CLEANING MATERIALS ARTICLES

How to Make Your Own Inexpensive Cleaning Products

Whether you are on a tight budget or don’t have the time to spare going to the store, you can still make your own cleaning products from everyday items that are probably already in your house. Many of these items not only inexpensive but might also be safer, more natural options to commercial cleaning products.

Vinegar, baking soda, and lemon are definitely three common ingredients your will find in do-it-yourself household cleaning formulas.

Vinegar (white vinegar) not only cuts through grease, removes mildew and other stains easily, but vinegar can also remove odors and wax build-up. It is a non-toxic acid that doesn’t leave residue or odors behind. Make sure you only use the plain white vinegar and not the apple cider vinegar you will usually find at the grocery.

Baking Soda cleans and deodorizes at the same time. It actually eliminates odors as opposed to covering them up. Since it is abrasive, it is great for scouring. Furthermore, you can use baking soda to polish and whiten. You can use it straight out of the box.

Lemon is probably one of the strongest anti-bacterial ingredients. It also leaves a fresh scent behind. That is why you will find lemon as a main ingredient in many commercial cleaning products.

Using the above as base ingredients, you can create three basic, indispensible cleaning products.

All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix ½ tablespoon of baking soda, 2 cups of hot tap water, and a drop or two of liquid soap. Place this into a spray bottle for use on any type of surface.

Soft Scrub Cleanser: Mix ½ cup of baking soda with liquid detergent. Apply the mixture to a sponge to scrub sink or bathtub surfaces. It washes off easy without any residue.

Window & Glass Cleaner: Mix ½ teaspoon of liquid detergent, 3 tablespoons of white vinegar, and 2 cups of water. Place the mixture in a spray bottle and you have a window and glass cleaner on par with the ones you buy at the store.

Carpet Freshener: You can sprinkle baking soda directly on your carpet to freshen it. Just vacuum it after about 15 minutes.

Furniture Polish: Mix together ½ teaspoon of mineral oil with ¼ cup of vinegar or lemon juice. Place in a spray bottle and use with a cloth. It will polish wood surfaces effectively.

Choosing Household Cleaners That Are Safe & Environment Friendly

Leading a “green” life is fast becoming the new way of living nowadays. But what does it mean to be green? It is how a person goes about their day by conserving energy and using environmentally friendly products. These include household cleaners. Keeping your home safe from toxins depends on how smart you are in choosing the right products. Household cleaners will affect the members of your family because each one of them touches and breathes whatever you use inside your house.

Choosing safe and environmentally friendly household cleaners relies on some research. These include reading and understanding labels and ingredients on the cleaning products that you use. Some of the terms may sound too scientific for your taste but learning about them can keep you and your family safe and healthy.

Here are a few of the common toxic ingredients of cleaning products that you should avoid or use sparingly around the house:

• Acetone – commonly found on stain removers that causes irritation upon contact with skin or eyes; experts say it may even cause liver and kidney impairment.
• Ammonia – this ingredient must be diluted and used sparingly as a cleaning solution because it can cause severe burning sensation and may form into a poisonous gas when mixed with bleach; better to use vinegar as an alternative.
• Formaldehyde – usually found in some polishing products; may cause dizziness, different aches and pains when inhaled; natural oil based products should be used instead.
• Methylene chloride – a stain remover ingredient that might cause liver and brain damage or even heart attack when inhaled.
• Phosphoric acid – some dishwashing liquid, disinfectants and other mildew remover ingredient that can be dangerous to the nervous system.
• Sodium hypochlorite – or simply bleach. This is a dangerous substance to use inside the house especially if you and your family members have heart conditions or asthma.
• Turpentine – found in furniture and shoe polish products. It can cause allergies and other organ damage
• Xylene – an ingredient used in some stain removers, floor polishing products, etc. It may cause loss of memory and worst death if exposed to high dosages of this chemical.

  
These are only a few of the chemicals found in cleaning products that prove to be hazardous to one’s health. The best thing to do is to always check labels and choose products that are natural and organic. Keeping your house clean will keep you healthy but choosing cleaning products with toxic ingredients might kill you. So keep it safe by going green.

Tips on What Stain Remover to Use for Different Surfaces

Stains on any surface can give you a bad migraine especially if you are juggling between your office work and taking care of your family. The best way to deal with any stain is to take action immediately. Make sure that the cleaning products you will be using are safe and will do the job fast and easy. If you have a tight budget and cannot just buy all the stain removers that you need from the supermarket then it is just practical to learn how to use available materials at home.

Some of the most popular stain remover products include Stain-X, Orange Glo and Oxiclean. These products boast of surefire results on removing stains on any surface. However, there several materials that you have at home that you can use to do the same job. You can also be sure that they are safe and environmentally friendly. These include:

• Vinegar is considered to be an all purpose cleaner that can solve any stain problems on several surfaces. It can remove liquid, urine, blood, mud, and alcoholic beverages, among others, from carpets, rugs or floors. Use this as a natural cleaner with water and liquid detergent. Vinegar can also be used to clean stains on the bathtub, toilet, sink, countertops, stovetop and much more.
• Baking soda is used to remove acid stains on carpets, liquid spills on mattresses or upholstery. It is also a natural deodorizer.

• Lemon can also help you remove stains from several surfaces such as those made of copper or brass.

Some stain removers that must be used sparingly include ammonia, bleach, acetone, amyl-acetate, glycerin, and turpentine among others. These chemicals can be harmful to you and your family even though they prove to be useful in removing different stains on different surfaces.
Whether you choose a commercial or natural stain remover to solve your stain problems, just make sure that you will read labels and follow instructions on how to use them properly. Remember that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Don’t make your stain problems worse by doing more damage to your house and your health as well.