NATURAL HOUSEHOLD CLEANSERS

More and more people today are concerned about the effects of commercial cleaners on our health as well as on the environment. Many are looking at the natural cleaners our grandparents and great grandparents used. Going green can contribute to going healthy.

Favorite Natural Household Cleansers:

White Vinegar and Baking Soda is great for cleaning and deodorizing drains. Pour a cup of baking soda into the sink drain followed by a cup of white vinegar. The mixture will fizz and bubble for a few minutes. Now flush the drain with a gallon of hot water. Your drain will be clean and fresh.

White Vinegar is an acid with mild germicidal properties. White vinegar can be used to get rid of mold and mildew. It can be used to clean glass and cut grease. The vinegar will have an odor but the odor will dissipate quickly. Put 1/4 cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle and add water to fill the bottle.

Baking Soda is a mild abrasive that doesn’t scratch surfaces the way rougher scouring powders do. Baking soda is also an effective deodorizer. Make a paste with baking soda and water for cleaning. For a more effective cleaner use vinegar instead of water.

Salt cleans copper pots and pans. Use an equal amount of salt and vinegar and then rinse. Salt is also great for cleaning silver. Put a teaspoon of salt in about 3 inches of water and add a sheet of aluminum foil. Add your silverware and boil for a couple of minutes. Remove the silverware, let it cool and wipe with a clean cloth.

Olive oil can make your wood furniture shine. Use a half teaspoon of olive oil in a quarter cup of vinegar or lemon juice.

Rubbing alcohol mixed with water and white vinegar makes a great glass cleaner.  Simply mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol, 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar.

Cornstarch can be used to clean and shine windows and mirrors. Simply mix 2 quarts of warm water with ½ cup of cornstarch. Apply the mixture with a sponge and buff dry for a sparkling shine.

Club Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide can be used to shine up a scuffed stainless steel sink. Buff the sink with a cloth dampened with club soda. Wipe the sink dry with another clean dry cloth.

Tea can be used to scour your rusty garden tools. Brew a few pots of strong black tea. When the tea cools pour it into a bucket. Soak your tools for a few hours and wipe them dry with a cloth. Be sure to wear rubber gloves to prevent staining your hands.

Rice is great for cleaning the inside of a vase or bottle. Fill three quarters of the vase or bottle with water and add a tablespoon of uncooked rice. Place your hand over the opening, shake vigorously and rinse.

Oatmeal can make a good hand cleaner. Make a thick paste of oatmeal and water. Scrub your hands with mixture and rinse with water.

White bread is good for removing dust from oil paintings. Gently dab a slice of white bread over the surface to pick up dust and grime.

Ketchup will remove tarnish from brass and copper cookware. Put ketchup onto a cloth and rub pots and pans. The copper color should return in minutes. Rinse with warm water and towel dry.