5 Natural Cleaning Products Everyone Should Have
I started my green cleaning journey in 2016. I was expecting at the time so the products that I would be using to clean my home needed to be safe and free of chemicals that may cause adverse health effects for myself or my baby. In the last five years, I have tested out a wide variety of green cleaning products and over time, I have come to the conclusion that the things that are most efficient at cleaning and sanitizing my home (and saving me money) were the simple ingredients that I already had in my cupboard.
One of the greatest things that you can do to improve the air quality and cleanliness in your own home is to swap toxic chemical cleaners for products that are natural and safe for daily use. In this article, we will be exploring 5 things that you likely already have in your home and talk about how these can be effective in everyday cleaning.
1. Baking soda
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a natural compound made up of carbon, sodium, hydrogen, and oxygen molecules. It is actually a salt, making it the perfect abrasive cleaner. More than that, it is usually a gentle abrasive that won’t damage surfaces when used properly.
It is great to use as a scouring powder to clean showers, sinks, grout, and glass stovetops. When using baking soda to clean, it is best to add water and make it into a paste. This allows you to spread the mixture onto the surface that you are cleaning. Use it with a non-scratch sponge and you will be amazed at the grime that this simple paste can cut through!
2. Vinegar
Vinegar is an acidic liquid that is mostly used for culinary purposes, but it is an excellent cleaning agent. The acid in vinegar can help to break down grime and cut through hard water deposits in a fraction of the time of other products. For this reason, it is mostly used on surfaces such as mirrors, shower doors, windows, and faucets.
When using vinegar to clean, it is important to choose the right acidity for the task at hand. White vinegar bought from your local grocery store typically has an acidity of 5%, but you can also buy vinegar specific for cleaning that can be anywhere from 6-30%. The higher the acidity, the more you will need to use caution while using.
A good option would be to buy a higher acidity concentrated vinegar and dilute it as you see fit for cleaning. Spray the vinegar directly onto a surface, allow it to dwell for about three minutes, then wipe away. If you are worried about the smell, know that when vinegar dissolves, so does its smell, plus it takes away any lingering odors with it! This also makes it a great odor eliminator that can be used on carpets, upholstery, and clothing items.
Since it is an acid, vinegar is not recommended to use on the following surfaces as it may ruin finishes and varnishes: granite, marble, waxed furniture and flooring, and grout.
3. Water
If you are lucky enough to have a running tap, take advantage by using water as a regular cleaning agent. At The Green Cleaners, we use E-Cloths which help to remove dirt and bacteria with the simple use of water. Most people don’t know that many bacteria and viruses can be wiped away simply by using a cloth and hot water. There is not always a need to kill these organisms and simply removing them from surfaces can be enough to help keep your home clean and healthy.
The best part about water is that it does not leave behind a smell. This is especially great for those who are sensitive to smells or who have respiratory issues. Just keep some water in your favorite spray bottle and see what all you can clean with this simple ingredient each day!
4. Dish soap
Dish soap isn’t just for washing the dishes anymore. Used as a cleaning agent, dish soap can quickly break through grease and grime, leaving your surfaces squeaky clean. Bonus points if your dish soap is vegetable-based! You can squirt dish soap directly onto surfaces and scrub using a wet, non-scratch sponge, or put a teaspoon of dish soap in a spray bottle with 16 ounces of water for a simple, all-purpose cleaner!
5. Alcohol
Alcohol is a colorless liquid that evaporates quickly and leaves behind no residue. Isopropyl alcohol is commonly mixed with water and used as rubbing alcohol, but this mixture can also be very effective in cleaning as it dries fast and sanitizes surfaces in the process. The best surfaces to clean with alcohol are smooth surfaces that do not have finishes. This includes but is not limited to mirrors, windows, showers, shower doors, faucets, sinks, toilets, and countertops!
Some grain alcohols such as vodka or moonshine can also be used to clean with. Just make sure they do not have any added sugars or other ingredients that may leave surfaces feeling sticky. According to the CDC, alcohol must remain at a 60% concentration or above for it to be effective at sanitizing. For instance, if I were to use 120 proof vodka to clean with, I would use the vodka as is and would not dilute it with water.
So there you have it! Hopefully while reading this article, you remembered some of these products that have been pushed to the back of your cabinets and have learned how you can incorporate them into your regular cleaning regimen. Leave a comment with the information that you found to be the most helpful! Happy cleaning!
