HOMEMADE CLEANERS THAT WORK
Are you interested in saving money on household cleaners? What about using fewer chemicals in your home? No matter the reason, making your own household cleaners is a good alternative to buying pricey heavily advertised brands. You simply don't need a different cleaner for every little thing in your home and you certainly don't need to expose your family and pets to chemicals that are more harmful than leaving your home dirty. If you have tried some cleaners in the past and failed, don't worry. Some do work better than others. Here we've listed the most common ones that work and what you can use them for.
You can make cleaners for your entire house with just a few, cheap, effective and non-toxic ingredients. Distilled white vinegar is a must-have. Vinegar is slightly acidic, making it good at cutting through and dissolving dirt, grime and grease of all sorts. Vinegar is antibacterial and antifungal, so you can use it to disinfect just about anything. It's gentle enough to get on your skin and even to drink. If you despise the scent of vinegar, as I do, don't worry. As soon as vinegar is dry, the smell disappears. You can also add lemon juice to vinegar to make it more acidic, tougher on hard-to-clean surfaces, and nicer smelling.
Mix your vinegar with an equal amount of water in a spray bottle for everyday cleaning of countertops, tables, floors and other surfaces. For more heavy duty cleaning, like hard water stains and soap scum, use straight vinegar.
Baking soda is the next must-have for your homemade cleaner arsenal. Unlike acidic vinegar, baking soda has a neutral pH. It actually neutralizes odors by bringing everything back to a neutral state. It's also wonderful for scrubbing. Mix it with a little water to form a paste and scrub away on your tile grout, cooked on food, and sinks.
Corn starch is another great product to use for cleaning glass. I personally switched to corn starch after the first time I saw it in action. It worked better than any glass cleaner I had ever used. I fill the sink about a quarter-way with warm or hot water. I add a quarter cup of cornstarch and stir. Then, dip in your washcloth and then wring it out. Wipe down glass and mirrors with the milky liquid. Next, before it's completely dry, I rub with a dry cloth or paper towel. There are absolutely no streaks, not even a hint of a streak, and no spots.
About the Author: Jo Granville is on the staff of Only Hangers, a leading online resource for high-end garment hangers for the home or business.