Cleaning the house may be one of the least desirable or exciting things on our to-do lists, but it is necessary, and it does provide a lot of health benefits to the individual residing in your home.
Whenever you clean your home, you reduce the chances of allergies and by removing dust and other nearly invisible allergens on concrete surfaces around the house. Simple cleaning methods like sweeping the floor, vacuuming, and wiping surfaces with a wet cloth can eliminate allergens that can cause asthma, skin irritations, and other kinds of allergies.
This applies most, especially if you have pets at home. The next benefit is disinfection. In the time of COVID-19, we cannot leave anything to chance anymore.
We have to keep our homes clean and as free as possible from bacteria, viruses, and other human pathogens that can harm our loved ones. The third benefit is it reduces mold. Molds not only pose a threat to the integrity of the home, but it also represents an endless health risk – especially the black frame. Some people even develop flu-like symptoms in response to exposure to mold spores.
Using natural cleaning ingredients can help reduce the chances of further allergies in people who are sensitive to detergent, bleach, ammonia, and other common household cleaners. We’re not saying that today’s roundup of cleaning agents is perfect, but they do the job well enough, and the chances of triggering someone’s asthma with these natural cleaning ingredients are pretty low.
Natural Cleaning Ingredients for Your Home
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White vinegar
White vinegar is one of the oldest natural cleaners and disinfectants around, even preceding the mass manufacture of bleach and chlorine. It is a mild acid that is produced from the fermentation of sugarcane and other raw materials like apples.
To people who can’t use or don’t want to use commercial cleaners, white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar, if there is no white vinegar available) is a heaven-send because it is genuinely a fantastic multipurpose cleaner. White vinegar can be used for a variety of cleaning tasks, including:
- Disinfecting cooking ware and kitchenware
- Removing stains on clothes and just about any physical surface
- Cleaning material surfaces (i.e., removing grime and dirt)
- Disinfecting surfaces (i.e., killing bacteria and viruses)
- Loosening adhesives from wallpaper and stickers stuck on walls
It has so many uses because of its natural acidity that it is a favorite of many generations before ours because it only works. In addition to helping remove dirt, grime, and bacteria when used as a multipurpose cleaner, white vinegar is also known as an excellent odor eliminator.
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Liquid castile soap
Castile soap is a type of soap that is derived from purely vegetable-based oils. It is also manufactured with no harsh ingredients and chemicals, making it ideal for people who tend to develop sharp reactions to commercial detergent and other cleaners. Castile soap is also naturally biodegradable, so it is less stressful for the environment to decompose once it is used and released onto waterways.
Castile soap used to be exclusively manufactured in the Mediterranean regions before the rest of Europe noticed how effective it was. Its name was derived from an area in Spain called Castile. Traditionally, castile soap is made of pure olive oil, which makes it a fantastic beauty product by today’s standards.
Liquid castile soap has been shown to have natural antibacterial properties, so you won’t have to worry when using it as a household cleaner.
Furthermore, it is a natural deodorizer that can be used on both the body and on other physical surfaces. While it might not be as potent as synthetic cleansers with artificial fragrances, it will still improve the odor of a space that has been cleaned with it.
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Salt/sea salt/rock salt
Like vinegar, salt is one of the oldest cleansers around that works incredibly on stains, grime, dirt, and other unsavory things that accumulate in homes. Use salt to contain a spill, so it doesn’t permeate the fibers of textiles too much.
It will absorb the moisture immediately, drawing away particles of the spill away from the affected surface.
Salt can also be combined with weak acids like apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, lime juice, or freshly squeezed lemon juice so you can create an active cleaning agent that can be used to clean just about anything in your home.
Use table salt or sea salt for cleaning heavy-bottomed, cast iron skillets that have seen better days. Squeeze half a lemon and pour some salt onto the iron skillet and scrub away all the hardened grime. When the accumulated carbon flakes and dirt are gone, feel free to season your skillet so it will be good as new again.
Salt can also be used to clean the bottoms of vases where mold and grime have accumulated. These spots can be notoriously hard to clean, but a little salt and water can do wonders even for old ornaments that have seen better days. Feel free to wipe down the outside of the vases too. They’ll be sparkling in no time!
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Baking soda
Who doesn’t clean with baking soda? It has the same strength as potent white vinegar, and it also has the cleaning power of salt. Baking soda also has the most diverse number of applications, from removing stains to deodorizing refrigerators.
You can use baking soda to cleanse your entire kitchen, from the kitchen sink down to the grimy tiles. It can be combined with weak acids as well as lemon juice for extra cleaning power.
A baking soda solution can also be used for disinfecting and cleaning fresh produce like fruits and vegetables. And if you are struggling to clean older pots and pans, soaking hardened food and other contaminants in baking soda paste can remedy your problems. And did you know that you can also use baking soda in your living room? Sprinkle a bit of baking soda on your furniture, and the baking soda will act as a natural deodorizer and moisture absorber. Perfect!
