Chemical-free cleaning, like Nana used to!

June 12th, 2012

Appliance Questions Appliance Talk Environment, Energy & Water Saving

Three natural and affordable ingredients will keep the house sparkling clean.

Before the days of heavy duty vacuum cleaners and turbo charged chemical cleaners the house was just as spick and span as it is today, says my 93 year old Nana. She would know too, having pretty much witnessed the birth of every modern day appliance and cleaner.

Without vacuums a bit of extra elbow grease with a brush and shovel did the job and in place of harsh chemicals, nature’s cleaning agents kept surfaces spotless and hygienic. Vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda: all readily available, cheap and efficient household cleaners.

Vinegar

As a disinfectant and deodoriser, vinegar is the holy grail of multipurpose cleaners for the whole house. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and you’re good to go. Some people prefer to use a little less vinegar and clean more often. The smell usually isn’t a problem either, as it will dissapate quickly as soon as it dries.

Use vinegar from the kitchen to the bathroom and even the laundry to clean the washing machine. It may also replace fabric softener, just half a cup in place of softener will do.

Diluted vinegar will also work a treat mopping floors and undiluted vinegar will do a good job in the toilet.

Vinegar is acidic so if you’re unsure about using it on some surfaces it’s best to do a test patch first. Marble and vinegar don’t go together very well.

Lemon juice

Another of nature’s great cleaning agents, lemon juice is brilliant at dissolving hard water and soap scum deposits. It is also a natural bleach, which can be a bonus for scrubbing out stains from white surfaces. Try sprinkling some baking soda on a half cut lemon for serious scrubbing action on tough stains, or pots and pans.

Baking soda

Use baking soda as a replacement to non-abrasive cleaners. It works well for scrubbing pots and pans as well as hard, stuck-on muck in ovens and microwaves. Adding a little baking soda to the washing machine or dishwasher will remove grime and dirt build up as well as freshening up the appliances.

And say bye bye to bad smells: baking soda is nature’s best deodoriser.

Pop a box in the fridge, the cupboard, or throw some in the rubbish bin and down the drain to remove bad odours from the kitchen.