Non-Toxic, Eco-Friendly Household Cleaning Tips

This is part 3 of my Spring Cleaning series. Read Part 1 and Part 2.

When I used commercial cleaners in my home, a throbbing headache often ensued, which made me resistant to cleaning at all. Then I discovered natural alternatives, and both my house and my head are grateful. You can clean practically anything with white vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. It’s better for the earth and saves you money.

Convincing my bathroom-cleaning husband to use vinegar proved a challenge, so we compromised and he uses Seventh Generation and Method products that harness less toxic, plant-based ingredients. We said “no” to using bleach a long time ago. (Bleach is ineffective, harmful to humans and lethal to animals.)

Now that you’ve de-cluttered and organized your home, you’re ready to give it a thorough cleaning. Here are 12 simple, natural cleaning solutions that cover some of the basics plus a few extras.

Drain Cleaner

For sinks and bathtubs. Pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup of vinegar. (Unless I specify otherwise, I always mean white vinegar.) This creates a fun, fizzy reaction your child will enjoy. Then pour in a kettle of boiling water for a sweet smelling clean drain.
Kitchen odors

Like burnt asparagus (which I over-broiled last night) or fish (which makes me nauseous). One option is to mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray the air. A more sweet smelling option: Dab vanilla extract onto a cotton ball and leave on the counter.
Microwave Spills

While it’s best to wipe food splatters regularly, steam is the trick to removing hardened spills. Put a cup of water with vinegar or lemon juice in the microwave and bring to a boil. Let it sit a few minutes as the steam softens food spills. Remove cup and wipe the inside of microwave with a sudsy rag. Rinse and wipe dry.
Window Cleaner

Most people know about using vinegar and newspaper for a streak-free shine. This works wonders on glass… unless your windows have previously been cleaned with a commercial cleaner. They leave behind invisible, waxy residues. To remove the wax, first mix a spray bottle with 2 cups of water, ½ cup white vinegar and ½ teaspoon dishwashing liquid. Spray windows, wait 30 seconds and polish with a clean rag. Voila! You can then revert to the vinegar/newspaper method for successive cleanings.
Carpet Cleaner

Baking soda sprinkled onto a carpet for 15 minutes and then vacuumed helps eliminate odors. Salt (sprinkled and worked into rug with a stiff broom before vacuuming) loosens dirt and kills flea and moth eggs.Area rugs that cannot be tossed into the washing machine are best cleaned in the rain. Check with a trustworthy weather reporter to find a day of heavy rain to be followed by several days of warm, rain-free weather. Lay the rug flat on sheets or towels on a large surface (lawn, patio, picnic table) and let the rain soak it. The rug should dry outside within a few days (only lay wool rugs in shaded areas as the sun can yellow them). Shake or beat vigorously before bringing it back inside.
Toilet Cleaner

Mix ¼ cup baking soda with 1 cup vinegar and pour into toilet bowl. Let sit for a few minutes before scrubbing and rinsing. An alternative is using 2 parts borax to 1 part lemon juice. If you have not cleaned your toilet in a long time and have mineral deposits in the bowl, you may want to try an overnight vinegar soaking. (Be sure to remove any “automatic toilet cleaner” discs first as they are hazardous when mixed with vinegar.) Plunge all the water out of the bowl. Fill bowl with 1 ½ gallons of vinegar and let it sit for several hours or overnight, if possible. Scrub and flush.
Floor Cleaner

¼ cup mild dishwashing liquid mixed into a bucket of warm water is good for many floor types including ceramic, linoleum, vinyl and sealed wood. Always start with as little water as possible – a damp mop is just fine. Wood floors with a penetrating finish (you can usually feel the grain) should not be cleaned with water. A natural citrus solvent is usually recommended. There is no need to use harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbers on your floors. A baking powder paste wiped on with a damp rag works great on stains. Some floors (vinyl, stone, tile) do well with a vinegar/water mix to clean and increase shine. Add a few drops of peppermint oil to counter the vinegar odor.
Air Freshener and Purifier

Commercial air fresheners just mask odors with chemicals that can make your indoor air quality even more polluted than outdoors. For me, they induce headaches. The most convenient and often effective odor remover is lighting a match. A drop or two of essential oils (particularly flowery scents like jasmine or rose) on a cotton ball left out can permeate a room nicely. As does a simmering pot of fresh herbs or spices (rosemary, cinnamon, citrus peels).For air purification, you can’t get better than houseplants. They naturally rid the air of toxins while adding beauty and oxygen. See my Top 5 list of air-purifying indoor plants.
Clothing Stains

Always most effective if used right away, try these stain-specific solutions:
- Blood. Soak garment in cold water with laundry detergent. Add hydrogen peroxide for set-in stains. Launder as usual.
- Sweat. Spray the armpit area of shirts and bras with white vinegar immediately after removing them. Launder as usual.
- Cooking oil and grease. Scrub with liquid dish soap, then launder in hot water. Or sprinkle baking soda over the stain, then place the garment (stain side down) over a rag on top of the ironing board. Iron over the clothing; the heat should melt the grease onto the rag.
- Red wine, chocolate, grape juice, coffee. Wash in hot water with detergent (not soap, which contains stain-setting fats and oils). For immediate spills, remove garment and place over a plastic bag. Pour table salt over the spill to soak up the moisture and prevent further soaking. Brush off salt and launder in hot water.
- Felt-tip marker. Rub with vodka and flush with hot water.
Computers, Tablets and Phones

You don’t need anything fancy for your electronics, just water. Always make sure the power is off first. To keep your LCD screens clean, simply wipe with a soft, lint-free rag dampened with distilled water. Microfiber cloth or old cotton T-shirts work great. The key is to keep the rag damp, not sopping wet. Apply only light pressure and work in a circular motion. For your keyboard, a similar method applies. Power down and wipe with a wet rag. Use a moistened cotton swab to get in between the keys.
Wooden Decks

To rid your deck of mold and mildew, first hose the deck down. Sprinkle with baking soda. Scrub the soda into the wood with a long-handled brush. Wait 10-15 minutes and rinse it off. This solution also works for removing moss from wood shingles.
Ants

Spring usually arrives with its share of insects. Ants patrol our house for a few weeks every May before mysteriously disappearing until next year. Trace their trail to find where the ants are entering your home. Caulking spaces around doors and windows may be enough to do the trick. I’ve found borax (or boric acid) to be most effective. It’s toxic to insects that have not developed resistance to it. Sprinkle some outside around window and door cracks. If you don’t want to kill the ants, try spreading peppermint leaves, red pepper or paprika across the trail to divert the critters.

I have Ellen Sandbeck’s book “Organic Housekeeping” on my shelf, from which I drew much of this information. You can buy it used here. Wellness Mama offers some more great natural cleaning tips on her blog including ovens, dishwashers, garbage disposals and car upholstery.

My friends at DIY Natural offer this amazing book of do-it-yourself household cleaners, available in seven reading formats. And check out Mommypotamus’ recipe for a homemade all-purpose cleaner and essential oils to include.