Skip the Harsh Chemicals &Clean Your Home Naturally
In Dr. Morrison’s book, Cleanse Your Body,
Clear Your Mind, he gives many simple steps
people can take to decrease their exposure to
toxins. One recommendation he gives is to
eliminate household chemicals from the
home.
Most cleaning products you’ll find at the store
are loaded with chemicals and toxins and
many contain pesticides. No one wants to fill
their living space with poisonous substances,
instead make your own natural cleaning
products. Substitute your cleaning chemicals
with these household items:
•Baking soda: Absorbs odors and
chemicals and can be used as a mild
abrasive. It can remove stains from the
bathtub or toilet and remove grime from
a dirty oven.
•Borax: A mineral compound (sodium
borate) that is a disinfectant, deodorizer,
mold inhibitor, and mild abrasive.
•White vinegar: Cuts grease, deodorizes,
and dissolves sticky buildup and mineral
deposits.
•Lemon juice: One of the strongest foodacids,
effective against most household
bacteria, cuts grease, dissolves sticky
buildup, and has a bleaching effect.
•Vegetable-based dish soaps: Use a
vegetable based soap that is made out of
olive oil, such as castile soap.
•Cornstarch: Can #be used to clean
windows, remove grease stains, polish
furniture, and shampoo carpets and rugs.
By combining the items mentioned above, you
may create your own alternative cleaning
products. Here are some ideas:
•All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1 teaspoon
borax, 2 tablespoons vinegar or lemon
juice, 5 drops essential oil of lavender,
and 2 cups hot water.
•Air Fresheners: 1.) Baking soda or
vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes
absorbs odors around the house. 2.)
Having houseplants helps reduce odors in
the home. 3.) Prevent cooking odors by
simmering vinegar (1 tablespoon in 1 cup
water) on the stove while cooking. 4.)
Grind up a slice of lemon in the garbage
disposal. 5.) Simmer water and cinnamon
or other spices on stove. 6.) Place bowls
of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in
room. 7.) Put ½ cup of borax in the
bottom of garbage pails. 8.) Place a box of
baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb
bad smells.
•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. For fresh
grease spots, sprinkle cornstarch onto
spot and wait 15-30 minutes before
vacuuming. For a heavy duty carpet
cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax
and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and
leave for a few hours. Vacuum.
•Coffee and tea stains: Stains in cups can
be removed by applying vinegar to a
sponge and wiping. To clean a teakettle
or coffee maker, add two cups water and
1/4 cup vinegar, bring to a boil. Let cool,
wipe with a clean cloth and rinse
thoroughly with water.
•Floor cleaner: Vinyl floors: use a
mixture of ½ cup vinegar, ¼ cup borax
and 1 gallon hot water. Wood floors: use a
vegetable soap like castile soap or
Murphy Oil Soap.
•Furniture and floor polish: Use 2 parts
olive oil, 1 part white vinegar, and
essential oil for scent; another option is to
use mineral oil with a few drops of lemon
juice for each pint.
•Mothballs: The common mothball is
made of paradichlorobenzene, which is
harmful to liver and kidneys. Cedar chips
in a cheesecloth square, or cedar oil in an
absorbent cloth will repel moths. The
cedar should be 'aromatic cedar' also
referred to as juniper in some areas.
Cedar chips are available at many craft
supply stores. Homemade moth-repelling
sachets can also be made with lavender,
rosemary, vetiver and rose petals. Dried
lemon peels are also a natural moth
deterrent - simply toss into clothes chest,
or tie in cheesecloth and hang in closet.
•Toilet bowl cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup baking
soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin
and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with
brush and rinse. A mixture of borax (2
parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also
work.
•Glass cleaner: Mix & cup white vinegar
to 1 cup water and spray on with bottle.
•Mold and mildew cleaner: Mix 1
teaspoon borax, 3 tablespoons white
vinegar, and 2 cups hot water, spray on
surface and scrub off mold; to inhibit mold
growth spray a few more times but don’t
wipe off.
•Oil and grease spots: For small spills on
the garage floor, add baking soda and
scrub with wet brush.
•Oven Cleaner: Moisten oven surfaces
with sponge and water. Use 3/4 cup
baking soda, 1/4 cup salt and 1/4 cup
water to make a thick paste and spread
throughout interior. (Avoid bare metal
and any openings.) Let sit overnight.
Remove with spatula and wipe clean.
The next time you run into a messy disaster in
your home, don't run out to the store for
expensive chemicals, turn to your pantry and
use what you already have!
Sources:
Morrison, Jeffrey. Cleanse Your Body, Clear Your
Mind.
communitytable.net - Keep Your Home Safe by
Using Natural Cleaning Products
No comments :
Post a Comment