It is important for you to replace your household chemical cleansers and solvents with organic cleaning products. We still cannot be sure how much health damage has been caused by harsh chemical products marketed to consumers to use to clean their homes over the last century. We can, however, be sure that the damage is substantial, especially to children and the elderly.

The good news is that not only will organic cleaning products benefit your health, but they will save you money as well. The basic ingredients are quite affordable and, if you don’t already have them at home, easy to find on the grocery store shelves. They include things like baking soda, Borax, cornstarch, lemon juice, vinegar, vegetable oil, mineral oil, vegetable oil-based soap, and washing soda.

For scouring greasy dirt, like the kind most often encountered in the kitchen, you can use washing soda. Never stick your hands directly into a washing soda solution, as it is a strong cleaner and can cause rashes. Make sure to use gloves, even when using organic cleaning products. To create your own scouring powder, combine one cup of baking soda and a quarter of a cup of washing soda, and scrub away.

To make a multi-purpose spray cleanser, combine one half teaspoon of washing soda, one half teaspoon of vegetable oil-based soap, one half teaspoon of Borax, two tablespoons of vinegar, and two cups of hot water in a spray bottle. Shake until all solids have been dissolved. For a stronger solution, increase the Borax to a full teaspoon. Spray the solution directly on the surface to be cleaned and wipe with a damp rag or sponge.

It is interesting to note that, up until World War Two, we used organic cleaning products in our homes exclusively. It wasn’t until during and after the war that petroleum-based chemicals were introduced into our homes as cleaning agents.

If you need to kill mold, use undiluted vinegar. To keep mold at bay, treat afflicted areas with slightly diluted vinegar on a regular basis.

To rid a room of musty smells, you need to use one teaspoon of tea tree oil and one cup of water. Use a spray bottle as a dispenser. After a day or two the smell should disappear and the solution will have dissolved.

Organic cleaning products can be used for big jobs too, like cleaning sinks, toilets, and tubs. Vinegar can be used on toilet and tub stains. Pour it on the stain and let it soak before scouring. Be careful never to add vinegar to your toilet if you are using a commercial cleaner or tab, as the chemical reaction can produce toxic gas fumes.

There are many organic cleaning recipes and many companies manufacture eco-friendly cleaning products. Be careful to check the ingredients on the labels before you purchase. There should be nothing contained in the solution that you do not readily recognize as an organic compound. If there is, then these are not truly organic cleaning products.

You won’t believe the healthy impact switching to organic cleaning products can make until you give it a try.

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