‘Tis the season to get down to the nitty-gritty; that’s right, spring cleaning! Traditional cleaners that contain harsh chemicals don’t always get the job done and tend to be pricey. Not only are homemade cleaning products less expensive, but they’re also less hazardous for children and pets, effective, environmentally friendly, and allow for better air quality in your home. The trinity of natural cleansers includes vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a perfect multi-purpose cleaner for your kitchen and bathroom. It can be used on windows, hardwood floors, kitchen appliances, cabinets, bathtubs, showers, and removes stains. It may even be effective at killing small weeds in your garden. Vinegar is mother nature’s ultimate cleanser. Dilute it with water and you’re good to go!
- For a glass cleaner, mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and use like you would any store-bought glass cleaner.
- For mopping floors, mix half a cup of white vinegar into a gallon of warm water.
- To eliminate dark stains on clothing, apply white vinegar (within 24 hours) until the mark disappears.
- To eradicate film in the bathtub, wipe it down with vinegar, then with baking soda. Rinse with water, and voila!
A word of caution! Although vinegar is useful for many cleaning jobs, it is acidic, and therefore should not be used on granite or marble surfaces. Over time, it will erode sealants used on the stone and cause etching. To make a natural granite cleanser, combine ¼ cup rubbing alcohol, 3-5 drops liquid castile soap or dish soap, 5-10 drops of essential oils (optional, if you enjoy scented cleaner), and 1½ cups distilled or filtered water in a spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray it onto counters and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.
Lemon Juice
To keep your refrigerator smelling fresh, simply place half of a lemon inside. Lemon juice can also be used to scrub faucets and prevent limescale, wipe down glass, and when mixed with veggie oil, it can polish furniture.
- Rub faucets with lemon juice and let it sit overnight. Rinse it off in the morning, and you’ll be good to go.
- For glass, mix four tablespoons of lemon juice with half a gallon of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, and then all that’s left to do is spray and wipe.
- To polish furniture, add a teaspoon of lemon juice to a pint of vegetable or mineral oil. Dab a small amount onto a soft cloth and rub it in.
Baking Soda
When mixed with water or vinegar, baking soda is great for deep cleaning. This miracle substance unclogs drains and removes tough stains and odors from clothes, dishes, and more. Do you know that container that you put tomato sauce in one time, and has never again looked clean since that day? The dark rings in your coffee pot? Baking soda is about to be your best friend.
- To remove stains from Tupperware, squeeze lemon juice into the container, add a little baking soda, and scrub. Depending on how dark the stain is, you may want to let it sit overnight.
- To unclog drains, pour down a cup of baking soda, then follow it with a cup of hot vinegar. Wait a couple of minutes, and then use a quart of boiling water to flush it.
- For sweat stains, mix water and baking soda into a paste and rub it in. Let it sit on the stain for an hour before throwing it in the washing machine.
- If you have any work clothing that smells like gas or oil, simply let it sit in a garbage bag with some baking soda for a couple of days before washing them.
Making your own mixtures is a great way to keep your home, furniture, and appliances squeaky-clean while saving money and protecting the environment. You can find more family-friendly DIY cleaners on Pinterest and other websites.