Our homes are our safe haven, a place to relax with our families. We all like to ensure our homes are clean so that we don’t suffer from health issues. However, were you aware that many cleaning products are toxic? Toxins can build up within our homes from many sources such as mould, mildew, cleaning products dust and even our carpets and furniture can emit toxins in the form of formaldehyde used in the production and preservation process. So the question is: Do DIY household cleaners really work?
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Another form of toxins within the home can be sourced back to the use of weedkillers in the garden which is inadvertently brought into the home on shoes and clothing. Toxins within the home have been linked to respiratory problems and even cancer.
In addition to toxins, mold can become a serious issue in some homes and it is often due to poor ventilation. The chemical used in many mold treatments are quite strong and toxic so it’s worth calling in the experts in order to tackle the problem effectively and safely. The professionals will provide an expert service in order to ensure that the air you breathe within your home is clean and fresh.
Thankfully you can take action in order to lower the toxins. This article will focus on some of the natural ingredients, commonly found in your kitchen cupboard that make excellent household cleaners!
Lemon juice
Lemon juice is a natural bleach and is also excellent as an antibacterial cleaner due to its acidic properties. Use lemon in your whites wash for bright clothes, that smell amazing! Lemon juice diluted in a little water makes an excellent countertop spray for your kitchen.
Baking soda
Baking soda has multiple uses as a household cleaner. It makes an excellent deodorizer and has disinfectant qualities. It is also excellent for softening hard water.
If you add vinegar to baking soda you will be able to unblock drains, just repeat the process as necessary. Pet smells and cooking smells can be eliminated from carpets and rugs by sprinkling them with baking soda. A quick vacuum and they will smell as new!
As baking soda is in a powder form you can use it as an effective scouring agent. Grease and oils are easily dispersed, so great for using to clean ovens and frying pans.
Vinegar
White vinegar cleans just as effectively as any shop bought household cleaner. It works in a similar way to lemon in that it’s acidic qualities make it a great antifungal and antibacterial cleaner. You can use vinegar to clean all areas of the house, it is great at removing limescale from toilets and sinks.
Although vinegar has a strong odor, this disappears once the cleaner is dry. You could add essential oils, herbs and lemon juice to disguise the smell.
There are many recipes online with information on how you can make your own household cleaners. If you don’t like the idea of making your own, source eco-friendly options from the supermarket.
Making the switch to “cleaner” household cleaners will help your health as well as your finances!
She has a B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education/English and a Spanish Minor. In addition, she holds a Certificate in Natural Health from a fully-accredited program and is a Certified Herbologist. She pursued these natural wellness certifications due to her love for herb gardening.
Despite freelancing to make a living, her love is "all things home."
Deborah grew up in a family that grew a large vegetable garden and a fruit orchard, helping her parents pull weeds and can home-grown foods as part of her childhood. In fact, she had no idea that she could purchase veggies and fruits in pre-packed steel cans until she went to college and made a food run.
Today, she lives in Bertie County, North Carolina, an agricultural rural area with more chickens than people. She lives with her husband and two rescue pets a sweet toy fox terrier and a cat who showed up one day and moved into the house. Together, they enjoy DIY projects, furniture refinishing, gardening, and canning.
