7 Easy, DIY Green Home Cleaners
You pull out your tote with all your cleaning supplies. You take out your general, all-purpose cleaner you’ve had for years. And out of curiosity, you look at the ingredients in the mixture that advertises the ability to clean soap scum with one wipe.
And you can’t pronounce even one word on that ingredient list – aside from “water” way down the list.
Since we’ve began offering cleaning services in Cleveland Ohio we’ve seen an uptick in requests for green cleaning supplies. While not all of our cleaners carry green supplies, there are a lot of easy ways to make your own! While of course harsher chemicals do carry the benefit of stronger cleaners, DIY green home cleaners can still do quite a good job!
When working hard to get your house clean and safe for your family, it’s worth considering whether the materials you use to clean may actually be harmful to you and your family’s health. If cleaning product manufacturers are required to put warning labels on their products, it’s worth paying attention to.
But you don’t have to feel light-headed every time you spray your shower with a bleach solution. Don’t settle for coughing any time you just want to wipe down a counter.
You can make your own home cleaners with materials you already have in your cupboard – like baking soda and vinegar. Not only are these free from harsh, dangerous chemicals, but they can also be less expensive than a traditional cleaner.
Here, we share seven easy, efficient ways you can use natural ingredients to actually make your house clean and free from harmful chemicals.
1) Stainless Steel Cleaner
When you’re looking for something quick and easy to clean your appliances, counters and give your stainless steel an extra shine, all you need is baking soda. Lauren Smith in an article from Good Housekeeping says all you need to do is combine 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 quart of warm water and wipe with a sponge. It works as a great deodorizer and helps in getting your stainless steel back to it’s former shine.
2) Glass Cleaner
To make an effective, green glass cleaner, all you need is three simple ingredients. Smith from Good Housekeeping says to combine 2 cups of water, ½ cup of vinegar and ¼ cup rubbing alcohol with a 70% concentration in a spray bottle. Then, spray the mixture on a cloth or paper towel and wipe on your glass surface.
3) Water Ring Remover
Forget to use a coaster on your end table? Not to worry. By combining 1 part white toothpaste (non-gel) with one part baking soda, Smith says you can make a paste to remove those water rings. Wipe the ringed surface with a damp cloth, spread the paste on, clean with the grain and take a dry cloth to wipe clean. To shine, wipe with another dry cloth and polish.
Be sure not to use this method on unfinished wood, laquer or antiques as it may potentially damage the surface.
4) All-Purpose Cleaner
Looking for something to clean your house and leave it smelling fresh, rather than of harmful chemicals? Good Housekeeping gives a simple recipe for an easy solution. Combine one part white vinegar, one part water, rosemary sprigs and a lemon rind in a spray bottle.
Allow one week for the scents of the lemon and rosemary to settle into the mixture.
Then, use the solution to freshen up various areas of your home. Keep your laundry smelling great. Get rid of those pesky carpet spots. And, with the acidic quality of the mixture, it can cut down on those stains that just won’t go away.
5) Kitchen Cleaner
One room that may always seem to have a mess in is the kitchen. Between preparing dinner, rushing out the door with your breakfast and putting groceries away, you do a lot in your kitchen.
Thankfully, Stephanie Sisco from Real Simple has an easy recipe to scrub up your kitchen. And, as essential oils are all the rage these days, a few drops of oil can help bring that fresh, clean scent to your kitchen.
In an article, Sisco uses a recipe from Melissa Maker in suggesting to use ¼ cup natural dish soap, ¼ cup baking soda, 5 drops of clove essentail oil and 3 cups of water. Then, wipe your kitchen surfaces with the gritty side of a kitchen sponge. Finish up by wiping the mixture off with a wet cloth.
6) Shower cleaner
Your shower is a prime location for mold, mildew and annoying water spots to accumulate. Sisco from Real Simple has a solution for that, too. She notes Debra Johnson’s recipe of using just two ingredients in a simple way to get your shower clean.
Simply combine ¼ cup white vinegar with 1 cup of water. Place mixture in the microwave for just 30 to 60 seconds. Then, pour the solution into a spray bottle and spritz on your shower surfaces. Wait 3 to 5 minutes before wiping clean with a cloth.
7) Hardwood floor cleaner
Your hardwood floors give your room character and class. Yet when scuffs and dust accumulate, you need a way to clean them – and fast. Sisco from Real Simple mentions Becky Rapinchuk’s recipe for a quick and simple hardwood floor cleaner.
Combine ½ cup white vinegar with 1 gallon of warm water. Then, add 2 to 3 drops of lemon essential oil to bring a fresh scent to your room. Pour the mixture into a bucket and use a damp mop to apply to your hardwood floors. You’ll have spotless floors in no time.
Conclusion
Cleaning your home doesn’t need to require harmful chemicals with harsh fumes that give you a headache. Between this post and our last post about using green cleaning products you can get your home clean and live a life of better health.
Stock up your pantry with baking soda, vinegar and lemon rinds and get to cleaning your home today.
