A lot of times you might need to clean something in your home and either can’t find the product you would normally use or the can you find is empty. Never fear! Our experts have come up with some great homemade cleaners that will actually for you instead of what you would normally use. As a matter of fact, in some cases, our products may even work better! And, all of these products are not only 100% natural but won’t cost you an arm and a leg to use! Give one of these a try and see if it doesn’t work just fine for you:
Baking Soda
You’ll need 4 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with a quart of water.
To clean your kitchen appliances, the counters, the sink and even the inside of your refrigerator, all you need is a little baking soda and water. It also deodorizes quite well and can even be used to shine up your sink and appliances.
Use the solution above and wipe down the surfaces of your kitchen counters and appliances. Pour a few spoonfuls of baking soda directly into your drain or garbage disposal to clean it out and deodorize the insides.
Baking soda will also shine and remove spots from your stainless steel utensils. Mix up a paste of baking soda with a little bit of water and apply the solution with a damp cloth and then rub gently toward the ends of each piece. Rinse with water and buff dry for a clean and shiny surface.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is an effective all-purpose cleaner and costs next to nothing at your local store.
As a Glass Cleaner
- You’ll need a couple of cups of water, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1/4 cup of 70% alcohol, and one or two drops of your favorite flavor of essential oil.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray your windows on a cool day when there’s no direct sunlight. (If the sun is out, the mixture will dry prematurely and leave streaks.) Wipe dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
- For mirrors, spray the mixture onto a clean towel or paper cloth and then wipe the mirror clean. Use a fresh cloth or paper towel to buff the surface clean.
For Cleaning Brass
If you’re sure the brass you’re cleaning is genuine brass and not plated, make your own brass-cleaning paste by mixing equal parts of salt, flour, and white vinegar in a shallow bowl. Use the paste to cover the object and work it into the grooves and details.
Wait about 10 to 15 minutes and then scrub the piece with a damp rag or toothbrush. Follow up by wiping the brass clean using a damp rag and buff dry with a soft cloth.
As an All-Purpose Cleaner
You’ll need one part white vinegar combined with one part water to make this mixture. If you want to add some fragrance, try adding a small amount of lemon rind or rosemary sprigs.
Mix all the ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle. Set the bottle aside so that everything infuses together and you’re ready to go. Use the spray to clean trash cans, remove smudges from walls, counters, and practically anywhere else. Use it even in sinks to remove hard water stains.
The spray will work anywhere in the house and leave a fresh scent while the lemon rind helps it to clean better. One word of caution though. Don’t use the spray on granite surfaces since it may eat into the stone.
Dishwashing Liquid
Speaking of cleaning stone, here’s a natural stone and marble cleaner that will work every time. Mix up a couple of drops of mild dishwashing liquid into two cups of warm water. Shake until the mixture is dissolved and wait until the bubbles have disappeared.
Use a clean sponge and you’ll be able to clean your natural stone countertops easily. Rinse with water and buff with a soft cloth until dry. Don’t let the surface air-dry or you’ll leave watermarks.
Borax
Borax is a natural mineral that has been used for thousands of years to enhance the cleaning power of detergents and chlorine bleach. It’s commonly found in the laundry aisle of grocery stores or large department stores. The most widely known brand is “20 Mule Team Borax” but it may be available by other brands.
Add borax to your dishwasher and the result will be cleaner dishes. Borax softens the water by replacing calcium and magnesium with sodium ions. The result will be that you will need to use less dishwashing detergent and your dishes will no longer have water spots when they dry.
Use borax to clean your toilets.
- Before going to bed, sprinkle one cup of borax into your toilet bowl. Aim for the sides of the bowl and under the rim to get the best results.
- In the morning, give the bowl a quick scrub and flush. The borax will have loosened all the grime up overnight and make scrubbing much faster.
Borax is even great for pest control. Mix equal parts of borax with table sugar. Then, pour small amounts of the mixture wherever you have a problem with ants, cockroaches, water bugs, or any other crawly insects. The sugar attracts the bugs and the borax kills them.
Borax also works well to get rid of mice. Sprinkle it in areas around the house where mice might be hiding and it will get rid of the bothersome pests in no time. Good places would be under the stove, refrigerator, or sink.
You can also use borax to get rid of fleas and bed bugs. Sprinkle it on your carpet and vacuum to remove fleas or sprinkle on your mattress and you will rid yourself of any bed bug problem.
A caution: Be careful not to leave borax out where pets or small children might be able to reach it. Borax is not safe to ingest. It should not be inhaled or swallowed or serious poisoning and organ damage can result.
Thanks so much for taking a look today at our list of household cleaners that actually work! Please let us know if these ideas have been helpful! If you have any thoughts or suggestions about any home cleaning subjects you’d like us to cover, please send us a note. We’d love to hear from you!
If you live in the Chicago metro area and are interested in learning more about our home cleaning services, and how we can help you maintain a safe and healthy living environment, please give us a call. Our number is 708-599-7000. Or, contact us online and we’ll give you a free house or office cleaning consultation.
