vacuum the powder up.
References
- "Better Basics for the Home"; Annie Berthold-Bond; 1999
- "Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe and Healthy, Non-Toxic Cleaning"; Jeffrey Hollender; 2005
Member Comments