Deep-cleaning your home isn't something that should only be done once a year, but using chemical cleaners on a regular basis may be too harsh for some.
So, instead of spending an hour each week wearing a gas mask while cleaning, try switching the types of cleansers you use. Here are 10
non-toxic cleaning supplies you can use to keep your home fresh between spring cleanings.
1. Baking soda
What other item can be used in baking and cleaning? Times up. There aren't many. Baking soda should not only be a staple in your pantry, but a staple in your cleaning bucket. It has virus-killing abilities, deodorizes, brightens and cuts through grease.
2. Vinegar
Another pantry item? YES. Vinegar effectively cuts through soap scum, grime and does it all gently. You can thank the vinegar's acidity for that.
3. Lemon juice
Natural lemon juice is high in citric acid, antibacterial properties and has a low pH, making it an excellent natural cleaner. Plus you'll end up with a nice lemony scent throughout the house WITHOUT crazy chemicals.
4. Borax
Borax has been around for more than 100 years and for good reason. It's versatile, effective and is a naturally occurring mineral -- so it won't harm the environment.
5. Olive oil
Do you have a cast iron skillet that needs cleaning? Create a soft scrub with olive oil and coarse salt. Paint on your hands? Rub some EVOO into your skin and wash thoroughly with soap. Is your wood furniture looking a little dull? Bring it back to life with a bit of oil and another item on the list: lemon juice.
6. Essential oils
Essential oils won't necessarily get your home clean per se, but if you're making your own cleaning products, they should also smell nice. Use a few drops of your favorite essential oil scents in your cleaning solutions to make your home smell fresh and clean.
7. Coffee grounds
Coffee stains your shirts -- I get it. But coffee grounds (and whole beans) on the other hand absorb odors. Get a few tablespoons of dry, unused coffee grounds and put them in an old stocking (or other breathable container) and place them in areas that could use a bit of odor absorption... a teenage boy's closet perhaps?
8. Hydrogen peroxide
You may already have a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your first aid kit--here's another use for its anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Put some three percent peroxide in a spray bottle and spray counters and other surfaces with it. Fpr the peroxide to sanitize the surface, allow it to sit for a minute or two to kill any pathogens before wiping with a clean cloth or towel.
9. Corn starch
Take the corn starch out of the pantry and use it to make a cleansing paste for your windows. Mix cornstarch, white vinegar, lemon juice and some water and get to work.
10. Rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol can be used to treat wounds
and clean your mirrors. You can also use it to freshen and disinfect your cleaning sponges. Soak your cleaning cloth or sponge in a bowl filled with rubbing alcohol for about 10 minutes and then rinse. To keep your tools clean after a deep soak, spray them with rubbing alcohol before use.