In today’s modern life, most of us clean our homes with certain commercial cleaning products. On one hand, they make our lives easier. On the other hand, they are loaded with toxic substances. It might surprise you to learn that more than 40,000 individual chemicals can be used in household cleaning products in Australia and the horrific side of this story is the fact that many have never been tested for safety by the regulatory body that governs these types of products. In the long run, these chemicals cause long-term health problems.
The good news is, though, you can really clean without chemicals by using non-toxic, natural and inexpensive ingredients. Let’s have a look at some of the most common ingredients which can be safely used in your household for cleaning:
White Vinegar: The acidity of white vinegar effectively eliminates grease, removes growth of mould, odours, stains and wax build-up.
Baking Soda: Baking soda has the ability to remove grease and grime and it will also cleanse and deodorise your home.
Lemon: Natural lemon juice is the strongest acidic juice and the most effective against household bacteria, rust, mould, and cuts through grease and shines hard surfaces. Not to mention, its lovely smell!
Olive Oil: Olive oil is not just for cooking! It’s also good to polish with. You can use it to fix scratches on wooden surfaces as well.
Essential Oil: They make a great scent to homemade cleaning products as they cover up vinegar smell. Word of caution here: essential oils are generally considered safe; however, some extracts can trigger allergies. So, keep in mind when choosing your oils.
What to do?
Well, two things you can do:
• Avoid chemicals you actually don’t need
• Use natural ingredients to make your own cleaning products
Here’s some examples:
All-purpose cleaner: Equal parts vinegar and water. The vinegar smell dissipates as soon as it dries, but if it bothers you add a few drops of lemon juice. Put into a spray bottle and use for almost all of your cleaning.
Window and mirror cleaner: Pour a quarter of a cup of vinegar in a spray bottle and fill the rest with warm water. Add a bit of Eucalyptus oil which when rubbed on the mirrors will prevent them from fogging up.
Rinse aid (dishwashing): Use white vinegar to prevent spotting and streaking.
Carpet deodoriser: For general cleaning on light coloured rugs, sprinkle baking soda before you vacuum. For stains, mix equal parts baking soda, salt, and white vinegar. Apply the paste to the stain and let dry, then vacuum.
Oven cleaner: Combine three parts baking soda, one-part salt, and one-part water. Spread the mixture across the oven surface and let it sit for eight hours. Scrape and wipe clean.
Wood cleaner: Combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of white vinegar and add a cup of warm water in a spray bottle, spray on to the wood and wipe with a dry cloth.
Happy non-toxic cleaning!
Medical Disclaimer: All information contained in this blog is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent health problems. For all serious health issues, please contact a medical or nutrition practitioner. The information provided in this blog is based on the best knowledge of the author at the time of writing and we do not assume liability for the information within this email, be it direct or indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages. In all circumstances, it is always wise to consult your physician before changing your diet, taking supplements or starting any exercise or health program.