Natural Alternative to Harsh Chemical Cleansers
by Joey Pebble

Description: Tips for using vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils as all-natural home cleaning products.

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Commercial cleaning products can be harsh on you, your family, and the environment. Full of chemicals and who knows what else, and reacting to the environment in unpredictable ways, these cleansers are a dangerous, toxic addition to your home. Luckily there are a variety of cost effective natural alternatives that can be obtained rather easily. In fact, for the most part you can replace your normal cleaning products with items that can be found at your local grocery store for less than $20.

Vinegar is one of the essential ingredients in a natural eco friendly cleaning routine. It is able to kill most bacteria, mold, and germs, and can leave surfaces shining and bright. Mixed with a little water, it is perfect for cleaning hard smooth areas such as glass windows and mirrors. It is also an effective streak free cleanser for stainless steal.

You can mix about 2 tablespoons each of a vinegar and soap solution with a gallon of water, to create a natural floor cleanser that is particularly useful on tile or linoleum floors. Natural soap made from organic plants can be purchased to make this extremely healthy and eco friendly, although you may have to pay a little extra at a health food or organic store for that particular product.

Vinegar is especially effective at killing mold and mildew in a basement setting, Spray or wipe on a pure vinegar solution, and let it sit on the affected area until it dries. Then take a clean cloth and wipe down the area. If this doesn't kill the mold, you can try repeating the process, or getting in touch with an experienced mold professional.

If you have a problem with the strong vinegar scent overpowering your home, this can be cured by adding a few drops of essential oil to the solution. Essential oil is an aromatic liquid which can be purchased at most well stocked super markets. It is available in a variety of different scents, including the same lemon and furniture polish smells that can be found in all of the regular manufactured cleansing products. In this way you can get that same store bought fragrance, using all natural, inexpensive, and eco friendly products.

Baking soda is another key ingredient in natural cleaning solutions. It is especially effective in a bathroom where, mixed with soap and water, it becomes a gritty paste that is great at attacking soap scum and other hard to remove dirt stains.

As you can see, you can find alternatives to most of the harsh chemical cleaning products in the supermarket, by looking one aisle over at a variety of eco friendly, natural alternatives. Substances such as vinegar, essential oils, and baking soda can be just as effective as their expensive manufactured counterparts, but won't be as harsh on you, your family, or the world around you.

This article provided courtesy of PebbleZ, a manufacturer of absorbent sandstone beverage coasters which can help prevent messes throughout your home. The author of the article is artist and designer Joey Pebble.

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