Cleaning Up, Naturally

I recently moved into a new apartment in Brooklyn, and I am loving it. But as with all new places, there's some cleaning to be done. The longer I live, the more I notice how the things we're taught to take for granted as good, in this case commercial cleaners, are not necessarily the best. They aren't the best at cleaning, and they aren't the best for our health. Ever notice that slightly light-headed feeling you get when you don't open a window while using household cleaners? Exactly. No good. :)

But there is AMAZING news! God really packed His creation with practical, good-for-you ways to do everything you'll ever need to do. Here are a couple of high performance, natural items that will get your house clean without leaving harmful chemicals in their wake.

Lemons:

Mmm. I love when the place smells lemony fresh. Natural juice straight from the lemon is good for cleaning metal, grout, shower doors, counter tops, and hard wood floors. You can also put pieces of citrus down the garbage disposal to de-germify, and leave a half-lemon in the fridge to neutralize odor (replace it weekly). For more tips on lemony cleaning, visit this helpful site.

On top of all these great home cleaning tips, lemon is also great for your hair! Be sure to dilute it unless you want to lighten your hair, but it's definitely safe and a better idea than shampoo. It's a disinfectant, and it gets rid of whatever build-up the atmosphere may deposit on you. Commercial shampoo often contains unnatural chemicals that may either strip your hair of natural oils or deposit impurities in your hair rather than cleaning it. 

Vinegar:

This is a great disinfectant. Dilute it with water, and you can use it for counter tops, surfaces, and floors. It's also great on windows. I was initially concerned about the smell, but it actually doesn't smell much if you dilute it. If you're really not a fan, though, go with the lemon.

It's also great for adding to your laundry. If you've ever left clothes too long in the wash before drying them, which I have, rewash the clothes with a little vinegar and watch the musty mildew smell vanish.

Baking Soda:

Baking soda rocks at eliminating odors. Put a cup of it in your toilet and leave it for at least an hour. Then pour 1 cup of undiluted white vinegar into the water and flush. It should get it clean without scrubbing (unless it's really dirty).

You can also use it for scrubbing, vacuuming (sprinkle it on carpet before vacuuming to remove odors), and clothing stain removal. It can be a good substitute for laundry detergent, but it may make colors fade. Either stick with whites or test it on a small bit of fabric before use.

Mint:

So this isn't necessarily a cleaning agent, but if you have ants and flies you'd like to keep out, spray diluted peppermint essential oil around doors and windows! Cool, huh?

So that's all for now. I hope you enjoy these. Happy well-being!