Kitchen Guides
DIY: Make Your Own Non-Toxic, All-Natural Household Cleaning Products
Here is an extensive house-cleaning guide with three simple ingredients found in your very own kitchen
We are surrounded by easy-to-use, inorganic, chemical-laden tile cleaners, room fresheners and other home-cleaning products. With concerns about the potential health risks related to the harmful chemicals they contain, it is always best to know what ingredients go into cleaning the house and making sure that they are toxin-free. You can try out these three-ingredient fixes with the occasional addition of alcohol, citric acid and other essential oils/dried spices to shake up the cleaning routine.
All-natural, all-purpose cleaner recipe
Mix one part of white vinegar with four parts of water to make a solution. This can be used to clean everything on a day-to-day basis, such as glass, windows, blinds, carpet stains, and water rings and stains on furniture.
Tip: Avoid cleaning kitchen countertops made of marble, granite or stone with vinegar, as it may cause etching or corrosion. Instead rub alcohol or vodka on such surfaces. Diluted lemon juice can also be used to clean laminate countertops. Follow up with a water spray and wipe off with a dry cloth.
Mix one part of white vinegar with four parts of water to make a solution. This can be used to clean everything on a day-to-day basis, such as glass, windows, blinds, carpet stains, and water rings and stains on furniture.
Tip: Avoid cleaning kitchen countertops made of marble, granite or stone with vinegar, as it may cause etching or corrosion. Instead rub alcohol or vodka on such surfaces. Diluted lemon juice can also be used to clean laminate countertops. Follow up with a water spray and wipe off with a dry cloth.
For cleaning the microwave, mix a few spoonfuls of lemon juice with water in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it for two to three minutes. Allow the steam to be trapped inside to loosen the gunk and scrub it thoroughly with a damp cloth and slices of lemon. The same procedure can be repeated, substituting lemon with baking soda or vinegar as well. For the refrigerator, refer to the all-purpose cleaner recipe to clean the insides of the refrigerator.
Tip: Leave half a cup of baking soda at the back of your shelves to absorb any lurking odours in the house.
Tip: Leave half a cup of baking soda at the back of your shelves to absorb any lurking odours in the house.
Disinfect and shine with lemon and salt
The day-to-day use of a cutting board causes cuts and scratches which trap food residues inside them, further encouraging the growth of bacteria. Rinsing it with water alone is not sufficient. Rub some salt onto a slice of lemon and rub it vigorously on the board for three minutes and then rinse it off.
The day-to-day use of a cutting board causes cuts and scratches which trap food residues inside them, further encouraging the growth of bacteria. Rinsing it with water alone is not sufficient. Rub some salt onto a slice of lemon and rub it vigorously on the board for three minutes and then rinse it off.
Hard water can leave behind stains on metallic surfaces. A mixture of lemon and salt is efficient for cleaning chrome faucets. The mixture is also useful for removing rust stains or stubborn grease stains from pots and pans.
Non-corrosive recipe to tackle clogged drains
Keep your kitchen and bathroom drains clean by pouring half a cup of baking soda into the drain, and then a cup of apple cider vinegar followed by a cup of hot water. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then flush with boiling water.
Non-corrosive recipe to tackle clogged drains
Keep your kitchen and bathroom drains clean by pouring half a cup of baking soda into the drain, and then a cup of apple cider vinegar followed by a cup of hot water. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then flush with boiling water.
Cleaning glass with vinegar
Use a 50-50 mixture of water and apple cider vinegar to give windows and glass surfaces a streak-free cleaning. The same mixture can be used on painted surfaces like walls and cabinetry to clean, remove stains and eliminate odors. Cleaning with apple cider vinegar helps reduce odours and eliminate mould and mildew on any surface. Don’t let the strong smell of vinegar dissuade you; it generally evaporates rapidly and leaves behind a mild, sweet scent.
For intensive cleaning, mix a quarter cup of vinegar, half a teaspoon of liquid soap and two cups of water. Put all the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to blend. Spray it onto the glass surface and scrub it clean. Wipe it off with a wet cloth, followed by a dry-paper wipe.
For deodorising, mix a few tablespoons of lemon juice and a cup of water in a spray bottle. It leaves behind a pleasant scent as well.
Use a 50-50 mixture of water and apple cider vinegar to give windows and glass surfaces a streak-free cleaning. The same mixture can be used on painted surfaces like walls and cabinetry to clean, remove stains and eliminate odors. Cleaning with apple cider vinegar helps reduce odours and eliminate mould and mildew on any surface. Don’t let the strong smell of vinegar dissuade you; it generally evaporates rapidly and leaves behind a mild, sweet scent.
For intensive cleaning, mix a quarter cup of vinegar, half a teaspoon of liquid soap and two cups of water. Put all the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to blend. Spray it onto the glass surface and scrub it clean. Wipe it off with a wet cloth, followed by a dry-paper wipe.
For deodorising, mix a few tablespoons of lemon juice and a cup of water in a spray bottle. It leaves behind a pleasant scent as well.
Furniture shine and polish
When it comes to furniture shine and polishing, the winning combination of half a cup of olive oil mixed with half a cup of vinegar can give the most reputed furniture polish brands a run for their money. The vinegar-olive oil combination, mixed with a few drops of lemon juice, can smooth out scratches on lighter grains and even remove coffee and water ring stains.
When it comes to furniture shine and polishing, the winning combination of half a cup of olive oil mixed with half a cup of vinegar can give the most reputed furniture polish brands a run for their money. The vinegar-olive oil combination, mixed with a few drops of lemon juice, can smooth out scratches on lighter grains and even remove coffee and water ring stains.
