By Alexis Grace
A clean home is a healthy and happy home. Without bacteria and germs to worry about, we can focus on living a happy and healthy life, feeling secure and confident that there are fewer dangers to our family. But even the chemicals we use to clean should be put under scrutiny: many of their ingredients can actually cause allergies or are downright toxic for people. An alternative? You can make your own cleaning solutions using commonly available ingredients.
Why Bother Making Your Own?
Everyone wants a fresh-smelling and spotless house. Thus we clean as often as we could, and using cleaning agents to help us to. Unfortunately, some of these products contain dangerous and toxic chemicals, and they pose a danger to everyone at home- especially the younger ones.
Many cleaning agents contain volatile organic compounds. These compounds are gases that are sent to the air and can cause a myriad of diseases. They’re commonly found in pesticides, disinfectants, air fresheners, and much more. Of course, we want to minimize whatever risk there is for the sake of our family, and that’s where alternative cleaning agents come into play. Aside from that, you can save a lot of money when you adapt to a zero-waste cleaning routine.
What You Need
Many of the items required here are actually commonly found are the house. Of course, some of these tips may require more materials, but having these ready will go a long way in your preparation.
– a spray bottle, for ease of use
– ever-trusty baking soda, as it causes dirt to dissolve in water or can be used to scour surfaces mildly
– vinegar, because it’s a non-toxic yet still very effective chemical for cleaning
– lemon extract, for scent
And that’s basically all you need. Compared to store-bought cleaning agents, the solutions provided here are considerably less toxic. Of course, these solutions should still be kept away from children and pets, but you can rest assured that these will not emit noxious fumes when opened or will leave toxic trails when used.
All-Purpose Spray
The first thing we’re going to make is an all-purpose spray you can use to disinfect dining tables to even your outdoor kitchen and all you need are:
– One part water
– One part vinegar
– 2 tablespoons of baking soda
– Lemon extract for scent
Mix all of these ingredients together in an empty spray bottle, and wait for the foam to settle. After the mix, some lemon extract to make it smell good and you have an all-purpose spray that’s safe to use on a wide variety of surfaces.
Glass Cleaning Solution
Water does not cut it when cleaning glass, and many glass cleaning solutions contain noxious chemicals. Instead, you can make your own using these:
– Two parts of water
– half part vinegar
– a quarter part of rubbing alcohol with around 70% concentration
Combine all of these ingredients in a spray bottle. When cleaning glass, make sure that you spray the solution on a soft cloth or paper towel instead of the actual glass surface. Avoid cleaning during hot weather as well, as it can leave marks on the glass.
DIY Air Freshener
Scent plays a large part in making a room feel clean, and while store-bought air fresheners might smell good, they aren’t exactly safe for everyone. Try this organic alternative instead.
– One part water
– Half part vinegar
– Half part essential oil of choice
Put all the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well, and spray in the middle of a room. Make sure to shake before using. You can control the intensity of the scent by changing the ratio of vinegar and water.
Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
To get rid of the nasty stains on toilet bowls, you can use a mixture of:
– One part vinegar
– A quarter part of baking soda
Use this mixture to scrub and rinse after using. Alternatively, you can use borax to clean toilet bowls and other surfaces in the bathroom. Even if borax is a naturally-occurring chemical, care must be taken, just as with any other tips here.
Stain Remover
Stains on cloth are particularly annoying to remove, especially the ones on white cloth. You can use this method to get rid of them:
– Spray vinegar on the stained area. Make sure the area is completely wet with vinegar.
– Spread baking soda over the stained area.
– Rub the baking soda gently into the fabric, add more vinegar if necessary.
– Let it sit for around 30 minutes
– Repeat on the other side
After this, you can soak the stained clothing in water mixed with half a cup of vinegar. Leave it overnight, and by the next day, you’ll have clean white cloth.
Having a clean home is not as difficult or expensive as it may seem, but you do need to know how you could make it easier for you.
