Safe and Cheap Cleaning Solutions for the Home

Commercial cleaning products contain synthetic chemicals, which can be dangerous for our health. I became aware of this when my immune system became compromised and the smells and touch of the products gave me disturbing symptoms, such as headaches, nausea and dizziness.

Those of you who have strong immune systems might not feel the negative effects from the chemicals because your body is able to fight the toxins, but you're placing an extra burden on your immune systems that may compromise them in future. Or as soon as they become weakened, for whatever reasons, you will probably begin to be made sick by poisons in synthetic chemicals. Why take the risk? Every member of your household can be affected by these toxins, especially children, who are still developing and need to be at optimum health in order to grow and to stay well, and older people who are at more risk of sickness.

It took me a while and much research to discover how to keep my home, myself and my clothes clean without using dangerous products. I would like to save you the trouble and tell you about the following natural and safe ways to clean yours. I've found that, not only do I feel better since replacing my cleaning products but the natural alternatives are actually far superior at cleaning! An added bonus to cleaning naturally is that I'm saving money because commercial products are not cheap.

Something that I could not now do without, and I wonder how I managed before I found out about its benefits is Bicarbonate of Soda, sometimes called Baking Soda. It's abrasive and yet gentle and it removes dirt more efficiently and with less elbow grease than the scouring powders that I used to use.

I buy it in bulk in ebay and it's very cheap, and lasts for a long time. I also use it in the washing machine and dishwasher instead of commercial powder or liquid. It cleans the machines out every time I use them so I expect them to last longer, thus saving me more money long term. My clothes smell fresher than when I used my previous detergents and my dishes come out squeaky clean.

Bicarbonate of Soda is useful for cleaning drains. Boil a couple of liters of water and dissolve the bicarb in it. Pour it down the drains, followed by some Distilled White Vinegar, and this will cause it to fizz up and clean the pipes. I've successfully unblocked sinks and the shower by doing this.

Soap nuts are actually berries and have a beautiful fragrance. They contain saponin so create lather. I use them in the washing machine and dishwasher with the Bicarbonate of Soda. I enjoy opening the dishwasher when it's done for a whiff of the aroma, and my clothes smell gorgeous!

I also use them in the shower instead of shampoo and soap; first simmering them in water in a stainless steel pan for 20 minutes. I buy 500g bags from the auction site previously mentioned and, they too last a long time.

Using natural materials is like having health insurance. We could be saving money on future medical treatments. Not only does using them mean that we don't need dangerous products, but it actually improves our health.

Distilled White Vinegar and lemons are similarly useful for cleaning windows and other shiny surfaces. They are antibacterial and kill mould. Spraying either of these substances on fabrics can neutralise unwanted odours.

I replaced my carpets with untreated cork tiles, because I'm allergic to dust mites and chemicals found in carpets, and I discovered that the vinegar removes marks and stains from the tiles remarkably well.

I have some pure woollen rugs on my cork tiles and though it's claimed that wool doesn't allow dust mites to live in it I assume that is only when it contains plenty of Lanolin. In order to keep them completely dust mite free I purchased a steam cleaner. It wasn't expensive and I can clean almost every part of my home with it using only water.

This includes carpets, work surfaces, sinks, the shower, cooker and oven, windows, window sills, walls, the kitchen floor and probably more areas I've neglected to mention. It makes keeping the home clean so much easier! Steam cleaners kill dust mites, bacteria, fungal spores, and mould and are recommended for allergy sufferers.I find that after using my steam cleaner I can breath more easily and my skin feels cleansed.

An extra tip for keeping the oven clean is to place a bowl of water at the bottom while you're using it. I wish you safe and healthy cleaning!