Think back to the cleaning materials that your mum used and they were very limited. Vim for sinks, Tide for washing clothes and Dettol for cleaning and disinfecting. They didn’t vary very much and there tended to be just one product to suit each task. Forget 100s of sink cleaners or washing powders – you just would not find them on the shop shelves.
Nowadays we are overwhelmed with cleaning products with manufacturers spending thousands of pounds on marketing to get us to buy more and more. Very often we forget about the harsh chemicals that are actually included in the bottles and sprays. But if we stop and think, do we really need these products, full of chemicals and toxins? Research has shown that cleaning products in the home can cause pollution indoors as well as health problems.
Now is the time to think about our health and that of the planet and turn back to using more natural products to keep our homes clean. Here are just a few to get you started:
- Freshen up your dishwasher - all dishwashers can get grubby, smelling less than fresh. To counteract this, put a cup or bowl of 250ml white vinegar in the top rack and run on the hottest cycle. Don’t put any dirty crockery or cutlery in it, keep it empty. It’s a good idea to clear out any debris from around the filter and door seals before doing this.
- Eradicate dirty drains – by looking after your drains on a regular basis, you can avoid large blockages and plumbing call-out fees. Tip 100g of sodium bicarbonate down the drain followed by 125ml white vinegar. They should begin to froth up. Leave for 2-3 hrs and then boil the kettle and tip the boiling water down the drain to clear out the formula.
- Make stainless steel sparkle – is your sink stainless steel? Then sodium bicarbonate used as a powder will remove stains and make it shine. After you have finished scrubbing with a sponge, wipe over with white vinegar, rinse and then rub lemon over for a great fresh aroma.
- Eradicate dirty windows – find a spray bottle and fill with 500ml water and 125ml white vinegar. Add two drops of liquid soap. Mix and spray onto your windows, rubbing off with a soft dry cloth. Indoors, you can add scented oil to the bottle to make the whole area smell good.
- Freshen the microwave – put a sliced lemon and the juice into a bowl with 125ml water. Put into the microwave and heat on high for between 3 and 5 minutes. Now let it stand for 5-10 minutes. The steam produced should act as a cleanser. Remove the hot bowl carefully and wipe the inside of the microwave with a cloth to remove any food grime.
- Clean that shower head – limescale on a showerhead causes blockages. Simply tie an airtight bag over the head and fill with white vinegar so that the spray holes are covered. Leave overnight and rinse. Your shower should now be working at full blast!
Get used to cleaning your home in this way and not only will you save money but your home will be safer. You will also be doing your bit to care for and protect the planet.
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