Natural Cleaning with Ingredients from Your Kitchen - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

By Lauren Brown
Provided by WorldNow

You can't avoid it.  As much as you might want to turn the other cheek, dirt and grime will not go away on their own.  I can't tell you how to avoid cleaning, but I can give you some helpful advice:  By using natural cleaning agents you can save money and promote the health of your family and the environment.   

Store bought cleaners can irritate eyes and skin and are one of the leading causes of toxic exposure reported to the U.S. poison control center.  Detergents, chemical fragrances, and cleaning products are often made of non-biodegradable materials, use non-renewable resources such as petroleum, contain substances known to cause cancer, and harm wildlife. 

You can give natural cleaning a try without a lot of effort; most of the ingredients are probably lying around your house already.  There is a natural solution to most any cleaning challenge that you wish to tackle.  Here are some basics to get you started. 

Major players

Lemon Juice

Lemons have a low pH level and therefore are able to kill most of the bacteria in your house.  If you have bottled lemon juice lying around you can use this instead of fresh lemons.   You can clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces and polish copper or brass with lemons.  This also has the added benefit of leaving your home with a pleasant smell. 

• You can mix vinegar and/or baking soda with lemon to make a cleaning solution or paste.
• Putting a lemon or orange peel in the garbage disposal is a good way to freshen it.
• For hardwood furniture polish mix ½ cup of lemon juice with a cup of olive oil.
• Soaking clothes in ½ cup of lemon juice with very hot water will bleach clothes ( do not use on silks).
• You can use half a lemon as a scrubber to clean laminate counter tops and cutting boards. Don't rinse the lemon juice off until you see the stains coming out.

Baking Soda

This substance occurs naturally but is often produced artificially.  It is alkaline in nature or has a neutral pH level and its cleaning potential is endless.  It is a deodorizer, air freshener, and water softener.  From your jewelry to your fish tank, baking soda will do the trick.  Cleaning with baking soda works well on water based stains and cleaning that requires scrubbing. 

• In the bathroom and kitchen scrub the microwave, oven, shower, and toilet, then rinse with warm water. A general cleaning solution can be made with ¼ cup of baking soda, ½ cup of vinegar, and 1 gallon of hot water; ¼ cup of baking soda with a few cups of warm water works as whitener; use ¼ cup of baking soda with less water to create a paste for scrubbing.
• Try leaving a container of baking soda in your refrigerator or freezer to maintain freshness. Baking soda can also be used to deodorize your garbage can.
• It can also be used as part of your personal hygiene regimen in place of store bought deodorant. Try mixing ½ cup baking soda with ½ cup corn starch with a few drops of essential oils if desired, then sprinkle on a damp cloth and pat on desired area.

Vinegar

White vinegar is slightly acidic and therefore can cut through grease, remove mildew, and clean stains.   In the bathroom, vinegar can clean soap scum and hard water strains.  Don't worry about the unpleasant smell, it goes away when it dries.  Don't use vinegar on marble surfaces.

• A solution of equal parts vinegar and water can be used in a spray bottle to clean windows and walls.
• Use a cloth dipped in vinegar to remove stains on curtains, furniture, and carpeting.
• Some baking soda along with a cup of vinegar will clean the inside of your toilet bowl; allow solution to fizz and then rinse with cold water.
• A ½ cup of vinegar works well as a fabric softener in the rinse cycle.

Other players

Borax

Also known as Boric Acid, this ingredient is most commonly used as an alternative to bleach.  Though it is naturally occurring, it can irritate skin and be toxic if ingested.  It can disinfect, deodorize, clean, soften water and renew painted or wallpapered walls. 

Castile Soap

This soap is biodegradable and can be found in the form of a liquid, powder or bar.  As well as using in place of shampoo or body soap, castile soap can clean clothing, be used to wash pets or as a general cleaner.    

Corn Starch

Corn starch can clean windows, polish furniture, remove grease, shampoo rugs, and works well when used during ironing. 

If you are not inclined to make your own cleaning products out of these basic household items, you can look for natural or eco-friendly cleaners in the store.  Note that ammonia and chlorine are some of the most hazardous materials.  Be sure to read the ingredients label and verify that the products are natural, effective, and safe for your home and family.