A Guide to Natural House Cleaning

While many of your average cleaning products may describe themselves as “green” that may not always be the case. Many manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon and there are no set guidelines as to what constitutes a “green” product. Below are some handy hints on things to look out for.

Natural household cleaners are safe alternatives to traditional chemical cleaners.

• Be informed. Make sure that all ingredients are listed and avoid products with only partial listings.
•  Look out for “Poison”, “Warning” or “Danger” labels and avoid, avoid, avoid!
• Make sure your product is “readily biodegradable” rather than just “biodegradable” which means it could take several lifetimes to break down.
• Ingredients ending in “-ene” or “-ol” indicate the presence of a petroleum based solvent (eg: benzene and xylol) that could cause illness.
• Are there any warnings that the product can cause skin irritation or should be used in a well-ventilated area? Give any products with these statements a miss!

Did you know, the human body can absorb chemicals left behind by household products or that on average there are more than 150 toxic substances linked to cancer that float around our homes? The decision to stop using synthetic chemical cleaners and instead use natural house cleaners may be one of the most important ones you will ever make for the health of your family and home. Extra chemical ingredients such as fragrances and dyes contribute nothing to a products cleaning ability and only add to chemical contamination around your home, children, pets and food.

A great alternative to the common chemical cleaners is making your own cleaning products instead. Effective cleaning products can be made from items commonly found around the home – why not try these easy natural household cleaners recipes?

Glass Cleaner Recipe
Mix 1/4 cup vinegar or 1 tablespoon lemon juice with 1 liter warm water for sparkling windows or glass tables.

Furniture Polish
Mix two parts olive oil or cooking oil together with one part lemon juice for an effective and incredibly fresh-smelling furniture polish.

Drain Cleaner
Pour 3/4-1 cup of baking soda in the drain. Pour 1/2 cup vinegar in the drain and immediately cover the drain with a plug or set a plate over it to keep everything inside the drain. Leave it to sit and work for about 30 minutes. Don’t use the sink during this time. After 30 minutes, remove the cover and let hot water run through the pipes for about 2-3 minutes. 

Microwave Cleaner 
Put lemon slices in a bowl of water and heat in your microwave for 30 seconds to a minute then wipe out the microwave. Stains will be easier to remove and any old food odours will be neutralized. 

Cookie Sheet Cleaner
Try useing tee tree oil mixed with dish soap to shine your pans!

Guest post by: AspenClean with additional natural household cleaners recipes contributed by Lavish & Lime. AspenClean are the only EcoCert certified natural household cleaners in Canada.