Helloooooo April! Time to get our spring cleaning on!

I recently mentioned that I had decided to try to clean our home using natural ingredients because Tornado Pup likes to eat anything and everything. Apparently this sparked some interest because I’ve had a bunch of you asking me how I did it!  I had read about using natural cleaning products a while ago, but only recently have started to look more into it. Maybe it was because of how HIGH I felt after cleaning my bathroom with certain mold and mildew remover. Yeah.

I researched blogs and other internet sources, and then actually looked up the chemical properties of the natural ingredients before forming my own opinion (I’m a science nerd and actually LOVE chemistry. Just give me some test tubes and goggles and I’m a happy girl). I was pleased with the results of what I found! (Sources listed below.)

You can basically clean your house using 3 basic household ingredients: lemons, baking soda, and white vinegar. All non-toxic. All inexpensive. All safe to ingest (in case your dog likes to lick everything after you clean it…or if you have little children crawling around).

Lemons: Lemons contain a high concentration of citric acid. And acid = amazing grease-cutting powers. Plus, it’s a natural odor neutralizer. (I frequently shove old lemon slices down my garbage disposal…gets rid of any lingering smells immediately!)
Baking soda: Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is naturally abrasive ingredient. It’s alkaline properties (meaning it’s pH is greater than 7, which qualifies it as a base) mean it can neutralize an acid.
Vinegar: A natural by-product of fruits and vegetables, vinegar is a naturally mild acid. It has antimicrobial properties which makes it a natural disinfectant that can be used for sanitizing and cleaning stains.

Now, without making this a chemistry lessen, just know that all of that information means these ingredients can be used to clean and disinfect your home NATURALLY. Yay!

Cleaning my bathroom was SUPER easy and I was really shocked to see how it shined after. I first sprinkled some baking soda all over the tub, and then spritzed the vinegar over it until it formed a foam (I actually combined vinegar with some of the blue Dawn dish detergent. The soap helped rinse it all way much better). Using a Scotch-Brite sponge (the green side) I went to work scrubbing the entire bathtub. The baking soda and vinegar makes a paste (kind of like that old Comet tub cleaner) that when rinsed, easy wipes away all the soap scum and grime. So sparkly! (The following pictures are taken in bad lighting with a  crappy camera…they don’t do the cleaner justice!)

I did the same with our sink and toilet. Also a good tip, prop the toilet brush underneath the toilet seat and give that a good spray too!

I used the lemon to scrub our faucets…the acid from the lemon rids the metal of all water spots.

Easy, right? And cost-effective! These ingredients can be bought in bulk for CHEAP! And again……I don’t have to worry if my dog decides to lick the bathtub after. Which apparently is his new “thing.” Along with jumping in the shower with you. Good times.

Other cleaning recipes/tips:

Hardwood floors: 1/4 cup white vinegar + 30 ounces warm water. Spray and wipe.

Clogged drains: 1/2 cup baking soda first down the drain, then 2 cups boiling water. For tougher drains, add 1/2 cup white vinegar after baking soda and flush with a gallon of boiling water.

Glass cleaner: 2 teaspoons white vinegar + 1 gallon of water in a spray bottle. Squirt on, then wipe with newspaper (prevents streaking!)

Countertop and stove top cleaner: equal parts water + white vinegar

Fabric softener: 1/2 to 1 cup vinegar to softener dispenser

Weed killer: spray full-strength white vinegar on unwanted weeds.

Also, vinegar can be used to prevent mold from growing on your berry fruit. Mix about 2 tsp. of vinegar to a few cups of water and rinse! The berries can stay in your fridge for over a week without growing that nasty white fluffy stuff on them!

**Note, the links to my information can be found below. I wound definitely recommend reading through them, as there are more natural ingredients in your home that can also be used for cleaning. I just chose to discuss white vinegar, baking soda, and lemon because I found you can get by with only these 3. Plus, they are what I had on hand. 🙂 Enjoy!**

Do you have any natural cleaning tips for me? I’d love to hear them!!!

Sources: The Daily Green, About.com/Housekeeping, The Vinegar Institute, EarthEasy, Consumer Reports

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