I love cleaning all naturally! First of all, I feel better knowing that I’m using non toxic products. Secondly, I’ve saved SO MUCH money not having to purchase cleaners. Third, I have found that these solutions actually clean BETTER than the store bought versions! (….which is really no surprise considering our great grandmothers used some of these methods way before “cleaners” were invented!)
Living in Sicily, I’ve learned that vinegar, my most prized and precious cleaner, is in abundance! Since vinegar is so cheap here, it’s been an added bonus to clean naturally. I later discovered that many women use vinegar to clean as well =) So ditch whatever chemicals you can, and try to see what natural solutions work for you!
1) Dusting spray for wood furniture…and leather
If you have a formal living room that’s hardly used, you know that like everything else in that room, dust accumulates, even on the sofa =) Most people dust the furniture in the room, but unless you dust the sofa as well, your guests may start sneezing moments after they sit down =( I wanted something that not only removes the dust off the sofa, but also keeps a shine.
Ingredients:
-3 oz travel size pump spay
-1\4 tsp olive oil
-1\4 tsp vinegar
-1 drop of your favorite essential oil (optional)
-Water
In a travel size (3oz) pump spray, place 1\4 tsp of olive oil and 1\2 tsp vinegar (……I would say that distilled vinegar is preferable, but here in Italy I only have white wine vinegar, so that’s what I use) and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake well before using. NOTE: When you are ready to dust, spray several times onto a lint free cloth, NOT directly on the leather or wood, and wipe down. Optional: If you have some essential oil on hand, you can mix in a drop or so for fragrance……I like to add Eucalyptus…..and that’s it!
2) Glass cleaner for windows……and mirrors
This solution is great for streak free window cleaning in the house as well as can be used for cleaning the windows of the car (Don’t worry, the vinegar smell will evaporate =)
– 1\2 part vinegar to 1 part water …….mix and store in a spray bottle.
3) Floor cleaner for non porous tiles, linoleum and hardwood
In a bucket, pour 1 cup vinegar, 2 squirts of all natural liquid dish soap, several drops of essential oil, and fill the rest with warm water.
4) All purpose spray for all non porous surfaces
I use this for bathrooms, kitchen appliances and counter tops (again, do not use on porous surfaces like marble).
In a spray bottle, squirt 1 TBSP all natural liquid dish soap, along with a 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water ratio.
5) Hand Sanitizer
In a travel size spray pump (3 oz), I simply use a 1:3 ratio of vinegar to water. You can optionally add a drop or two of essential oil for fragrance, if necessary. It works wonderfully!
6) Dish Washing
In a 16 oz squeeze bottle, place 1-2 TBSP of concentrated all natural dish liquid soap, 2 Tbsp vinegar (helps prevents hard water stains) and fill the rest of the bottle with water. For cooking stains: Scour\scrub with baking soda along with a drop or two of the dish soap solution.
7) How to clean a mattress
Once a year (….at the end of the sticky, humid summer) I clean our mattress. It isn’t as bad as it sounds, really. Just add a couple of drops of essential oil (like eucalyptus) to 2 cups of baking soda and mix well. With a flour sifter, or using a sieve, sprinkle the mix all over the mattress. After 1 hour, vacuum the mattress with a clean hose attachment. That’s it =)
Happy all natural cleaning!
Wanita =)
