There are a ton of cleaning products now available on the market. All say they will clean, disinfect and leave your house feeling and smelling fresh. What they don't tell you is the amount of toxic chemicals you are omitting into the air. The ones you and your family are breathing in on a daily basis. Some companies are now hopping on the green cleaning bandwagon and offering more chemical free choices.
Unfortunately, this comes with a higher sticker price. I just picked up a bottle of green cleaner at a local market and i paid $5.00 for one bottle. That is expensive and that price will not fit into most families budgets. So I started seeking out some alternative ways to clean without breaking the monthly budget.
Here is what i found from my research.
White Vinegar: disinfects, deodorizes and cuts grease
Baking soda: deodorizes, lifts dirt and whitens
I am absolutely in love with cleaning with vinegar. Once you get over the fact that you smell like salad dressing, it is a very cheap cleaner. You can buy a gallon of vinegar in most grocery stores for about $3.oo!
10 Uses For Vinegar
- Vinegar is great for cleaning glass. It will not leave streaks on the glass like a traditional glass cleaner.
- It removes mineral deposits from your showerhead. Use 1/2 cup of warm vinegar in a ziplock bag and drop in the shower head. Let sit for an hour. Rinse and wipe clean.
- Removes mildew from plastic shower curtains. Put it in the washing machine with white colors and add 1 cup of vinegar with your regular laundry detergent.
- It neutralizes pet odors. Mix 1 cup of vinegar to 3 cups of water and pour on soiled areas and blot.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar to liquid dish soap to remove grease from pots and pans.
- To refreshen garbage disposals sprinkle in some baking soda and add a few splashes of vinegar. Let sit for 20-30 minutes and flush with hot water.
- Use it to disinfect germs surfaces. Mix 1 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of water water into a spray bottle. Safe to use of stone countertops as well.
- Clean and descale your coffee pot. Add a cup of vinegar and let it sit, and then run a full cycle through. You may have to do this several times just to ensure no vinegar is remaining.
- Vinegar can soften your laundry. During the wash cycle, add in a half cup of vinegar. It will also reduce static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes.
- Clean and disinfect your wood cutting boards. To keep it clean simply wash it with a vinegar soaked cloth after each use to remove any bacteria from the board.
10 Uses For Baking Soda
- Use it to refreshen furniture and carpeting. Simple sprinkle on surfaces and let sit for a few minutes. Vacuum up the powder.
- Scrub away marks on your wall. Use a 50/50 paste of baking soda and water. Gently rub the mark or crayon art and you will wipe it away.
- Clean your grout by sprinkling baking soda on the grout line. Spray with water and leave it to sit for about 15 minutes. Then, scub the grout using a old toothbrush.
- If you don't have a self cleaning oven give the inside a quick spray down with vinegar. Toss baking soda over the top and let sit for a few hours to over night. Re spray with hot water and use a magic eraser to remove.
- Baking soda is a great laundry booster. Sprinkle in some in your next load to help deodorize and brighten your clothing.
- Do your plastic food containers contain an odor? To freshen them up sprinkle in some baking soda and wipe out with a clean sponge.
- To erase tough stains in your plastic containers soaking them in a solution of four tablespoons of baking soda and a quart of warm water.
- Clean your fresh fruit with baking soda. Mix with water, baking soda removes dirt and waxy coating on produce.
- Unclog your drains naturally, without the use of harsh chemicals. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain and follow it with 1/2 cup of vinegar. Wait five minutes and flush with hot water.
- Combat a summer worth of cookout grime by sprinkling baking soda on your grill and scrub the grime away.
I feel great now that I am using these alternative cleaners in my home! I now no longer have that horrible chemical smell that lingers afterwards! I will now offer this as one of my many services in my business! My mission is to create happy homes!