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In a world where the cleaning aisle at the store is packed to the brim with all kinds of products and potions, it makes you wonder. Do you really need to buy a different cleaning product for each item? Is there any difference between a countertop cleaner and a bathroom sink cleaner?
Plenty of people before us kept their homes clean without picking up the latest and greatest cleaning item from the store. The big companies have convinced us that their product stands apart from the rest of the items that essentially all do the same thing.
And what about the chemicals in these cleaners? Are they actually doing more harm than good?
The truth is that you don’t need any of those fancy cleaning products. In fact, you can keep your entire house clean with three items that you probably already have somewhere in the house.
Baking soda, white vinegar, and castile soap can tackle the mess and grime, and you won’t worry about added chemicals. Learn more about how these three things can help keep your home clean this year.
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Check your baking cupboard for a box of baking soda that can do so much more than fluff up cookies. Baking soda is a great cleaning agent because it absorbs odors. This is the reason why many of us have an open box of baking soda in the fridge to help keep smells away between cleanings.
Baking soda also is mildly abrasive, meaning that it has some grit to it to help clean sticky and dried messes. Add to the fact that baking soda is relatively cheap, and you’ll also save money at the checkout counter instead of buying overpriced cleaning products.
Clean Out Drains
Kitchen and bathroom sink drains can get clogged and stinky pretty fast. Use baking soda to help absorb the odor and clear away debris. Simply run hot water down the drain to warm the pipe up, and then pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain. Allow the soda to sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing with hot water.
Scrub the Tub
Baking soda is a great addition to tub and shower cleaning as well. The white color of baking soda helps brighten up the surface while also clearing away that red or black substance that always lingers in corners and along caulk lines.
Sprinkle baking soda onto a wet sponge and then scrub away for a sparkling tub and shower. (This works on sinks and toilets as well).
Mop the Floor
For floors that are not treated with wax, try mopping with baking soda instead this week! Mix ½ cup of baking soda into a bucket of warm water and mop away! This easy floor cleaner works best on tile and vinyl floors that don’t have a waxy finish. This is not recommended for waxed hardwoods.
Boost Laundry Colors
Need to get those whites a little brighter? Consider adding ½ cup of baking soda to the washer along with your normal laundry detergent. This also works on color loads and will help brighten up color dyes as well. Baking soda also helps rid those extra-stinky clothes of lingering odors.
Deodorize Fabrics
Carpets, furniture, and curtains can all hold odor from the environment. Either we bring in the odors from outside, or indoor pet dander (or accidents) can leave their mark well after the stain is gone.
Try deodorizing the fabric within your home by sprinkling baking soda over the affected area. Allow the soda to sit for at least 15 minutes, and then vacuum it up to cut down on household odor.
Check the pantry for a bottle of white vinegar that is also good for cleaning everything from the oven to the toilet. Remember that white vinegar is best to use, even if you have other kinds of vinegar to choose from.
Attack Kitchen Grease
Try using the combination of white vinegar along with baking soda to create an easy-to-use pan scrubber. Sprinkle pans with grease or dried food with baking soda, and then add warmed vinegar to the pan. Allow the pan to soak for at least 30 minutes, and then wipe out the grease with a wet sponge.
Clean the Oven
Oven cleaners are known for their heavy-duty chemicals and overpowering scent. Instead, consider using vinegar and baking soda together to create a grime-cutting cleaner. Mix baking soda with some water to make a paste and smear the paste on the inside of the oven.
Spray white vinegar onto the oven walls and wait until the mixture foams up. Wipe away with a paper towel or wet sponge. Stubborn areas may need more than one round as well.
Wash Windows
Instead of using ammonia, wash windows with a mixture of white vinegar and water. Simply distill the vinegar into warm water and apply it to the windows with a sponge. Wipe the window clean with a squeegee for a perfect finish.
Clean Small Appliances
Most households use some sort of small appliance that makes either coffee, tea, or heats water on a daily basis. These appliances are convenient but do need to be cleaned periodically.
Run a cycle of white vinegar through the system to clear away hard water particles and build up. Rinse the cycle again with warm water to clear the vinegar taste before the next use. This works on CPAP machines as well.
Some of us may not know exactly what castile soap is. Technically, it is a 100% vegetable soap usually made from olive oil. Castile soap comes in liquid form, and many manufacturers add essential oil, shea butter, and antioxidants to boost its composition.
Disinfect Surfaces
Find a castile soap with tea tree or eucalyptus essential oil to help disinfect surfaces around the home. These naturally disinfecting oils mix with the soap to kill germs and leave behind a polished look.
Wash Walls
Mix ¼ cup of castile soap into a bucket of hot water to apply to dirty walls. This mixture helps remove fingerprints, smudges, and grease spots and should be used with a microfiber cloth for best use.
Clean Floors
To clean any floor without a waxed finish, simply add ¼ cup of castile soap to a bucket of hot water for mopping. You can move throughout multiple floor surfaces as long as the floor isn’t waxed since the soap will damage the wax finish.
All you really need to clean your entire home are these three items! The best part of these cleaning products is that they are natural and safe to use within the home. Instead of introducing your family to harsh chemicals and overpowering scents, consider using these three things to keep your home clean.
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