Greening Your Home: The Best Natural Products to Clean Your House With
Simple and effective cleaning alternatives for a safer and healthier home and planet can be found in your cupboard and pantry
Belinda Crestani
1 September 2014
Sydney-based Houzz Contributor, Creator of YouthfulHabits.com, Meditation Teacher and Holistic Health Advocate. On a mission to help others create the happiest and healthiest home imaginable.
Sydney-based Houzz Contributor, Creator of YouthfulHabits.com, Meditation Teacher... More
A clean home is a healthy home. Far too often, however, we’re using too many chemical cleaning products and in too great a quantity. We’ve found these natural alternatives to be just as effective in cleaning the entire home as well as being significantly less harmful to our health and environment.
Pure soap. This might sound simple, but this recipe – hot water and plain soap – can perform most cleaning jobs around the home. If you’re not satisfied with this mix, try any of the following natural cleaning agents.
Baking soda. A naturally occurring mineral, baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda or sodium bicarbonate) is a versatile cleaner. This mineral salt is mildly alkaline and can neutralise many strong odours, as well as being probably the most useful cleaner. When you mix baking soda with water, you have an all-purpose, light-duty cleaner.
USES: As a gentle abrasive, to absorb and eliminate odours and to treat stains on fabrics.
Find out more about the benefits of cleaning with baking soda
USES: As a gentle abrasive, to absorb and eliminate odours and to treat stains on fabrics.
Find out more about the benefits of cleaning with baking soda
White vinegar. Vinegar is a good all-purpose cleaner and deodoriser because it’s a mild acid. White distilled vinegar is the most useful type, because it won’t stain. It is also highly antibacterial, killing 99 per cent of bacteria. Add a few drops of essential oil to mask the scent of vinegar.
USES: When mixed with water, it can cut grease and dissolve film on glassware and windows. Remove tarnish from copper and rust stains from sinks by using a little salt and vinegar.
USES: When mixed with water, it can cut grease and dissolve film on glassware and windows. Remove tarnish from copper and rust stains from sinks by using a little salt and vinegar.
Lemon juice. Citric acid is one of nature’s great cleaners. Versatile, safe and fragrant, it is known to easily remove tarnish and mineral stains and cut grease.
USES: Lemon juice can help dissolve grease, remove tarnish on items and whiten clothes.
USES: Lemon juice can help dissolve grease, remove tarnish on items and whiten clothes.
Soda water. Soda water is effective at removing white stains, shining tiles and cleaning windows. A bit of an all-rounder, it is mildly acidic and is especially useful for carpets.
USES: Lifts stains and cleans surfaces.
View our photo gallery of laundry designs
USES: Lifts stains and cleans surfaces.
View our photo gallery of laundry designs
Life in the Fun Lane
Salt. Salt is naturally abrasive, making it good for scrubbing. Mixed with vinegar or lemon juice, it is known to clean copper and brass.
USES: Salt can be used as a general abrasive, and can remove rust marks and tarnish from copper.
USES: Salt can be used as a general abrasive, and can remove rust marks and tarnish from copper.
Essential oils. The pure, natural essences distilled directly from plants are known as essential oils. Tea tree, citrus, thyme, sage, lavender and eucalyptus oils all have disinfectant properties and can be added to any of the natural cleaners listed here for a bit of fragrance.
USES: Essential oils are a natural disinfectant which are good to use all over kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
USES: Essential oils are a natural disinfectant which are good to use all over kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
YOUR TURN
Which natural ingredients do you use to clean your home? And where do they work best? Tell us in the comments section.
MORE
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Deep Cleanse: Boost the Health of Your Home With Natural Fibres
Which natural ingredients do you use to clean your home? And where do they work best? Tell us in the comments section.
MORE
The Procrastinator’s Ultimate Cleaning Rundown
How to Get an Unbelievably Clean and Tidy Kitchen in Just 7 Days
Deep Cleanse: Boost the Health of Your Home With Natural Fibres
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White vinegar is all you need in your floor washing water. Add a couple of drops of oil of lavender or cloves if you can't stand the vinegar smell though the distinctive odour actually goes away quite fast.
Love to use wooden chopping boards? Scrub them really clean now and then with baking soda moistened with white vinegar or lemon juice, then nurture the wood with a little edible oil to restore it's rich woody appearance.
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