The top 4 all natural cleaning products and how to use them.

Vinegar – Vinegar comes in many forms and has long been used both in medicine and as a powerful cleaning agent, the most common type of vinegar used for cleaning is white vinegar but each type offers us a unique range of benefits.

• Cloudy glasses: I’m sure we have all had this at some point, as hard as you try your kitchen glassware becomes cloudy over time. Simply adding white vinegar to your dishwasher or skin will have your glasses sparkling again in no time.

·         Residue left from stickers: Kids love to go wild with a pack of stickers, but when the time rolls round for some redecorating they can be a nightmare to remove, well that’s unless you have some vinegar to hand.

·         Spills of the carpet: White vinegar can be great at removing stubborn stains from even the deepest pile carpets. Make a 50x50 solution of vinegar to water and add this to a spray bottle

·         Cleaning windows: Vinegar is a top product for streak free, shiny, clean windows. Make a 1 - 1 vinegar to water mixture and spray onto the glass after 2 minutes, wipe clean with a cloth or using a newspaper.

Baking soda – Also known as bicarbonate of soda, baking soda is an extremely versatile household cleaner that can be used on its own or in combination with other products, often with outstanding results. 

Best uses for baking soda include:

• Safely clean children’s toys: Use four heaped tablespoons in one glass of warm water and wipe over the toy’s using a clean sponge.

• Freshen up your laundry: Simply add half a cup full of baking soda to the rinse cycle on your washing machine for amazing soft fluffy towels and bed linen.

• Clean your silver: Baking soda is a great way to bring shine back to old or neglected silverware, to do this you need to turn the baking soda into a paste the best formula for this is 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water mix well before use.

• Freshen Sponges – There is nothing worse than old smelly sponges, but fear not, baking soda is here to help. Simply soak the sponges in a bowl of warm water with 4 tablespoons of baking soda, after just one hour they will come out clean and smelling fresh with no foul odors.

Lemon juice – Lemons really are one of the most versatile citrus fruits, and a must have for any health conscious consumer. But a little known fact about lemons is that their juice can be used as a high quality household cleaner capable of removing tough grease and grime.  Lemon is one of the best natural cleaning agents due to its powerful antibacterial properties and natural acids.

Best uses for lemon juice include:

• Countertops: Lemons work great when cleaning kitchen surfaces, to do this simply cut a lemon in half and wipe over said area for added effect the lemon can be dipped in baking soda before use.

• Chopping boards: By rubbing lemon juice into a wooden chopping board and allowing it to sit for around 20 minutes you will be able to remove even the toughest marks and stains. Not only this, but it will remove bad smells that linger in the wood.

• Copper bottom pots: This is an age old technique for brightening up used cooking pots, simply add the juice of half a lemon to your pot and leave it to soak over night the next day after a little scrub the copper should be shining bright and looking almost new.

•  Cleaning the microwave: Simply squeeze a lemon into a microwave proof bowl (you can add the lemon as well.) Add the bowl to your microwave and set power to full for 3 minutes, the vapor released from the lemon water will loosen all food and grime from your machine, making it easy to wipe clean with a cloth.

Hydrogen peroxide - When looking for powerful natural home cleaner’s hydrogen peroxide has got to be top of the list, simply water with an extra oxygen atom, this is packs a serious oxidative punch. Be careful not to get the 35% on your skin as it will cause burning.

 

• Whiten grout in your bathroom: If your bathroom grout has seen better days simply add hydrogen peroxide to a spray bottle and cover the chosen area, you will need to allow for around 20 minutes giving the peroxide time to get to work on the grime.

• Cleaning pots and pans: If you’re struggling to remove burnt on food from your pots or pans hydrogen peroxide could be just what you're looking for. Once in contact with food or dirt its powerful oxidative action goes to work loosening up stuck on food and grime.

• Clean your toilet bowl: Want to have your toilet looking like its new? Simply add some 35% peroxide to the toilet before bed, in the morning after just one flush you will be amazed at the difference.

• Remove stains from clothing: Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre wash treatment for tricky marks and stains, simply soak the problem area in 3% peroxide for a couple of minutes before putting on a regular wash.

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