For most people, keeping a clean house not only guards your health but also promotes a more cheerful and upbeat disposition. However, the process of cleaning often involves using store-bought chemicals that can be highly toxic.
Certain commercial solutions will irritate your airways if you have respiratory issues, as you unwittingly breathe in the volatile fumes. While the use of toxic chemicals cannot be fully eliminated, you can use natural, non-toxic alternatives in certain situations. In fact, you can even make your own cleaning solutions using household ingredients.
This alternative is not only easier on your skin and lungs, but it also involves dirt-cheap ingredients that you probably already have lying around.
As a disclaimer, whatever you do, never mix bleach and ammonia. The resulting gas is extremely harmful to the human body, regardless of your health status.
This article will show chemistry has a place outside the lab as we explore some nifty DIY cleaning solutions.
1. Lemon-scented vinegar cleaner
You will need some lemon rind, white vinegar, rosemary springs, and distilled water for this mixture. The ingredients should be mixed then left in a container for about seven days. After, it can be poured into a spray bottle for easy use.
This cleaner is effective against mineral deposit stains left by water; it can remove smears from certain walls; it can freshen your kitchen counters, and rinse your trash receptacle.
It is well-knows that vinegar has excellent cleaning power, but the lemon rind can also boost the solution’s effectiveness. It wasn’t included just for the sake of its refreshing smell.
Disclaimer: The lemon’s leftover citric acid can affect granite surfaces, so avoid using this cleaner on such surfaces.
2. DIY marble cleaning solution
For this cleaner, you will need only two ingredients: distilled water and dishwashing soap. Be sure to use a milder variety of soap.
Mix the two while being careful not to add too much dishwashing liquid, letting it to amalgamate for about 2-3 minutes. Then, using a soft sponge, wash the marble or granite surface. As previously mentioned, do not use lemon or any other type of citrus-based cleaner as it will erode the surface.
3. Stain removal solution
This solution is designed to remove persistent stains out of white clothing. It consists of 3 main ingredients: bleach, powder dishwasher detergent, and some hot water. The quantities may vary depending on how much you wish to produce, yet for a standard batch, you can use a cup of bleach and detergent for every gallon of water.
It is important to remember that it should not be mixed inside an aluminum container. You can use plastic, enamel, or stainless steel.
After the mixture is ready, leave the clothes to soak for about twenty minutes. For every more persistent stain, prolong the soak period for another 10-15 minutes.
4. Grease and grime cleaner
Ah yes, the nemesis of any homeowner: grime. As layers of grease pile on top of each other, they are repeatedly heated and left to set, a very persistent, sticky, and nasty layer of grime forms. It usually clings to stove hoods, stove grills, oven racks, and other surfaces that contact food.
The solution is easy to prepare: you should include a cup of sudsy ammonia for every gallon of lukewarm water. If you do not see results, add a little more ammonia.
Once it is prepared, dip a sponge in the solution and start washing the troubled areas. After, simply rinse the area with water.
Conclusion
As you can see, many of these solutions are very easy to make, and they do work. You do not have to worry about a high price tag or exposure to volatile and irritant chemicals. Try them out for yourself, and you’ll never look back.
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