Finding non-toxic cleaning products can be a challenge when cleaning homes. Choosing environmentally friendly cleaning products can help decrease lung irritants and the amount of chemicals introduced into the home.
Non-Toxic Cleaning Products From the Kitchen
Some of the best natural cleaning supplies can be found right in the pantry cupboard in the kitchen. Homemade solutions, cleaning and disinfecting alike, are readily available from the grocery store and kitchen stock.
For example, vinegar has long been used to clean houses in an environmentally friendly way. Vinegar can be used to clean toilet bowls and showers, remove greasy stains from the stove or microwave, and help remove stubborn stains.
Baking soda is one of the most popular and common ingredients in non-toxic cleaning products because of it's usefulness and gentle, but effective action. Baking soda makes a homemade drain cleaner when followed by a cup of vinegar and flushed with hot water. It also makes a great carpet deodorizer to use before vacuuming.
Non-Toxic Cleaning Products From the Medicine Cabinet
Sometimes it is possible to use every day bathroom cleaning supplies for natural cleaning supplies without needing to invest in harsh or expensive cleaning formulas. A simple glance through the cupboard or medicine chest will yield useful non-toxic cleaning products ready to go!
Hydrogen peroxide is effective as a gentle carpet cleaning solution to remove stains. It can also be used to pull stains out of porcelain without the need for harsh abrasives, or caustic bleach. Another great non toxic cleaning use for hydrogen peroxide is to cut mold and mildew in water-prone areas like the kitchen backsplash and shower curtain or bathtub tiles.
Castile soap is a classic, old-fashioned bar soap that can be made into homemade laundry soap, liquid soap or bath soap. It is said to help repel bugs and insects and many use essential oils to not only fragrance the soap mixtures but to enhance the cleaning, repellant or disinfectant properties.
Witch hazel is a gentle, alcohol-based liquid that is useful as a cleaner around the house. Cleaning jewelry is less harsh than typical alcohol cleaners. Witch hazel can be mixed with essential oils and used as a bed freshener or room freshener spray, although certain essential oils will stain linens so do some research before selecting.
Non-Toxic Cleaning Products From the Store
For those homemakers who are loathe to take the time to blend, mix and measure their own natural cleaning products, an ever-growing selection of organic cleaning supplies and non-toxic products are becoming more available from grocery and convenience stores or online shops. Readers are encouraged to read the labels and ingredient listings carefully to insure the cleaning supplies are as non-toxic as they seem to be.
Angela England - Angela England is a problogger, mother of four (yes I know what causes that), speaker, teacher, labor doula, gardener and so much more.
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