What's the benefit for using natural cleaners? You don't need to worry about the harsh chemicals which some people can be very sensitive to; not to mention the fumes from some of those heavy duty cleaners should require you to wear a mask. Plus its a lot cheaper than buying the green cleaning products you can find at the store and you probably have most these products in your house already.
Bathroom Cleaner:
Ingredients:
Preparation:
TUB AND TILE CLEANER-
In a jar or spray bottle combine 1 2/3 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup Castile soap. Add 1/2 cup water and 2 Tbsp. vinegar. Sake well before using, apply with sponge or cloth, rinse well.
TOILET BOWL CLEANER:
Mix 1/4 cup borax or baking soda and 1 cup vinegar in the toilet. Let it sit for 15 minutes (or longer, if necessary), scrub, and flush.
Mix 1/4 cup borax or baking soda and 1 cup vinegar in the toilet. Let it sit for 15 minutes (or longer, if necessary), scrub, and flush.
GLASS CLEANER:
Combine 1/4 cup vinegar and 4 cups warm water in a spray bottle. Use to clean glass or mirrors with a dry cloth or piece of newspaper, or coffee filter because who gets newspaper anymore.
Combine 1/4 cup vinegar and 4 cups warm water in a spray bottle. Use to clean glass or mirrors with a dry cloth or piece of newspaper, or coffee filter because who gets newspaper anymore.
FLOOR SANITIZER:
In a bucket, mix 1/2 cup borax with 2 gallons hot water. Apply with a mop or sponge. Rinsing is not necessary.
In a bucket, mix 1/2 cup borax with 2 gallons hot water. Apply with a mop or sponge. Rinsing is not necessary.
SOAP SCUM REMOVER:
Sprinkle on baking soda, scrub with a cloth or sponge, and rinse. Vinegar or kosher salt also work.
Sprinkle on baking soda, scrub with a cloth or sponge, and rinse. Vinegar or kosher salt also work.
CALCIUM OR LIME REMOVER:
For calcium or lime deposits on a chrome faucet, soak a towel in vinegar and wrap it around the faucet. Let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight.
For calcium or lime deposits on a chrome faucet, soak a towel in vinegar and wrap it around the faucet. Let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight.
MOLD OR MILDEW REMOVER:
Mix 1/2 cup borax and 1/2 cup vinegar to make a paste. Scrub with a brush or sponge and rinse with water. For tough mold, let it sit for an hour before rinsing with water.
Mix 1/2 cup borax and 1/2 cup vinegar to make a paste. Scrub with a brush or sponge and rinse with water. For tough mold, let it sit for an hour before rinsing with water.
*You can add some essential oils to any of these to give them a nice scent.
***I'm cleaning my bathroom today so I will update you guys on how it goes!
Ingredients:
Vinegar
Baking Soda
Lemon
Essential Oil (optional)
Water
Dish soap
Baking Soda
Lemon
Essential Oil (optional)
Water
Dish soap
Preparation:
ALL PURPOSE CLEANER:
Using funnel, put 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon dish soap, and 2 tablespoons vinegar into your spray bottle. Give it a stir/shake. Let it sit for a minute, now fill bottle with warm water and shake it up. Give it a few more minutes to calm down, and add a few drops of essential oil if desired.
SINK OR STOVE TOP CLEANER:
Put a 1/3 cup baking soda in a bowl. Mix in enough warm water so that you get a nice moist paste. Put paste on sponge or brush and scrub away. Make it as you need it.
GARBAGE DISPOSAL FRESHENER:
Take the pulp from a lemon (preferably one you've squeezed to use for something else) and toss it in the garbage disposal, along with a few thin strips of the peel. Run water and turn on disposal.
