Make Homemade Natural Cleaning Products
Edited by Kate Supino, Shelley, Eng, Doug Collins
Cleaning your house can be one of the most toxic experiences you have in your own home. Commercial cleaning product manufacturers lure you in with promises of a sanitized, sparkling house, but at what cost? According to the U.S. Poison Control center, 10% of all toxic poisoning cases can be traced back to common household cleaning chemicals. With possible effects ranging from respiratory failure, to skin rashes, all the way to chemical burns, these products are dangerous to your health and your family's health.
Get the same or similar results with these natural homemade cleaning products that tackle a wide variety of household cleaning challenges.
Clean And Polish Kitchen Counter tops
Kitchen counter tops come in a variety of surface options, and every one seems to come along with a specialized and pricey commercial cleaning product. However, there is an ideal natural cleaning and polishing option for granite, marble, wood, concrete and similar materials. Follow the steps below to achieve disinfected and polished kitchen counter tops that will reflect your good taste and good looks!
- 1Clear the counter tops of all items.Advertisement
- 2Wipe down the counter top with a wet cloth.Advertisement
- 3Place a wet cloth or wet paper towel over any hardened bits that you can't wipe off. Allow the hardened bits to soak for several minutes, then wipe away.
- 4Dry the counter thoroughly with a clean cloth or a paper towel.
- 5Apply a generous amount of mineral oil to a clean cloth and wipe the counter tops down.
- 6Turn the cloth as needed. You will see how much dirt it picks up with the mineral oil.
- 7Using a completely new and dry cloth, buff the counter tops to a high sheen. They are now ready to use.
Sanitize Bathrooms
Bathrooms are the home of many germs and bacteria that can make you and your family ill if they are not gotten rid of. You can bet your bottom dollar that commercial cleaning product companies are playing on that fear when they depict sparkling toilets and shiny bathtubs on television sets across the world. The truth is, you can get rid of those same bathroom germs and bacteria in a way that doesn't actually increase your exposure to the risk of illness through toxic chemicals.
- 1Fill a bucket with one part white vinegar to one part hot water. Make sure the water is not so hot that you could scald yourself.Advertisement
- 2Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda in the bathroom sink.
- 3Wet a clean cloth with the vinegar and water solution.
- 4Scrub the bathroom sink until shiny.
Next, you can tackle the rest of the remaining bathroom.
- 1Use the vinegar and water to clean all the fixtures in the bathroom, like the faucets, the tub and toilet.
- 2Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Dust And Polish Wood
If you're still spraying commercial furniture polish on your wood furniture, you're doing more than wasting money and possibly harming the wood. Look on the back of almost any brand of commercial furniture polish, and you'll see cautionary text regarding accidental ingestion and contact with skin. It's ironic that when you use this polish, it's almost certainly going to be in contact with the skin on your hand as you hold the cloth that has been sprayed with the chemical. Use this homemade product next time you need to dust.
- 1Use a microfiber cloth to dry dust the wood furniture. Microfiber is a special weave of cloth designed to trap dust particles below the surface of the cloth. This way, when you dust, the particles enter the cloth, become trapped, and leave the surface of the cloth free to collect more particles.
Note: You can substitute orange oil for the mineral oil if desired, though mineral oil is cheaper and just as effective.
Shine A Stainless Steel Sink
Stainless steel sinks are functional and durable, but they are prone to stains and a dull finish. Homemakers know that the kitchen cleaning project isn't complete until the sink has been properly cleaned and shined up. Use this common household product to sanitize and shine your stainless steel sink without resorting to the use of bleach.
- 1Clear the sink of leftover food particles as much as possible.
- 2Sprinkle a wet sink generously with salt. Use an inexpensive household variety of salt to save money.
- 3Sprinkle baking soda on top of the salt into the sink.
- 4Use a fresh cloth to clean the sink. No extra water is needed.
- 5Use a toothbrush to get into the grooves of the drain area, where grime typically accumulates.
