We are definitely not anti chemical cleaning products in the Jones home.  When the littlest Jones wakes up at three in the morning with a nasty stomach bug that requires us to spend the next two hours washing bed sheets and carpets, you can bet we are reaching for the bleach spray to disinfect door handles, bathroom sinks, and toilets.  However, for some everyday purposes, there are natural alternatives that work well when you don’t necessarily need or want to turn to harsher chemicals. Best of all, you might already have some of these things in your home.

Baking Soda

Baking soda isn’t just for baking.  This gentle abrasive powder can be used to help clean stuck-on food from dishes, countertops, and appliances. (Of course, always test  in an inconspicuous spot first.) You can make a paste of baking soda and water and apply to sheet pans to help scrape off baked on foods or in an oven to do a deep cleaning.

A bit of baking soda added to your washing machine can help to soften your laundry, whiten whites, and remove odors.

Here is a great article with lots of uses for baking soda: 20 Ways to Clean With Baking Soda to Clean and Freshen Your Home.

Vinegar

Vinegar is an all star cleaning product.  Does anyone else remember walking into Grandmas’ homes in Locust Grove, VA and smelling vinegar?  There is a reason why vinegar is a product that has been reached for over the year for many purposes.

Cleaning the Microwave and Dishwasher

Let the vinegar do the work for you when it comes time to clean the microwave or dishwasher.  In a microwave, add a cup of vinegar and a cup of water into a large bowl.  Set the microwave for five minutes and let the water boil.  Then leave the door closed and let the inside of the microwave steam for ten minutes.  When you open the door, use a towel to wipe down the surfaces.  The vinegar will help to break down all the stuck on food.  

In a dishwasher, place an upright bowl with two cups of vinegar on the top shelf.  Run a cycle and let the vinegar rid the dishwasher of any odors.

Countertop Cleaner

Mix one part vinegar to two parts water into a spray bottle to create your own cleaner for countertops.  If the scent of vinegar, which is strong but will dissipate, is unappealing to you, then add a few drops of an essential oil like lemon to the mix. Don’t use vinegar on granite or marble countertops.

Lemons

The bright citrus smell of lemon make any room in your Locust Grove home smell fresh.  If your skin is sensitive to them, you can wear gloves when using them to clean.

Clean Cutting Boards

Sprinkle some baking soda on a cutting board and scrub it with a cut lemon.  Let it sit for ten minutes and then rinse clean.  This is helpful when cutting things with strong smells like garlic that really absorb into the board.

Mineral Deposits

Some homes have hard water.  You can see mineral deposits on the shower heads, faucets or shower doors of these homes.  To clean faucets, you can rub a lemon over the head and then wipe clean.

Remove stains

Plastic bowls used for food storage often take on the red stains from spaghetti sauce or other food items long after the food has been eaten.  To remove these stains, create a paste with lemon and baking soda to spread in the container.  Let the container sit for a couple hours and then wipe clean.