Thursday, September 20, 2007

How To Make Your Own Home Cleaning Solution ?

Have you ever wondered what are the inexpensive ways to get things cleaned around your home? Well look no further, as I have just short listed a number of items that can be transformed into your best helping hand, which ultimately doesn't end up burning a big hole in your wallet. This post will in a way, show you how to make your own home cleaning solution. Many of us might overlook these easy-to-use natural alternatives which are commonly available in many of our homes today.

These non-toxic home cleaning solutions are effective and inexpensive to incorporate into your home maintenance regime. Besides that, it's an avenue for us to cut down on chemical-based products which can have high long term health concerns for any family, and possibly even environmental pollution caused by their manufacture, usage and in some cases, indiscriminate disposal of these harmful substances.

Baking Soda
This is basically sodium bicarbonate. It has a number of useful properties. It can neutralize acid, scrub shiny materials without scratching, deodorize, and extinguish grease fires. It can be used as a deodorizer in the refrigerator, on smelly carpets, on upholstery and on vinyl too. It can help deodorize drains as well. It can clean and polish aluminium, chrome, jewellery, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel, and tin. It also tends to soften fabrics and removes certain stains. Baking soda can be used as an underarm deodorant and as a toothpaste too. Now, that one, I'm sure you didn't know??

Cornstarch
This is something that can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs, and starch clothes.

Lemon Juice
Can be used to clean glass and remove stains from aluminium, clothes, and porcelain. It is a mild lightener or bleach if used with sunlight.

Mineral Oils
It is derived from seeds which is an ingredient in several furniture polish and floor wax recipes.

Soap
An all-purpose liquid soap can be made by simply dissolving the old ends of bar soap (or grated slivers of bar soap) in warm water.

Vinegar
It can dissolve mineral deposits, grease, remove traces of soap, remove mildew or wax build-up, polish some metals, and deodorize. Vinegar can clean brick or stone, and is an ingredient in some natural carpet cleaning recipes. Alternatively, you can also use vinegar to clean out the metallic taste in coffeepots and to shine windows without streaking. Vinegar is normally used in a solution with water, but it can be used straight too in certain situations.

Take note that in some cases the results may vary, given the type of products that you might be using or it's concentration levels and so forth. So, always try to test them first in a small hidden area and see if it works.

And if you ever decide to do this at home, when you're due for your next weekly/monthly clean-up session, always remember to "clean from the top down". Which means, save the carpets and the floors to be tackled last, as this will allow time for the dust to settle down before you begin your vacuuming regime.


30 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love this...more people should know the alternatives out there!

NIHAL said...

Hi Susan,

I knew you would love this, and I know how you're into sharing information with regards to a greener environment and all, truly that is something amazing and I admire in you :)

And if anyone hasn't been introduced to Susan's Got 2 B Green site, I would highly recommend you pay her a visit.

darlene said...

great post Nihal!!...very interesting!!...thanks!

Menopauseprincess said...

Hi Nihal,

This is great information but I have noticed when I've used alternative prospects to clean they need more patience because they don't clean as quickly.

As I'm a girl who really doesn't like to clean I just go running for the toxic products, just to get it over with!

Anonymous said...

Hi Nihal!

We get so dependent on modern day conveniences, we learn to forget that we need to keep things simple.

It's such a great post!

NIHAL said...

Hello Darlene,

Well that's the least I could do to give back to society ... make the world a cleaner place *ha ha ha*

As always, it's never a dull day, when Darlene is in the house!!

Thanks dear :)

NIHAL said...

Hi Princess,

Well, I guess most people out there face the same issues as you and that's perfectly understandable.

But, life could be so much nicer, if only the producers of these toxic cleaning solutions made them more environment friendly and less harmful to our health, wouldn't you agree?

Will come by there later, ya :)

NIHAL said...

Hello my dear Sharon,

Thanks for sharing your opinion, appreciate it.

Totally agree with you as it's much easier to get dependent on these modern day conveniences as they're so easy to use ... nowadays, who wants to make their life difficult??

But, it would be great if everyone would give it a shot and tried these once in awhile, who knows, they could even turn it into a business if they wanted to?

Menopauseprincess said...

You're right it would be better if the companies would make their products more environmentally friendly, don't think that will happen anytime soon.

I do want to say in my defense, that no product I've used beats white vinegar for cleaning hard water deposits off of coffee pots.

There may be hope for me yet, Nihal

NIHAL said...

Hi dear Princess,

*Ha ha ha*, gotta agree with you. There's no way these guy's would change all these in the very near future.

Wow, I didn't know that white vinegar could do that? Now, that's something I'm gonna try tomorrow. And ya, you do have hope, I can see that ... *he he he*

Thanks :)

Trix said...

