Sarah Flowers - Cleaning Hacks: Your All-Natural, Go-To Solution for Spots, Stains, Scum, and More!

If youre new to natural cleaning, you may feel intimidated by the transition from readily available commercial cleaners to a whole new method of cleaning. In reality, it isnt any more difficult than using harsh chemicals, and it can even prove to be simpler, faster, and more cost-effective. If youre worried about cost, you can transition to natural cleaning in incremental steps. Continue to use your standard cleaners until you run out so you dont waste money youve already spent. Then you can slowly replace those old cleaners with the supplies discussed in this book. And remember, these all-natural options can improve your familys health and quality of life.

While its true that store-bought natural cleansers can cost more than their conventional counterparts, many natural cleaners use common and inexpensive ingredients that you may already have in your homeso consider making your own! Any ingredients you may need to purchase are readily available and usually cost less and last longer than chemical cleaners. Here are some basic supplies you should have on hand to transition to natural cleaning:

All-natural dish soap (store-bought or homemade)

Baking soda

Borax

Castile soap or Sal Suds

Containers for DIY cleaning recipes, preferably glass

Cooking salt

Distilled water (optional)

Essential oils (optional)

Food-grade diatomaceous earth

Hydrogen peroxide (3%)

Microfiber cloths

Polishing cloths

Vegetable oil

Vodka or rubbing alcohol

Washing soda

White vinegar

Safety Tip

Even though these ingredients are deemed safer than commercial alternatives, its still a good idea to keep them out of reach of children and pets and never ingest these products unless you know theyre edible (e.g., baking soda, salt, cooking oil, and vinegar).

You probably already own a good number of these ingredients, and if not, you could buy them at a local grocery store. Lets take a closer look at some.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is perhaps the most common and useful ingredient in natural cleaning. Its abrasive, making it a fantastic natural scouring agent. It also helps absorb moisture and neutralize odors and can last up to 6 months when stored in an airtight container. Never store baking soda and vinegar mixtures in a closed container. When these two ingredients are mixed together, they form an explosive reaction, which can prove dangerous in enclosed spaces.

Washing soda , also called sodium carbonate or soda ash , is a natural cleaner, water softener for hard water, and degreaser with loads of uses throughout the home. Its original use was as a laundry detergent booster. Hard water contains minerals that adhere to laundry, appliances, and other surfaces in your home, making cleaning more difficult. These minerals can clog pipes and stain clothes and surfaces, including bathtubs and showers, sinks, washing machines, and dishes. Washing soda softens water by forming a chemical reaction wherein the calcium ions in the washing soda bind to the minerals and wash them away instead of letting them stick to fabrics and surfaces. Softening hard water prevents stains, helps appliances run better, and allows cleaning products to work more effectively. Soft water is also more economical since you can use less soap and detergent to clean and your appliances will last longer when they arent clogged with mineral buildup. It is often likened to baking soda, but the two ingredients are actually different compounds that can be used in different ways. Perhaps even more confusing is the fact that you can make your own washing soda from baking soda (learn more about this in Chapter 6). Here is some more information about washing soda:

Washing soda is more abrasive than baking soda and, like baking soda, can scratch delicate surfaces, so its important to test a small area before using as a scrubbing agent.

You can find washing soda in most grocery, big-box, and health food stores or online.

Be sure to handle washing soda with care. As with any highly alkaline substance, undiluted washing soda can damage skin and eyes and is not safe to eat or inhale. Always wear gloves when cleaning with washing soda, and keep it away from kids and pets. However, washing soda is still considered a safe ingredient for natural cleaning and has an A rating for safety from the Environmental Working Group.