Have you ever looked at common household cleaners and wondered if they were healthy or safe to use in your home? It’s a real concern for households with children or pets who might get into cleaners because they don’t know better. It’s also a concern for anyone who wants to live a healthier, more natural lifestyle. Fortunately, you can use some natural items to clean your home safely. Chances are you have them sitting in your pantry.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a great option for removing stains and disinfecting, thanks to its high acidity. Using it is also a great way to make your home smell fresh and summery. Use lemon juice to remove rust stains from clothes, food stains from food keepers, and grout stains in the bathroom. Use it to remove limescale from faucets, clean your microwave, deodorize your refrigerator, and clean laminate countertops and cutting boards (but use something stronger to disinfect surfaces that come in contact with raw meat, just to be safe).
Vinegar
Vinegar doesn’t just do amazing things in cooking–it’s also a fantastic way to keep your home clean. A vinegar and water mixture can act as an insect repellent to keep your kitchen ant-free. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil if you don’t like the smell of vinegar. Soak cloudy glassware in a solution of equal parts vinegar and water for 30 minutes before rinsing and drying it (give it another 30 minutes in the solution if the glass is still cloudy). You can use the same solution to clean your windows too. Soak your shower heads in a bowl of white vinegar to remove mineral deposits.
Baking Soda
Baking soda’s mild abrasive properties and odor-absorbing properties make it a great natural cleaner. Mix it with water to form a paste that can clean flatware and oven spills, remove odors from food containers, and clean crayon off of painted walls. Sprinkle it onto carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture and let it sit for several minutes to absorb odors before vacuuming it up.
Isn’t it great when you can use things you already have on hand to clean your home? Lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda have so many uses in the kitchen, most people have them on hand already. You can also use coarse salt, olive oil, and castile soap to safely clean your home. Just make sure you spot-test these natural items before using them all over your home. They may be natural, but that doesn’t mean they can’t damage your home if used improperly or on the wrong surfaces.
Check out this article on what to clean for healthier air in your home!