Hi Nihal,
I am so glad to see that you have compiled a list of alternatives to the harsh and expensive stuff they sell in the stores! I always use vinegar for mirrors and windows, excellent tip there..it works very well to break through the grime and dirt.lol...I sound like a housewife on one of those tv ads now..he he!:)
Baking soda to extinguish grease fires..very interesting!
I hope that you are enjoying a really great friday..And I will be returning for lots of useful tips, keep em coming, Nihal! :)

Jesse ..

Anonymous said...

This is great Nihal! I am so pleased that you shared this with me. I have printed out the information so that I can keep it in an easy to access location :)

I just love that all of these alternatives are non-toxic. I have sensitive skin. Therefore, store-bought cleaners usually bother me.

Thank you for the information!

NIHAL said...

Jesse in TV Ads, now that would be totally awesome :)

Now at least I know that there's someone else who had a successful attempt at cleaning their windows using vinegar ... and here, all the time I thought I was alone *he he he*

Friday's always my best day ... I get to sleep in till late coz there's no work the next day (except blogging, if that's considered work??) Yipee!!

Have a great weekend and hugs to the little one, Jesse :)

NIHAL said...

Hi Erina,

Looks like that's another thing we have in common, sensitive skin! I am so helpless at times, no matter what I try to use it is still an issue for my skin.

You should read one of my earlier post, based on a article : caring for the skin, using stuff that you would normally find in the kitchen.

PS : I really love the new makeover at your site, it's really nice :)

mj said...

Hi Nihal,
Those are good practical tips.

NIHAL said...

Hi Marguerite,

It's so great to hear from you :) Hopefully everyone out there feels the same and tries them once in awhile, and boy, does it do wonders for the monthly budget!

Take care and have a great weekend :)

Speedcat Hollydale said...

Hi Nihal! I too like these alternate cleaners and such. I think they are all great but the baking soda arm-pit idea probably will not be strong enough for me ... LOL!!
I once used burrito filling to fix a crack in wood flooring - does that count? :-)
Take care my friend, Eric "Speedcat"

Mariuca said...

Hola! I have something special for you!

http://mariucasperfume.blogspot.com/2007/09/more-awards-for-my-gallery.html

Genie Princess

Kim said...

this is a great list of products Nihal.......
another one to add to your list is eucalyptus oil....it's great for cleaning cupboards and floors and the smell is scrumptiously clean.....

J@n!ce said...

Nihal, thanks for sharing the kitchen tips :)

Nice to see your signature there :):)

Janice Ng

Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) said...

Hey Nihal, at least now when I need some cleaning solutions and the stores are closed, I can try making my own instead ... LOL! cool post, at least there are alternatives for us out there :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Nihal;

How are you sweetie? Hope all is well.

Nice suggestions for alternate cleaners. And I'm sure much more environmentally friendly!

Take care;
Anna

NIHAL said...

Hi there Speedy,

Ha ha ha, the damage it does to the baking soda (not the other way round ... he he he)

But anyhow, come to think of it, locally there are folks that use lime to get "that" job done, I have not tried this though.

"Burrito filling to fix a crack in wood flooring", ha ha ha, only Speedy can come up with stuff like this I tell you. Good one buddy :)

NIHAL said...

Hello Marzie,

Lagi satu misteri gift untuk saya??? Dah lah saya berhutang dengan you for God knows how much and here you bagi I lagi satu ... I malu lah:)

I sometimes feel really bad not being able to fulfill your ventures that you have so graciously made me part of all these time.

But I really wanna thank you for always being there and placing me amongst your list of friends :)

NIHAL said...

Hi Kim,

How true, Eucalyptus Oil, I totally forgot about it.

Apparently, even locally here in Malaysia, I've come across a couple of products which are meant to provide care for wood based furniture, bearing this same great oil.

Thanks for sharing this great input, Kim :)

NIHAL said...

Hola Janice :)

Sorry lambat to reply ya, I have been away from KL for the whole of last week. That's why have not been replying any sooner or visiting any of my blogger friends since.

How's the little ones? Hope they're all fine and can't wait to read about their latest antics, see you then :)

NIHAL said...

Hi Nick,

Thanks buddy, happy to know that you found it useful as well.

Look at our climate, it scares me these days, it's about time that all of us played a part to help the environment in any way we can :)

NIHAL said...

My dear-dear Anna,

I'm so happy to hear from you :)

Ya, things would be a lot better if everything in the world was good, environment wise that is, but sadly we take things for granted and sooner or later it's going to be too late to do anything about it, so I figured, why not start somewhere??

I've been away for most parts of the week and that explains my absence to all your sites as well as our other friends too. Will definitely be surfing over to everyone's site this weekend, I promise.

Take care, Anna :)

Mariuca said...

No worries Nihal, ur always in my thoughts! :):):)

NIHAL said...

Marzie, I owe you big time ... you're the 'bestest' friend anyone could ever have, and I consider myself really lucky, to be counted as your friend. Thanks dear :)