White vinegar, baking soda, borax, lemon juice, bleach are some common household items that can cover a wide range of cleaning needs at home, while saving money.
Use commonly used household products like white vinegar, baking soda, borax and bleach to clean kitchens, bathrooms and outdoors.
For example, lemon juice can attack soap scum effectively and clean metals like brass and copper. Avoiding strong store bought products can save money and leave the environment with less toxic waste.
Use of White Vinegar as an All Purpose Cleaning Solution
The following are some uses of white vinegar as an all purpose cleaning solution:
White vinegar heated in a high power setting, for 3 minutes in a microwave-safe bowl, can clean the insides of the microwave. After letting the hot vinegar sit for 15 minutes, wipe down the inside of the microwave with a sponge and clear water.
Full strength vinegar can be used in the rinse-aid container of the dishwasher to get rid of spots.
A half cup of white vinegar can be used as a fabric softener to remove left over soap residue. Besides the clothes smelling clean and fresh, white vinegar also serves as a natural laundry bleaching agent useful for people with sensitive skin that cannot tolerate store-bought products.
Counter-tops, appliances, stove tops, door knobs, cutting boards, toilet seats and floors can be cleaned with white vinegar.
Baking Soda can Replace Commercial Abrasive Cleaners
Baking soda is a good option for scrub cleaning and deodorizing.
Baking soda and water in a 50/50 paste can scrub bathtubs, sinks, pots and pans. Follow up by thoroughly rinsing with water.
Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda in the bottom of the cat's litter box before adding the kitty litter to help reduce smell
Place a box of baking soda in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb food odors
Bleach can Kill Germs and Household Mildew
There are many simple uses for bleach as a cleaning agent. Some of them are:
A 50/50 mix of bleach and water can remove stubborn stains from tile and grout.
A 50/50 mix of bleach and water can remove tough stains from pots and pans, tea cups and coffee mugs. The bleach treatment would yield better results if its soaked for a longer duration of time.
Even if common household cleaning products are natural, they need to be used with care and by following simple safety precautions. Cleaning products, whether home-made or store-bought, should not be used around food.
Cleaning containers should also be kept out of reach of pets and children. Bleach should not be used on fabrics, rugs and carpets to avoid the risk of the color bleached out of the fabric.
Even when on a budget, these common household products can help keep the house clean.
The copyright of the article Use of Inexpensive Household Cleaning Solutions in Natural Products is owned by Subha Ekambaram. Permission to republish Use of Inexpensive Household Cleaning Solutions in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Shower spray products such as Tilex work very
well to prevent buildup of calcium carbonate in showers and tubs and
they are convenient to use but they are very expensive, ( about
$5.00 per qt. ) You can make your own for much less money. You
will need:
[1] Distilled water. Some people say De-Ionized
water is just as good as distilled but I don’t believe it, use
distilled.
[2] Pure ammonia. Most of the ammonia you see in
the stores has additives such as lemon scent etc. etc. You want just
ammonia (ammonium hydroxide). Here’s how to tell: pick up the
bottle and shake it. If it forms a layer of suds on top, it has additives, don’t buy it. Many supermarkets don’t have pure ammonia,
you might have to go to a hardware store or janitorial supply.
[3] Ethyl Alcohol. I use cheap vodka which is 40% ethyl alcohol.
It would probably be cheaper to use rubbing alcohol. Most rubbing
alcohol is isopropyl. I haven’t tried this, maybe it would work just
as well. If you look around, it is possible to find rubbing alcohol
made with ethyl alcohol. This is what I would recommend, I’m sure it would be cheaper than the vodka. Rubbing alcohol is sold in
strengths of 50% and 70%. You’re getting more bang for the buck if
you get 70%.
To Mix: Fill a one quart spray bottle about
½ full of distilled water. Add one ounce of ammonia and 2 ½ ounces
of vodka ( or 1 ½ ounces of 70% rubbing alcohol ). Add more water to make one quart total. Since you’re probably buying the distilled
water by the gallon, it might be easier to mix the solution one
gallon at a time in the water bottle. Just multiply everything by four.
Spray the solution on the shower walls and curtain or
door as soon as you finish the bath. Don’t wait till the water
starts to dry. You don’t have to dry the walls or anything, just
spray and leave it. The ammonia in the spray can be irritating to
eyes, nose, and throat. If you are sensitive, don’t do this in a
closed shower stall. If your shower already has a buildup of
calcium, this method will take it off but it might take several months.
It’s faster to scrub it with white vinegar.
This solution
can be used for other cleaning jobs also, such as a general de-greaser and for windows. It will also kill odors in the garbage can.
Aug 17, 2009