- 6Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Get Rid Of Red Wine Stains on Carpet
If you've ever succumbed to using a commercial "miracle" carpet stain remover, you know that they can leave a greenish blue stain in place of the one you were trying to get rid of. Red wine and cranberry juice stains can ruin carpet, but so can the commercial solutions offered at retail outlets. If you read their directions, they even warn you to test it on a hidden area of the carpet first, because it could ruin your carpet fibers. Not so with this natural solution. It's not instant, but it is effective.
- 1Treat the stain as soon as possible after the spill occurs.
- 2Pour ample portions of ordinary table salt onto the stain
- 3The salt will start soaking up the wine immediately.
- 4Continue pouring copious amounts of salt on the stain.
- 5When you can see only a little bit of red wine rising to the top of the salt pile, you can leave it be overnight.
- 6The next day, vacuum up the salt with the attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
- 7At the very end, you may need to blot small remaining dots of wine from the carpet with a dry cloth.
Shine Pots and Pans
You spent a fortune on top quality pots and pans for your kitchen, but they seem to end up looking cheap and dirty after just a few uses. Keep this homemade natural cleaning solution by your sink so your pots and pans return to nearly new condition after every dishwashing.
- 1Place the pot upside down in the sink.
- 2Pour some baking soda in a small bowl.
- 3Ready a damp cloth.
- 4Dip the damp cloth into the baking soda.
- 5Vigorously rub the bottom and sides of the pot.
- 6Use an old, stiff toothbrush if necessary to get into the grooves of the pot's bottom.
- 7If you have trouble, sprinkle some table salt onto the bottom of the pot. Try not to use table salt on the sides of the pot, as this will likely damage the fine, polished finish.
- 8Rinse thoroughly under clean running water. If you fail to remove all the cleaning solution, the pot will smoke the next time you use it on the stove top.
Bring Your Cutting Board Back To Life
Your wooden cutting board needs attention, too. Day in and day out, it's exposed to the bacteria, flavors and colors of the food that you cut on it. And of course, there are those stains that refuse to go away. Stains like pomegranate or beet juice can only be removed with bleach, right? Wrong. Find out how to bring your cutting board's good looks back to life with this homemade natural cleaning solution.
- 1Use a juicer to extract the juice from several lemons.
- 2If you don't have fresh lemons, bottled lemon juice will work as long as it's 100% real lemon juice.
- 3Pour the lemon juice on top of the stain.
- 4Pour white vinegar on top of the stain over the lemon juice.
- 5Either place a cloth over the board and juice, or the entire board over your kitchen sink, because the juice will have a tendency to spread and spill.
- 6If you live in a warm sunny climate and you're doing this project in the day, place your cutting board outside while the juice and vinegar react to the stain. Lemon juice has natural bleaching properties when exposed to the sun, and this will speed up the process.
- 7The next day, you can look forward to a clean cutting board.
- 8Every time you use your cutting board, wipe it down with lemon juice and vinegar for combined brightening and disinfecting action.
Let The Sun Shine In On Clean Windows
Whether you're watching your dog frolic in your backyard, or driving your kids to soccer practice, it's important to have clear, streak-free Windows. Commercial window cleaner works well, but it contains ammonia, a toxic substance that is corrosive, and can cause respiratory failure if deeply inhaled. Why not bring health and sunshine into your home instead of the risk of systemic poisoning? Here's how:
- 1Purchase an empty spray bottle from a store, or use an empty commercial window cleaner bottle.
- 2Pour two tablespoons of vinegar into the bottle.
- 3Fill the rest of the spray bottle with clean water.
- 4Use as you would any regular window cleaner.
- 5Can be used on shower doors, car Windows, and house Windows and mirrors.
- 6For best results, use with lint-free cloths specially made to clean glass.
When you make the switch to homemade natural cleaning products, your home will be just as clean and smell just as fresh as when you used commercial products. The difference will be seen in your family's overall health and safety.
What do you think? Which of these ideas will you try first? Let us know in the comments below!
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
