Homemade Cleaning Products: Easy to Make, Easy on the Environment

How many cleaning products do you have stored under your kitchen sink right now?

Replace them with these 5 products and your house will still sparkle, you’ll cut down on clutter and reduce your family’s exposure to toxic cleaning chemicals.

Dr. Toni Bark, a medical consultant and LEED-accredited professional at the Center for Disease Prevention and Reversal in Evanston, says it’s not only doable, it’s preferable. “Why spend the money on store-bought products? Why introduce the chemicals into the environment and create all that waste from packaging? It’s a huge waste.”

Here’s what you need to get started:

1. Microfiber cloth – Bark suggests starting your transformation by purchasing high-grade microfiber cloths.  They cost about $2.00 per towel and are usually sold in a pack of a dozen. Cheaper and better than paper towels.

2. Vinegar – You can use regular vinegar or apple cider vinegar. A small amount mixed with warm water in a bucket is a great solution for cleaning windows and light fixtures. Using just vinegar ensures you won’t introduce ammonia to your home, according to Bark.  Use your microfiber cloth for this job.  Newspaper is another alternative.  It does a great job of not leaving streaks.

3. Oil – Similarly, oil can be used to clean wood surfaces, such as dining room and kitchen tables.  Bark recommends olive, coconut or sunflower oil rather than corn oil, which carries a stronger scent.

4. Baking soda – Toilet bowls can be cleaned with baking soda. And, tough stains on the ceramic can be scrubbed with a combination of baking soda and peroxide.

5. Enzymes – Bark says enzymes can be purchased in gallon containers at many pet stores. (http://www.ilovenaturesmiracle.com) She says they work wonders on removing dog’s urine stains. And according to online users, they’re also remarkable laundry aids.

6. Houseplants – Bark also recommends investing in a few hearty houseplants that you can place throughout your home.  “Potted plants take in toxins and give out oxygen, which is a natural way to purify the air you breathe,” says Bark.  NASA’s website lists the top 10 houseplants to help achieve this green goal.

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