Toxic compounds that are known carcinogens are present in cleaning products used on furniture, carpets, and appliances. To keep your home safe and clean, try these alternative cleaning methods.
Reader’s Digest Editors
Dishwasher rust removal: Make some Kool-Aid.
Mineral buildup can cause rusting of the dishwasher inside. Run a hot cycle with a package of lemonade Kool-Aid in the soap dispenser. Your dishwasher will shine like new!
To remove stains from clothing and carpets, use club soda.
Club soda is one of the most often used natural cleaning agents. Douse the stain with club soda instead of a chemical stain remover. If you dropped something on the carpet, gently clean the stain with a cloth.
Remove stains from marble: Use lemon juice and salt
Combine lemon juice and salt into a paste and scrub the stain. Just make sure you don’t scrub too hard, and rinse well when the stain is gone.
Clean your microwave: Heat up lemon juice
Some foods should never, ever go in the microwave. Luckily, lemon juice isn’t one of them. Combine 2 cups of water with ¼ cup of lemon juice in a microwave-safe glass dish. Then, cook on high for eight minutes. The steam from the solution will loosen crusty food particles on the interiors, making it easier to wipe off.
Polish silver: Try cornstarch
You can gently polish your silver without harsh chemicals by mixing cornstarch with water into a thick paste. Cover your silver in the mixture and let it try. Then, buff off the solution with a cloth to reveal a brilliant shine.
Clear glass windows: Spray with vinegar
Mix together equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz glass surfaces. Then, polish with a soft cloth. This solution works just as well—and is much cheaper—than anything you can buy at the store.
Clean copper and brass: Try this vinegar mixture
Vinegar is the magic solution to every cleaning problem; it has over 100 uses for cleaning your house alone! Mix together 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of regular iodized table salt. Rub the paste onto uncoated copper and brass and let it dry. Then, buff off with a lint-free cloth.
Take sap off of auto paint: Use mayonnaise
Don’t scrub with anything abrasive. Instead, rub a dab of mayonnaise onto each spot and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then with a soft rag, remove the mayo and sap. Wash your car as usual and it should be good as new.
Polish wood surfaces: Use olive oil
Most chemical polishes are mostly silicone, which can dull over time. Instead, wipe a bit of pure olive oil all over with a clean cloth and buff for a polished, environmentally-friendly surface. Read these 10 cleaning myths, including the wood polishing mistake that wastes your time.
Clean a sticky stovetop: Sprinkle with salt
Whether there’s an overflow at the bottom of your oven or on your stovetop, sprinkle a thick layer of salt while it’s still liquid (or dampen with water if it’s heavily stuck on). When the area cools, just wipe away with a sponge.
Get rid of roaches: Use sugar and baking soda
Another great combination for making natural cleaning products is baking soda and sugar. If you have children or pets, you might not want to use toxic products to kill pests. Instead, mix together equal parts sugar and baking soda and sprinkle in corners and behind cabinets. The roaches will be attracted to the sugar but die upon eating the baking soda. Baking soda isn’t just for cleaning though.
Remove water rings from wood surfaces: Rub on baking soda
If someone forgot to use a coaster, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a teaspoon of water. Then, rub in a circular motion until the stain is removed. Baking soda got its cleaning reputation for a reason.
Clean your carpet or rug: Start with baby powder
No need for a harsh carpet cleaner in an area where kids or pets might play. First, take the odor out by dusting baby powder over the surface with a flour sifter and leaving it overnight. Vacuum away the powder in the morning. Then, dip a clean broom into a mixture of 1 gallon of warm water and 1 cup of white vinegar. Brush it onto the rug and let it dry.
Polish your shoes by buffing them with baby oil.
Simply apply a few drops of baby oil to leather surfaces (shoes, purses, and even coats) and polish with a soft cloth. Make sure to clean off any excess oil.
Take stains off tile and tubs: Use cream of tartar
This is one of the best natural cleaning products for stains. Put a few tablespoons of cream of tartar and add hydrogen peroxide (a great non-toxic cleaning agent) drop by drop until the mixture turns into a thick paste. Spread onto the stain and let dry.
