A friend of mine who works in the recycling field recently sent me this link for an article in BioCycle magazine about trace chemicals that make it to the earth’s water supply (and into our drinking water). The reminder made more than a little paranoid about what we’re putting in our bodies! It also made me redouble my efforts to ensure that I am not contributing to the problem.
You may be wondering about the title of this post. The truth is, like most people out there I’ve always used commercially available household cleaners. They are all there at the grocery store in neat little rows. So easy to toss in the cart. After all, who doesn’t want to spend less time scrubbing the tub? But then it hit me: we default to these products because of clever marketing, not because they actually clean better. Now, I’m not anti-marketing, but I AM anti-not-thinking-for-oneself.
With a little thought, here’s what I concluded:
1. If all of those cleaners contain warning labels not to ingest the chemicals, petroleum, fragrances, antibiotics, etc. that are in them, why would I drink water that has been contaminated with them?
2. Basic household products like baking soda and white distilled vinegar can do the same things (I think even better sometimes) without the expense or the chemical exposure.
3. It’s kind of fun and thrifty to start making your own natural household cleaners. Why should I spend my hard-earned pennies supporting petrochemical production, when I can make my own cleaners for next to nothing?
The Science of Baking Soda and Vinegar
Remember the second grade science experiment where you had to build a volcano, fill it with baking soda and then watch in delighted horror when someone added distilled vinegar? It turns out that chemical reaction is useful for thinking about the chemical cleaning properties of these two ingredients.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is slightly alkaline without being caustic, which makes it useful for neutralizing acids (such as for indigestion or in partnership with vinegar) and is a more gentle choice for cleaning than most other chemicals out there. It is great for deodorizing and gently exfoliating surfaces (including skin) as well as boosting the cleaning power of soaps/detergents.
White Distilled Vinegar is an acid which makes it great for dissolving mineral deposits, disinfecting surfacing, getting rid of mildew. Don’t be put off by the smell. I promise: you and your house will not smell permanently of pickles. The smell dissipates as it dries.
DIY Natural Cleaners
There are countless recipes out there for cleaning solutions using things like baking soda, vinegar, borax, tee tree oil. Here are a few of my personal favorites.
- All-Purpose Cleaner
Fill an old spray bottle with a solution of water and white distilled vinegar. I like about 3 C water to 1 C Vinegar for most basic jobs, but a stronger solution is better if you want to use it to disinfect.
- Furniture Polish
For unvarnished make a solution of: 2 tsp olive oil & 2tsp lemon juice on a dry cotton cloth. Work into the wood. (You just need a very small amount)
- Laundry Boosters
This is an especially great approach if you cloth diaper like we do. Add baking soda to the WASH cycle for a natural detergent booster, whitener and disinfectant. Add white distilled vinegar to the RINSE cycle for a natural fabric softener. (Tip: use a fabric softener ball.) This is also a great way to keep from getting soap build up in your clothes, linens and especially things like towels or wash clothes that are used with soap.
- Shampoo and Conditioner
I plan to write another post about personal hygiene products, but while we’re on the baking soda and vinegar kick, I thought I’d include it here. Baking soda is great for washing your hair (and body). It’s a fairly gentle exfolient, cuts through grease and rinses clean; however, because it does change the pH of hair, it’s best if you also use a solution of vinegar and water to rinse your hair to restore the pH. Vinegar works great as a conditioner replacement. Baking soda can start to dry out your hair if you give it this treatment too often, however. I’d use this method if you’ve got a particularly tough case of scalp build up.
- Tub, Tile and Grout Cleaning
Make a paste out of baking soda and work it in for really stubborn stains. Rinse with vinegar solution. You can also just use the vinegar solution for your everyday tub wipe down. This will help prevent the formation of mildew and soap scum.
- Surface Disinfectant
Just use full strength vinegar to wipe down surfaces. Let air dry.
Tip: If you miss the fragrances of your old products just add a few drops of essential plant oils such as orange or lavender.
What are your favorite cleaning “recipes”?
The New Rustic Life 