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Loading...Nontoxic Housekeeping: 3 Versatile Natural Cleaners
- Jessica Kellner
- February 3, 2012
- 2:30 pm
- 84 comments
2. BAKING SODA
Deodorize. Baking soda is your No. 1 tool to absorb household odors: Pour a dusting of baking soda into each new garbage can lining; sprinkle baking soda on carpet odors, wait 10 minute, then vacuum. Or leave dishes of baking soda in strategize spots to absorb odors.
Whiten. Baking soda’s other most useful aspect is its ability to whiten. To bring back shine to porcelain sinks, cover the entire sink in a thin layer of baking soda and let sit for 10 minutes or more. Mix with a small amount of water to create a paste and scrub porcelain. To clean bathtubs, sprinkle the entire tub with baking soda, then with a layer of coarse salt, then scrub. The baking soda gives whitening power while the salt lends scrubbing power.
Polish silverware. Line a glass baking pan with aluminum foil, then add silverware. Sprinkle silverware with ˝ cup baking soda, then pour boiling water into the pan until the silverware is completely immersed. Soak for five minutes; rinse and dry silverware.
Remove scuff marks from the floor. Sprinkle the marks with baking soda and wipe clean with a warm, damp cloth.
Remove caked-on food from pots and pans. Sprinkle dirty dishes with baking soda, add water and let them soak for a few hours. The baking soda will loosen the caked-on food.
Remove dirt and grease from clothes. Add ˝ cup of baking soda to the wash cycle.
Kill mildew. Combine baking soda with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to create a paste; apply to bathroom grout, let stand for 30 minutes, then scrub.
Put out grease fires. Small fire in the kitchen? Douse it with a box of baking soda.
Read more: Green Kitchen Tips, Home, Household Hints, Non-Toxic Cleaning, Uncategorized
Jessica Kellner
Jessica Kellner is the editor of Natural Home & Garden magazine, a national sustainable home and lifestyle magazine. She is dedicated to helping readers create more sustainable, delightful homes that are in tune with the natural world. She is also the author of Housing Reclaimed: Sustainable Homes for Next to Nothing, published by New Society Publishers in autumn of 2011. Email her at jkellner@naturalhomeandgarden.com.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
people are talking
Awww, I got 9 out of 10 but still good :) I got Number 6 wrong :( :) .
thanks for sharing
tyvm...
My place has become so cluttered I feel overwhelmed looking at it. It really does drain one's energ…
Gorgeous
84 comments
+ add your ownI like to make citrus vinegar for cleaning because it has a more pleasant smell than straight vinegar. I add citrus peels to a quart jar of white vinegar and let it sit for a week or so. Then I add a cup of the citrus vinegar to a spray bottle and dilute with water. I use this to disinfect and clean a ton of stuff.
I made a copy of these to put on the refrigerator. Thanks.
I love posts that offer natural solutions to cleaning and freshening. Thank you.
I prefer using natural ingredients for cleaners.
thanks Jessica
Great ideas
Citric acid and baking soda will also unclog drains. Why did I buy that all purpose spray bottle of Mr. Clean? Sheesh....
vinegar with hot water also helps unclog sinks...and citrus juice can help prevent clogs (rinds work on sinks with garbage disposals if you choose to use it).
Thanks!
Cool!!
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