Freshen your bathrooms naturally
Clean floors with a bucket of warm water and half a cup of baking soda. Or sprinkle dry baking soda on tough-to-clean stains and leave it on for an hour; scrub and rinse clean to clean off all mineral deposits, soap scum marks and tile stains. Mix a few drops of liquid soap and 10-12 drops of an essential oil in the mix to refresh the bathroom.
See why baking soda is your home’s best friend
Clean floors with a bucket of warm water and half a cup of baking soda. Or sprinkle dry baking soda on tough-to-clean stains and leave it on for an hour; scrub and rinse clean to clean off all mineral deposits, soap scum marks and tile stains. Mix a few drops of liquid soap and 10-12 drops of an essential oil in the mix to refresh the bathroom.
See why baking soda is your home’s best friend
Make your own toilet bomb
One of my recent fantastic discoveries, thanks to the internet, has been the recipe for toilet bombs. It is a 2-in-1 deodoriser and disinfectant and is quite efficient for the daily WC cleaning routine. If you are lazy about daily upkeep, then prepare this recipe and keep it handy to refresh the toilet.
You need one cup of baking soda, half a cup of citric acid, one teaspoon of liquid detergent, two drops of any essential oil (lavender, tea tree and lemongrass are my favourites). Mix the ingredients in a bowl till combined. Press the mixture into silicon moulds (like the ones for making home-made chocolates) and allow it to dry – anywhere between 6-12 hours. It may take longer if you live in a humid region. Keep the silicon tray away in a dark, cool area. These will be your bombs. Once they have set, take them out of the mould and store them in an airtight container. Drop one into your toilet bowl and watch it fizz away. Scrub the bowl with a brush or simply flush away to remove stains and odour from the bowl.
I use one of these almost daily.
One of my recent fantastic discoveries, thanks to the internet, has been the recipe for toilet bombs. It is a 2-in-1 deodoriser and disinfectant and is quite efficient for the daily WC cleaning routine. If you are lazy about daily upkeep, then prepare this recipe and keep it handy to refresh the toilet.
You need one cup of baking soda, half a cup of citric acid, one teaspoon of liquid detergent, two drops of any essential oil (lavender, tea tree and lemongrass are my favourites). Mix the ingredients in a bowl till combined. Press the mixture into silicon moulds (like the ones for making home-made chocolates) and allow it to dry – anywhere between 6-12 hours. It may take longer if you live in a humid region. Keep the silicon tray away in a dark, cool area. These will be your bombs. Once they have set, take them out of the mould and store them in an airtight container. Drop one into your toilet bowl and watch it fizz away. Scrub the bowl with a brush or simply flush away to remove stains and odour from the bowl.
I use one of these almost daily.
All-natural detergents and effective laundry methods
Every so often, adding a cup of apple cider vinegar or baking soda to a load of laundry freshens both the laundry and the machine. To brighten your clothes, mix half a cup of lemon juice with approximately 4 litres of water. For it to work, make sure you dry the clothes in the sun. Avoid lemon on silk and other delicate fabrics.
Remove sweat stains using a paste made from three-quarters cup of baking soda and half a cup of warm water.
Every so often, adding a cup of apple cider vinegar or baking soda to a load of laundry freshens both the laundry and the machine. To brighten your clothes, mix half a cup of lemon juice with approximately 4 litres of water. For it to work, make sure you dry the clothes in the sun. Avoid lemon on silk and other delicate fabrics.
Remove sweat stains using a paste made from three-quarters cup of baking soda and half a cup of warm water.
Healthy room fresheners
To get rid of tough kitchen odours, put lemon or orange peels, cloves, and cinnamon sticks in a pot of water, and bring it to a boil. Leave it simmering on the stove for a while. Create your own potpourri with dried petals and essential oils.
7 tricks to keep your home smelling fresh
To get rid of tough kitchen odours, put lemon or orange peels, cloves, and cinnamon sticks in a pot of water, and bring it to a boil. Leave it simmering on the stove for a while. Create your own potpourri with dried petals and essential oils.
7 tricks to keep your home smelling fresh
Replace mothballs with homemade moth-repelling sachets
The common mothball is usually be made of paradichlorobenzene, which is considered to be harmful to liver and kidneys, or naphthalene, which is highly flammable.
A natural substitute would be a few drops of cedar oil placed in some absorbent cloth at the back of your closet. Aromatic cedar, also referred to as juniper, serves as a moth deterrent.
Homemade moth-repelling sachets can also be made with lavender, rosemary, vetiver and rose petals. Dried lemon peels are also a natural moth deterrent. Simply toss some into your wardrobe for fresh-smelling clothes.
Read more:
A Thorough Room by Room Cleaning Guide
Tell us:
Which other ingredients from your kitchen do you rely on for your cleaning routine? Tell us in Comments below.
The common mothball is usually be made of paradichlorobenzene, which is considered to be harmful to liver and kidneys, or naphthalene, which is highly flammable.
A natural substitute would be a few drops of cedar oil placed in some absorbent cloth at the back of your closet. Aromatic cedar, also referred to as juniper, serves as a moth deterrent.
Homemade moth-repelling sachets can also be made with lavender, rosemary, vetiver and rose petals. Dried lemon peels are also a natural moth deterrent. Simply toss some into your wardrobe for fresh-smelling clothes.
Read more:
A Thorough Room by Room Cleaning Guide
Tell us:
Which other ingredients from your kitchen do you rely on for your cleaning routine? Tell us in Comments below.
Lemon, vinegar and sodium bicarbonate aka baking soda are perhaps the oldest and the most trusted cleaning agents out there. These super-versatile natural cleansers top the charts for eco-friendly cleaning stuff. Affordable, easily available and non-toxic – these ingredients are a must-have in your pantry at all times.
Here’s a list of recipes for cleaning, disinfecting and deodorising, which are worth a try.