How Can I Clean My House Without Chemicals? 5 Natural Cleaners

1. Vinegar

Fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water and a few drops of an essential oil of your choice. This creates a multipurpose spray, which can be used for most surfaces, dining tables, ceramic knobs, bathrooms, sinks, and mirrors. Vinegar can also be used to descale pots by filling it with a vinegar solution and boiling it.

You can add lemon or lime juice to offset the unpleasant smell of vinegar while increasing its cleaning power. However, the problem is that lemon water cannot be stored for very long.

2. Baking soda

Like vinegar, baking soda is a multipurpose ingredient. You can use it to clean all types of surfaces, from bathrooms to drains, for purposes such as:

• Deodorizer: Keeping a small bowl filled with baking soda in your fridge can help absorb unpleasant odors.
• Degreaser: Baking soda can be used to clean the oven by sprinkling it while the oven is still a little warm. Add a little water on the baking soda and wait for half an hour before wiping away.
• Gentle abrasive: You can sprinkle baking soda on sink faucets and then rinse to make them sparkling clean.
• Drain cleaner: You can pour baking soda down the drain along with vinegar. When combined, these ingredients will effervesce and dislodge grease in the process.

3. Castile soap

Castile soap is a nontoxic, biodegradable soap that is a natural alternative to other soaps, such as laundry detergents, dish and hand soaps, floor cleaners, and shampoos. For washing clothes and utensils, combine 4 parts castile soap with 1 part water in a container. For cleaning floors, mix 1/4 of a cup of vinegar with hot water in a bucket and add a generous squeeze of castile soap.

4. Olive oil

You can use olive oil instead of furniture polish to make wood pieces shine. Check whether the wood is sealed, however. Otherwise, it will absorb the oil. You can also add a squeeze of lemon for each quarter cup of olive oil. You can also add a drop or two of vinegar to the olive oil if the wood is especially dirty. 

To clean wood furniture, use a soft cloth to dab the oil on it and apply in circular motions. You can use the same technique to get scratches out of leather. 

Cast iron skillets can be cleaned with a splash of olive oil and a teaspoon of coarse salt. Scrub the skillet with a stiff brush followed by rinsing with hot water.

5. Tea tree oil

To combat mold and mildew, fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and add a few drops of tea tree oil. Leave this on the moldy surfaces for about 30 minutes, then clean with warm water and a cloth. You can use the mixture to clean your kitchen counter, bathroom sinks, door handles, light switches, etc.