10 Tips for Natural House Cleaning: Healthier and Cheaper!

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(c) photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2010
My Natural Cleaning Arsenal

I have always tended to migrate toward the FREE AND CLEAR forms of most products, because of allergies to scents. It has only been since switching to all-natural products, that I have realized the scents that bother me are the synthetic or chemical ones. I still react to stronger florals, such as rose, gardenia, and jasmine, so you'll see I avoid these stronger smells to save on tissues. I've learned to enjoy the lighter citrus scents that are so common among the natural cleaning products, and that's a good thing.

1. Check out the resources at this About.com's site on cleaning with baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice, three of my top staples. The topics at this site will cover windows, countertops, sinks, floors, silver and jewelry and many of your other basic cleaning tasks.
2. Borax is a biodegradable, non-toxic powder that works great for cleaning toilets, improving laundry detergent performance, and other uses as well. The best news is that you're not flushing poison into our water works.
3. When soap is required, I use a natural vegetable soap such as Dr. Bronner's.  I really enjoy their peppermint scented version. This brand is made from Hemp, an eco-friendly plant of curious association. No; because of the processing involved, you won't have any worries of getting 'high' when using this soap made from the cannibis plant.
4. As a stain remover, I also use Dr. Bronner's, rubbed full strength and directly into the stain. It helps to dissolve and remove the stain easily upon washing. For thick fabrics or carpeting, a good rush of club soda will help to bring up the stain for absorption. Be ready with a rag or old towel to soak up the bubbles, along with the liquid and the offending stain.
5. Cleansers need to be abrasive, but not necessarily made of chlorine. I have a white, solid-surface sink. Believe me, it can get quite stained when wine and spaghetti sauce meet with it. Yet, I've have fabulous results, without major elbow grease, using Bonami, a product that has been around since 1886. It is made from calcium carbonate for good cleansing action, and contains no phosphorous. It is completely biodegradable. I also love that it is made in the U.S. If you prefer to make your own, many people like to use a borax or salt-based paste. Comments?
6. Laundry detergents are among everyone's toughest choice. I've tried many powdered and liquid versions, settling on Biokleen (I like the Grapefruit and Orange Peel scent, which is light) as a personal favorite.
7. Dishwashing detergent is also offered in many powdered and liquid forms. I'll tell you straight up that there were many I tried that left residues or films on my dishes. I've finally located Seventh Generation's Grapefruit Dishwasher Gel, that works well. This was my toughest find in the whole group.
8. Of course, not all dishes can go into the dishwasher. Surprisingly, I was reasonably pleased with most of the dishwashing liquids I tried. Currently I am using a product by Ecover that is made with lemon and aloe vera. I like it just as much as any of the other major players in natural cleaner manufacturing, but especially enjoy the mild scent. So, in this one category, I would suggest you go with your nose. Pick a scent you will enjoy doing dishes to, and call it your aromatherapy! That makes dishes seem a whole lot less work for most of us.
9. Super washing soda, a baking soda product, has many uses around your home. It is economical to use and will probably become a staple for you as well. I even use it for killing crab grass.
10. If you prefer a prepared cleaner for all your general cleaning--floors, counters, door jams, walls, etc., I love biokleen's concentrated All Purpose Cleaner. One small container makes a ton of different solutions for various jobs, and the smell gets along great with my fussy nose.

I'll wrap this up with one final comment on cost savings. Some of these products are downright cheap to concoct your own cleaning solutions with. A bucket, couple of spray bottles, some rags, and you're in business. This not only makes cleaning cheaper, but it is also simpler to keep track of supplies. What's more, they take up less storage space. What's not to like about that?!!

Before I leave you, I'd like to ask, "Does anyone out there have a super duper cleaning "superstar" of an idea they would like to share?" Comment below or send it to me at CarrieLeaJohnson@gmail.com. Happy cleaning........

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