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Pure and Natural, Non-Toxic House
Cleaning
By
Emilee Gettle
After several years struggling with itchy, dry hands, I decided I shouldn't
have to deal with the pain any longer. I soon began to correlate the
weekends with sore hands and I couldn't figure out what was going wrong.
Upon a bit of investigation, I discovered my hands healed throughout the
week, that is until Friday rolled around: my house-cleaning day. After
scrubbing the bathroom my hands were miserably cracked and dry. The culprit
was name-brand cleaning products filled with chemicals! So, I decided to
seek out a solution and rid my cleaning cupboard of toxic waste in favor of
natural alternatives!
Baking Soda: It's not just for baking!
I can't say enough about this wonderful, all-natural, old fashion cleaning
product. It solves a myriad of household cleaning woes.
• Sprinkle some on your counter-tops or stove for scouring. It's also great
to use when scrubbing out pots and pans. The slightly abrasive quality will
remove any baked-on food without hurting your hands
• If you have problems with mold or mildew in fabric, books or furniture
liberally sprinkle baking soda over the surface and let sit overnight. Then,
brush it off in the morning. If there are any traces of musty odor left,
repeat the process until the mildew smell is gone.
• If you have a house cat, cover the inside of her litter box with a thin
layer of baking soda before pouring in the litter. This will help deodorize
her box and keep your house smelling fresh.
• Pour a thin layer of baking soda into the base of your trashcan to keep
odor under control.
• If your pet had an accident on a rug or furniture that has left you
holding your nose, baking soda works for that too! Lightly dampen the
surface and apply baking soda, creating a paste. Let dry and then brush off.
(You might want to try this in an inconspicuous place just in case it
discolors the fabric.) If any smell remains, repeat the process. This really
works!
• Try using baking soda in your laundry to brighten your whites and to help
disinfect each load.
• Sprinkle baking soda around the inside rim of the toilet to remove any
water stains. Scrub with a toilet brush and be done with it!
• Sprinkle a layer of baking soda into any coolers that might be going into
storage to keep mildew away.
Vinegar: Pickling Your Home
Okay, we all know that vinegar has a very distinctive smell, and a house
that smells like a pickle might not be that appealing. However, vinegar is a
100 percent natural cleaning product that most households already have in
their pantry, and it works. By the way, the smell only lasts for a brief
time. Eat a pickle while mopping and forget about it!
• I have hardwood floors that I like to mop at least once a week. So, into
my mop bucket, I add about 3/4 cup of white vinegar. It cleans the floors
quite nicely and disinfects them as well.
• Add some vinegar to a spray bottle filled with water to clean counters,
mirrors, the tub, and around the toilet.
• You can also use your vinegar spray bottle to wash fruits and vegetables.
NPR published a study on the best way to clean veggies and fruits and
discovered that the natural vinegar/water spray killed 98 percent bacteria
on edible surfaces!
Hopefully, this article has provided some solutions to your chemical
quandary. However, this is an incomplete list of the myriad of ways you can
introduce a more natural cleaning regimen into your life for the health and
well-being of your home, family and pets!
About the Author:
Emilee writes on natural and pure living for
http://www.organicsoul.org.
Living a natural, holistic, and sustainable (eco-friendly) lifestyle should
be simple and attainable for everyone.
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