When it comes to cleaning your home, there are lots of products available on the market, but the toxic chemicals they contain leave much to be desired. Instead of spraying toxic chemicals throughout your home in order to leave it sparkling and immaculate, consider natural alternatives that can be kept on hand. These products will also leave your home beautifully clean and fresh.
Lemons
Lemons are an excellent option for cleaning your home. Simply slicing the beautiful citrus fruit and rubbing it on sinks and other surfaces will help to remove dirt and grime. The citrus that lemon contains gently eats away at dirt and soap scum, while leaving behind a refreshing scent. Adding a bit of lemon juice to cleaning solutions, such as distilled water and vinegar, can also create a highly effective cleaning solution for counter tops and floors.
Baking Soda
You probably already have this ingredient on hand for all of your baking needs. Baking soda is an excellent, multi-purpose product. It is excellent at removing and neutralizing harsh odors. It can be mixed into a paste to scrub bath tubs and even accidents that pets might make in the home. You can also simply sprinkle it onto a damp sponge or cloth to scrub many surfaces areas in the home, such as floors, bathtubs, sinks, and ceramic tile flooring. It is excellent at neutralizing odors in carpets and sofas. It can also work to neutralize the smell of laundry by simply mixing in a cup of it to a load of laundry.
Essential Oils
Many essential oils are excellent for adding to cleaning solutions you make at home. Essential oils can work wonders and various essential oils have a special role to play in cleaning your home. For combs and brushes, lavender or tea tree oil can be added to a half cup of water and a half cup of distilled white vinegar. Twenty drops of essential oil are needed to make this mixture come to life. Tea tree oil is known for its disinfectant properties and is an excellent toilet bowl cleaner. Add two teaspoons of it to two cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake the mixture thoroughly and spray it along the inside and outside rims of the toilet. Allow it to sit for around 30 minutes before scrubbing and flushing. Lavender and clove are also excellent antiseptic essential oils. They can be helpful when added to two cups of water to be used as a disinfectant spray on surface areas. The smell they leave is also pleasant and an added benefit to utilizing essential oils in your home cleaning routine. You can find more tips for using essential oils in the home from Gary Young.
Castille Soap
This ingredient has been around for over a century and is non-toxic, as well as multi-purpose. A little of it goes a long way when mixed with distilled water. It can even make a foaming hand soap by adding two tablespoons of it to distilled water. When two tablespoons are added to two cups of distilled water, you also have yourself an excellent non-toxic dish soap. The remainder can be stored in a glass jar.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is not only excellent for salads and cooking, but it also makes a beautiful non-toxic furniture polish. Simply mix 3/4 cup of olive oil with 1/4 cup of lemon juice and use a soft cloth to gently polish furniture. Olive oil brings out a beautiful sheen to wood furniture while cleansing away dust and dirt buildup. The smell of the lemon will leave a refreshing scent in your home.
Vinegar
White distilled vinegar is useful on hardwood floors and ceramic tile flooring. Simply mixing a bit of it with water will help to reveal cleaner flooring. Vinegar also helps to eat away building in dishwashers. Simply pour a cup of it and allow it to sit in the base of dishwasher. It works to remove hard water buildup and helps to keep your dishwasher in top working order.
You don’t have to suffer from strong, toxic chemicals to keep your home clean. These tips can help you get started to healthy home with natural solutions.
