Cleaning products can be severe, abrasive, and potentially dangerous to you and the environment. Because some of them contain harsh chemicals, they can cause allergies, irritations, and rashes – not to mention what they could do to the air, water and soil around you. Homemade, all-natural cleaning products can offer a safer, cheaper alternative to these commercial cleaners. Here are some everyday household items that can easily double as effective cleaners.

White Vinegar: The acid in white vinegar disinfects and removes calcium deposits, as well as grease, stains, mildew and wax build-up. Use it on coffee pots, glass, paintbrushes, windows, fireplaces, grout, and countertops.

Pure Soap: Pure soaps don’t contain any synthetic colours, scents, or additives. It’s great for everything from dishes to cars, but only effective for light cleaning. Pick some up at health and natural product stores.

Lemon Juice: Like vinegar, the acid in lemon juice cuts grease. Add it to water and pure soap when washing dishes, or on porcelain and aluminum.

Salt: Salt can be used as a basic scrub on smaller jobs, like removing tea stains or cleaning the coffee pot. To clean coffee pots, fill the pot with ice cubes, pour in some salt, and swirl the mixture.

Baking Soda: Baking soda, besides being used for baking, is also commonly used to deodorize refrigerators and freezers. But it can also clean, scour, polish, remove stains, and soften fabrics – it’s a gentler alternative to salt. Use it on plastic, vinyl, carpeting, upholstery, silver and stainless steel, and drains.

Borax: Use borax with detergent to remove stains and deodorize. Great for wallpaper, painted walls, and floors.

Washing Soda: Washing soda can be used to clean clothing and soften water. It is moderately toxic, so apply caution when using. It is recommended that you wear gloves and use in a well-ventilated room to avoid irritation.

Ammonia: Ammonia can also irritate skin and mucous membranes, and becomes toxic when mixed with bleach. Use it on carpets, linoleum, copper, enamel, and most appliances. Practice caution when using ammonia by wearing gloves in a well-ventilated room.

Some Things to Keep In Mind: Bleach, when mixed with other substances, can become harmful and poisonous. Never mix bleach with any homemade cleaning product, and never get any mixture near the eyes, mouth, or any open wounds. Do not mix homemade products in commercial containers, as there may be some chemical residue left. And although these products are natural, do not use food containers.

Recipies:

All Purpose Cleaner #1
125 mL ammonia 1/2 cup
75 mL washing soda 1/3 cup
4 L warm water 16 cups

All Purpose Cleaner #2
50 mL baking soda 1/4 cup
250 mL ammonia 1 cup
125 mL white vinegar 1/2 cup
4 L warm water 16 cups

Heavy Duty Polish for Floors and Furniture
15 mL carnauba wax 1 tbsp
500 mL mineral oil 2 cups
Heat in a double boiler, cool, then apply with a soft rag. Carnauba wax can be bought at auto-supply stores or hobby shops.

Furniture Polish #1 (Varnished, Lacquered, Shellacked)
25 mL olive oil 2 tbsp
15 mL white vinegar 1 tbsp
1 L warm water 4 cups
Mix ingredients and put into a spray bottle. The polish works best when warm; heat by letting the bottle sit in a pan of hot water. After applying, rub dry with a cloth.

Furniture Polish #2 (Non-Protective Hard Coating)
15 mL lemon oil 1 tbsp
1 L mineral oil 4 cups
Put in spray bottle. Spray on, rub in, then wipe clean.

Dish Detergent
500 mL grated hard bar soap or soap flakes 2 cups
4 L water 16 cups
Rub salad oil on grater before grating bar soap; it will be easier to clean. Place soap in a pot, add water and stir. Heat over medium heat until the mixture boils, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in tightly covered container. (Not for use in automatic dishwashers.) A homemade substitute for automatic dishwasher detergent can be made using equal parts borax and washing soda; increase the amount of soda if water is hard.

Fabric Softener
Adding 50 mL (3 tbsp) baking soda to the wash cycle, or 50 mL (3 tbsp) vinegar to the rinse cycle, will soften your laundry just as well as the costly commercial liquids. Soak lightweight cloth in diluted laundry softener and place in dryer with wet clothes. The cloth can be used over and over; softener is also conserved.

Drain Cleaner – Non-Caustic
250 mL baking soda 1 cup
250 mL salt 1 cup
125 mL white vinegar 1/2 cup
1 kettle boiling water 1
Pour baking soda, salt and vinegar down drain and leave for 15 minutes. Pour on boiling water. To keep your drains clear pour about 50 mL (3 tbsp) salt down the drain, followed by a kettle of water, once or twice a week. Instead of the salt, you could use 50 mL (3 tbsp) washing soda, or 50 mL (3 tbsp) baking soda plus 50 mL (3 tbsp) vinegar.

Laundry Powder
250 mL pure soap flakes or powder 1 cup
25 - 50 mL washing soda 2 - 3 tbsp

Oven Cleaner
250 mL ammonia 1 cup
750 mL boiling water 3 cups
Ammonia fumes are dangerous – although not as toxic as the gases given off by aerosol oven cleaners. The kitchen doors and windows should be open while you’re using ammonia. Warm the oven to 100°C (210°F). Place boiling water in the broiler pan on the bottom shelf. Put the ammonia in a small dish on the top shelf. Shut the oven door and leave overnight. Before you open the oven again open all doors and windows, and leave the room while the vapors clear. Wash the oven with baking soda and water.

Rug and Upholstery Cleaner
Greasy soil and odours can be removed from carpets by sprinkling then generously with a mixture of two parts cornmeal and one part borax. Leave for an hour, then vacuum thoroughly. For spills, sponge the rug promptly with a mixture of vinegar and water. Then sponge with clean water, and pat dry.

For more natural cleaning tips, visit Environment Canada.

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