Natural cleaning

02 Dec 2013

If you suffer from sensitive skin or just can’t handle the smell, it may be time to go back to basics and create your own, delightfully scented cleaning products at home.

Baking soda

Baking soda is an exceptionally useful ingredient to have lying around the house.

• Simply dissolve a quarter of a cup of baking soda in one-quart water and pour into a spray bottle and you have an all-purpose cleaner. Keep some dry baking soda handy for when you have surfaces that need a bit more abrasive action.
• Want to banish food odours in the microwave? Pop some baking soda in a microwave-safe cup and microwave for one minute.
• Clean your carpets and freshen the smell by sprinkling baking soda on the carpet. Let it sit for a few minutes before simply vacuuming up.

Vinegar

Clean and shine with vinegar as an antibacterial formula. While vinegar is great to avoid the sometimes stifling smell of manufactured cleaning products, it can be irritating to the skin. If you suffer from sensitive skin, use gloves.

• Mix one cup white vinegar, one cup water and five drops of liquid soap. Add the mixture to a spray bottle. It’s perfect for cleaning surfaces such as mirrors, appliances, windows, sinks and tiles. Just remember not to use this spray on stone surfaces such as granite.
• Want to clean the grout around your tiles? Simply spray vinegar on the tiles and the grout. Leave for a few minutes, scrub with a brush and then wash away.

Tea

Cleaning hardwood floor can be a daunting task. You always need to make sure you’re using the right products, as the wrong ones can do a lot of damage.

But the appropriate ones tend to come with a strong smell and aren’t too good for sensitive skin.

Whip up a natural alternative using tea. Mix four cups of brewed tea with one teaspoon of dish detergent into a spray bottle.

The mixture works on real wood and laminate, and the tea tannins with enhance the natural shine of the surface.

Just make sure you’re using a damp mop. Too much water can cause the wood to swell up and warp.

Carpet stains

Carpet stains can be a major hassle, especially with lighter-coloured carpets.

Mix one cup of vinegar, one cup of water and half a cup of baking soda in a spray bottle. If something spills, blot the liquid with a dry towel or paper towel. Spray the stain, blot the excess liquid and let dry.

Air fresheners

The chemicals that are often in store-bought air fresheners are generally harmful to inhale. So why do we buy them when we can make our own?

Pop one eighth of a cup of baking soda and warm water in a spray bottle. Shake well to dissolve. Then add several drops of your favourite essential oil. If you don’t have any oil on hand, use one-eighth of a cup of lemon juice.

Just remember to shake well before each use to mix the fragrance.

Do you have any natural cleaning product recipes? Share them on our Facebook page.