All-natural cleaning remedies that will leave your home smelling fresh... minus the harsh chemicals

Monday, July 18, 2016 by: Isabelle Z.
Tags: household cleaning, chemicals, natural solutions

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(NaturalNews) It can seem like an exercise in futility to go to great lengths to seek out organic fruits and vegetables for your family, only to prepare and serve them in a kitchen where everything has been cleaned with harsh, toxin-filled chemicals. While focusing on feeding your family healthy foods is vital, you should also keep in mind that commercial cleaning products contain a host of unsavory ingredients that can cause adverse health reactions.

For example, a European study found that people who use a spray cleaner just once a week had a 50 percent higher chance of developing asthma! Glass and furniture cleaners, as well as air fresheners, were all found to be guilty of upping the risk.

Cleanliness is a valid concern in the home, and in food prep areas in particular. Many people fail to realize, however, that some natural methods are just as effective as those harsh chemicals – without any of the dangers. Here is a look at some top choices for natural cleaning.

Easy and natural all-purpose cleaner

A citrus vinegar cleaner is easy to make and will leave your house smelling clean and fragrant. All you have to do is place some citrus peels in a glass jar. Cover them with white vinegar and let the jar sit for two weeks. After that time has passed, remove the peels from the jar and dilute the vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:1. Pour it into a spray bottle, and use it to clean glass, windows, bathrooms and certain countertops. You can even mop floors with it!

Get your cutting board spic and span

Cutting boards can be a breeding ground for germs, particularly when raw meat is cut on the same board as fruits and vegetables. While doing this should be avoided in any event, you'll still need to clean your cutting board after each use. Thankfully, a lemon and some salt can get the job done quite nicely.

First, sprinkle the cutting board with some coarse salt. Then take a lemon with the cut side down – one that has already been squeezed will work fine – and scour the surface while squeezing a little to release some lemon juice. After letting it sit for a few minutes, simply scrape the dirty liquid away. Use a clean cloth to give the surface another rinse, and you're good to go!

Clean your drain sans chemical solutions

Forget the harsh drain cleaners, which are full of all manner of unpronounceable and risky ingredients. If you've got baking soda and vinegar on hand, you have all you need to unclog your drain naturally. First, flush the drain with boiling water and then add half a cup of baking soda. Toss in a cup of vinegar and a cup of hot water and wait for the bubbles to subside, then run some hot tap water down your drain for about a minute and you're done!

Make your carpet smell fresh

You can make a natural carpet freshener easily by combining two cups of baking soda with 10 to 20 drops of the essential oils of your choice. The baking soda will lift stains and deodorize, while the essential oils will disinfect and leave a pleasant aroma.

Lavender is a good choice for a springtime floral scent, while orange, lemon or lemongrass will give your room that citrusy fresh smell. You can also combine oils to create a custom scent. Sprinkle this mixture lightly on your carpet and let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming thoroughly.

With Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, recently revealing a shocking number of dangerous chemicals hiding in common household groceries and supplements in his book Food Forensics, it's time to walk away from processed food and store-bought cleaning products, and start making use of all that nature has given us.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

TheKitchn.com

InSonnetsKitchen.com

NaturalNews.com

FoodForensics.com

Science.NaturalNews.com