Most non-toxic natural cleaning products involve some combination of vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. Three super cheap items you probably have on hand. But do they work?
I put homemade cleaners to the test in two of the dirtiest areas of my home.
My kitchen sink gets orange stains
Spraying my sink with a diluted bleach solution leaves it perfectly white. The natural method involves scrubbing my sink with baking soda. I’m guessing it won’t work or will require 30 minutes of scrubbing. But after less than two minutes of scrubbing a few tablespoons of baking soda into my sink with with steel wool the orange stains washed away leaving a crisp, white sink!
Since I already use diluted bleach I’m not sure that baking soda is cheaper, but this way I don’t have to breathe in toxic fumes. I’ll definitely clean with baking soda in the future.
The black tile in my bathroom is perpetually covered in white drip marks
I was surprised that baking soda matched the power of bleach in my sink. But even the strongest, most toxic cleaners have been powerless to remove the white soap scum from my bathroom tile. Don’t ask me why my landlord chose black tile, a color that shows every trace of dirt.
I went to work with a damp sponge and plenty of baking soda, which seemed to take most of the white marks from the wall tiles. But you cannot tell until the tile fully dries.
Here are the before and after pictures!
If this is not enough to convert you to cheap, natural cleaners, I don’t know what will. I’m convinced!
More green cleaning ideas from Life Learning Today. Thanks, Shasta!
March 18th, 2009 at 9:58 am
http://www.essortment.com/all/bouncedryerssh_ruim.htm
that’s a link the many uses of “Bounce” dryer sheets, I know there are more. My teacher was telling me about the different things you can use them for, I found it quite interesting.
March 18th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I’ve long tried to use natural cleaning products in my house, both to save money and to avoid toxic fumes and waste. I also switched to earth-friendly liquid dishwashing products, and find that they work just fine in cleaning and degreasing dishes. I always have baking soda, white vinegar and lemons in the house, and only use diluted bleach when I’m in a hurry for cleaning out the toilet bowl. I also found a scrubbing pad which has a plastic “grid” wrapped around a soft center, and doesn’t scratch the way steel wool does, but works just fine.