We assume they are safe, but almost all household cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that pollute indoor air and are harmful for our health. Today’s modern home is loaded with dangerous detergents designed to make domestic life easier, and we’ve gotten used to them so much that we can hardly imagine our weekly cleaning session without them. But in order to make your home safer, it is important to reduce the use of products containing hazardous substances.
Today, I'm giving you several useful tips that will reduce your whole family’s exposure to the toxic chemicals. Save money and feel better when you switch from store-bought cleaners to safer, yet no less effective, homemade alternatives.
Removing a rust stain in your bathroom
You can easily clean rust stains from ceramic tiles by applying a mixture of vinegar and baking soda on the affected area. Leave the solution for a few minutes, then rinse it off with water and wipe the tiles with a dry cloth.
Removing dirt and mud stains
The best way to get your windows spotlessly clean is to use a simple homemade solution of water and ammonia (1 part ammonia to 10 parts water). After cleaning, make sure you dry the glass thoroughly, preferably with a microfiber cloth or paper towel to avoid streaking. One more way to clean your windows is to use a raw potato. Just cut it in half and rub it over your windows. Then wipe away the juice with a clean cloth.
Making the floors shine
Cleaning hardwood floors with water and vinegar is the perfect method to give them that brand-new shine. Just dissolve 1/4 cup of vinegar in 1 liter of water and the floor cleaner is ready. If your floor is tiled, use boiling water for washing it.
Descaling the washing machine
To keep your washing machine free of limescale and in top operating condition, it’s a good idea to clean it regularly. For this purpose, in an empty washing machine add 2.8oz (80g) of citric acid, set the hottest wash cycle, and let it clean itself.
Making your mirrors shine
To make your mirrors shine, you should degrease them first. For this, take the solution we used for cleaning the windows and add 2 tablespoons of alcohol to it.
How to clean a cutting board
To disinfect and clean your cutting board, rub it all over with the cut side of half a lemon, sprinkle with coarse salt, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then, using the remaining lemon half, scour the surface once again. Finally, rinse your cutting board with warm water.
Getting rid of grime
To clean your carpet, sprinkle baking soda and cornstarch over the surface of it, let it stand for 15 minutes, then vacuum. This method will help you remove grime and eliminate unpleasant odors in your home.
Banishing bad smells
To get rid of smells inside your refrigerator, use equal parts lemon juice and water to wash it. You can also add a small amount of baking soda to the solution. This will make removing dirt easier.
Cleaning shower doors and tiles
One way to remove water stains and mildew from tile and glass doors is to use baking soda or lemon. Dip a wet toothbrush into baking soda and scrub the tile grout clean. When you’re done, rinse the tile thoroughly with clean water. Once a week, rub these surfaces with half a lemon, leave for 10-15 minutes, rinse with water, and wipe them dry.
Making your oven look like new again
Mix together 1/2 cup of water and 1 cup of baking soda. Spread the resulting paste all over the interior surfaces of your oven, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then rinse the surfaces thoroughly, and dry the glass gently with a clean soft cloth. Fill a spray bottle with white distilled vinegar, spray evenly onto the dirty areas, and let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping dry with a clean dry cloth.
