Clean your home with natural, environmentally safe products and surfaces

Chemical cleaning products are widely available in the market, but their use can have a negative impact on the environment, in addition to their obvious damage to surfaces and household items. Therefore, the use of natural ingredients is on the rise. In the following lines, natural and safe household cleaners are explained for your benefit.

5 natural cleaners for the home

5 natural cleaners for the home

1. Distilled white vinegar: Distilled white vinegar has acidic properties that are responsible for killing bacteria, as well as dissolving dirt, grease, and dust. Distilled white vinegar is recommended for use on a number of household surfaces, such as: Glass, sinks, toilets, and bathtubs, while avoiding the application of distilled white vinegar on natural stone, such as: Granite, marble, stainless steel, and wood. On the other hand, distilled white vinegar should not be mixed with chlorine bleach, as this creates toxic chlorine gas.
2. Baking soda powder: Baking soda is an alkaline abrasive that helps remove stains, dirt, and grime. For extra effectiveness, combine distilled white vinegar with baking soda. However, keep baking soda, or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, away from marble, gold-plated surfaces, antique silver, and aluminum cookware.
3. Lemon juice: Lemon juice has antiseptic properties and will scrape away dirt and grease, especially when used on microwave ovens, gas ovens, cutting boards, and metals such as copper and bronze. It should be noted that the following surfaces, on the other hand, are damaged by cleaning with lemon juice: Natural stone, stainless steel, wood floors, aluminum and delicate fabrics.
4. Borax: Borax has a tremendous ability to disinfect and remove stains and odors. Some of the best uses for borax include: Cleaning laundry, tile, grout, and carpet stains, as well as unclogging drains. However, borax should not be used on the following surfaces: Aluminum, natural stone, some metals, enamel, painted surfaces, delicate fabrics, glass, and mirrors. Wear two pairs of gloves when handling the product, and do not mix it with bleach or ammonia.
5. Salt: Salt is absorbent, abrasive, and deodorizing. Use it on fresh stains, stoves, ovens, cutlery, copper utensils, and sinks. Keep away from stone and wood countertops, delicate fabrics, stainless steel pans, and antique metals.

Blends of natural cleansers for home care

• The following mixture is used to clean the house, consisting of half a cup of white vinegar, two tablespoons of baking soda powder, and drops of tea tree oil (or lavender or lemon essential oil) to make the mixture have antiseptic properties. Add these ingredients, along with a little water, to a spray bottle.
• Make disinfectant wipes for wiping stains, using a cup of water, 1/4 cup of white vinegar, drops of tea tree oil, drops of eucalyptus essential oil, and drops of lemon essential oil. Add these ingredients to a spray bottle.
• Dishwasher detergent is made at home by combining one cup of salt, two cups of baking soda powder, and two cups of borax, and storing the ingredients in an airtight container after mixing. With each wash, use two tablespoons of detergent.
• Oven cleaner is made from: Half a cup of baking soda powder, 3 tablespoons of water, half a cup of white vinegar, and 3 tablespoons of water, until a spreadable paste is formed. Spread the latter on the walls of the oven, rub, and wait overnight. In the morning, put a little vinegar in a spray bottle, spray everywhere, rinse, and dry.
• Clean the drain with a mixture of half a cup of baking soda and a quarter cup of white vinegar, pouring the solution into the clogged or smelly drain. Then, pour the white vinegar, after boiling it, and wait for an hour, before pouring boiling water into the drain to rinse it.
• Clean glass surfaces and mirrors with the cleaner, which consists of a quarter cup of white vinegar, a quarter cup of medical alcohol, a tablespoon of cornstarch, two cups of water, and a few drops of the desired essential oil. Add the ingredients to a spray bottle, seal, and shake well.