7 Minute Read

“Keep things clean, Stay healthy” – it’s a no-brainer. We always depend on buying expensive cleaners, sanitizers with complex (sometimes harmful) chemical solutions to cleanse the ways in our home but never try to realize that we can achieve far better result with our natural and cheaper household ingredients of regular use. Now more than ever, given then pandemic situation, they can really accommodate our desire to stay healthy. Let’s get acquainted with them: 

All-Purpose Cleaner

Window

Glass and Mirror  

Metallic Things

Oven

Add 1 tablespoon of water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap with 1/4 cup baking soda and scrub the mixture on the inside of your oven. Allow the scrub dry out and then wipe clean with a clean rag and warm water.

Microwave Oven

Drains

Bathroom

Bathtub and Tiles cleaning: Use a sponge to wipe the surface with vinegar, then sprinkle baking soda or non-iodized salt, scrub with a damp sponge, and rinse well with water. You can also add 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent to make a scrub. Rinse it with warm water.

Mildew cleaning: Put 1/2 cup borax and 1/2 cup vinegar into a spray bottle and fill it with hot water, then spray it in the shower or bathtub and scrub.

Kitchen

Soap and warm water will clean dirt from surfaces in the kitchen, but if you want to kill harmful germs like salmonella and E. coli or even the recent one, COVID-19 virus SARS-CoV-2, you’ll need to use more complex (don’t worry, they are still cheap) chemical solution for better result. Heat up 1/2 cup white vinegar (5%) or hydrogen peroxide (3%) to 54°C, put the mixture into an empty spray bottle and spray it onto surfaces. Wait for 1 minute and then wipe it dry.

WARNING!!!

We have been mixing so much stuff here. Now, be careful:

DON’T MIX THESE EVER: Although vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are great sanitizers on their own, never mix these two in a container. This creates a chemical called Peracetic acid, which can burn your skin and is dangerous to breathe in. The same goes for ammonia and bleach - mixing them or using them in the same space can create toxic fumes.

CAUTION AGAINST BORAX: Borax, or chemically known as sodium borate, is similar to baking soda, but stronger. It’s a natural bleach and is good for removing dirt and stains from laundry and surfaces. Although it’s natural, borax could irritate your skin, eyes, or breathing. So, keep it away from children and pets.

Pandemic or not, regular cleaning always keeps you safe and sound from disease coming from God-knows-where. Add a natural and home-grown vibe to that cleaning process and you become extra safe. Happy cleaning!