Natural Ways to Clean Your Home

By Rebecca Waldron

Do you worry about the harsh chemicals and residue that your cleaning sprays and soaps may be leaving on your counters and floors? There are many things you can find in your kitchen to use in place of these cleaners that will leave your house smelling fresh and germ-free. First stop, your pantry.

Sugar in the Raw

It’s not just a sweet addition to your morning tea. Put a little on your wash cloth to dig down and get some stuck-on dirt and grime off in no time. You don’t have to buy scrubbing solutions in order to use a little elbow grease. Sugar in the raw is natural, inexpensive and lasts. Simply rinse off when done and wipe dry. Try this the next time you’re cleaning your stove top. I use it on all sorts of messes, especially those that my teenage son makes.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is the most diversely used product I know of. Use it in your mop bucket to give your floor a cleansing shine that safely removes bacteria. Remember, what residue you leave on the floor gets in your feet and those of your furry friends, too. Leaving toxins on your floors just puts your family and pets at risk, so take a safer route by adding two cups of apple cider vinegar to your gallon of water to mop, and a cup to a spray bottle of water for your counter and table tops. Don’t worry, the smell disappears when it dries.

Baking Soda

You can clean just about everything with baking soda. Try putting a cup of baking soda in the bottom of your dishwasher and run a cycle. It will disinfect and leave it smelling fresh. Need to dry up a grease or oil spill? Put baking soda over the oil to help it dry before tackling it. You can also make a paste of a tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of water until consistent. Use this paste to clean and shine your sink and stove top. It also works great on cleaning all appliances in the kitchen. You can make them sparkle like new. For the inside of your microwave, put one cup of water with three tablespoons of baking soda in the middle of your microwave. Microwave on high for three minutes. You should be able to wipe out any mess with ease.

Using natural cleaners in your home will save you a lot of money on supplies, remove toxins from your floors and counters, plus you will have an eco-friendly cleaning regimen!

To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Gilbert, Ariz.