Eco Friendly Cleaning

There are a multitude of products out there which are less damaging to the environment than commercially available cleaning products. It is often assumed that the environmentally friendly ones are less efficient, which is untrue. Not only are these products better for the environment but they are also safer to use around the family as they don't contain nasty chemicals. As an added bonus, they are usually much cheaper.

When cleaning, try with vinegar first, if that doesn't work, try bicarbonate of soda.

White vinegar:

White vinegar (acetic acid)  would have to be the most versatile ingredients available. It cuts through grease, deodorises & is a mild disinfectant. There are too many uses to list in this article, some of the more popular ones include;

Bathroom

• Mix 50% water with 50% white vinegar to make a spray that can  to clean windows,  glass & mirrors.

• Spray undilited white vinegar onto bathroom surfaces such as vanity unit tops. Wipe clean with a cloth.

• Remove build up from shower heads by soaking in vinegar.

• Remove lime deposits around taps.

Kitchen

• To clean & deodorise kitchen benches spray undiluted white vinegar & wipe with a cloth.

• Clean the stovetop by spaying with vinegar then wiping off.

• Deodorise your fridge by wiping it over with white vinegar.

• Add two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water when boiling eggs to prevent them cracking.

Laundry

• Add half a cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle for brighter clothes.

• To remove fresh wine stains from clothing, sponge on white vinegar, wash as per usual.

• Vinegar is an excellent fabric softener. Add half a cup to your final cycle.

Miscellaneous

• White vinegar acts as a deodoriser. It can be used along with bicarb of soda to eliminate urine odours. Combine one part white vinegar to two parts warm water to create a spray. 

• Remove labels & stickers from bottles & windows by spraying, leaving to sit for 10-15 minutes & then remove.

• Clean jewellery. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons cream of tartar & white vinegar. Rub onto the jewellery & let it dry. Once it has dried, wash off with a clean cloth.

• Prevent ants by applying white vinegar on areas they inhabit.

• Undiluted white vinegar can be poured directly onto weeds to kill them.

• Pour half a cup of white vinegar into 3 litres of water for streak free floors.

Bicarbonate of soda:

Also known as 'baking soda', bicarbonate of soda is an excellent deodoriser, cleaner & mould remover. Some uses include;

• Place a small container in your fridge to absorb odours.

• To remove odours from carpet, sprinkle into carpet, leave for 15-20 minutes & vacuum up.

• Baking soda can be used to put out grease fires.

• Remove  stains from marble by mixing 3 parts bicarbonate of soda to 1 part water.

• Remove cat urine odours by mixing 15 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, two tablespoons of baking soda & two squirts of liquid hand soap. Mix in a plastic container with a plastic spoon. Apply this solution to cat urine stains or odour areas, then rinse away with warm water.

• Remove burned on food from pans by soaking overnight in water with bicarbonate of soda added.

• Clean up grease spills on floors by liberally sprinkling bicarbonate of soda.

• Clean mildew off children's paddling pools by adding bicarbonate soda to warm water.

• Brush teeth with bicarbonate of soda.

Borax:

Borax (sodium borate) is a naturally occurring mineral   and a common ingredient found in detergents. It cleans, deodorises, is a fungicide, insecticide & is an excellent stain remover & water softener.

• Clean toilet bowls with a mix of borax & lemon juice.

• Clean floors & walls.

• Make up a scouring cleaner by 1/2 cup borax with 1/2 cup bicarb of soda & adding water until you have a paste.

• Toilets can be cleaned by mixing 2 parts borax with 1 part lemon juice. Sprinkle in toilet, leave for a few minutes to loosen dirt & then scrub.

• Remove urine odour from mattresses. First of all dampen the area, then rub in some borax. Once it has dried, vacuum off.

• Deter ants by sprinkling borax in ant infested areas. 

Please note; Borax is toxic to both humans & pets if swallowed, so care must be taken when using this product.

Eucalyptus oil:

This is an essential oil from the eucalyptus tree. It is an insect repellent, Uses include;

• Rub eucalyptus oil onto mirrors to prevent them fogging.

• Remove stickers & price tags from items by rubbing with eucalyptus oil.

• Keep woollens soft by mixing 4 cups of soap flakes, 1 cup of methylated spirits & 1 tablespoon of eucalyptus oil to a jar. Shake vigorously. Add 1 tablespoon per load.

Lemon juice:

More often associated with cooking than cleaning, lemon juice is acidic & has antibacterial properties, is a mild bleach, it also a great deodoriser & stain remover.  Uses include;

• Cut a lemon in half & wipe

• To clean & deodorise your sink, mix lemon juice with salt until it has the consistency of paste. Rub onto your kitchen sink. Rinse off.

• Clean copper pans by dipping a cut lemon into salt & rubbing onto the pan.

• Deter ants by pouring juice around areas they inhabit.

• Toilets can be cleaned by mixing 2 parts borax with 1 part lemon juice. Sprinkle in toilet, leave for a few minutes to loosen dirt & then scrub.

• Place half a lemon in your fridge to keep odours at bay.

• Remove the smell of fish, garlic or onion from your hands by rubbing with lemon.

• Make a cheap room deodoriser by mixing a few drops of lemon juice with water into a spray bottle.

• Brighten white clothes by pouring half a cup of lemon juice into your wash.

• To remove rust from clothing mix lemon juice with cream of tartar, apply, leave for 20 minutes & then wash as usual. Test for colourfastness first!

• Apply lemon juice to blemishes to make them dry up quicker.

• Clean windows with a mix of 4 tablespoons of lemon juice with 1 litre of water. Spray & wipe off with old newspaper.

• For brighter whites, mix 1 cup of lemon juice with half a bucket of water & soak clothes overnight.

Also see:

Cleaning a burnt pan, Cleaning a sink, Cleaning granite benchtops, Cleaning grout, Cleaning a microwave, Cleaning granite benchtops, Disinfecting kitchen sponges, Environmentally friendly cleaning, Removing candle wax, Removing grass stains, Removing mould & mildew from walls, Removing red wine stains, Removing water stains from wood, Window condensation