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Many of the modern-day household cleaning products in the market today are toxic compounds that not only harm the environment, but also bring about all manner of health problems by aggravating diseases such as allergies, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma and many more. The US National Center for Health Statistics estimates that 1/3 of the American population suffers from the health conditions mentioned above; it’s therefore absolutely imperative that we find healthier alternatives for our home-cleaning compounds.
Luckily for us, our increased consciousness of how we interact with our environment and the highly popular Green Movement have led to the development of safer cleaning products that do not damage our environment or cause health complications. Let’s have a look at some safer non-toxic cleaning compounds:
Home Made Substitutes
Many people are unaware that there are a good number of natural products in the home that can be used as safer, cheaper and effective alternatives to commercial cleaning solutions. Here are a few:
- Baking Soda – this can be used to soften hard water and as a scouring agent.
- Soap – unscented soap that is in liquid form as well as other soap forms such as soap flakes, bars and powders can be used for practically any type of cleaning. They are easily biodegradable, unlike soaps made from petroleum distillates, which are non-biodegradable.
- Lemon – lemon juice is highly acidic and kills off most household bacteria.
- Borax – borax (sodium borate) is effective as a cleaning agent. It can be used for cleaning wallpaper, floors and painted walls. Borax can also be used to deodorize, disinfect and soften water.
- White Vinegar – vinegar cuts grease and is effective against mildew. It’s also effective in removing certain stains and gets rid of offensive odors as well.
- Washing Soda – washing soda can be used for cleaning walls, tiles, dirty sinks and tubs. Exercise caution when using washing soda since it’s known to irritate mucous membranes. Do not use it on aluminum products since it can corrode them.
- Isopropyl Alcohol – this is highly effective as a disinfectant.
- Cornstarch – use cornstarch to polish your furniture, shampoo your carpets and rugs and also clean windows.
- Citrus Solvent – this compound is effective for cleaning paint brushes, removing oil and grease and for removing certain types of stains.
Make your Own Formulas
You can combine two or more natural products in the home to create effective products that can be used for various used applications around the house. Here’s how to create your own home-based formulas:
- Air Freshener – commercial air fresheners work by masking bad odors and also by diminishing your sense of smell. You can make variety of home-made air fresheners as follows
- Vinegar or baking soda mixed with lemon juice can be placed in a small dish and will absorb odors around the house.
- Household plants are effective at absorbing malodors in the house.
- Place bowls of fragrant herbs in the room to freshen up the air.
- Removing Bathroom Molds – the bathroom tile grout is highly susceptible to molds. To remove these, mix two parts water with one part 3% hydrogen peroxide. The formula can be sprayed on moldy surfaces and will remove molds.
- Remove Carpet Stains – mix equal parts of water and white vinegar. The mixture can be sprayed on stained carpets and left to sit for about 15 minutes before using a brush and warm soapy water to clean the carpet.
- Remove Coffee/Tea Stains – to remove coffee or tea stains from your cups, apply vinegar to a sponge and wipe them.
First Coast Home Pros is a professional home-cleaning company operating in the Jacksonville, Florida area. We offer extensive and top-notch home cleaning services ranging from home cleaning, duct cleaning, deck re-staining, carpet cleaning, roof cleaning, pressure washing and other related services. Call us for your home-cleaning needs and get a free estimate.