In today’s world of convenience and consumerism, natural
remedies are not as frequently used as they once were.
Natural home cleaning products are as effective and potent
as the commonly available chemical products we use. They are
cheap, can be made from day to day products and above all
they are really beneficial when you don’t want your house to
reek of chemicals all the time. Particularly helpful if you
have a baby in your family because using such home products
provides a healthier environment and minimum chemicals
around your household while the baby is growing up.
Chemical products: Why avoid them?
The readily available chemical products that we use for
keeping our house clean are more often than not manufactured
with the aid of harmful chemicals which on extended exposure
can cause health issues for people. There are a number of
cleaning solutions which have elements in them which have
been linked to pollution, health risks and have been deemed
harmful and toxic in general like super-bug sprays. Many
strong anti-bacterial cleaners have been found to have
traces of contaminants which lead to thyroid damage,
reproductive damage, hormonal damage and even cancer in some
cases. Popular air fresheners have been linked with asthma
and respiratory problems time and again. It is for these
health hazards and also because of the cost-effectiveness
that home cleaning products are gaining popularity
gradually. Let us discuss a few alternative cleaning
products you can make from day to day household things which
cost you almost nothing but ensure a healthy and fresh
environment.
Let us take a look at how to make some of the most
effective but convenient home cleaning products.
Anti-Bacterial Cleaners
Anti-Bacterial chemical sprays are usually loaded with toxic
products. To make your own anti-bacterial spray or your
everyday disinfectant, mix water and vinegar in a 9:1 ratio
where you combine 9 parts water with 1 part vinegar. Using
this solution as a spray will act as a potent disinfectant
and for better results spray the area with hydrogen peroxide
after using this mixture to clean. Vinegar and hydrogen
peroxide are both easily available and do not cost much.
Moreover vinegar is a natural product and has to adverse
health effects. Only precaution to be maintained here is to
check beforehand if a cabinet or table surface is fading in
color or reacting to the strong acidic nature of vinegar
Bathroom tile cleaner
Tile cleaners which are commercially sold in the market have
been found to have traces of harmful contaminants and
chemicals like benzene and toluene. Needless to say using
chemicals to clean your home is not extremely hygienic and
there are very effective substitutes that you can make
yourself at home which are much less harmful but equally
effective. Take half a cup of baking soda in a bowl and mix
it with liquid soap stirring it till it reaches a frosting
like consistency. Use this mixture with a sponge or half-cut
lemon to scrub tiles and wash it off with water. This home
product works like a charm and you can also mix 5-10 drops
of scented essential oil like lavender, rosemary etc. to
keep your bathroom fresh and fragrant.
Oven spills and stain cleaner
Mix 2 cups of hot water, 1 spoon full of natural liquid dish
soap and a tablespoon of borax together into a solution.
This combination is quite powerful when it comes to greasy
spills and stains. Spray this mixture on to the spill and
let the solution sit undisturbed for 20-30 minutes and then
wipe off with a cloth using warm water. For extra messy
spills, use a paper or cloth to wipe off the extra grease
first before using this solution in the process mentioned.
Window cleaner
While the commercial window cleaners are commonly connected
to respiratory problems and asthma, a very easy to make
natural product cleans windows perfectly while keeping off
harmful chemicals from being used in your household. In 4
cups of water, mix one teaspoon of natural dishwashing soap
and half a cup of vinegar. Put these condiments in a spray
bottle and use it to spray on windows and wipe clean using
the rough end of regular kitchen sponge. To soak in little
water puddles in between edges and base of window use a
cotton cloth.
All-surface cleaner
A stronger version of vinegar and water mixture – this
solution is an extremely potent home cleaning product. Mix 1
tablespoon of washing soda and 2 tablespoon of borax via a
sieve in hot water. Then add 8 drops each of tea-tree oil,
lavender oil, rosemary oil, tangerine oil and dishwashing
liquid soap with hot water and mix again. Use this solution
to clean any stains, spots or marks on furniture, floor or
any surface. Ensure that you check the surface for any
negative reactions to the mixture first.
Home-made Air freshener
Ironically, most air-fresheners readily available in market
actually degrade the air in your home and release
contaminants and potentially harmfully chemicals in the air
that your breathe. Also a major cause of respiratory
problems and asthma, these chemical-based air fresheners can
be substituted by a home remedy which you can follow
particularly for its effectiveness in removing kitchen odors.
In a pot of water add 6-7 orange peels a couple of cinnamon
sticks and cloves and bring this mixture to a boil. Once the
water starts boiling, keep this mixture on simmer for a
while in your kitchen. The room will soon be fragrant and
any foul odor will be gone.
Laundry cleaner
The lather formed by laundry detergents are mostly made of
artificial foaming agents and artificial fragrances which
are infamously known for causing migraines or headaches.
Instead, mix grated bar soap or soap flakes in equal
proportions of borax and washing soda to make an equally
strong home cleaning product. Keep this mixture stored in an
airtight container and use around 1 teaspoon per load of
clothes.
These are some natural home cleaning products which can
be used instead of the chemical-based commercial products
available in the market. These substitutes are not only easy
to make, but also extremely eco-friendly, healthy and
cost-efficient. |
