Many of the products that we use for cleaning our homes are synthetic, and derive from many different chemicals. From dishwasher solutions, to bleach and laundry detergents, most of these will contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to both you and your home. However, there are 3 products that you may already have in your pantry, that are much safer to use, just as effective as chemical based products and are a whole lot kinder to your body and home:
- Vinegar
This substance can safely and effectively clean almost any surface in your home, provided you use natural vinegar.
Adding one part vinegar to one part water will give you a wonderful cleaning solution that once added to a spray bottle for ease of use, can clean almost anything in your home.
If the smell of vinegar isn’t to your liking, you could always add some pieces of orange or lemon to the mixture, or even add a few drops of an essential oil.
Use your diluted vinegar solution to clean almost everything in your bathroom, from the sink to the tiles and faucets. Then move on to the kitchen, where you can use it to clean the sink, fridge, counters and even walls to remove grease and grime. Windows and mirrors are left sparkling after they’ve been dowsed and wiped with the vinegar solution, you can even use it in its neat form on ordinary glass. Use the diluted vinegar as a softener and it will remove all leftover detergent traces, and is especially good for those who suffer from allergies related to detergent use.
- Baking Soda
This natural cleaning powder won’t irritate your skin and makes an excellent deodoriser, too. If you pop a cloth bag with baking soda in it, into your bathroom or even your fridge, it will absorb any nasty odours. Mixing lemon juice and vinegar with baking soda gives you a great paste like cleaning agent that can be used on a variety of surfaces, and won’t harm you or your home. For example, it can help to shift oven grime, especially when spread on thickly and left for an hour, and grease on your walls or tiles.
- Lemons
Lemons are a powerful and effective natural cleaning agent, and can replace all your heavy duty chemical cleaners. Add a cup of lemon juice to your laundry and it will whiten it better than bleach, and will certainly smell fresher, too. Try using lemon juice to clean your shower doors, by simply cutting a lemon in half and rubbing it over the glass. Faucets will be left gleaming after you’ve rubbed them with lemon, as will your sink, shower and tub. You can also deodorise and clean your dishwasher by adding a cup of lemon juice to a vessel that you can safely pop into the machine, and simply run the rinse cycle.
We may believe – and usually as a result of misleading advertising campaigns – that chemicals are the only way to truly eradicate germs and bad smells in our homes, but as you’ve just read, there are at least 3 natural products that will do the job just as well, and with far less harm to your health and your home.