It is probably safe to assume that cleaning is not something that many of us enjoy or give much thought to, but ponder this for a moment…those harsh chemicals that we use to scrub stains in our showers, unclog drains, and disinfect our kitchen counters are going down the drain and into our water systems.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to clean effectively with more natural and environmentally friendly products that work just as well? (I’m sure I hear a resounding “YES!”) Good, then the list below will get you started. By using even just a few of these natural ingredients in your cleaning regimen, you are sparing our water systems from hazardous chemicals some commercial cleaners emit and you are saving money too because these cleaners are made from inexpensive ingredients from the grocery store!
Buying these ingredients in bulk is inexpensive and helps the environment in two ways: you consume less packaging materials when you buy in bulk and you utilize natural products that are gentle on the earth.
- Drain Cleaner: Pour a ½ cup of baking soda down the sink and add ½ cup of vinegar. Cover the drain and wait a few minutes, then rinse with a mixture of warm water and salt.
- Window Cleaner: Mix two ounces of vinegar with a quart of water in a spray bottle. This will give all of your windows and other glass surfaces in your home a streak free shine.
- Cleaner glassware in dishwasher: Put 1 cup of vinegar in the bottom of your dishwasher before you run the cycle. This will prevent your glassware from coming out cloudy from hard water residue.
- Sanitizing Kitchen cleaner: Use vinegar full strength to clean kitchen counters and surfaces. Although vinegar is not registered as a disinfectant with the EPA, it will kill both salmonella and E coli. This amazing natural disinfectant will also prevent mildew in the shower. Simply spray it full strength on shower walls and curtain.
- Clean your microwave: Use 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water in a bowl and microwave on high for about 10 minutes. Afterward, stains and dried food should be easy to wipe away. Lemons work to clean your microwave as well. Slice a lemon, put it in a bowl of water and microwave for 45 seconds. This should make stains easier to wipe away and eliminate unpleasant odors.
- Remove burnt food from cookware: Sprinkle baking soda over the burnt areas, add hot water and let sit overnight. Scrub in the morning.
- Remove mineral deposits from shower head: Put vinegar in a plastic bag and tie the bag around the shower head. Let the bag sit overnight, and rinse the shower head with water in the morning.
- Prevent lime scale on faucets: Rub the fixtures with lemon juice and let sit overnight. Rinse in the morning.
- Remove grout stains: Make a paste from the juice of 1 large lemon and a teaspoon of cream of tartar (a natural bleaching agent) and apply to the area with a toothbrush. Once the stain is gone, rinse with water.
Happy cleaning!
– Sabrina Carey, NVC Staff