If you can’t find good natural cleaning products locally and don’t want to buy online, one alternative is to make your own. To be honest, most of us won’t bother with this, but here is the info if you need it. All you need are some reusable bottles (new and clean, not leftover bottles of chemical liquid). Label and date bottles, and store in a cool dark place.
Never mix any kind of bleach (natural or otherwise) with vinegar, or you’ll cause a lethal gas. Use items unscented for pregnancy/nursing and medical conditions affected (asthma, epilepsy, high blood pressure etc), and don’t use essential oils near babies and pets (don’t use citrus oils like lemon or orange near pets either, including surfaces where they walk (floors, countertops etc). If using Borax alternative for the toilet, keep the lid closed.
It’s science, really. All you need is an alkali (baking soda) and an acid (white cleaning vinegar or lemon juice). You then need some castile soap (or unscented biodegradable washing-up liquid) and optional essential oils to scent. Stock up with some biodegradable cleaning cloths, and you’re sorted!
Baking soda is made from sodium carbonate, water and recycled co2, and is a mild alkali minera that cana be used as a mild abrasive, to cut g rime. You won’t get far with the tiny pots in supermarkets, so buy a bulk box online at Robert Dyas or online. You can also use it to sprinkle on carpets (away from pets and children) and vacuum the next day, to absorb odours.
White cleaning vinegar (not the brown malt vinegar you put on your chips) can remove tough stains, it just takes longer than ‘instant cleaners’. Vinegar is acidic, so avoid on natural stone, unsealed grout or waxed surfaces (wear gloves, and dilute if concentration is too high, test on out-of-sight area). Use to remove limescale from taps and kettles, clean glass and mirrors, clean washing machines and use instead of fabric conditioner/rinse aid. Find recipes in the book Simply Clean (the author is ana eco-American version of our Kim & Aggie).
