During every major cleaning session, what cleaner do you typically reach for? Bleach or Lysol?
While commercial cleaners can do a great job of disinfecting and sanitizing, they usually leave harsh chemical smells. And, more often than not, you only need a simple all-purpose cleaner for the chore.
Luckily, there are different natural products you can use for cleaning–and you can easily find them in your pantry. Plus, they can be as effective at cleaning (and removing stubborn stains) as conventional cleaners.
In this post, we’ll share some of the best natural products for simple cleaning tasks in your apartment.
White Vinegar
An all-around magic cleaner, vinegar isn’t only used for homemade dressings.
It can easily break down grime, dirt, grease, and hard water deposits–making it perfect for cleaning almost any surface you can think of. This includes your microwave, kettle, windows, stove, and sink. What’s more, vinegar can effectively remove rust, mildew, and even stinky odors.
But remember: vinegar is made of acetic acid, so you have to dilute it with water for safety. You can also mix in a few drops of liquid soap for the best results.
Baking Soda
Another natural deodorizer, baking soda can absorb awful smells and loosen dirt and gunk. You can pair it with dishwashing liquid or water for a more powerful cleaning combo like vinegar.
Apart from creating a mini volcanic eruption, you can use both baking soda and vinegar for a few cleaning tasks, like breaking up minor clogs. Just sprinkle baking soda into your drain, pour in vinegar, then allow their unclogging magic to do the trick.
As a standalone cleaner, baking soda offers plenty of uses beyond allowing your baked goods to rise, from removing stubborn residue to freshening carpets and upholstery.
Borax
Did you know that borax is a naturally occurring mineral? While it isn’t safe to swallow or breathe in, it has been a popular ingredient in commercial cleaning products for decades.
Like baking soda, borax is an alkaline. But it has a higher pH, so you have to dissolve it in water to make it safe for use.
Besides making slime for kids, borax can clean a lot of things in your apartment. You can add a mixture of 1 tablespoon of borax and 2 cups of water to your laundry load for a deep clean. Or dilute a cup of borax in a gallon of warm water and spray the solution on your bathroom tiles to remove mildew stains.
Lemon
When used by itself, lemon juice isn’t that effective at cleaning your apartment. But when combined with other cleaners, you can have a natural bleaching agent to treat stains, remove soap scums, and dissolve hard water deposits. And at the same time, you can enjoy the fresh citrusy scent of lemons.
To remove stains from surfaces, you can sprinkle baking soda on the affected area, cut a lemon in half, and use it to scrub off the stain. To polish hardwood furniture, you can soak a clean cloth in a mixture of 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1 cup olive oil.
You can also use lemon for removing odors. Simply put lemon peel in a pot filled with water, allow it to simmer, and enjoy a fresh-smelling apartment. Or toss lemon peel into your garbage disposal to eliminate any awful smells.
Oxford at Estonia Apartments in San Antonio, TX