Making the jump to “green” cleaning has many benefits: your cupboards will be much less crowded, you’ll have more money in your wallet, waste will be kept to a minimum and your home will be safe for children.
Here are five natural ingredients that can make your home’s interior shine.
1. BAKING SODA
Ideal for cleaning stainless steel sinks, baking soda will make them shine like never before! It’s also an excellent cleaner for stained clothes, and helps to remove stains from carpets. Simply add a few teaspoons to your laundry or make a paste with water and scrub the stain from your carpet. Leave an open box in your garage, in your fridge or in your basement, as it also absorbs odours.
2. VINEGAR
A perfect disinfectant! Many people believe that their home will be filled with a constant vinegar smell if they use it as a cleaning product. This is completely false! The smell of vinegar dissipates quickly and leaves a rather “clean” smell. The magic solution is to dilute a cup of white vinegar into four cups of water. Use it to clean your bathroom, your wood floors (they will be shinier than ever!), your windows (with newspaper) and your kitchen, as it’s an excellent natural degreaser. However, it is not recommended for marble surfaces.
3. ESSENTIAL OILS
Lavender, thyme, tea tree and clove tree essential oils actually have antibacterial properties. Place a few drops in the toilet bowl along with baking soda, leave it for a few minutes, then scrub with the toilet brush as usual. It’s naturally effective!
4. LEMON
Lemon is recognized for its degreasing properties and is great for helping to clean dirty pots and pans. In addition, by mixing half a cup of lemon juice (or less, depending on how much wood furniture you have) with a cup of olive oil, you will obtain an effective wood polishing product. Also, like baking soda, lemon is a natural whitener. Half a cup of lemon juice and a little baking soda can act as a replacement for bleach when doing laundry. Your whites will be more than white!
5. MARSEILLE SOAP
This soap works wonders for cleaning your home but is also great for cleaning yourself, as it works perfectly as shampoo, body soap, etc. Replace your dish soap with this type of soap; the amount needed is surprising! It lathers very well, so you will only need a small amount on your sponge… It can also be used in home-made laundry detergent recipes; many fragrances are available. Made with ingredients that are natural and often organic, this is the king of all soaps!
These five natural ingredients can replace several cleaning products that are toxic and harmful to the environment. They are effective, pure and leave a negligible footprint – what more could you ask for!
http://www.centris.ca/en/blog/tips-and-advice/cleaning-your-home-with-natural-cleaning-products