Did you ever wonder if the chemicals you use to clean with are worse than the dirt and the bacteria? It is my humble opinion that this could be true....but then, I am not a chemist. However, I can choose to use the natural stuff, just in case, and this is what I do. Since then, I have found some of the best natural cleansers out there and some of them work better than anything I could have bought at the store. Here are my favorites:
Dishwashing detergent that works better than anything I have ever used in 25 years:
Mix:
1 Cup Borax
1 Cup Baking Soda
1 Cup Cascade
Place 1/8 cup into soap dispenser
Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar into bottom of dishwasher just before turning on.
Cleaning Disinfectant for kitchen:
1 spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide (they sell it in the spray bottle special for this reason...don't put into a clear or transluscent spray bottle)
1 spray bottle of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water
Spray both solutions onto the surface of where you had raw meat or other infectious food until the surface is good and wet. Leave for 5- 10 min. Wipe up.
This works for toilets too!
I personally prefer using vinegar (same mixture as above: 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar in spray bottle) in the bathroom. This solution works on the sink, mirror and the toilet too cause last time I checked no one was eating off of the toilet :) ('cept maybe the dog)
Cleaning the inside of toilet.....pumice stone!
Bathtub or shower stall: Borax used like Comet removes soap scum like nothing I have ever seen. It is wonderful!! If you don't have Borax a "nearly as good" of a solution is baking soda and salt (Pour generous amount of baking soda and then sprinkle with salt...add more salt if soap scum is not budging) Use vinegar on hard water deposits...be careful though cause straight vinegar will remove the finish on metal if left on there long enough.
Another disinfectant that works well on bathrooms, if you don't like the vinegar idea: Mix your vinegar solution as above and then add 20 drops of Thyme essential oil.(natural anti- viral and anti- bacterial) If you don't like the smell add lavendar essential oil or lemon essential oil with the thyme oil.
Laundry: Borax (1/4 c) and Baking Soda (1/4c) (one or the other or both) added along side of detergent work great for softening and deodorizing clothes without the chemicals. Washing Soda (not to be confused with Baking Soda) works well for whitening (according to my mom as I havn't tried this myself). Lemon Juice also works well for whitening and adds a wonderful fresh scent. Vinegar added to dark and bright loads helps them to keep their color from fading.
A note about cleaning a house: I have asked myself over the years as I have toiled to keep my house really clean why I work so hard....I have never come up with a good answer other than the obvious kitchen food born bacteria and the obvious bathroom grossness, of course. My doctor told me some years ago that he thought the reason for the increased use of antibiotics was because we were keeping our houses cleaner than we used to years ago. He said that our bodies immune systems were being dumbed down. I think their might be something to that. I keep my house looking presentable but don't stress if it's a little dirty. I really like cleaning this way!
