We are all now aware that our cleaning products and techniques can have a dramatic and often negative impact on the environment, so here are a few environmentally friendly and simple to make solutions, to most of our cleaning problems:
- Make your own cleaning products
Natural alternatives to chemical cleaning solutions have long been in existence, but sadly so few of us think to use them. Listed below are just a small selection of natural products that can be used for a variety of purposes in the home:
Baking Soda – this cheap store cupboard basic cleans, deodorizes, softens water and scours
Lemons – high in acid, lemons can be used to fight bacteria and germs in the home
Borax – or ‘sodium borate’ cleans, deodorizes, disinfects and can be used to clean wallpaper, paint and walls
White vinegar – this is another store cupboard essential that is brilliant for cutting through grease, eliminating mildew and odours, getting rid of stains and waxy build-ups
Washing soda – or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, which is a natural mineral. This soda is fantastic at cutting through grease and removing stains, along with softening water, cleaning walls and tiles, sinks and tubs. But be warned, do not use it on aluminium
- Tackling bathroom mold
Mold can be a real scourge in our homes, particularly in our bathrooms, and it’s often the grouting that gets the grottiest. However, if you mix one-part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts of water in a spray bottle, and simply spray it onto the affected areas, wait an hour and then rinse off, you should find the mold has been eliminated.
- Cleaning the toilet bowl
Simply mix together a quarter of a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar, pour the mixture into the toilet bowl and leave it there for just a few minutes. Afterwards, lightly scrub it with a brush and rinse, and you should find the stains and grime have been eliminated. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of borax and lemon juice.
- Eliminating carpet stains
Stains on carpets can be a real eyesore, but if you mix equal amounts of white vinegar and water together in a spray bottle, spray straight onto the stain and clean off with soapy water after a few minutes, you should find that the stain has disappeared.
- Cleaning tubs and tiles
The cheapest and most effective solution for cleaning your bath tub and any tiles that have gotten grubby, is baking soda and water. Rub baking powder onto the affected areas with a damp sponge and rinse off. If the tub or tiles are particularly grubby, you can wipe them down with vinegar first, and then apply baking soda as a scouring powder.
- Getting rid of mold and mildew
All you need is white vinegar or lemon juice, and in their undiluted form, apply them to the affected areas with a sponge or cloth.
- Grubby ovens
Again, baking soda is the perfect store cupboard essential for helping to get rid of grease and grime in ovens. Make a paste of ¾ cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of salt and ¼ cup of water and spread over the ovens interior, then leave it overnight. The next day, scrape the paste off with a spatula, and then give it a gentle rub over with steel wool on the areas where the tougher to shift stains are.
Store cupboard products often make the best solutions for cleaning homes without damaging the environment, and as they are usually economically friendly, there really is no excuse for you to get cleaning!
