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We all want to live and work in attractive, healthy, and clean environments. Cleaning products help in that pursuit. They remove dust, allergens and germs, which is crucial to maintaining a healthy indoor environment. However, it is important to keep in mind the environmental and health impacts of cleaning products.
Many cleaners are based on chemicals that are harmful to consume for both humans and animals. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) categorizes many of these chemicals as “volatile organic compounds.” These include phosphorous, nitrogen, and ammonia. Most of these chemicals are then rinsed down the drain, leading to water pollution. Furthermore, since most containers are not made from recyclable materials, they often end up in landfills.
For these reasons, eco-friendly cleaning products would be better for the environment, but the best thing you can do, is make your own effective solutions with a few common items in your house. You can check these right below.
Cleaning Product Ingredients:
- Baking Soda: Did you know that this non-toxic pantry staple removes dirt and grease? It also deodorizes and freshens. So, it is very effective for cleaning and removing smells from numerous spots in the kitchen.
- Distilled White Vinegar: As a cleaner, vinegar is 100% natural, biodegradable, vegan, hypoallergenic and non-toxic. It is also great for deodorizing and disinfecting surfaces. Use it to get rid of stains, dirt and mildew.
- Salt: This natural mineral is really good at scaring off dirt.
- Essential Oils (Orange, Lemon, Tea Tree Oil, Lavender etc.): These potent oils can be used to enhance the smell of DIY all purpose cleaners. Some like tea tree oil are also naturally antibacterial.
- Vegetable or Olive Oil: You can use these oils to polish certain types of wood furniture.
- Castile Soap: Vegans will love the fact that this soap is made exclusively from vegetable oils rather than animal fat or synthetic substances. It’s available in liquid or bar form. It is a great base for DIY all purpose cleaners since it can be used as a laundry detergent, dish soap, floor cleaner and more.
- Soap Nuts: These are considered one of the most sustainable cleaners. Soap nuts are 100% natural and are considered renewable primary products since soap nut trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.
Multipurpose Cleaner
To make a spray that will clean just about anything in your home, mix equal parts white vinegar and equal parts filtered water. Add 6 drops of citrus essential oils like lemon and grapefruit (both of which have antibacterial properties). Use a funnel to put each ingredient straight into a spray bottle and shake to combine. Make sure to give the ingredients a light shake before each use.
Mirror and Window Cleaner
Mix 1 part white vinegar with 4 parts water in a spray bottle for a streak-free shine for your mirrors and windows.
Air Freshener
You can add a pleasing aroma to any room in the house with this homemade, non-toxic air freshener. Fill up a spray bottle with tap water and 12 – 15 drops of an essential oil such as lavender which is refreshing and soothing.
Bathroom Cleaner
To make a bathroom cleaner that works just as well in your shower and bath as it does on your tiles, fill a large spray bottle with 1 cup vinegar, 2 cups of castile soap, and 10 drops of essential oil like lavender, peppermint, orange or lemon. Shake before each use.
Toilet Scrub
For a sparkling toilet all you need is white vinegar and baking soda mixed with 10 drops of antibacterial essential oil like lemon or grapefruit oils. Apply this mixture into the toilet bowl and allow this to sit for 10 minutes. Afterwards, use your toilet brush to scrub your toilet clean. Then flush to rinse. If you want to clean your toilet seat, use the all-purpose cleaner mentioned just before to wipe it down.
Shower Mold & Mildew Cleaner
Essential oils like tea tree oil are natural fungicides. Add 10 drops of them to a spray bottle along with white vinegar to fight mold and mildew. Spritz the areas in your shower that have mold and mildew and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Afterwards, use a cloth to scrub the mixture and mildew off.
Furniture Polish
Avoid store bought chemical cleaners and try DIY all purpose cleaners made from items already in your pantry. Fill an empty spray bottle with a 1/4 cup of white vinegar, ¾ of a cup olive oil, and the juice of half a lemon. Spray onto a clean microfiber cloth and use it to gently polish furniture in your home.
Wood Friendly Furniture Polish
Add juice of ½ lemon, 1/3 cup olive oil and 2 cups of vinegar along with 10 drops lemon essential oil for a gentle way to clean your wood furniture. If you’re furniture has a darker wash, switch the white vinegar for apple cider vinegar.
Homemade Floor Cleaner
Fill a bucket with 3 cups hot water, 3 cups of white vinegar, 5 drops castile soap and 6 drops of lemon essential oil. Use this gentle mixture to mop and clean both tile and wood floors throughout your home.
Carpet Freshener
Fill up a bottle or jar with baking soda and 10 drops of essential oil. Give it a good shake and then shake it onto your carpet. Allow the mixture to sit for 30 minutes before vacuuming it away for a fresh-smelling carpet.
Microwave Cleaner
To clean out your microwave pour white vinegar and juice of a lemon in a cup or spray bottle. Apply this mixture to your microwave and allow it to sit for 2 minutes. Use a clean cloth to wipe the mixture away and your microwave clean.
Dishwashing Soap
Many dishwashing detergents contain phosphate, which cause an imbalance in waterways once it is flushed down the drains. Algae and phytoplankton feed on the phosphate and in turn create blooms that starve fish of oxygen. In fact, some states have banned phosphates from dishwashing soaps. This detergent is a clean substitute relying on 4 parts castile soap and 1 part water.
Oven Cleaner
Mix a 1/4 a cup of baking soda, a teaspoon of salt and some water in a bowl to make a smooth paste. Cover it with your oven and allow it to sit overnight. In the morning, use a damp cloth to scrub the mixture (and dirt) away.
Drain Cleanser
Pour a good amount of baking soda into a drain followed by white vinegar. It will fizz up just like the volcanoes you made as a kid. After about 10 to 15 minutes, pour boiling water down the drain for a clean drain that doesn’t require chemicals to get clean.
Laundry Detergent
Soap nuts are a traditional and simple way to clean your clothes. All you have to do is put them in the washing machine allowing them to naturally mix with the water.
Stain Remover
For your clothes or your carper. It’s simply a quarter of a cup of white vinegar, a quarter of a cup of baking soda, a squeeze of castile soap and 2 cups of water. Spray it directly on the stain, leave it to sit for several minutes, and scrub it off.