Many commercial cleaning products contain substances that are harmful to the environment. Why not try these cleaning solutions as an alternative?
It’s not only those with small children and pets who have reason to be concerned about what’s left behind once the floors have been mopped. Nearly all commercially bought household cleaners contain nasties of some sort, which besides doing us no good, do significant damage to the environment too.
There are however many cleaning solutions that are easier on us, the environment and our pockets, and with planet earth taking ever-increasing strain, it makes huge sense to do our bit in this way too. Here are three old staples to start with:
Vinegar
As old as grandma, white distilled vinegar is a natural bacteria and germ killer due to its acidity. Use neat or combined with equal parts water it makes a great general household cleaner that’s cost effective and environmentally friendly. For kitchen and bathroom surfaces use neat or mix with a little water in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of tea tree or lavender oil for an extra clean smell and extra disinfectant properties. For floors, wooden or tiled, vinegar can be combined with equal parts hot water for mopping. Use similarly for clean and shiny windows and mirrors. Use the same half and half solution to spray onto a cloth for general cleaning and light dusting such as wiping down kitchen appliances, and dusting furniture. Vinegar can be used in the washing machine instead of a natural fabric softener, (use ½ a cup) and into the dishwasher to disinfect and shine dishes and glassware. Pour a cup into an empty dishwasher or washing machine and run through the cycle on the hottest setting available to freshen the machines and remove soap residue. To remove food smells from a microwave pop a cup of vinegar inside and run on high for 5 to 10 minutes.
Caution: Don’t use white distilled vinegar on marble or granite as the acid can damage the surface.
Tea
Great for cleaning windows, mixed with a little water, brew a few bags of tea to use on hardwood floors. The tannic acid helps dissolve dirt and grime and gives floors and windows a fabulous shine. Add a new tea bag (or one that's been steeped and dried) inside smelly shoes to help eliminate odour, and sprinkle dried or steeped and dried tea leaves onto smelly carpets and let them sit for about an hour before vacuuming. (A flavoured tea such as mint or lemon will leave a nice scent.)
Boracic powder
Boracic powder makes a great multi-purpose cleaner that whitens, deodorizes and removes stains. Combine ¾ of a cup boracic powder with 1 cup white vinegar and about 15 drops essential oil (lavender, lemon, tea tree or a mix) and use as a toilet cleaner. (Pour the mixture into the bowl and leave for a few hours before scrubbing and flushing.) Boracic powder is also good for cleaning porcelain, aluminium cookware and stainless steel sinks (sprinkle on, or mix it with lemon juice to form a paste for stubborn stains, leave to soak, rub with damp sponge and rinse). Boracic powder can also be used in the shower, on tiles, in the bath tub and on fibreglass without scratching – sprinkle on a damp sponge, clean gently and rinse.