The Natural Way to Clean Everything in Your House
Best Ways to Clean Your Home with Natural Products
There are dozens of products on the market designed to clean every square inch of your home. Unfortunately, most of them are full of noxious chemicals that can do harm to both the environment, yourself, and your family. There are several natural alternatives to using caustic chemicals. With a little elbow grease, you can get your hope clean using natural products. Regular soap and water are highly useful but often overlooked – the prevalence of sprays and special formulas has overshadowed the effectiveness of the basics.
How You Can Use Baking Soda as a Cleaner
Two overlooked cleaning components are baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda can be used in a multitude of applications.
1. Many people put a box of baking soda in their fridge, but did you know baking soda will absorb odors in other places too? Sprinkle it on musty carpets, let sit for 15 minutes, and vacuum it up. The smells will come with it. Sprinkle it into litter boxes to help absorb odors. This can also be used in shoes, boots, and other places where moisture causes smells.
2. Baking soda is as effective as other scouring agents, such as Comet. Use baking soda to clean your toilet bowl for a fraction of the cost.
3. Baking soda will help dissolve grease in pots and pans.
4. Put half a cup of baking soda in your laundry to help whiten whites and remove odors.
How You Can Use Baking Soda as a Cleaner
Plain white vinegar is used to freshen up all kinds of things, despite its initial stink.
1. Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup of vinegar. Let it fizz for 5 minutes or so, then flush with lots of hot water. This can help dissolve most clogs and keep drains from smelling.
2. Mix ½ cup of vinegar and ½ cup of water in a bowl, and microwave it to a boil. Baked-on food will be loosened and wipe off easily.
3. Remove soap buildup from the inside of the dishwasher by pouring a cup of vinegar in it. Run the machine while empty.
4. Vinegar can also be used as a substitute for rinse agents. Fill the dishwasher rinse dispenser monthly and you'll be good to go.
5. Remove mineral deposits from coffee makers and tea kettles. For a tea kettle, add ½ cup of vinegar to water to fill, and let sit overnight. If this doesn't work, boil full strength vinegar in it for a few minutes. For coffee makers, fill the water reservoir with 1 cup of vinegar and run the cycle. Run 1 or 2 cycles after that with fresh clean water to rinse it.
6. Use it to dissolve grease off of vent hoods, pots, and pans.
7. Use full-strength vinegar to polish glassware. Vinegar, mixed with equal parts salt or baking soda can be used to scour more hardy items, such as coffee mugs.
8. Clean grout by pouring it on dirty grout, and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub it with a toothbrush and wipe up.
For more great articles about natural living and much more please visit the Organic & Natural Living section on GKHealth.
