Natural Cleaning Products- Safer For Family, Pets And You

Tried and True Cleaning Products- The Best Choice?

Perhaps our grandmothers had an advantage over current generations when it came to their weekly household cleaning chores. Simple basics such as baking soda, mild soap and vinegar may seem old-fashioned but their value comes to light when comparing their price and safety record with some of the current cleaning products available.

Safety and Health Concerns

Every new parent will eventually go through the process of “child-proofing” their home and typical household cleaning products are always a target for this process. To keep check on safety the services of chemical waste disposal Brisbane is also offered. Drain and toilet cleaners, bleach, ammonia and oven cleaners are just a few of the countless products that have to be safely stored away from the curious toddler for years. Even at younger ages, what parent isn’t concerned about using harsh chemicals to clean the bathroom while their newborn is “safely” sleeping in the room next door?

Pets are always curious too and can easily step into or sniff a potentially harmful substance. Of course one of their first actions upon such an encounter is to lick the substance off their paws or fur. Not only are children and pets vulnerable, but anyone who has ever become nauseous or had breathing trouble after using a harsh chemical should question whether routine exposures to these products are wise, especially when there are safer and often cheaper cleaning products available.

 Save Money- Breathe Easier

Fortunately there are products that have been around for decades that are inexpensive, effective to use and much safer for all household members. Baking soda is an excellent example of just such an item. A classic use of baking soda is the placement of a small box in the refrigerator to absorb odors, but baking soda has so many other wonderful uses. Baking soda is relatively inexpensive and many wholesale grocery clubs sell it in large packages. When baking soda becomes a part of a person’s cleaning arsenal, it just makes sense to take advantage of buying in bulk to make their cleaning products even more economical.

There are times when a slightly abrasive cleaner is needed and for this baking soda can be very effective. As with any fine abrasive, one should always do a spot test to avoid potentially scratching a surface. Baking soda when used with the sponge recommended by the manufacturer, works very well in removing tough stains on flat top stoves. For internal cleaning of an oven, an application of a baking soda and water paste loosens tough stains without harmful fumes. For very tough stains, simply spray the paste every few hours with more water to keep the surfaces moist. The paste can also be left on overnight without harming the finish. When ready, a little scrubbing should remove the stains and a good rinse with water will remove any baking soda residue.

For tough stains on pots and pans, an application of baking soda greatly enhances any scrubbing action and quickly removes stains. Using baking soda mixed with a mild soap also works well to clean, deodorize and brighten stainless steel sinks. In the bathroom, baking soda can be used as a gentle cleaner and deodorizer for sinks and tubs. Many cat litters boast of containing baking soda, but it may be less expensive to simply sprinkle a small amount of baking soda underneath a basic cat litter. If a cat should lick off any soda from their paws or fur it is not harmful to them.

It may come as a surprise to some that denture tablets can have multiple uses when cleaning a home. Denture tablets are anti-bacterial, inexpensive and they don’t give off harmful fumes. Mix a tablet with some hot water in a spray bottle to use for cleaning tubs, sinks (in the bathroom and the kitchen) and toilets. Wait 20 minutes and follow up with a scrub using hot water and perhaps baking soda to remove any particles. For the toilet bowl, drop in a couple of tablets and wait 20 minutes or overnight, then scrub as usual. Some denture tablets are colored and therefore would not be an effective spot cleaner for carpet or fabrics.

Distilled white vinegar has disinfectant properties and is another tried and true cleaning product for the home. Again, look for large bottles in your local grocery store or a wholesale grocery club for even more savings. White vinegar is great for cleaning windows and mirrors. It can be used straight or mixed with water. To clean and disinfect vinyl flooring, adding 1/4 or 1/2 cup white vinegar per gallon of hot water along with a mild soap. Plain and simple white vinegar and hot water is routinely recommended to effectively clean floors. White vinegar may not be best for darker colored laminate flooring as it may leave streaks.

Rather than using traditional fabric softeners which can contain overwhelming perfumes, add instead a 1/4 or 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the washer. It eliminates static cling and adds a disinfectant component to the laundry. White vinegar can also be used to remove small amounts of mold and mildew. It is very important not to mix white vinegar (or its fumes) with bleach or ammonia in order to avoid a potentially harmful mix of fumes. In addition, apple cider vinegar may also not be appropriate for cleaning as it may stain some objects.

Drain cleaners typically contain very harsh chemicals. Why keep them in a house with small children or pets when there are safer alternatives available? For slow drains in sinks and tubs, an application of baking soda, followed by white vinegar and hot water will produce a harmless but effective reaction to unclog the drain. It may take a couple of applications to clear the drain but many would consider that a small price to pay in order to avoid exposing a small child or pet to harmful chemicals from the typical drain cleaner. Enzymatic cleaners used for pet stains can also be effective in clearing up a slow drains and generally are safer than drain cleaners.

A Healthy Plan- Safer, Cheap and Effective

It may seem difficult at first to make changes in routine cleaning tasks but many people will find it well worth the small amount of effort it takes to do so. More peace of mind, healthier air to breathe and more money in the pocketbook are all benefits that can easily be obtained by switching to cleaning products that are people and pet-friendly.