In your quest to keep your home spotless and your family healthy you might have either tried using an all-natural cleaning product or made your own. Did you know that of the roughly 17,000 chemicals found in common household products, only 3 in 10 have been tested for their effects on human health? You might be asking yourself how can this be? Well, it’s because as with cosmetics, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission does not require manufacturers to test household cleaning products before they appear on store shelves. If you are ever curious about products in your home be sure to visit the Environmental Working Group’s website. They have a lot of great information available to consumers.  If you have time and are adventurous you can make your own cleaning products out of natural, non-toxic ingredients. Here are a few cleaners to try.

Everyday Household Cleaner

Did you know that hydrogen peroxide was used medicinally during World War I to help cleanse wounds and kill bacteria in hospitals? Today hydrogen peroxide is very inexpensive at the drug store and can be made into a household cleaner by using three-percent hydrogen peroxide. You can use this to clean your counters and wipe down appliances. It will also help kill salmonella and other bacteria on wooden cutting boards and will disinfect giving the kitchen a clean, fresh smell. 

If you’d like to have even more anti-germ power, use vinegar either white or apple cider and spray it on right after using the peroxide. This was tested by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. These two ingredients when used in combination with each other eliminated almost all Salmonella, E. coli, and Shigella organisms on heavily contaminated foods and surfaces. This spray was found to be more effective at destroying bacteria than any commercially available kitchen cleaner or chlorine bleach. Also, Good Housing Keeping Institute independently verified the disinfectant properties of vinegar and found a straight five percent solution of vinegar kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of viruses. Don’t worry about your home smelling like vinegar, the smell goes away pretty quick.

Abrasive Cleaner

Do you need an abrasive cleaner? Try baking soda. You can just sprinkle it on whatever surface you need to scrub. You can also use it to clean bathroom sinks, tubs, and showers. For tough stains, create a paste with baking soda and a little water. Smear the paste onto the stain and let it sit for about a half-hour then sponge off. You can also scrub pots and pans with baking soda and use it to clean your oven. For example, when your oven needs a good cleaning, apply baking soda and wet it down with water from a spray bottle. Let it sit for 30 minutes and then wipe it down. If you need to loosen up a slow drain use a combination of baking soda and vinegar.

Laundry Detergents

Laundry detergent is an easy switch from store-bought to homemade. DIY alternatives are often just as effective and much less expensive. This recipe makes over 20 gallons for under $10! If you are looking for a natural stain remover then you’ll want to print this helpful stain remover guide.

Lots of consumers are either naturally trying to reduce the number of chemicals in their homes for allergy reasons or they are looking for alternative products to use as their cleaning solutions. That’s why at 208 Cleaning Co. our mission is to make families happier by creating clean, healthy home environments. If you decide you don’t want to make your own products and clean yourself, you can always call in the experts. Contact us today!