A lot of today’s cleaning supplies contain chemicals that are harmful to your health and the environment, and there have been many cases of acute chemical sensitivity in ordinary homeowners like you and me. If you’d like to keep the house clean and you health in good shape at the same time, it may be best to go natural. You will also be doing your bit for the environment by choosing sustainable cleaning practices.

Natural cleaning remedies don’t contain any harmful chemicals, and are fully biodegradable and won’t harm the environment the way chemical cleaners do. And believe it or not, they also cost less than chemical based products. Check out my top 3 must have natural home cleaning remedies:

1. Vinegar. Vinegar is my favorite sustainable cleaning product and has been long used as a natural disinfectant and deodorizer. Simply mixing one part water and one part vinegar gives you a great cleaning mixture that’s good on most surfaces. You can also add scented oils to make the mixture smell better. I generally use lavender or eucalyptus. The vinegar mix is particularly effective in getting rid of nasty left over cooking smells.

I often mix my vinegar solution with a tablespoon of Borax – you will find this in your local Supermarket.

Undiluted vinegar can also be used to clean toilet bowls. Simply flush, then pour vinegar along the inside of the rim, and scrub down.

2. Baking Soda. When combined with vinegar, baking soda is an effective drain un-clogger. First throw a cup of baking soda into the offending drain, then pour a cup of vinegar down after it. Some bubbling may occur at this point, after which you can throw another cup of vinegar into the drain. Let the drain sit undisturbed for an hour. After an hour, turn on the hot water and flush the drain clear.

I also recommend putting a small container of baking soda in your refrigerator. This will keep your fridge smelling fresh and clean.

3. Lemon. Garbage disposal units can get pretty smelly after a while. Running lemon peels through the system can freshen the drain, although pouring concentrated lemon juice down the offending drain and waiting for the smell to go away works just as well. You can also put half a lemon into your dishwasher for a wash with your dishes to get rid of nasty smells. Lemon also helps in dishwashing — it gets rid of soapy scum that always seems to stick to dishes and utensils.

Cleaning the stove is easy enough, but sometimes the unruly “cooking” smells stick to the surface even after you wipe the streaks away. Lemon to the rescue — after the initial wipe and rinse, smear some lemon juice on the stove surface with a dish cloth. Then wash the cloth clean and wipe the stove down.

Lemon can also clean the microwave. Simply cut a lemon in half and put one of the halves into a bowl of water. Put the bowl of water and lemon into the microwave and run it for 15 minutes straight. The lemony steam softens any bits of food sticking to the sides of the microwave, so the ensuing wipes will be easier and more effective.

Don’t get rid of the excess microwaved “lemon water” carelessly, though. Find the smelliest drain in the house and pour the water down there.

Finally, lemon can also act as a hardwood polish. Simply mix a cup of olive oil with one-half cup of lemon juice.

And if life doesn’t throw you lemons, try oranges instead!

Cleaning gets a bit easier and more bearable when you use sustainable cleaning products. Keep learning about these little natural cleaners — you may be surprised at how the stuff in your cupboard can actually make house cleaning a LOT easier for everyone!

Author Bio: Katrina White has become a house cleaning expert for one basic reason, she hates cleaning. The busy Mom of 3 has virtually no spare time,the spare time she does have, she does not wish to spend it cleaning. It is for this reason http://www.speedcleaningsuccess.com/eco-cleaners/ has been developed.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: house cleaning, eco cleaners, environmentally friendly cleaning, green clean, sustainable cleaning,