Natural Cleaning with 4 Ingredients
When it comes to natural cleaning around the house most of the work can be done by one of four items common household items. These make fantastic replacements for the harsh chemicals you can buy in stores to clean with. Below I’ve put together just a few of the ways you can clean using Baking Soda, Vinegar, Lemons, and the Outdoors.
Natural Cleaning with Baking Soda
Carpets
Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets and leave it to sit for 30 minutes before you vacuum it up. This will leave the carpet looking and feeling more fresh than ever. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to add to the freshness. I recommend Rosemary, Lavender, and Eucalyptus either used together or separately. Be sure that your pets don’t have access to the room while the baking soda is on the carpet. If you have any stubborn stains that remain scroll down to the vinegar section to find out what to do next.
Mattress
Just like with the carpets you can sprinkle baking soda on your mattress to make the surface fresh and clean. Sprinkle baking soda onto the surface of your mattress then use a brush to gently scrub the baking soda into the mattress. Leave it to sit for at least 10 minutes, though 30 minutes is best before you vacuum it up. The baking soda bonds with sweat and oils from your body that have soaked into the surface of the mattress. Head down to the sun section to find out what to do if you have stains that need removing.
Oven
Make a paste using baking soda and water then apply it to the walls (and door) of your oven. Let it sit overnight then in the morning scrub the walls and rinse them clean.
Fridge Deodorizer
Combine 1 cup of baking soda with a few drops of lemon essential oil in a glass jar and leave it to sit on a middle shelf in your fridge with the lid off. The baking soda will absorb any food smells and the lemon essential oil (which is optional) will leave your fridge smelling lemony fresh. You can leave this mixture sitting in your fridge for a whole month before it needs to be replaced.
Cleaning the Toilet
Sprinkle baking soda around the inside of your toilet bowl and let it sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing it off. This will remove any odors and stains. Lemon essential oils can be added to this as well to leave your toilet with that lemon-fresh smell we all associate with being clean. This is a great way to get one last use out of the baking soda you had been using to deodorize your fridge.
Natural Cleaning with Vinegar
Carpet Stains
If you’re struggling with some difficult stains on your carpet after you’ve cleaned it using baking soda then it is time to break out the big guns, vinegar. In a spray bottle combine a half water, half vinegar mixture then gently rub the mixture into the stain. Rinse it clean and let it dry before you decide if you need to do it again. Vinegar can also change the color of your carpet so be sure to test it on a small corner first.
Window Cleaning
For a streak-free natural window cleaner, you need look no further than vinegar. Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle then use it just like you use a store-bought window cleaner. Instead of using a newspaper to wipe the window clean go for a cloth that won’t leave a lot of fibers behind or a clean coffee filter.
Stovetop
Vinegar works amazingly on cutting grease on the surface of your stove. Just pour a small amount on then rub it in. If any grease remains create a paste of vinegar and baking soda then repeat.
Kill Mold
Mold happens to all of us eventually. Once you’ve located what is causing the mold spray vinegar straight onto the mold to kill it. This vinegar should be straight from the bottle and not be watered down. Leave the vinegar to sit for 5 minutes before you wipe the area clean. Feel free to repeat the process a few times if it makes you feel better about the mold.
Cleaning Baby Toys
Add half a cup of vinegar to a sink full of water and plastic baby toys then let them sit for 5 minutes before rinsing them off with clean water. You can also put a mixture of 3 quarters water and 1 quarter vinegar in a spray bottle to spray the surfaces of toys that can’t be soaked like anything that makes sounds or has flashing lights. Make sure you wipe the surface clean after 5 minutes with a damp towel.
Natural Cleaning with Lemons
Microwave
Cut a fresh lemon in half and squeeze the juices from the two halves into a bowl with a half a cup of water, then put the two halves in the bowl and place the bowl in the middle of your microwave. Microwave the mixture on high for 3 minutes then let it sit for an additional 5 minutes before you open the door. This will allow the steamy lemon to work into the food stuck on the walls of your microwave. Once the 5 minutes are up remove the bowl and wipe off the walls of the microwave.
Garbage Disposal
Toss a few slices of lemons, or even just the lemon peel into the garbage disposal and turn it on. As they’re being ground up the garbage disposal will get cleaned and leave behind an amazing smell. You can also add a quarter cup of vinegar for a little boost in the cleaning power.
Humidifier Refreshment
After a while humidifiers get a bit of a funk and that funk then gets into the air in whatever room they’re in. You can prevent this or get rid of it entirely by adding a few tablespoons of lemon juice into the water for the humidifier. If you’re using the humidifier frequently then you can do this once a week if you feel like it is needed.
Remove Soap Scum
Cut a lemon in half and rub it all over your sinks, showers, and bathtubs to remove soap scum that just won’t come off. From time to time you may need to give that lemon a bit of a squeeze while you’re rubbing just to make sure that the juices are still flowing.
Cheese Grater
Cheese graters never seem to properly get clean no matter what you try. But have you tried a lemon? Cut a lemon in half then sprinkle salt on the side that was cut and rub it on the grater. Leave it to sit for five minutes before you rinse the grater clean.
Natural Cleaning with the Power of the Sun and Fresh Air
Mattress Stains
Mattresses can get stains on them for a number of reasons, though the most common is a build-up of sweat. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that gets a full day of sunlight drag your mattress outside and leave it under the sun. The stain will fade just as though you had used bleach and it will give the mattress the opportunity to get fresh air which never hurts. This is thanks to the natural cleaning power of the sun.
Clothing Stains
Rather than using bleach on difficult stains you can leave them out in the sun and let it do all the bleaching work. If you want to hurry the process along you can add a bit of lemon to the stain too.
Bedding
While your mattress is out getting some sun hang your bedding, including your pillows outside to let the fresh air pass through them. When you put your bed together tonight it’ll be like you’re sleeping in a brand new bed.
Open the Windows
While you’re cleaning open up every door and window in your house! The fresh air will help clear out the stuffy feeling in your house and leave your house feeling like somewhere you want to be. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like outside, you can even do it while it’s raining!
