The Best 7 Natural Residential Cleaning Products
INTRO – Natural Cleaning Products
Your home or business may be full of harmful chemicals that are killing you, which explains why so many people suffer from health problems these days. On top of being toxic, commercial cleaning products can damage the environment, which is why it’s important to switch to non-toxic cleaning products without sacrificing quality.
ECO Cleaning Products
This guide will show you how to identify good natural cleaning products that won’t make you sick and won’t damage the environment in the process!
Read on to learn more about some great cleaning products for your residential or commercial cleaning needs!
1) Bleach
Of course, some people are against bleach—but is it toxic, as you might think? Maybe not. Like any cleaner, bleach can pose certain risks if misused—especially if your cleaner is industrial-strength (because of its high pH levels). However, like many commercial cleaning products found at home-goods stores and supermarkets, some commercial versions of household cleaners have toxic chemicals.
In fact, there’s concern whether these cleansers should be used around food. The Health and Care Professions Council says half of all commonly used cleaning products tested are safe to use around food. It’s best to avoid them altogether by using natural cleaning products instead. If you decide to use bleach, however, liquid chlorine bleach is safer than powdered bleaches because they contain fewer additives.
But regardless of which type you choose, always dilute liquid chlorine bleach with water before using it. And never mix vinegar with chlorine bleach; doing so produces poisonous gases such as chloroacetophenone and chloromethane.
Additionally, don’t mix chlorine bleaches with ammonia-based cleaners, because they produce toxic fumes called chloramines. Instead of using harsh chemical cleansers, such as ammonia or ammonia-based cleaning solutions, cleaning up vomit from pets or small children in your home, try mixing one part white vinegar with two parts water instead.
2) Vinegar – cleaning products
Vinegar is one of my favourite cleaning products—and it’s so simple to use. I add a cup of vinegar to a gallon of water in a spray bottle and keep it in our laundry room. Whenever I run out of steam on my laundry, I just spritz some on an old towel (or paper towels) and scrub away at whatever needs scrubbing.
I also use vinegar to clean our kitchen countertops, as well as windows (1/4 cup vinegar + 1/2 cup water + 2 drops lemon juice). Vinegar is not only great for around your home—it’s also amazing when you have grease stains on your clothing. Just put some vinegar in hot water in your washing machine and let them sit overnight. The next day, throw them in with your regular load of laundry, and they should come clean.
The same goes for carpet stains. If you spill something on your carpet, pour white vinegar over it right away, and then blot with a clean cloth until most of the stain is gone. Then, wash as usual using cold water (hot will set many types of stains).
3) Baking Soda
Baking soda is an oldie, but goodie. This multi-use item can do everything from cleaning your oven to taking pet odours out of upholstery and purifying your fridge. Keep it around at all times and use it as your one-stop shop for all things natural cleaning products.
Just make sure not to get confused by its fancy new friend: baking powder, which is made with synthetic chemicals (YIKES!). And if you want to stick even closer to nature, try swapping vinegar for bleach whenever possible!
Most commercial cleaners are likely made with toxic chemicals (including those green ones at supermarkets), so be sure to watch out how you clean. By using safe cleaning products like vinegar and baking soda, you’ll avoid exposing yourself to toxins that could potentially lead to health problems down the road.
4) Borax Powder
Borax powder is another great alternative to chemical-based cleaning products. Like vinegar and lemons, borax is naturally antibacterial (as well as antifungal and antiviral). Another advantage of using Borax powder as an organic cleaning product is that it’s non-toxic and doesn’t contain harsh chemicals like ammonia (which can be dangerous when inhaled), bleach or phosphates.
Plus, you can find it in most grocery stores—it’s often stocked right next to your other baking ingredients. It’s also super cheap. For example, $5 will get you four pounds of borax at WalMart! That’s quite a lot of cleaning power for just $0.20 per pound. Now, we’re not saying you should buy 4 pounds of borax today.
But if you’re looking for more natural alternatives to chemical cleaners around your house, give it a try! You can use borax powder to clean everything from floors and walls to ovens and microwaves. If you want to clean something on your stovetop, mix 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 cup of borax powder.
You can then use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe down all surfaces on your stovetop, leaving them sparkling clean without any toxic chemicals! Just make sure you rinse off anything left over from your cleaning solution after it dries, so that no residue remains on anything in your kitchen.
5) Essential Oils
Essential oils are natural antibacterial and antifungal properties that can kill unwanted germs in your home. Plus, they smell great and can be used to make all kinds of natural cleaning products.
To make your own multi-purpose all-natural cleaner at home, you’ll need one teaspoon each of essential oils, lemon and lime; 1 cup of water; 1⁄4 cup vinegar; 1 teaspoon salt; and a spray bottle (you can find these at most dollar stores). Mix everything together in a bowl, and then transfer it into your spray bottle. Add three cups of water to dilute it if needed, since citrus is powerful on its own. Spray it on countertops, floors, sinks—anywhere that needs cleaning.
And don’t worry about using too much, because some excess won’t hurt anything. Just let it sit for five minutes, before wiping off with a clean cloth or sponge. You’ll want to avoid using citrus oil near marble surfaces, because they may discolour them over time. Instead, use white vinegar instead, which will also help remove stains from hardwood floors and furniture without leaving residue like many other commercial cleaners.
It’s important to note though that while natural cleaning products are generally safer than their chemical counterparts, some people may still experience allergic reactions, so test out small amounts first just in case!
6) Vegetable Glycerin
Vegetable glycerine is an excellent solvent that can break down even grease and grime. Many people make their own cleaning products at home with natural ingredients, such as vegetable glycerine (distilled), water, and essential oils.
If you need some good household cleaners, but don’t want to use harsh chemicals or toxins in your cleaning products, try making your own instead. Organic home-made cleaning products are great not only because they don’t contain dangerous chemicals, but also because they can help cut back on expenses. And who doesn’t like more money to spend on anything than cleaning supplies?
Just be sure to test any homemade cleaning product on a small area before using it all over. While most organic home-made cleaning products work well, there may be instances where these DIY cleaning solutions aren’t suitable for certain surfaces or materials.
For example, vinegar isn’t always safe to use around wood furniture, since it could damage its finish if you give it a quick wipe with a soft cloth, then dab it with white vinegar diluted in water afterwards, and let it dry completely before using it again. You should be fine.
Other organic home-made cleaning products include baking soda mixed with lemon juice; olive oil mixed with tea tree oil; white vinegar mixed with baking soda; and baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide.
7) Lemon Juice
Not only does lemon juice smell lovely and leave your home smelling like you spent all afternoon in an Italian villa sipping limoncello, but it’s also an excellent natural cleaning product. It can be used to sanitise kitchen surfaces (and even light-duty dishes!) after food prep.
Lemon juice is also safe to use on bathroom surfaces. Start by mixing two tablespoons of lemon juice with one gallon of water, and let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with hot water. This can be used daily; just make sure to rinse well afterwards to avoid any discoloration or spotting on your sinks and floors.
Another benefit? You’ll save money, since you won’t have to buy cleaning products as often. The Royal Society of Chemistry recommends using commercial cleaning products when necessary. When they are needed, look for those that are biodegradable, made from renewable resources, and don’t contain volatile organic compounds.
CONCLUSION
It’s important to switch to non-toxic cleaning products without sacrificing quality. Now you can identify good natural cleaning products that won’t make you sick and won’t damage the environment in the process! If you have any questions about switching to organic or natural cleaning products, contact the best cleaning services in Leeds, Hetty Keeps Clean. We Clean, So You Don’t Have Too!
