‘Isn’t household cleaning naturally cheap and easy?’

Household cleaning can be a toxin-filled chore. But it doesn’t have to be when you make your own natural cleaning products. You can avoid harsh chemicals which are harmful to your family and the environment. In fact, with just a few cheap staples and a few easy recipes you can keep your home sparkling and fresh and save money too!

The vast majority of commercial household cleaning products comprise myriad petrochemical-based chemicals, and as such are from non-renewable sources. And that’s not the only problem – they are also non-biodegradable, environmentally damaging, and harmful to humans, marine animals and plant life.

Also what about the sheer number of individual products used around the home, and the packaging they come in? Ninety per cent of these products will be packaged in plastic, often with metal parts in triggers, etc., which are very difficult to recycle and add to the landfill burden.

A simple method of reducing the number of products you use is to make your own, and reuse your old bottles and sprays to store them in. First ensure you thoroughly wash out the containers and clearly label them to show what is in them now. Alternatively, purchase multi-purpose refillable containers, or larger containers to help prevent landfill waste.

When used alone or combined the ingredients below are effective, toxin free, petrochemical free, biodegradable, cost very little to buy, and can last for years.

  • Bicarbonate of soda –  cleans, softens water, absorbs odours and makes a mildly abrasive scrub.
  • White vinegar – softens water, removes mildew, cuts through grease, deodorises, kills bacteria.
  • Lemon juice – a strong fruit acid effective against many bacteria, refreshing scent, and mildly bleaching.
  • Plant oil – penetrates wood to re-nourish and shine timbers.
 

Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda can be used to clean almost anything. Mix either of these with a little warm water and you’ve got yourself an all-purpose cleaner. By using one or both of these ingredients in different proportions you will have a variety of options for most of your cleaning requirements.

When making your own products always be sure to test an unseen area first to ensure that your recipe does not harm the material being cleaned. Vinegar is an acid and must not be used on lime-based materials such as marble which it will eat into if not rinsed off.

Before you get to work cleaning greenly clearly label all of your ingredients and bottles and keep them out of reach of children. While most all natural cleaners are not poisonous, some can be harmful or even fatal if swallowed by children or pets.

There are several other non-toxic ingredients that can be used for household cleaning but these will give you a flying start and make the basis for many cleaning recipes around the home.

Oven Cleaner

Commercial oven cleaner is one of the most noxious cleaners in our cupboards, but it doesn’t need to be in there…

Natural Alternative With the oven still warm, spray with water then sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on grease deposits, leave for a few hours or overnight if possible. Then scrub away hard deposits and grease and rinse with plain water.

Wood Furniture Polish

Skin contact with furniture polishes can cause eczema, dermatitis and allergic reactions. Sprays inhaled from the air may trigger asthma, sore throats and respiratory irritations.

Natural Alternative Combine 1 teaspoon olive oil with 125ml of white vinegar. Add more vinegar if this blend is too oily. Add a dash of fresh lemon juice for a fresh citrus fragrance.

Sink and Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Corrosive ingredients in toilet bowl cleaners are severe eye, skin and respiratory irritants. Some toilet bowl cleaners contain sulphates, which may trigger asthma attacks. Bathroom cleaners containing sodium hydroxide, sodium hydrochlorite (bleach) or phosphoric acid can irritate lungs and burn eyes, skin and, if ingested, internal organs. Mixing acid-containing toilet bowl cleaners with cleaners that contain chlorine will form lung-damaging chlorine gas.

Natural Alternative To remove stains and limescale rings in the sink or bowl simply pour a little white vinegar into the bowl water and scrub with a cloth or toilet brush. If limescale deposits are heavy or the bowl requires deep cleaning add 2tbs bicarbonate of soda to the solution, and allow the fizz to get to work. Leave overnight if necessary.

 

Room Scent

Many homes today are heavily burdened with more toxic air inside than outside. Air fresheners fill the air with numerous toxic chemicals which can trigger asthma and can cause headaches, dizziness and allergic reactions. Aerosol sprays are easily inhaled and absorbed into the body, and their propellants, usually butane and propane, are highly flammable.

Natural Alternative It is easy to remove odours and improve ventilation by opening windows. This allows toxins out and fresh air in. Bicarbonate of soda is great for removing odours in the air and from carpets, and sprays of a few drops of lemon or any citrus essential oil in water will freshen air. Wooden cedar blocks, pure essential oils, or sachets of natural dried flowers or herbs (such as aromatic roses, lavender and lemon verbena) provide gentler natural fragrance.

Glass Cleaner

Most shop-bought glass cleaners contain ammonia, alcohol and detergents that are sometimes quite irritating to breathe. In addition, you are paying a high price for something that is mostly water.

Natural Alternative To remove limescale and grease deposits on windows and drinking glasses, use a bowl of warm water with a glug of white vinegar or 1tbs of fresh lemon juice added. This also helps remove greasy finger marks from windows. You can also soak your drinking  glasses in this mixture and they will be sparkling clean with very little effort! Mirrors can be given a shine with a spray made up from one part vinegar to three parts water.

Stainless Steel Cleaner

Sink and tap cleaners are often made up of a combination of harsh acids and other harsh chemicals.

Natural Alternative Make up a solution of 1 part  white vinegar to 4 parts water. Wipe away limescale and rinse with warm water to remove vinegar residue. Keep in a well-labelled spray bottle, and use as necessary to remove limescale deposits.

A light application of vegetable oil can be used to remove streaky stains on your kitchen sink or stainless steel appliances.

Stainless steel cutlery and utensils sometimes get spotty deposits after being through the dishwasher; to remove the spots simply wipe the deposits with a cloth dipped in vinegar to clean and leave them gleaming again.

20 Aug 08