Make your home sparkle with these 6 eco-friendly DIY cleaning products
Most cleaning products contain nasty chemicals and toxins that are bad for the environment and can also damage your health. And that’s without taking into account the plastic packaging that’s inherent with most store-bought products! But did you know it is easy to make your own effective, affordable, cleaning products? If you would like to make your home sparkle without causing damage to the environment or your family’s health, check out these 6 eco-friendly DIY cleaning products and hacks.
All the tips below come from professional London cleaners at Tidy Choice and are tried and trusted techniques.
1. Lemon and vinegar – great for microwaves!
The precious microwave! Always there when we want to enjoy the leftovers from last night’s dinner!
Alas, the microwave can become one of the dirtiest appliances in our kitchens. Its frequent use can result in splashed food and grease accumulating on internal surfaces which are often tough and awkward to clean.
But fear not: here’s one way to be rid of a dirty microwave without turning to harsh chemicals.
Fill a small cup halfway with white vinegar and then squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. Place the cup inside and microwave for 2 minutes.
Leave the cup inside for an additional minute to allow steam to build up and loosen all the grease. Then take a damp cloth and wipe down the surfaces. You’ll be amazed how easily baked on food is removed and soon be cleaning many other appliances the with this mixture.
2. Vinegar and tea tree oil is great for the toilet seat
Cleaning toilets is not a pleasant task, but you can get your toilet seats squeaky clean with this easy and sustainable DIY hack.
Into a spray bottle, add white vinegar and tea tree oil. We would recommend around 10 drops. Spray the solution onto the toilet seat and let sit for a few minutes. Wipe with a cloth and expect to see your reflection in the now polished toilet seat!
Tea tree oil is known for its antiseptic and antibacterial qualities making it a perfect and more natural substitute for store-bought cleaning chemicals.
3. Baking soda cleans baked on grease
People say the kitchen is the heart of the home, and the oven is the heart of the kitchen. Therefore, it is pretty important that the oven is kept clean at all times. Whether you’re an avid cake baker, a parent to 6 kids who all need feeding or just constantly practicing (and failing) to make a tasty vegan casserole, with regular use, the oven will get messy. But don’t worry!
Take some baking soda and mix it with warm water until it forms a paste-like consistency. Gently, rub the paste along the floor and walls of the oven and leave to sit for a few minutes while the oven is off. Take a cloth and scrape down the oven removing the baking soda and water paste as well as any grease or mess. And, voila, the oven is now ready to go for another veggie casserole test run!
4. White vinegar is perfect for windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces
We have all experienced disappointment when we’re dressed nicely and want to take a mirror selfie, but… the mirror is filthy!
Glass and similar surfaces are very simple to clean and do not require expensive and elaborate chemical-based products.
Pour one part white vinegar to four parts water into a spray bottle and shake to mix the ingredients. Spray the solution over your mirrors, windows or any other surfaces and wipe down with a cloth to make them shiny as if they were brand new.
5. The all-purpose DIY eco-friendly cleaning product
This generic all-purpose cleaner can be used on most surfaces and again, the basis is white vinegar but this time mix 50/50 with water in a spray bottle and use as needed.
If you’re using this on marble or granite surfaces, substitute the vinegar for rubbing alcohol as these surfaces can be damaged by the acidity of the vinegar.
This solution is not only easy and quick to put together, but also better for both your home, your health and the environment.
6. Olive oil makes a great furniture polish
Mix 1-part white vinegar with 3-parts olive oil and add the juice of half a lemon, then apply with just a little bit of added elbow greade. A great way to spruce up all your wood surfaces!
Conclusion
Most of us have white vinegar, lemon, baking soda and olive oil in our kitchen cupboards and, as you can see from the above hacks, they make brilliant eco-friendly cleaning products. The vinegar may be a bit pungent when first applied, but you’ll be surprised how quickly the smell dissipates – and how lovely and clean your home is without using any nasties.
In terms of our health, most of us cannot see the damage that is being caused on a long-term basis. However, the article Allergies, Toxins, and Disease makes the potential impacts of the pollutants that affect us on a day-to-day basis abundantly clear.
Do give our DIY cleaning hacks a try. You’ll be amazed.
1 Comment
Vinegar is my all times best, I use it for nearly everything!