Best Natural Cleaning Products

While there seems to be no end to the number of cleaning products available at local stores and online, many of these products are made with ingredients that can harm people and pets.

They can pollute your indoor air, causing minor to distressing respiratory symptoms. Some of them cause skin and eye irritation, nausea, headaches, dizziness and more.

The good news is that these chemicals are unnecessary for enjoying the benefits of a clean home. In fact, some of the best cleaning products are safe and natural.

Why Choose Natural Cleaning Products?

Natural cleaning products are effective at removing stains and odors. They can cut through grease and disinfect your home. They can even tackle soap scum, mildew and streaked windows.

More than that, they are non-toxic, and they won’t pollute the air or environment. Compared to store-bought cleaners, natural cleaning products are far more cost-effective, too.

The Benefits of Using Eco-Friendly and Non-Toxic Cleaners

While you and your family need to live in a clean, sanitary space, you also need your home to be a healthy environment that is free of chemicals.

Natural cleaning products are effective and are safer to use in your home. You may discover that natural cleaners are easier to clean with than the toxic chemical-based cleaners that you have been using.

In addition, you don’t need to make complicated recipes. In fact, some natural cleaners only need to be diluted. Others may only need to be combined with an ingredient or two and can be made in a few minutes.

Top Natural Cleaning Ingredients to Look For

The top natural cleaning ingredients are common household items that you may already have in your pantry. If not, they are cheap and easily accessible at your local store.

Baking Soda: the All-Purpose Cleaner

Baking soda has numerous properties that make it a solid all-purpose cleaning option.

For example, it absorbs and neutralizes odors. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that makes it well-suited for cleaning grout, tackling tough stains and removing mold. It can even dissolve grease and dirt, boost detergent, unclog drains, and whiten and brighten surfaces.

White Vinegar: Nature’s Disinfectant

White vinegar is effective at eradicating some of the most common germs in your home. For example, it can kill Salmonella and E. coli. While its acidic properties can damage natural stone and a few other surfaces.

Vinegar is effective at removing hard water stains, cleaning trash cans, disinfecting garbage disposals and drains, cleaning windows and high-touch areas, degreasing appliances, cleaning the washing machine, softening laundry, and more.

Lemon Juice: Natural Degreaser and Freshener

Like white vinegar, lemon juice is naturally acidic. While it is less acidic than vinegar, it smells much better to many people. Often, it is combined with white vinegar to boost cleaning power and improve the smell. It can be used to clean all of the same surfaces as white vinegar.

Essential Oils: Adding Antibacterial and Aromatic Benefits

Select essential oils have antibacterial properties. These essential oils contain compounds like phenols and aldehydes that target bacteria and harmful microbes. Aldehydes, for example, can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Some of the top essential oils to clean with are tea tree oil, lemongrass oil and eucalyptus oil. Often, these oils are also added to white vinegar cleaning recipes to improve the scent.

Castile Soap: a Gentle, Versatile Cleanser

Castile soap is a natural soap that is made from lye, water and olive oil, and it can be used to clean areas throughout your home. Some of the areas that it can be used on include toilets, tubs, tile, countertops, carpeting, cooktops, woodwork and more.

DIY Natural Cleaning Solutions

To get the most out of your natural cleaning products, use these natural cleaning solution recipes.

Natural Glass Cleaner Recipe

Combine 3 tablespoons of vinegar with a quart of water in a spray bottle. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to improve the scent and deliver extra cleaning power. Shake well. To prevent streaks and lint residue, clean glass with the spray and a microfiber cloth.

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe

Combine 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 cups distilled or boiled water, 1 teaspoon of castile soap and a few drops of essential oil, if desired. Pour the solution in a spray bottle and shake well.

DIY Bathroom Scrub Recipe

Combine ¼ cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar in a bowl and mix well. Use this solution along with a clean sponge or cloth to tackle the shower and tub. You can pour the solution in the toilet and use with your normal toilet scrubber.

To clean grout and remove soap scum, make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the surfaces and wait for several minutes. Then, dip a clean scrub brush in white vinegar, and scrub the pasty surfaces.

Simple Carpet Freshener Using Essential Oils

To clean and freshen dingy carpet, sprinkle a moderate layer of baking soda over the entire carpet. After 15 minutes, vacuum the floor.

Then, combine 2 cups of water with ¼ cup of vinegar in a spray bottle. Add 10 to 20 drops of your favorite essential oil scent and shake the bottle thoroughly. Then, lightly mist the carpet.

Tips for Properly Storing and Using Natural Cleaners

• Store natural cleaning products in a dry, cool space. Avoid storing them in direct sunlight.
• Label your cleaners with the ingredients and date.
• Don’t combine baking soda and vinegar in an enclosed container.
• Don’t add bleach to your homemade cleaning products.
• Place your containers on a shelf at eye level or lower.

FAQs

What Is the Best Natural Disinfectant?

White vinegar is the best natural disinfectant. It contains acetic acid, which can kill Salmonella, E. coli and other germs. However, because it does not kill 99.9% of germs, it is not classified by the FDA as a disinfectant.

How to Start a Cleaning Routine That Supports a Sustainable Lifestyle

As you move toward a more sustainable lifestyle, adopting the use of natural cleaning products is a great start.

First, invest in several spray bottles. This allows you to store your homemade cleaners and get the most out of each batch. Before cleaning any surface, carefully research which products are safe to use on it, and test a small area to ensure that the product won’t cause damage. This can take time as you clean your home with homemade cleaners for the first time.

However, after learning which products to use and how to use them, you can sail through your chores.

What Are Common Myths About Natural Cleaners?

Many people assume that natural cleaners are less effective simply because they do not contain harmful chemicals. However, natural cleaners are just as effective, and they are a superior option because they are not toxic.

In addition, bleach is commonly believed to be the best cleaner. However, it can cause health issues and can damage many surfaces. Natural cleaning products are effective and are safer to use on many surfaces that you cannot use bleach on.

At Cleanzen, we do more than clean homes. We deliver a healthy living space to our valued customers in the Boston area. To schedule green eco friendly cleaning service for your home, contact us today.