Eco-Friendly Tips and Tricks for Cleaning Your Home
Are you wary of using chemicals to clean? These simple products and tricks will keep your home spotless naturally
Chemical-based cleaning products have drawbacks: They’re pricey, they may trigger health issues and their manufacture, use and disposal can harm the environment. So if you’re approaching a spring cleaning of your home this year, why not consider these effective all-natural cleaning alternatives?
Baking soda
Baking soda, like lemon, is another one of nature’s cleaners. Also known as sodium bicarbonate, this mildly alkaline substance functions as a gentle abrasive, deodorant and more.
A thick paste of baking soda and water can be useful in removing surface rust. A more liquid mixture of baking soda and water can function as an all-purpose light cleaner that’s particularly effective on grease.
Baking soda, like lemon, is another one of nature’s cleaners. Also known as sodium bicarbonate, this mildly alkaline substance functions as a gentle abrasive, deodorant and more.
A thick paste of baking soda and water can be useful in removing surface rust. A more liquid mixture of baking soda and water can function as an all-purpose light cleaner that’s particularly effective on grease.
Clean your oven
A thick paste of baking soda and water can be applied to the bottom of the oven to clean it. Let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight before scraping it off and wiping the surface.
A thick paste of baking soda and water can be applied to the bottom of the oven to clean it. Let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight before scraping it off and wiping the surface.
Brighten the bowl
Baking soda also is a winner in the bathroom. Throw a cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl and let it sit for more than an hour. Then add a cup of white vinegar, let the mixture sit for a while longer, and flush.
Browse bathroom photos from Singapore
Baking soda also is a winner in the bathroom. Throw a cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl and let it sit for more than an hour. Then add a cup of white vinegar, let the mixture sit for a while longer, and flush.
Browse bathroom photos from Singapore
Safely clean your clothes
Baking soda also is a great addition to your laundry room. When added to your washing machine, it can soften your clothes and remove any unpleasant odours.
Fun fact: If your clothes happen to be contaminated with uranium, add a cup of baking soda to the wash to get rid of that pesky nuclear radiation. This sounds like a joke, but it’s not. Apparently scientists have discovered that sodium bicarbonate will bind with depleted uranium dust and remove it from clothes, which chemical detergents can’t manage. Talk about an all-purpose cleaner. Nonetheless, don’t go playing in uranium dust anytime soon, kids.
Your washing machine needs a clean too
Baking soda also is a great addition to your laundry room. When added to your washing machine, it can soften your clothes and remove any unpleasant odours.
Fun fact: If your clothes happen to be contaminated with uranium, add a cup of baking soda to the wash to get rid of that pesky nuclear radiation. This sounds like a joke, but it’s not. Apparently scientists have discovered that sodium bicarbonate will bind with depleted uranium dust and remove it from clothes, which chemical detergents can’t manage. Talk about an all-purpose cleaner. Nonetheless, don’t go playing in uranium dust anytime soon, kids.
Your washing machine needs a clean too
White vinegar
Mentioned a couple of times already, white vinegar is a weak acetic acid that can be used in almost all aspects of home cleaning, as it has strong antibacterial properties.
Vinegar diluted in water is an effective stain remover for various textiles. It’s also a great natural deodoriser, and can be combined with various other natural products, such as lemon juice, to absorb odours. Simmer vinegar with water on the stove while cooking to prevent cooking odours. Vinegar can help remove strong scents left over from fish, onion and garlic too.
Mentioned a couple of times already, white vinegar is a weak acetic acid that can be used in almost all aspects of home cleaning, as it has strong antibacterial properties.
Vinegar diluted in water is an effective stain remover for various textiles. It’s also a great natural deodoriser, and can be combined with various other natural products, such as lemon juice, to absorb odours. Simmer vinegar with water on the stove while cooking to prevent cooking odours. Vinegar can help remove strong scents left over from fish, onion and garlic too.
Refresh your dishwasher
If your dishwasher could use a thorough cleaning, ditch the expensive chemical tabs and instead fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with two cups of white vinegar and set it on the top rack. Let the otherwise empty dishwasher run one cycle to get rid of any odours and bacteria.
If your dishwasher could use a thorough cleaning, ditch the expensive chemical tabs and instead fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with two cups of white vinegar and set it on the top rack. Let the otherwise empty dishwasher run one cycle to get rid of any odours and bacteria.
Descale your kettle
Vinegar is your friend again here, although you can use lemon juice, too. Pour a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water into your kettle, allow it to boil, then rinse the kettle out once it cools down a little but is still warm.
Vinegar is your friend again here, although you can use lemon juice, too. Pour a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water into your kettle, allow it to boil, then rinse the kettle out once it cools down a little but is still warm.
Make your windows shine
Vinegar to the rescue again. Fill an empty spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water and use a microfibre cloth to wipe down your windows and avoid any streaking. This also works wonders for mirrors.
Vinegar to the rescue again. Fill an empty spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water and use a microfibre cloth to wipe down your windows and avoid any streaking. This also works wonders for mirrors.
Keep those tiles sparkly
The grout between tiles in the bathroom can quickly accumulate mould, which is both unsightly and unhealthy. Remove it by mixing one part carbonated water with one part white vinegar and spray it on the mouldy areas.
If the grime still doesn’t scrub off, add two parts baking soda to the vinegar-water mix to make a thick paste. Let the mixture sit on the grout for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing it off.
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What are your favourite tips for all-natural cleaning? Please share them in the Comments.
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Tile Cleaning 101
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The grout between tiles in the bathroom can quickly accumulate mould, which is both unsightly and unhealthy. Remove it by mixing one part carbonated water with one part white vinegar and spray it on the mouldy areas.
If the grime still doesn’t scrub off, add two parts baking soda to the vinegar-water mix to make a thick paste. Let the mixture sit on the grout for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing it off.
Tell us
What are your favourite tips for all-natural cleaning? Please share them in the Comments.
More
Tile Cleaning 101
Find a renovation professional in Singapore on Houzz, see images of their work, and read client reviews
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Lemons are nature’s cleaning wunderkind. They have powerful antiseptic and antibacterial properties and are a natural deodoriser due to their high acidic content. Here are some suggestions for how to use lemons in your home: