Did you know that you can make harmless natural cleaners for most household cleanings with water and a few ingredients?
Natural soap, distilled white vinegar or vinegar, baking powder, baking soda (baking soda should be used with gloves) can be found in regular grocery stores and can all be used as cleaning products.
Baking Soda and Laundry
The magic of these minerals is that they neutralize many stains and odors. They are alkaline, remove grease and can even dissolve wax. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) also acts as a mild abrasive.
It is ideal for more extensive cleaning, but it is slightly corrosive so you must wear gloves when using it. If not in regular grocery stores, you can find baking soda alternative in paint stores as sodium carbonate.
Also, don’t forget to clean the washing machine from time to time. Run a 90-degree program with baking soda and a little vinegar, as there will be deposits that you will wash over and over again otherwise.
White Vinegar as Fabric Softener
Add 50 ml of white vinegar to the last rinse water. This will also keep the washing machine in good condition. Prevent wool shrinkage: Dissolve 2 cups (400 ml) of salt in warm water and leave it warm. Soak wool for 3 hours. Then rinse with warm water.
Baking Soda for Bleaching
Try mixing 125 ml of baking soda into each wash cycle to whiten white clothes and enhance the colors of colored clothes. You can also add 50 ml of lemon juice to the wash and let your clothes dry in the sun, which naturally whitens clothes and saves energy and money.
Vinegar and Essential Oils to Neutralize Odors and Mold
Vinegar neutralizes and dissolves many stains and odors. Use only distilled white vinegar or vinegar for cleaning; apple cider vinegar can discolor some materials.
Aseptic essential oils such as tea tree, orange, lemongrass, eucalyptus, lavender – kill bacteria and mold.
Additional Tips:
Note that you may have to be a little more patient when using natural cleaners. They are not as strong as synthetic chemicals. For tough stains, let the solution sit and dissolve the stain and you may also need to scrub a bit. It’s worth taking the extra time to avoid ingesting a lot of chemicals.
It’s also nice to know that kids and pets will be safer with these alternatives.
The first time you use a detergent other than regular detergent to wash clothes in the washing machine, you should use 1/3 cup of baking soda which cleans up any detergent residue that may be in the washing machine that may react with the baking soda, which can otherwise result in yellow spots.
Here are some recipes for you:
Soap for Shiny Dishes
This cleaning works well, except in cold water, where it can cause soap residue on the dishes.
- 0.30 dl of liquid soap
- 2dl of water
- 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin (available in pharmacies)
- 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil (optional, but lavender is antibacterial)
- Mix the soap and water in a jar. Add glycerin and lavender (optional).
- Stir the mixture. Pour directly onto a dish sponge, or take a few teaspoons into a sink filled with hot water. Wash!
Spray to Remove Soap Scum
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (baking powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon of liquid detergent
- 125ml distilled white vinegar or vinegar
- 5 dl of warm water
- Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to blend.
- Spray the surface to be cleaned. Scrub with a sponge, then rinse the surface.
Here you go! With these tips and natural ingredients, you can now live a greener lifestyle and clean your house with natural products instead of man-made ones. How about you? Do you use any other natural product to clean? Share it with us in the comments below.
