YOTD approved list of natural cleaners

This is how I dress when cleaning…not! (Photo credit: Whitfield-In-World)

I’ve shared with you my personal tool box of natural cleaners. I’m sort of lazy when it comes to cleaning, so I use the easiest and cheapest ingredients whenever I can. I have done some research however, into some of the other things you can use to clean your home and what they are best used for. If you are a little more driven than me or just interested in trying something new, please try them out and let me know how it goes!

1. Beeswax

* I think before we venture into this one, I will warn you that beeswax is known to be highly flammable…enough said? Don’t clean in your sparkler bra!* (suggested attire pictured to the left)

Beeswax is great for polishing furniture, but when you melt it down to use in any of the recipes you may find, please make sure to remember the following things:

• Don’t melt it in anything other than stainless steel or tin plated pots/pans. Other metals can leach and affect the colour.
• Do not place the beeswax tin on a hot plate or over a direct flame.
• It doesn’t boil and remember that whole flammable comment? Do not overheat your beeswax. MIND YOUR BEESWAX!
• The best system is probably the double boiler one, like if you were melting chocolate…mmmm, chocolate.
• If you haven’t listened to anything else, remember in case of fire, DO NOT USE WATER. Use a damp cloth or extinguisher to put out any flames.

2. Borax

I’ve never actually used borax to clean, only in grade school experiments from my days as a teacher. It is a naturally occurring mineral that is water soluble. It cleans, disinfects, removes stains and deodorizes. It is very versatile. I also read that you can combine it with sugar to kill cockroaches! Fascination and ‘ew’ simultaneously cross my mind here.

3. Cornstarch

Derived from corn, cornstarch‘s power lies mostly in its absorption properties. It can absorb oil and grease from material. There are recipes for using it to clean windows and other things, but I would just use baking soda for those as it is a much stronger deodorizer. I’d never used cornstarch for anything except cooking until my husband cut a little too far down on our puppy’s claw. Jumping on-line, the suggested method to stop the bleeding is to put cornstarch on the claw to block and clot it. Worked like a charm!

4. Essential oils

This is for you folks who want that extra scent when cleaning, but don’t want to use lemons. There is some caution to be had here though: Pregnant women, diabetics and those with other medical conditions should see their doctor before using the oil. Also, essential oils can be toxic for pets. So use with care. My favourite scents are eucalyptus and lavender.  Both have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.

5. Olive Oil

Not only is it great for your skin it is great for conditioning your leather furniture or a polish. Just be careful not to overdo it.

6. Salt

I never knew this, but salt has bleaching properties and is a natural deodorizer. The next time you spill red wine on your carpet, sprinkle a little salt on. You can also mix it with vinegar and flour to make a good cleaning paste, or skip the flour and add it to your chips for a post cleaning snack. He he he.

7. Toothpaste

Clean your silverware with your toothpaste. It is mildly abrasive and will help you get that shine. Keep it away from your finer pieces of jewelry though, in case of reactions.

There you have it. A little natural help for almost all of your cleaning needs. It is not an exhaustive list and if you don’t see your favourite, natural cleaning aid on here, feel free to add it to the comment section. The more we can share, the better informed we will become. Isn’t knowledge fantastic!

Related articles

• How to make healthier household cleaners from foods and spices (examiner.com)
• Beeswax Is Not Just for Burning. Go green! (clv2012.wordpress.com)
• Green Spring Cleaning: DIY Vinyl & Tile Floor Cleaners (perfectshinehousekeeping.wordpress.com)