House Cleaning Tips
Your nose is burning, your eyes are watering and your family has been ordered
not to enter the house for several hours. No, this is not a chemicals weapons
attack. It is the result of a thorough cleaning.
Why Cleaning Can Harm Your Health
Who knows what kinds of toxins are used to make household cleaners. Anything
that can hurt you that much can’t be good for you and your body. Also, many
household cleaners have complex chemicals in them that can illicit allergic
reactions from you and your family.
The Natural Answer
There is an alternative. Many of the items that you already have in your pantry
and fridge can be converted into effective cleaning supplies that are organic
and won’t hurt your body. Here are the most common organic household cleaners:
- Ammonia - cuts grease, strips the wax off floors and cleans windows
- Baking soda - cleans, deodorizes, scours, polishes and removes stains
- Bleach - whitens practically anything and removes mold and mildew
- Borax - alternative for bleach, deodorizes, prevents mold, removes stains
and boosts the cleaning power of soap
- Cornstarch - cleans and deodorizes carpets and rugs
- Ketchup - cleans copper
- Lemon juice - cuts grease and stains on aluminum and porcelain, whitens
- Salt - makes an abrasive, but gentle, scouring powder
- Vegetable oil - a furniture polish
- Washing soda - cuts grease and disinfects
- White vinegar - cleans windows, shines metal surfaces, removes mildew, stains,
grease and wax buildup
More than One Answer
You can also use these ingredients in combination with each other to make your
cleaning even more effective. However, always be careful not to mix amonia with any type of bleach. Combining these two substances creates Amonia Chloride, a type of poisonous gas that can be fatal if inhaled.
For instance:
- Clean your tiles with baking soda, water, ammonia and vinegar.
- Polish your furniture with lemon juice and vegetable oil.
- Water and vinegar can help prevent the spread of mold and mildew.
- Ammonia can go a long way to keeping your oven clean.
Your family will appreciate the change and your home will smell like a natural
haven, not a burnt out chemical factory.
