Not a whole lot of people genuinely enjoy cleaning their home. It can be a great feeling to know that your home is clean, but the path to getting there can be a hassle. And many things need to be done on a regular, sometimes even daily, basis. And all that cleaning is going to require that you go through a large amount of cleaning products.
The trouble is, some cleaning products, especially the ones that use strong chemicals, can be dangerous to your health and damaging to the environment. Thankfully, there are alternative cleaners that you can make for yourself from common household ingredients that have proven just as effective as the top cleaning brands, but are safer to use.
Most natural cleaning solutions call for varying levels of a few different ingredients. Most often, you will see ones that use water, vinegar, lemon juice, salt and baking soda. Almost everything in your home can be fully cleaned using these safe, natural components.
For glass surfaces, a good solution is made of half a gallon of water and 4 or 5 tablespoons of lemon juice. You may have heard about using old newspapers to wipe them down, but this is simply a bad idea. It can leave a big, shredded, inky mess. An old-fashioned wash cloth or an old shirt is a much better option.
Wooden furniture can lose some of its luster as it gets old. You can give it new life by polishing it up, but many store-bought polishes are odorous and full of chemicals. Try making your own by mixing 1/3 lemon juice with 2/3 olive oil. It works, it smells great, and you could dip a piece of bread in it if you wanted.
Some furniture is made with vinyl pieces. If you find them covered in stains, a cloth doused in pure lemon juice is often enough to get it back to looking great.
To an even greater extent than wood polishes, metal polishes are stinky substances full of chemicals you would not want on or in your body. If you have items of copper or brass that are showing tarnish, try using a natural blend before going for the industrial stuff. A paste can be made out of equal parts flour, vinegar and salt. Rub it onto the metal surface with a soft cloth, and you should be golden.
If you have a fireplace that you regularly use, you may begin to notice a buildup of smoke and soot stains on the wall around it. To remove these, try making a paste out of cream of tartar and water. Smear the paste over the stains, let it dry, and then scrub it off to remove the dark streaks.
As a last little bonus, you can use vinegar to absorb the fumes from fresh paint. You can leave an open bowl or cup of it in a room that is being painted, or was just freshly-painted, help make the smell more tolerable. If you leave for a long period, be sure to replace it with a fresh container midway through.
The trouble is, some cleaning products, especially the ones that use strong chemicals, can be dangerous to your health and damaging to the environment. Thankfully, there are alternative cleaners that you can make for yourself from common household ingredients that have proven just as effective as the top cleaning brands, but are safer to use.
Most natural cleaning solutions call for varying levels of a few different ingredients. Most often, you will see ones that use water, vinegar, lemon juice, salt and baking soda. Almost everything in your home can be fully cleaned using these safe, natural components.
For glass surfaces, a good solution is made of half a gallon of water and 4 or 5 tablespoons of lemon juice. You may have heard about using old newspapers to wipe them down, but this is simply a bad idea. It can leave a big, shredded, inky mess. An old-fashioned wash cloth or an old shirt is a much better option.
Wooden furniture can lose some of its luster as it gets old. You can give it new life by polishing it up, but many store-bought polishes are odorous and full of chemicals. Try making your own by mixing 1/3 lemon juice with 2/3 olive oil. It works, it smells great, and you could dip a piece of bread in it if you wanted.
Some furniture is made with vinyl pieces. If you find them covered in stains, a cloth doused in pure lemon juice is often enough to get it back to looking great.
To an even greater extent than wood polishes, metal polishes are stinky substances full of chemicals you would not want on or in your body. If you have items of copper or brass that are showing tarnish, try using a natural blend before going for the industrial stuff. A paste can be made out of equal parts flour, vinegar and salt. Rub it onto the metal surface with a soft cloth, and you should be golden.
If you have a fireplace that you regularly use, you may begin to notice a buildup of smoke and soot stains on the wall around it. To remove these, try making a paste out of cream of tartar and water. Smear the paste over the stains, let it dry, and then scrub it off to remove the dark streaks.
As a last little bonus, you can use vinegar to absorb the fumes from fresh paint. You can leave an open bowl or cup of it in a room that is being painted, or was just freshly-painted, help make the smell more tolerable. If you leave for a long period, be sure to replace it with a fresh container midway through.
About the Author:
Living a spotless home can make you feel great. Having the home of your dreams is also a good motivation to keep it clean and in top notch condition. Garrette Custom Homes Puget Sound constructs custom homes in Puget Sound, and is a great place to find the home of your dreams.
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