8 magic, nontoxic cleaning agents that belong in every home
Next time you find yourself making groceries, make sure these items are on your list to build a magic tool kit for cleaning your home with safe, nontoxic cleaning agents. Before you start mixing, make sure you have a few supplies like spray bottles, used toothbrushes, eye-dropper, cellulose sponges, rags from old t-shirts or towels.
- White vinegar ~ vinegar is considered the superhero of cleaning agents because it kills 99% of all bacteria, 82% of mold, and80% of germs. And for lagniappe, it also cuts grease, dissolves soap scum, and removes mineral buildup
- Baking soda ~ this natural mineral is made of soap ash and does more than just make cookie rise, including neutralizing and absorbing odors, cleaning counters, sinks, and tubs
- Cornstarch ~ like baking soda, cornstarch is great at dissolving oil and grease and can be used to make a natural starch for clothing
- Salt ~ another great item for cooking that pulls double-duty in the clean-up department, salt is naturally abrasive which makes it great for scrubbing. It’s also a deodorizer.
- Hydrogen peroxide ~ this naturally produced liquid found in every bathroom for scrapes is known for its disinfectant and bleaching properties. It is effective in removing stains from clothing and mold from the shower.
- Vegetable-based liquid soap ~ Castile soap or mild eco-friendly dish detergent are also helpful for dissolving grease and oil.
- Lemon juice ~ aside from providing that fresh smell, lemon juice helps dissolve grease and mineral-scale buildup and removes tarnish as well as whitens clothes. A great antiseptic and deodorizer, too.
- Essential oils ~ pure, natural essences distilled directly from plants provide a lovely, all-natural fragrance, and have antibacterial properties which make them perfect secret-agent cleansers. Popular essential oils include lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, lime, sweet orange, grapefruit seed, pine, clover, and tea tree.
Topic: Green House Tags: nontoxic cleaning agents for your home
December 25th, 2009 at 1:25 am
If adding any essential oil, pls keep the level below 0.1% w/w in the mixture. [about one drop per quart] Higher levels are aquatically toxic.
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Someone recently left a tip on my blog: apparently lemons, cut in half, work great to scrub with too, especially if you add some salt or baking soda. I recently tested this out when cleaning my microwave and it worked like a charm! I knew about the powers of lemon juice for cleaning, but actually scrubbing with the lemon itself works brilliantly.