How to Clean without Chemicals
When the spring flowers start popping through the dirt and the days get just a little bit longer, I start getting excited for spring. I throw open my windows and start airing the house out and I also get the itch to start cleaning off the cobwebs and wiping away the dust that's settled during the winter. For years I thought that if my house didn't smell like bleach after a thorough cleaning, then it wasn't really clean, but I slowly started using chemical-free products and found that I could get my cleaning done without any harsh pollutants. I'm showing you how you can clean your home without harsh chemicals with products you probably already have in your home.
You don't need nasty chemicals to clean your home. Most mainstream cleaning products are filled with nasty and unnecessary hazardous ingredients. You might just want to be as natural as possible, or maybe you just want to save some money on cleaning products, either way, these DIY cleaning solutions will have you covered.
Lemon Juice
Natural lemon juice is one of the best natural cleaners. It has a low pH and is has natural antibacterial properties plus they smell great
Baking Soda
Baking soda is non-toxic and inexpensive. Not only does it have some amazing odor absorbing properties, it's also abrasive enough to remove tough stains.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a great polisher and when used in combination with a few of our other natural ingredients it can be a great cleaner too.
Essential Oils
I love using tea tree oil. Not only does it smell good, but it can also prevent mold and mildew and it disinfects. You can also use a combination of sweet orange and eucalyptus oil. Sweet orange oil is antibacterial and antiviral while Eucalyptus oil is antiviral, anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial.
I get my essential oils {for half the price as other companies!} through Simply Earth. You can order single oils or a recipe box, which is how I got started using oils. You will have everything you need, including recipes, to get started to create a healthy home without harsh chemicals. You can use code RACHELFREE to get a free bonus box. Sign up here.
Vinegar
Vinegar is acidic and works as a natural disinfectant. When mixed with baking soda, it makes a pretty amazing fizzy reaction.
I use all of the five natural ingredients together with my
HomeRight SteamMachine for the ultimate chemical-free powerhouse team.
In the Kitchen
Use equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle to spray the counters
{but not if you have granite, marble or stone, the vinegar is too acidic-you can use rubbing alcohol mixed with tea tree oil instead}, add a few drops of tea tree oil
{or other essential oil} to the mix and spray the oven and stovetop and inside your sink.
In a measuring cup, add a few drop of fresh lemon and vinegar and place it in your microwave. Start the microwave and let it run for 2-3 minutes. Open the microwave and use the SteamMachine and a microfiber cloth to wipe off the inside.
Pour about a quarter of a cup of baking soda down your sink into the garbage disposal and add a few teaspoons of vinegar. Science experiment in your sink! Bonus, it cleans as it bubbles.
Use the steam on all surfaces in your kitchen including your appliances. Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.
Use a drop of olive oil on a microfiber cloth to shine stainless steel appliances and faucets.
Add vinegar to your dishwasher and run a rinse cycle to clean the inside of your machine.
Use half of a lemon to scrub cutting boards and give them a final cleaning with steam from the SteamMachine.
Squeegee attachments are great for cleaning any glass you might have.
In the bathroom
Remove mineral deposits on sinks by soaking vinegar on a paper towel and leaving the vinegar-soaked towel on the area for a few hours.
Rub the fixtures with lemon juice.
Spray equal parts vinegar and water with a few drops of tea tree oil on countertops, inside the sink, and in and on the toilet.
Baking soda and vinegar can be mixed together in the toilet bowl and scrubbed.
Use the steam from the
SteamMachine on all areas and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.
A mixture of lemon juice and baking soda can create a paste that can clean grout. Scrub the paste with a toothbrush. Steam and wipe clean.
Shine fixtures with a drop of olive oil.
Put a few drops of tea tree oil in the scrubbed toilet bowl. Use the jet nozzle to get into the hard-to-reach areas around the toilet.
Around the house
Sprinkle baking soda on carpets, couches, and mattresses. Let sit for as long as you can to soak up odors. Vacuum clean. I've also got this homemade carpet deodorizer recipe to help you out!
Add four tablespoons of lemon juice to 1/2 gallon of water. Spray on windows and glass.
Spray equal parts vinegar and water with a few drops or so tea tree oil on the window tracks to prevent mold. Use the SteamMachine to loosen the dirt in the window track and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.
Use steam on the baseboards, trim and any blinds and wipe clean with a cloth.
Polish furniture with a drop of olive oil and a drop of lemon juice mixed together on a microfiber cloth.
Use the HomeRight SteamMachine attachment to mop the floors in the home. I like to sometimes add a few drops of essential oils into my machine as it works.
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It's possible to clean without chemicals. Why not give it a try yourself!
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