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 3 Homemade Natural Cleaning Products |
08 May 09 |
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By Sarah Aguirre, About.com |
One of my earliest memories is of my mother cleaning with what
looked to me like cooking ingredients. She would be listening to the
radio as she poured baking soda, lemon, and vinegar combinations on the
surfaces of our home. Magically these natural cleaning products kept
our home clean and smelling fresh, without stretching an already thin
household budget. Here are a few basic household ingredients and items
you can use to clean your home.
Vinegar
Uses:
Vinegar naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a
solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new store bought spray
bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home.
Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant
and deodorizer. Always test on an inconspicuous area. It is safe to use
on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being incredibly cheap.
Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout.
Never use vinegar on marble surfaces. Don't worry about your home
smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries. Here are
some uses for vinegar in the rooms of your house. Use it in the…
- Bathroom - Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and
countertops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings.
Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down. Pour the
undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl.
Mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution. The
substance will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on
your fixtures and tile. Make sure it is safe to use with your tile.
- Kitchen- Clean the stovetop, appliances, countertops, and floor.
- Laundry Room- Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This
can be especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin. Add ½
cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric
softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry
detergent more effectively. (A plus when you have a family member whose
skin detects every trace of detergent.)
Lemon Juice
Uses:
Lemon juice is another natural substance that can be used to
clean your home. Lemon juice can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard
water deposits. Lemon is a great substance to clean and shine brass and
copper. Lemon juice can be mixed with vinegar and or baking soda to
make cleaning pastes. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on
the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains.
Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a furniture
polish for your hardwood furniture.
My favorite use for the fruit is to put a whole lemon peel
through the garbage disposal. It freshens the drain and the kitchen.
Orange peels can be used with the same results.
Baking Soda
Uses:
Baking soda can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way
as commercial abrasive cleansers. Baking soda is great as a deodorizer.
Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Put it
anywhere you need deodorizing action.
Try these three kitchen ingredients as natural cleaning products in
your home.
Source
By Sarah Aguirre - About.com
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