Green Cleaning: Natural and Non-toxic Products for Your Home

You may live in a sustainable home, but being eco-friendly doesn’t stop there. The last thing you want to do is use toxic materials and chemicals just to keep your home clean. There’s only one solution: green cleaning.

Green cleaning is a term used to describe cleaning methods that minimise impact on your health and the environment. This means ditching the chemical cleaners in favour of natural products that you probably already have in your home.

Vinegar

In the dictionary, the word vinegar comes from a French translation of “sour wine.” It can be made from any fruit or material that contains sugar. White vinegar is an excellent cleanser, deodorizer, disinfectant and an effective remedy against mould and mildew. Spray diluted white vinegar using a spray bottle onto countertops, mirrors, and every surface of the house that needs cleaning. Wipe afterwards with a clean, soft cloth or old newspaper for sparkling mirrors and windows.

Vinegar is also a natural disinfectant. Use it for your cutting boards, refrigerator, and anything you want to keep germ-free. Grass stains? No problem. Just make a mixture of water and vinegar, blot it on the stain several times, then wash as usual.

Baking soda

Baking soda is a mixture of a weak acid and alkali and is mainly used to increase the volume of baked goods, but you can also use baking soda to replace harsh and toxic household cleaners. For tough cleaning jobs involving your stove, garbage bin, or toilet seat, baking soda will come to the rescue. Baking soda has abrasive properties that are handy for getting grease off your pots and pans. Just sprinkle some baking soda over the surface and then spray with 100% vinegar. Let sit until the foaming action stops before lightly scrubbing to remove any stains and odour.

For clogged drains and sinks, just use boiling water and a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. For best results, clear any standing water, pour boiling water to melt the grease, then pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a full cup of vinegar. Let sit and repeat as necessary.

Lemon or lemon juice

Aside from smelling heavenly, lemons also make awesome cleansers and deodorizers. Due to its low pH and anti-microbial properties, lemon juice is one of the best natural cleansing products for your home. For icky grouts, pour in some lemon juice and scrub away with an old toothbrush. Instead of using bleach, use lemon juice to clean soap scum on shower doors and tiles. You can also use it to get rid of the tarnish and rust from copper, brass (real and not plated), and stainless steel.

You can use lemon juice in your laundry, too. To remove grease stains from your clothing, simply rub lemon juice on the stain, let it sit overnight and wash as usual.

Don’t have time for cleaning? Hire some professional house cleaners now!