5 Must-Have Natural Cleansers

5 Must-Have Natural Cleansers & How to Use Them

1. Vinegar

White vinegar has a slightly acidic nature making it very effective at dissolving grease, soap scum and lime deposits from smooth surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom. And since it is so gentle, vinegar is also safe to use on hardwood floors.

FORMULA:

Mix 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vinegar with water in a bucket or spray bottle and use it to clean everything from windows and mirrors to toilets and floors. Use undiluted vinegar to tackle tougher cleaning jobs.

2. Baking Soda

Most people know that baking soda is a great deodorizer, but did you know it also acts as a green cleaning and brightening abrasive that rivals traditional powdered cleansers? Dust bathroom and kitchen hard surfaces with baking soda and rub into a paste with a wet cloth, then rinse and wipe dry with a clean cloth.

For stains or tough jobs like a neglected oven, allow the paste to set for several minutes before rinsing.
To boost the abrasive action for tougher cleaning jobs, add kosher salt to the paste.
A light sprinkle of baking soda on carpet will freshen fibers in the carpet and maintain air quality from your vacuum.

3. Lemon Juice

Cuts grease
Kills mold and mildew
Leaves a streak-free shine on hard surfaces of all kinds

Combine lemon juice with other pantry staples such as vinegar or olive oil to make cleaning products that work harder, and to leave a fresh, natural scent behind when the job is done.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide

The original “scrubbing bubbles”. The bubbling action of hydrogen peroxide does wonders in lifting stubborn gunk on surfaces, but try also using it for laundry!

It works to fizz away perspiration stains on white fabrics and ring-around-the-collar.

Keep a spray bottle filled with a peroxide and water mixture near the washing machine; spritz spots and rinse with clean water before starting a load. If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide in the house, or need to safely remove stains from colored fabrics, try club soda or diluted vinegar instead.

5. Olive Oil

Polishing with olive oil moisturizes wood and imparts a lovely shine; lemon juice cleans the surface and leaves behind a fresh scent that beats out aerosol wood dusting sprays in the green department.

FORMULA:

Blend 1 cup of olive oil and 1/2 cup of lemon juice in a spray bottle, mist onto a soft cloth and polish wood furniture the natural way.