Homemade Child-Safe Natural Cleaning Products
- 1). Make your own general purpose cleaner. Combine 1 tsp. of borax with 1 qt. of warm water and a splash of white vinegar. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and use it on countertops, doors, walls and other household surfaces, just as you would use a commercial all-purpose cleaner.
- 2). Use natural products to freshen laundry. White vinegar is particularly beneficial for baby clothes, since it removes uric acid, commonly excreted by infants, as well as soap residue, which may cause skin irritation, according to Michigan State University Extension. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the washing machine during the rinse cycle. Do not use white vinegar with any products containing chlorine bleach.
- 3). Replace caustic products, such as commercial oven and drain cleaners, with natural products. For the oven, mix 3 tbsp. of washing soda with 1 qt. of warm water. Spray the mixture to apply and wait at least 20 minutes. Wipe clean with a steel wool pad and rinse with warm water. Repeat if necessary. To unclog drains, pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by 1 cup white vinegar. Let the product sit for at least five minutes, then flush with a gallon of boiling water.
- 4). Clean windows with one part water and one part white vinegar. Spray the product onto the window, then wipe clean. If you have always cleaned glass with commercial products, you might notice streaking the first time you try the solution. Rub the streaks with rubbing alcohol and repeat application.
- 5). Combine borax and white vinegar for bathroom cleaning. Borax is highly effective at removing dirt, while vinegar acts as an anti-bacterial agent, according to Purdue University Extension. For the toilet bowl, first wet the sides by flushing, then cover the bowl with 1 cup of borax. Spray the borax powder with 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Let the solution sit for several hours, then scrub with a toilet brush.
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