Slash Your Cleaning Bill With Our Eco-Friendly Guide

Now that the days are warming up, you may want to look at giving your home a spring clean.   The problem is that many cleaning products are loaded with toxic ingredients, which are best avoided. Thankfully as public awareness grows, consumers are developing cleaner, greener solutions that are also kinder on the wallet. In the following guide, we have sourced the best cleaning tips from around the web.

Bathroom

Help keep your bathroom sparkling clean by choosing the best bathroom cleaners.

Two old fashioned ingredients found in just about every home are white vinegar and baking soda. Used separately or together, they provide an eco-friendly solution for just about every cleaning problem.

For bathroom mirrors and shower doors, make up  a solution of 50/50 vinegar and water and store in a  spray bottle. This mixture is very effective at cutting through grease. For more stubborn dirt and buildup, a baking soda and water paste will tackle problem areas like bath and shower scum.

About once a week, sprinkle baking soda around  the inside of the toilet bowl to coat, then add a cup  of undiluted white vinegar into the water. Use a toilet  brush to scrub and the chemical reaction of the baking  soda and vinegar removes stains and any lingering smell.

Laundry

If you want to save big money on laundry powder and reduce exposure to chemical detergents, then the eco laundry ball may be the answer for you. This new innovation contains formulated mineral pellets to ensure a great wash by lifting away dirt, odors and germs, without fading colours. The Eco Laundry Ball is hypoallergenic, ideal for babies, children and those with sensitive skin. Priced at $49 the eco ball is reusable for up to 1000 washes and represents real value for money. Available from Health 2000 stores.

For tub washing, buy baking soda in bulk from Bin Inn and add to wash with laundry powder. You can also reduce the amount of laundry powder by adding an equal amount of baking soda in a 50:50 ratio.

Kitchen

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to commercial dishwash powders, this may be the solution. Mix equal parts baking soda and borax. When washing, use 1 Tbs of the mixture in the small drawer and 1 Tbs in the outer compartment. White vinegar can be used as a rinse aid.

For those without a dishwasher, buy a good quality dishwashing liquid and water it down by about half.

Try using baking soda and white vinegar mixed together to clean your oven. It cleans the oven top very effectively and the mixture can be left for 30 mins on the inside to remove stubborn build-up.

Lounge

Carpet odours are hard to disguise and can be unpleasant. Try sprinkling baking soda over the area and leave for about an hour, then vacuum off. For carpet stains, try mixing vinegar and baking soda into a paste. Gently work into stain with a toothbrush. Let dry then vacuum completely.

To freshen a room without the chemical sprays, try the following tip. Old perfumes or essential oils, can be lightly sprayed onto a light bulb. Make sure the bulb is cool to the touch, as spraying liquid on a hot bulb could cause it to explode. When you turn on the lights you’ll produce a lovely scent. You can also use perfume as a refill for a bottle that contains aromatherapy sticks.

Personal Grooming

Simple ingredients sourced from your kitchen, can provide the basis for some great skin treatments. Milk, yoghurt, oats, honey and lemon juice have been used since ancient times to improve the complexion. Why not try the following:

Take oatmeal powder and add milk to it. Make a paste and apply it all over your face. Gently scrub on the face to cleanse and exfoliate the skin. If you have dry skin, the addition of honey will add moisture. For oily skin, a little lemon juice will provide astringent benefits. For sun damaged skin, yoghurt and milk can be directly applied to calm inflammation.

Instead of washing your hair every day, why not cut down the frequency of washing and see the difference. For dry hair, washing once a week is usually sufficient. For oily hair, why not rinse hair with water and save the shampoo for the weekend. Currently, there exists a  trend that promotes the use of baking soda and cider vinegar to wash hair. Adherents report big changes in shine and quality, and of course, increased savings. Why not check it out here.