I have personally tried all the
natural alternatives in this article, and I have replaced the costly
chemical products with these alternatives. Not only are these
alternatives much cheaper, they are also much safer to use and work as
well, if not better than the expensive chemical products.
Automotive Care
Natural Engine Degreaser:
Dissolve one-quarter cup of washing soda into one gallon of warm
water, pour on engine areas that need degreasing. Rinse
thoroughly. Excess should not be stored - discard all leftovers.
Battery Cleaner (Removes built-up
acid): Sprinkle baking soda on the battery terminals.
Spritz with water to dampen. Let sit for about one hour.
Sponge off with water. Air dry.
Winter Windshield Solution: When
you leave your car outside in winter, mix three parts vinegar to one
part water and coat your windshield with the solution. This will
keep your windshield free of frost and ice.
Bathroom
Bathroom Mirrors: Clean mirrors
with rubbing alcohol to prevent fogging.
Bathtub Stains: Scrub with a
paste made from cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide.
Drain Cleaner: For slow drains,
use this cleaner once a week to keep drains fresh and clog-free.
One-half cup of baking soda, one cup of white vinegar, with one gallon
of boiling water. Pour the baking soda down the drain, followed
by the vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for several minutes
before flushing the drain with boiling water.
Plumbing Fixtures: To clean
chrome, stainless steel, fiberglass, ceramic, porcelain, or enamel
fixtures, dissolve two tablespoons of baking soda in one quart of
water. Wipe on fixtures, then rinse.
Remove hard lime deposits around
faucets by covering the deposits with vinegar - soaked paper towels.
Leave the paper towels on for approximately one hour before cleaning.
Leaves chrome shiny and clean.
Scouring Bathroom
Cleaner: One-half cup liquid Castile soap, one teaspoon of
Borax, two teaspoons of baking soda, one and three-quarters cup of
very hot water, and four drops of essential oil of your choice.
Pour the water into a stainless steel mixing bowl and add the liquid
soap. Stir well, then add the dry ingredients. Add the
four drops of essential oil. Stir until well blended.
Store in a squeeze bottle (old ketchup bottle works well) and stir or
shake before using. Store the cleaner in a cool, dry place.
Shelf life is three to four months. If you have a stubborn stain
on fiberglass or plastic surface, add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide
to the mixture for extra stain-fighting power.
Shower Heads:
-
Metal - To remove mineral deposits
that may be clogging your metal shower head, combine one-half cup of
white vinegar with one quart of water. Then completely
submerge the shower head and boil fifteen minutes.
-
Plastic - Combine one pint white
vinegar with one pint of hot water. Completely submerge the
shower head for one hour.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner: (CAUTION!
If you do use bleach to clean your toilet bowl, never mix
bleach with vinegar, toilet bowl cleaner, or ammonia. The combination of bleach with
any of these substances produces a toxic gas.)
-
Baking soda and vinegar - Sprinkle
baking soda into the bowl, then drizzle with vinegar and scour with
a toilet brush. This combination both cleans and deodorizes.
-
Borax and Lemon Juice - For removing a
stubborn stain, like toilet bowl ring, mix enough Borax and lemon
juice into a paste cover the ring. Flush toilet to wet the
sides, then rub on paste. Let sit for 2 hours and scrub
thoroughly. For less stubborn toilet bowl rings, sprinkle
baking soda around the rim and scrub with a toilet brush.
Tub And Tile Cleaners:
-
Baking soda - Sprinkle baking soda
like you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge.
Rinse thoroughly.
-
Vinegar and baking soda - To remove
film buildup on bathtubs, apply vinegar full-strength to a sponge
and wipe. Next, use baking soda as you would scouring powder.
Rub with a damp sponge and rinse thoroughly with clean
water.
Porcelain Cleaner: To clean
porcelain surfaces, rub with cream of tartar, sprinkled on a damp
cloth.
