Natural Cleaning Alternatives
by Donna Thomson
These days we're bombarded with the latest and greatest chemical-laden products to clean our homes. Somewhere along the line we've forgotten about the more natural products, many of which we already have lying around the house. They are cheaper and generally safer than the chemical alternatives. With increasing instances of asthma, allergies and other sensitivities, especially in our children, many people are looking for alternatives. So here's my introduction to some more natural cleaners. Watch out for more suggestions in future articles.
Safety First: General safety precautions should still be used with any cleaning products so have a pair of gloves handy for cleaning and keep windows open for aeration. All products should be kept out of reach of children.
Basic Ingredients
Baking Soda - also known as Bicarbonate of Soda, is an extremely affordable naturally occurring material. It can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers and it a great deodoriser.
Borax - is a naturally occurring mineral, composed of sodium, boron, oxygen and water. It deodorises, removes stains and boosts the cleaning power of soap. It also prevents mould and odours. It's a great alternative for those who do not want to use bleach.
Lemon Juice - is great for whitening items and removing grease, soap scum and stains on aluminium and porcelain. Lemon juice can be mixed with vinegar and or baking soda to make cleaning pastes.
Pure Soap - unscented soap in its many forms (e.g. flakes, bars, liquid) is biodegradable, mild and will clean just about anything.
Salt - regular table salt makes an abrasive, but gentle, scouring powder, e.g. for cleaning tea and coffee stains from mugs.
Vinegar - a natural all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new store bought spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodoriser. Always test on an inconspicuous area first. It's safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being very cheap. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Never use vinegar on marble surfaces. Don't worry about your home smelling like vinegar as the smell disappears when it dries.
Washing Soda - (sodium carbonate) is related to Baking Soda but much more alkaline. It cuts through grease, cleans petroleum oil, removes wax or lipstick, cleans wall, tiles, sinks, tubs, shines metal surfaces, and neutralises odours in the same way that baking soda does. Use with care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. It is caustic so you need to use gloves. Don't use washing soda on aluminium, fibreglass or waxed floors (unless you intend to remove the wax).
Cleaning Recipes
(Some recipes may use ingredients in addition to those listed above)
Air Freshener: Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice placed in a small dish will absorb household odours.
All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 2 litres of water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower glass, chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.
Antiseptic: Great natural antiseptics are lavender, clove and tea tree oil essential oils. Tea tree oil especially is an excellent natural fungicide. Use one teaspoon of essential oil to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle (make sure to avoid eyes).
Bath and Tile Cleaner: Rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water. For tougher jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly.)
Bathroom Mould: Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mould. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.
Carpet Cleaner (Heavy Duty): Mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours, then vacuum.
Carpet Stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.
Cutting Boards: To get strong smells such as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.
Dishwashing Soap: A substitute for commercial detergents is liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tougher jobs.
Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle.
Drain Cleaner: For regular drain cleaning (e.g. weekly) pour about a teaspoon of baking soda down the drain and add about a tablespoon of vinegar. For heavy duty cleaning, pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup vinegar. The chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into soap and glycerine, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution: only use this method with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used. Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain cleaner as the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.
Fabric Softener: Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. This is especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin.
Floors: Most floor surfaces can be easily cleaned using a solution of vinegar and water. For damp-mopping wood floors: mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water. Mix in 15 drops of pure peppermint oil.
Furniture Polish:
- For hardwood furniture, mix 1 cup olive oil with 1/2 cup lemon juice.
- For varnished wood, add a few drops of lemon oil into 1/2 cup warm water. Mix well and spray onto a soft cotton cloth. Cloth should only be slightly damp. Wipe furniture with the cloth, and finish by wiping once more using a dry soft cotton cloth.
- For unvarnished wood, mix two teaspoons each of olive oil and lemon juice and apply a small amount to a soft cotton cloth. Wring the cloth to spread the mixture further into the material and apply to the furniture using wide strokes. This helps distribute the oil evenly.
Laundry Detergent: Combine 1 cup soap flakes, 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. For liquid detergent, also add 2 tablespoons glycerine and 2 cups warm water. Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the mix to the laundry.
Lime Deposits: You can reduce lime deposits in your kettle by putting in 1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm.
Metal Cleaners and Polishes:
Aluminium: Clean with a solution of cream of tartar and water. Use a soft cloth.
Brass or Bronze: Dip a soft cloth in a lemon and baking-soda solution, or vinegar and salt solution.
Chrome: Polish with baby oil, vinegar, or aluminium foil (shiny side out).
Copper: Soak a cotton cloth in a pot of boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar. Apply to copper while hot, let cool, then wipe clean. For tougher jobs, sprinkle baking soda or lemon juice on the cloth before wiping. Lemon juice alone will shine your copper items.
Gold: Clean with toothpaste, or a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour.
Silver: Line a pan with aluminium foil and fill with water. Add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Bring to the boil and add silver items. Polish with a soft cloth.
Stainless Steel: Use undiluted white vinegar on a dampened cloth.
Microwave Cleaner: Heat 1 cup vinegar in a microwavable bowl for 1-2 minutes. It should steam and loosen food inside of the microwave so you can easily wipe out with a cloth and warm soapy water.
Mildew: Use non-diluted white vinegar. Apply using a sponge or a spray bottle and don't rinse.
Oven Cleaner: Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the surfaces and leave for an hour. Rub tough spots gently with fine steel wool.
Paint Odours: Place a small dish of white vinegar in the room.
Rust Remover: Sprinkle some salt on the rust. Squeeze lime juice over the salt until it is well soaked. Leave the mixture on for 2 - 3 hours. Use leftover rind to scrub residue.
Scouring Powder: Use baking soda on scratchable surfaces such as the stove top and refrigerator. Apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge.
Toilet Cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar. Pour into toilet bowl and leave for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. A mixture of 2 parts borax to 1 part lemon juice will also work. For tough jobs, you can use straight bleach (do not mix with any other substance except water).
Window Cleaner: Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 litre warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Note: Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. The All-Purpose Cleaner (above) also works well on windows.