MICROWAVE CLEANER:
1-2 cups of water in a large heat-proof glass or ceramic bowl, add 1 Tbsp vinegar. Microwave until about half the water have evaporated. Wait about 10 minutes and DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. This lets the water cool off a bit and the steam penetrate any baked-on crud in the oven. Remove the bowl carefully; the water will still be hot enough to burn, so wear hot mitts. Scrub the walls of the microwave with a sponge sprinkled with a bit of baking soda; baked on stains should come off with relative ease. Wipe down the microwave with a reusable cloth dampened in clean water and the oven will be sparkling clean and free of odors.
Specialty Cleaners:
Ingredients:
baking soda
vinegar
oxygen bleach
Preparation:
Grab an old toothbrush or a small grout cleaning brush. We'd recommend the special purpose tool because grout brushes have sturdier bristles and are a little bigger, but an old toothbrush will totally work in a pinch. Start simple. Spray the affected area with a 50-50 mixture of vinegar and water, and then scrub with the brush.
*Here's a tip: forget straight lines, and scrub in circles to remove more grossness from the grout.
If that's not doing the trick, reach for the baking soda. Make a paste by mixing baking soda with water, then spread the mixture along the grout.Using the brush, scrub the baking soda mixture into the grout, again in circular motions. Rinse well and repeat if necessary.
Try out a steam cleaner. You can rent one from most home improvement stores.
If that's not enough, turn to a non-toxic oxygen bleach—which is normally combo of borax or sodium percarbonate. Just like baking soda, make a thick paste to scrub into the grout. Leave the paste on the grout for about 15 minutes, and then scrub it off and rinse well.
Ingredients:
Vinegar
Baking Soda
Vegetable Oil
Preparation:
Cleaning sticky residue from stove tops and cabinets can be done with vinegar. Pour undiluted vinegar into spray bottle and spray onto surface. Let sit for several minutes. Wipe clean with dishcloth or non-abrasive scrubber.
To use baking soda as a great non-abrasive cleaner for range hoods and appliances, put some baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe the surface down. Follow with a clean cloth to catch any powder residue.
If all else fails, a surprising fact is that grease removes grease. So, a natural vegetable oil on a paper towel can remove a difficult greasy stain on an appliance. Follow with one of the methods above for that like-new sparkle.
For really difficult cake-on grease on stove burners, there is a phosphate-free version of TSP (trisodium phosphate) called TSP-PF that is a great replacement for the toxic, heavy duty cleaners that we all want to avoid.
Ingredients:
1 cup of vinegar
2 tablespoons of baking soda
1 cup of water (give or take depending on the size of your pan)
A scourer (rough sponge)
Preparation:
Fill the bottom of the pan with a layer of water. Add the vinegar. Bring the pan to boil. It should be looking a bit cleaner already. Remove the pan from the heat and add the baking soda. Expect fizz! Empty the pan and scour as normal; if necessary add an extra bit of dry baking soda.
If there are any super stubborn marks that don't come off with scouring, make a paste of baking soda and a couple of drops of water. Leave the paste on the marks for a while and return to clean as normal.
There are a bunch more for whatever your cleaning need is. Just explore the links to find what it is you are looking for (carpet cleaner, polishing silver). This is a good start and let me know how they work for you!
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OIL PULLING UPDATE:
I went to the dentist, they did not seem to know anything about oil pulling or its benefits nor did they seem to impressed. (But are the ever, even when your oral routine is spot on you never get a "you're doing great" or "everything is looking really good" nope just that nothing has gotten worse. I mean would it kill them to give a little encouragement! 'end rant') So while I believe my teeth look whiter, all I got from the dentist is that they don't look stained.
Is oil pulling worth it? Its up to the individual, I will keep it in my morning routine because its a habit now and I think my teeth are whiter, as for any other benefits, jury's still out.
Will oil pulling help with bad breath? Studies suggest that oil pulling is just as effective as mouthwash but won't dry your mouth out.
Will oil pulling release toxins built up in the body? Studies suggest that since toxins are mostly carried in the blood and not through saliva, probably not.
Be your own experiment: N= 1 Try it out and decide if its for you!
