Life Hacks: Natural Cleaning Products
We all want a home that is clean and sparkling. But we don’t all want to use chemical-based commercial cleaners. Here are some natural cleaning products you probably already have around the house.
White Vinegar
Mix 2 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil (like lemon or lavender) if you desire a light scent. Use the mixture to spray mirrors, wipe cabinet doors, and remove soap scum from your tub. Add a drop of liquid dish soap to remove build-up of commercial cleaning products on windows or other glass surfaces. Soak grease stains on laundry with undiluted white vinegar before washing, and use it to miraculously remove wine stains from upholstery.
Baking Soda
Blend with water until you have a paste that will leave your tub and toilet sparkling. A thick layer (about 1/4 inch) of that same baking soda paste can clean an oven. Allow it to sit for a few hours with the oven off. Wipe it — and any build-up — away with a clean cloth. To clean grout, sprinkle on the baking soda and add a spritz of hydrogen peroxide; scrub gently with a toothbrush. Sprinkle simple laundry stains (grass, wine) with a little baking soda before spraying with a mix of half hydrogen peroxide and half water. That same mixture can also help revive dingy whites.
Lemon Juice
Mix 2 tablespoons with 1/2 cup of olive oil or vegetable oil for a substitute for furniture polish. Apply with a spray bottle and wipe with a clean cloth to keep wooden furniture shiny and conditioned.
Rubbing Alcohol
Soak ink stains in rubbing alcohol for 30 minutes before washing the offended item.
Caramel-Colored Soft Drinks
OK, so this one is a little less natural, but a little of your favorite soda can get a chalkboard very clean. It can also remove rust from chrome or a lock, clean the lime from a toilet bowl, and help remove gum from a shoe, hair, or clothing.
Simple, efficient, and affordable, these household hacks are good for the environment and your budget.