Chemical free cleaning

Every day we are exposed to a large amount of toxins in our daily environment - the average home contains a huge amount of chemicals that have the potential to harm your family with continued exposure. Natural cleaning saves time, money and the environment. And we have made it even easier for you to get on board with toxin-free cleaning methods in your home with these helpful hints.  

Clothes, towels and linen

It is likely that the water that runs through your washing machine is connected to the local waterways. Therefore, it makes sense to use detergents that are the least harmful to local ecosystem. Switching to homemade laundry detergent can save you a tonne of money, and greatly reduces damage to the environment. There are plenty of recipes available online using ingredients like borax, washing soda and bar soap. Have a play and see what works for you. There are also plenty of environmentally friendly detergents available if home made remedies aren’t your thing.  

Bathroom

Soap scum can be notoriously hard to remove – but this scouring powder you can make yourself will cut through even the most stubborn soap scum: combine two parts baking soda with one part salt and one part borax (which can be found in the cleaning section of some supermarkets) and scrub away soap scum with much less effort!     [alert style="alert-success" dismissable="false"]

Natural air fresheners

Forget artificial scents or sprays, and have a go at this DIY solution for musty or unpleasant smelling rooms! Simmer in a saucepan a few cups of water and a combination of fresh lemon, lime and ginger, or even some orange slices and vanilla or cinnamon. Let the scent drift through the entire house for a quick fix for unpleasant smells drifting from the kitchen or bathroom. [/alert]  

Kitchen

Microfibre cleaning products can make a world of difference to cleaning, especially when combined with other natural remedies such as vinegar and lemon juice.     Baking soda is an incredibly effective for oven cleaning – make a paste by mixing a few teaspoons of the stuff with water and apply to stubborn, baked-on food and stains. Leave for a few hours and everything should lift off easily, leaving your oven looking as good as new. Smelly dishwasher that isn’t cleaning as efficiently as it used to? Simply fill a dishwasher safe bowl filled with 2 cups of vinegar and place it on the top rack of the dishwasher. Set to a hot cycle with no other dishes in the machine.  

Flooring – tiles, wooden floorboards and carpets

Again, microfibre could be a game changer when it comes to cleaning your floors without chemicals. Microfibre mop sets allow you to remove fine particles of dirt and dust using only water! If you need to remove sticky stains or marks, an easy to make solution to mop your floors with is citrus infused vinegar – fill a jar with citrus peels, pour undiluted white vinegar over them and leave for a few days. You can use this solution for up to two weeks for mopping tiles and timber flooring, disinfecting surfaces, and simply dilute with water to use as a window cleaner.     [alert style="alert-info" dismissable="false"]

Choices, choices

The best natural cleaning products on the market Aussies put their health first – so there is a rapidly increasing demand for household products that do not contain nasty chemicals that may pose a risk to the family. Here are just some of the great Australian brands that offer more natural cleaning options for you:

• ECOlogic
• Enjo
• Enviroclean
• Abode
• Eucoclean
• Divine
• Nature’s Child
• Vital
• Amaze
• Soleo Organic
• Our Eco Home
• Wotnot

[/alert]