Alternatives to costly cleaning supplies

Alternatives to costly cleaning supplies

In effort of cutting down on pollution and also saving your family money, consider cutting back on costly, commercial cleaning supplies in favor of a simple box of baking soda. Toxic chemicals found in many household cleaners are not only unsafe for the environment and continuously contribute to global warming; they are unhealthy for yourself, your children and your pets. Baking soda takes on many uses in household cleaning that one might not expect. Baking soda acts wonderfully as a household cleaner in place of harsh cleaning products like bleach or Mr. Clean. It is safe for virtually all household surfaces including tile, chrome, plastic, and glass. For lightly soiled areas like the kitchen counter top, dissolve about ¼ cup of baking soda into one quart of warm water and wipe areas down with this mixture. Rinse thoroughly with cool water. For moderately or heavily soiled areas such as a dirty bathtub or frequently traveled tile floor, use about ½ cup powder to one quart of warm water. Rinse well. There is no need to dry with a towel; allow to air dry. For surfaces that need an abrasive such as the inside of your oven, make a paste from baking soda and water and work that into the grim with a little elbow grease, or consider sprinkling the powder directly onto the build

. Baking soda can be used as a replacement for many cleaning supplies with it's many uses.

up, spray lightly with water, and let sit about 10 minutes. Use a scouring pad or rag to scrub lightly and remember to rinse all traces of baking soda away. Baking soda acts as an excellent room deodorizer also. Sprinkle on the carpets and allow sitting about 10 minutes, and then vacuuming thoroughly. Add a touch of baking soda to a spray bottle with water and lightly spray your rooms for an improvement in air quality. An opened box of baking soda helps eliminate odors in your fridge as well, and prevents your foods from taking on an 'off' taste, like milk sometimes does. Vinegar is another common kitchen product that takes on a new face in housecleaning. Vinegar acts as a natural antibacterial agent and is perfect for disinfecting kitchen counter tops, sinks and toilets. If you have a problem with mineral build up around your faucets, in your toilet tank, or soap scum on your shower curtain or bathroom walls, spray down with pure vinegar every 10 minutes or so over the course of a few hours, and then wipe down with a clean, dry towel. The acidic nature of vinegar breaks down the mineral deposits yielding an instant facelift.