Use natural ingredients to make your home sparkle
[4 MIN READ]
In this article:
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Many products contain harsh – even toxic – chemicals.
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Vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice can all be used alone or with other common ingredients to safely and effectively clean many areas in your home.
DIY air fresheners and reed diffusers are natural options for making your home smell fresh. You can customize them with your favorite natural fragrances.
A kinder, gentler way to clean your house
You want a clean home. But have you thought about how clean your cleaning supplies might be?
Many products contain harsh – even toxic – chemicals. Since there are few rules about what a company can label “natural,” it’s not always clear when a product contains chemicals and preservatives you’d rather avoid.
So, why not make your own? We’ve got some ideas for replacing harsh cleaning supplies with homemade versions using truly natural ingredients that you may already have on hand. Here are a few suggestions.
Check your pantry
Most store-bought glass and surface cleaners contain ammonia and alcohol, which can cause skin, eye and respiratory irritation. Instead, try these homemade, chemical-free cleansers:
All-purpose spray cleaner
White vinegar is mildly acidic, so it dissolves dirt and kills some germs on contact. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a clean spray bottle. This solution is tough enough to clean toilets and shower floors with a light scrub.
If you don’t like the way vinegar smells, add a few drops of an essential oil, such as tea tree, eucalyptus, rosemary or lavender. These oils have antimicrobial properties. They’re inexpensive and powerful, and you only need a small amount.
Keep in mind: Vinegar is not effective against bacteria like E. coli, salmonella and staph.
Scouring powder
Baking soda is a mild abrasive, so you can use it to clean stubborn dirt and stains from surfaces like showers or sinks. Make a paste with baking soda and a little water. Rub it on surfaces with a damp cloth or sponge. Let it sit for a few minutes to dissolve soap scum and mineral deposits. Scrub, if needed, and rinse clean.
Drain cleaner
Baking soda can also freshen drains and keep them running freely. Just pour half a cup down the drain and trickle in a little hot water. Let it sit overnight. Rinse the drain thoroughly in the morning and it should stay clog-free.
Lemon is king
The acid in fresh lemon juice cleans, disinfects and deodorizes. This makes it the “king” of natural cleanser. Plus, lemons smell great. So grab a few yellow citrus and get to work on your:
Cutting boards and surfaces
Cut a lemon in half, dip the cut side in coarse salt and rub it on your wooden cutting board to clean and disinfect. Dab another lemon half in baking soda to make a natural kitchen or bathroom counter cleanser. Pro tip: Be sure to test a small area first. The lemon’s acid could discolor natural stone and stainless steel.
Glass
Rub half a lemon on a cloudy decanter to restore its original sparkle.
Faucets
Rub lemon juice on faucet taps to remove lime scale buildup. For best results, leave it overnight and rinse clean with hot water.
Disposal
Run cut lemons through the garbage disposal to clean the blades and freshen stale kitchen air.
Laundry
Add half a cup of lemon juice to your laundry rinse cycle to brighten your whites without harmful bleach.
Want fresh, fragrant air?
Want a fresh room, but hate the funky chemical smells you get from commercial deodorizers? It’s easy to create an eco-friendly air freshener.
Room spray
Fill an 8- to 12-ounce spray bottle with water. Add a tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Shake well and spray. You can even add fresh-squeezed citrus juice, a rosemary sprig or dried lavender buds for a relaxing nighttime mist. k
Room deodorizer
Combine baking soda with essential oil. Store in a lidded container. Poke holes in the lid for a long-lasting room or closet deodorizer. When the scent fades, just add a few more drops of essential oil and shake well.
DIY: Make a reed diffuser
Why spend your money on an expensive reed diffuser when you can make your own?
What:
- A small glass or ceramic container with a narrow opening (to slow evaporation)
- Six to eight bamboo skewers or rattan reed sticks (each about twice the height of the jar)
- Base oil. Mineral oil is best, but you can also use safflower, sweet almond or grapeseed oil
- The essential oil or blend of your choice
- Alcohol (vodka or pure grain alcohol are ideal; perfumers’ alcohol works, too)
How:
- Mix together a quarter cup of base oil with 10-15 drops essential oil and one teaspoon alcohol.
- Pour this into the jar and insert the reed sticks, fanning them out slightly.
- After an hour, turn the reeds over to encourage oil to travel up the sticks and scent your room.
- Flip the sticks weekly to “refresh” the fragrance.
- Replace fully saturated reeds after three months, when scent diffusion has weakened.
These are just a few ways to utilize ingredients you may already have in your home for a quick, toxin-free cleaning session. Your home and your body will thank you!
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This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
