Natural Cleaners: Clean Without the Chemicals
(Page 2 of 4)
July/August 2007
By Miriam Landman
Fortunately, nontoxic cleaning products are available, and many of these are just as effective as their conventional counterparts. You can either buy ready-made nontoxic cleaners at health-food stores, or mix your own combinations, using household staples.
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8 safe supplies to clean almost anything
Looking for a simple way to detox your arsenal of cleaning supplies? Pare down to the staples listed below. These safe, inexpensive solutions will do the trick for almost every household cleaning job.
1. White vinegar
2. Lemon juice
3. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
4. Mild liquid soap (castile, olive oil soap)
5. Borax (sodium borate)
6. Washing soda (aka soda ash, sodium carbonate)
7. Dry salt
8. Sodium percarbonate and hydrogen peroxide (alternatives to chlorine bleach)
Here are some basic tips to get you started:
■ Baking soda cleans and deodorizes kitchen and bathroom surfaces. To make a general-purpose cleaner, dissolve 4 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. To replace abrasive cleansers, sprinkle baking soda directly on a damp cloth or sponge, and scrub. Add some dry salt for an extra burst of power.
■ For removing mildew or stains, scrub the dirty surface with borax or baking soda.
■ Naturally acidic substances such as vinegar and lemon juice remove mineral deposits and wax or grease buildup. To clean glass or stainless steel, dilute them in water (use equal parts white vinegar and warm water).
■ To clear clogged drains, pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain, followed by 3 cups boiling water. (Mixing baking soda and vinegar creates a bubbling, fizzing chemical reaction.) Don’t use this mixture in conjunction with a toxic drain cleaner.
■ Washing soda is good for tough jobs, such as cleaning greasy ovens and grills. Its alkalinity makes it caustic, so wear gloves when using it. Look for Arm & Hammer’s Super Washing Soda in stores’ cleaning aisles.
Suggestions from Annie B. Bond, author of Home Enlightenment (Rodale, 2005) and Kimberly Rider, author of Healthy Home Workbook (Chronicle, 2006).
Know your labels: toxins to avoid
Unless a manufacturer’s specific claims have been certified by a third-party group such as Scientific Certification Systems (www.SCSCertified.com), there’s no way to be sure the claims are factual. Sometimes you can more accurately assess a product’s safety by reading through its ingredients list. Watch out for these toxins as you shop.