Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The BLV’s to All Natural Home Cleaning

Baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar…When combined these basic household items might not make for the best marinade, but they do offer natural and effective cleaning products that will keep your home clean and smelling fresh. Without stretching an already thin household budget, and while maintaining your friendship with the environment, follow the BLV’s to a natural way of cleaning your home.

Baking Soda
Baking soda can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleaners. It also works great as a natural deodorizer. Simply place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. You can also place a box in any other area of your home that needs deodorizing (e.g., laundry room, litter box).

Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is another natural substance that can be used to maintain a clean and fresh home. It can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits, to clean and shine brass and copper, or mixed with vinegar and/or baking soda to make cleaning pastes. For a simple, natural cleaning solution, cut a lemon in half, sprinkle baking soda on the cut section, and use to scrub dishes, surfaces and stains. You can even mix 1 cup of olive oil with ½ cup of lemon juice to obtain a natural furniture polish for your hardwood furniture. Lemons also work great in the garbage disposal to freshen the drain and the kitchen.

Vinegar
Vinegar cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of one-part water to one-part vinegar in a clean spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is not only a natural cleaning product, but it works just as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always make sure to test this natural cleanser on an inconspicuous area to ensure quality and safety of use. Vinegar is safe to use on most surfaces, but be careful when using on tile grout and never use on marble surfaces.

Try the above items as natural cleaning products for your home. While just as easy as the ABCs, the BLVs offer a simple, natural alternative to home cleaning.

Cypriana ~ the natural home store

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