So many people, me included, use toxic cleaning products in an aim to clean and create a germ free environment for their children and in doing so, do not consider the consequences to their health or planet. If you haven’t read my ‘Toxic cleaners – what are they
?’ article, it may pay to have a look and then consider the alternatives I have listed here to the products we already use and which are potentially dangerous.
Basic and toxic free items, some found easily around the home and which have the ability to clean just as effective, are soap, vinegar, baking soda, washing soda, ammonia, borax, alcohol, cornstarch as well as certain food ingredients. These simple products can be used to lift out spots and stains, deodorize, polish wood or metal, disinfect, scrub, wash clothes, as well a variety of other household duties [2].
Some of these ideas have been ones which my mother used, her mother even and some I found on the internet and have referenced accordingly.
Baking soda [1]
Has is one of the most versatile and useful ingredient to have around the home. It can be used to:
Shine without scratching surfaces
Deodorize floors, shoes, fridges and drains
Polish chrome, jewellery silver and stainless steel
Underarm deodorant
Toothpaste
And as a water softener – good to relax in a bath with.
Cornstarch
Window cleaner
Furniture polish
Shampoo carpets
Lemon Juice
The citric acid in lemons is good to use as:
Deodorant
Glass cleaner
Stain remover
As a mild bleach
Vinegar
Removing grease
Cleaning brink or stone
Cleaning carpets
Kettles and coffeepots
Streak free windows
General Cleaning [3]
Vinegar mixed with salt creates a good surface cleaner and will even remove grease when mixing the vinegar at full strength.
Baking soda dissolved in warm water and mixed to a thick paste will act as a good scouring mix. You can add lemon juice to this for a more intense clean.
Using a pumice stick/block can be used to clean barbecues and grills to even rust from garden equipment and tools.
Floors
Besides using the vinegar mix floors can be cleaned by:
Add vegetable oil to your mop when cleaning a wood floor.
Stubborn floor stains, such as scuff marks, use baking soda and water
Crayon marks can be lifted with toothpaste.
Windows
Mix white vinegar to warm water and place in a spray bottle – use as you would your typical window cleaner.
After washing windows use newspaper for a streak-clean finish.
These are only a few ideas and there are more non-toxic cleaning items which can be made simply and cheaply. Its worth having a look…
References:
[1] Household Tips
[2] Green Shopping
[3] Fact Sheet
(February 2007) (
