Anyone who knows me, knows that I love bleach. To me the smell means clean. I have notoriously overused it for many years to make not just my whites whiter, but my counters stain free and my sink sparkle. I must say that I think it is time to say goodbye to my old friend-or at least mostly. Chlorine is bad for the environment. It leeches into the ground water and affects our already chlorinated drinking water. But not to worry, there are alternatives!
My mom was raised during the depression and fancy cleaners simply were too big a luxury. She taught me a thing or two about cleaning without the fancy stuff. Growing up, we had one or two cleaners for just about everything-and my mom’s house has always sparkled!
The biggest weapon in your new natural arsenal against grime is plain old white vinegar. It is cheap as chips and can be used to clean nearly everything. It cuts grime when cleaning windows, counter tops, even sinks. Mix about 1/2 to 3/4 cup with a gallon of water and use liberally without fear. You can add springs of herbs to your vinegar. Let sit for a few weeks before mixing with water and it will add a dash of summer garden to the smell of your house. I have been told that lemon juice works equally as well, and smells better, but to be honest I have never tried. Try mixing a few tablespoons of vinegar with a few teaspoons of salt. This mix is great for stainless steel and copper clad cookware. I have even heard that a half cup in the rinse cycle makes a great natural fabric softener. If you have lime scale build up, use towels soaked in vinegar overnight on surfaces, or a small plastic bag full tied over the shower head. Just remember it is an acid, so avoid the eyes and sensitive skin.
The second natural item is baking soda. It is a great scrubbing cleanser. I have used it to scrub the sink without scratching. It kills odors as well, so when you wash it down the drain it takes care of odors in your pipes. Remember making a volcano in school using vinegar and baking soda? That is the perfect cleaner for slow moving pipes. Dump half a box down the drain and add a cup of vinegar. It won;t break down hair, but it won’t eat away at your pipes either. Spray undiluted vinegar in the toilet bowl and sprinkle with baking soda. Let it sit for 5 minutes or so, and clean with a brush. Sparkly clean and safer than lye. Rather than using harmful chemicals to clean your oven, line the bottom with foil. Better yet a large sheet pan than be removed and cleaned. Nearly all your household pots and pans can be easily cleaned by soaking overnight with a little dish soap and boiling hot water. If you do spill inside the oven, use table salt to soak up the spill and clean up with a wet rag as soon as it cools.
If you must use a store bought cleaner, try using the most naturla products that you can find. Method is a great brand. Try using any brand that has been around for 100 years. Simple ingredients always seem to work just fine!
