Everyday chemicals in your home can be harmful to health and also cause damage to the ozone layer. There are many ways to clean your house without using dangerous chemicals. Here are tips on how to clean your house without harming the environment.
Use an eco-friendly multi-surface cleaner
This is a great option. This can be used on almost every surface in the house including doors, walls, tiles and even windows without damaging the finish of the surfaces, so buy eco-friendly multi surface cleaner as it is a great way to clean your house. Multi-surface cleaners are also much cheaper than regular all-purpose cleaners.
Many brands offer their own version providing you with many choices to suit various surfaces in your home.
Use baking soda for hard water stains
Baking soda can be used to remove hard water stains from your sink or bathtub easily. Simply apply some baking soda onto the stained area and leave it there for about an hour before scrubbing it off with a brush or sponge then rinsing thoroughly.
This works well if you do not like to spend money on harmful chemicals that do not work.
Use white vinegar for kitchen and bathroom sinks
White vinegar can be used as a cleaner for kitchen and bathroom sinks without causing harm to the environment. This is great because it will remove stains and grease from your sink, and it has a fresh smell too. You can also use white vinegar with lemon juice to clean your microwave oven easily. Just mix equal parts of both ingredients together in a bowl. Apply this mixture onto the inside of your microwave, then leave for about fifteen minutes before wiping off with a towel or sponge.
To prevent hard water stains in your shower, you can invest in an anti-scale shower head which prevents any build-up of limescale.
Use borax and vinegar for cleaning tiles
You can use borax as an alternative to heavy-duty cleaners for cleaning tiles as borax is natural and non-toxic, unlike other tile cleaners which are harmful to health and the environment.
Borax works on things like soap residue, grout and mildew stains on your grout lines. For general cleaning, mix one part of borax with three parts of warm water then apply onto tiles using a sponge or spray bottle then you can either let it dry on its own or wipe it off with a damp cloth. Use this method to clean tiles without worrying about harming yourself or the environment by using chemicals that may cause damage to the ozone layer.
Use essential oils for cleaning hard surfaces
Essential oils like tea tree oil, orange oil or lemon oil can be used as an alternative to bleach or other harmful chemicals which are damaging to the environment. These essential oils will clean your surfaces without harming you or the ozone layer. Just mix equal parts of water and vinegar with about ten drops of any essential oil then apply onto your surfaces using a sponge or spray bottle, leave it there for fifteen minutes before wiping off with a cloth soaked in hot, soapy water. Do not use these oils on marble countertops though because they can damage the stone surface.
Use sunlight to eliminate mildew
For this one, you will need a sunny day outside because sunlight eliminates mildew. Simply hang your shower curtain or other fabrics in the sun after shaking it well then let it dry completely before re-hanging indoors. This method is great for cleaning without harming the environment and your health too.
Use microfibre dusting cloths
Microfiber dusting cloths are essential to clean your house without harming the environment because they are reusable. You can wash them in hot water and tumble dry on high heat then use them again and again. This is a great way to clean without wasting paper towels which cause deforestation every year, so buy microfiber dusting cloths, and you will never regret it. This is a great way to save the planet while saving your wallet too.
Use toothpaste for scouring pots and pans
Toothpaste is great for scouring pots and pans because it contains silica, an ingredient that effectively scrubs tough dirt away from your cookware without harming the environment or your health. Just add some toothpaste onto your cookware, scrub with a sponge then rinse thoroughly before washing with water and soap as usual.
Use a coffee filter to clean glass and mirrors
Coffee filters are great for cleaning glass and mirrors. Just dampen your coffee filter with water then wipe down your mirrors or glasses then let it dry. You can also add a little rubbing alcohol or vinegar into the mix to get rid of any leftover grime that may be lingering on your surfaces.
Use olive oil for polishing silver
Olive oil can be used to polish silverware without using commercial polishes. All you need is some olive oil and salt then dip a piece of cloth into this mixture, apply onto your silverware then wipe off with another clean damp cloth. This method will also remove tarnish from your silverware so try it out today!
Use alcohol and a brush to clean vases and decorative containers
Alcohol is another great alternative to commercial cleaners because it effectively cleans glass containers without harming the environment. Just add some rubbing alcohol into a bowl then dip a paintbrush into this mixture, apply onto your vases or other decorative containers then wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Use baby powder for lifting stains from carpets
Baby powder is another non-toxic product that is safe for cleaning carpets while being friendly towards the environment too! To use baby powder as a carpet cleaner, sprinkle the powder on your carpet then work it in with a brush or broom. Let it sit for a few moments then vacuum up the powder along with any leftover dirt. This method is perfect for cleaning carpets without harming the environment too.
Use cream of tartar for cleaning grout
Cream of tartar can be used as an alternative to bleach for cleaning grout because cream of tartar is natural and non-toxic, unlike bleach which has chemicals that harm both your health and the environment. To use cream of tartar, mix one-part cream of tartar with two parts hydrogen peroxide then use a toothbrush to scrub onto your grout. Let this mixture sit for about 20 minutes before wiping off with a damp cloth.
Use salt and baking soda to clean your oven
Salt and baking soda is another alternative for commercial oven cleaners because it’s natural, inexpensive, non-toxic, safe on the environment plus it cleans deep without harming your health or damaging your oven either! Just sprinkle some salt on the bottom of your oven then add some baking soda all over the salt. Pour some warm water on top of these ingredients then let them sit overnight to eliminate tough gunk inside your oven while keeping odours at bay too.
People harm the environment every year when they use commercial cleaners because it contains harsh chemicals that damage the environment. Fortunately, there are still some green alternatives such as using toothpaste for scouring pots and pans, coffee filters for cleaning glass and mirrors, olive oil to polish silverware without harming your wallet, alcohol or vinegar to clean vases and decorative containers plus many more! Try them out today and see how effective these methods really are.
Ellen Diamond did her degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She is interested in mental health and well-being.
