Natural Cleaners To Use Around The Home
TESS PATRICK
We spend so much time detoxing our cupboards, making sure we know everything that’s in our make-up and skincare products and investing in our health and wellbeing. But if we’re soaking our home in harsh chemicals at any given opportunity, a lot of that work goes out the window. For every storebought, chemical-based cleaner, there’s an option you can make from home with 100% natural ingredients. It makes for a fun family activity, plus you can re-use old bottles to cut down on your plastic! Here are a few that stay in our cupboards.
1. Mop Your Floors With Vinegar
Instead of drenching your floors in harsh bleaches and alcohols, a simple household vinegar does the trick. Mix one part vinegar with two parts hot water for the best, most effective, antibacterial floor cleaner. It’s a wonderful option for bathrooms and tiled floors because the acidic nature of the vinegar stops the floors from becoming dangerously slippery. If you have varnished wood floors, it is recommended that you patch-test an inconspicuous corner first to ensure it doesn’t affect the varnish.
2. Clean Chopping Boards With Fresh Lemon
Porous chopping boards are one of the easiest places for germs to hide, unless we are giving them regular cleans, they can become a hive for all sorts of bacteria. If you’re trying to avoid synthetic chemicals in your household, try simply rubbing a freshly cut lemon over the surface and leaving to sit for 10 minutes. The acidic compounds in the citrus will draw out and kill any harmful bacteria lurking. You can also condition your boards with a coat of coconut oil for a smooth, protective surface.
3. Use Baking Soda And Vinegar To Unclog A Drain
If you ever took science in school, you’ll be familiar with a favorite volcano trick. This very basic chemical reaction can actually be used around the home to breakthrough grime and nasties setting up residence in your drainpipes. Simply pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour one cup of vinegar in after it. Cover the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes. If it bubbles like a volcano, it means it's working as planned. Flush with boiling water and enjoy your free moving pipes.
4. Tea Tree Oil For Mould & Mildew
Tea Tree Oil is a staple disinfectant in our household, and it works just as well on mold and mildew as it does on scraped knees and elbow grazes. By blending a cup of vinegar, 10 drops of lemon essential oil, ad 10 drops of tea tree essential oil in a reusable spray bottle, you’ll have the best cleaner money can buy. Spray on any surface and leave for 10 minutes before wiping away, the acidic and disinfectant properties will fight off any germs hiding in spaces.
5. Disinfect With A Shot Of Vodka
One of the easiest disinfectant sprays could be a cocktail, of sorts. Half a cup of high-proof vodka and half a cup of white distilled vinegar, shaken with three-quarters of a cup of water and 50-60 drops of tea tree essential oil or lavender essential oil will be your new best friend. Say goodbye to bleach once and for all.
6. Make Our All-Purpose Antibacterial Cleaner
There’s a multitude of greenwashed all-purpose sprays on the market, with some kind of variant of the word natural in their branding, but you can’t get much more natural, cheap, and environmentally friendly than our favorite home-made recipe. With vinegar, lemon, bicarb, and castile soap goodness, this cleaner can be made in moments and lasts for weeks!
What are your go-to homemade cleaners? Let us know in the comments below!
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Tess has brought together her background in journalism and communications and her passion for nutrition to add to the Food Matters team. Her time is spent dreaming up new articles, researching the latest in nutrition news, and engaging with you, our readers. When she’s not cooking up a storm in the kitchen, you’ll find her trying to catch a wave, catching up on her nutrition and naturopathy studies, or hanging out with her cat, Salem.