Recharge your batteries this spring by detoxifying your environment. This is one of the simplest steps to good health. It is inexpensive and something you could do overnight. I am going to show you how to clean the natural way, with a few basic items: baking soda, lemons, olive oil, vinegar and water.

Lemon juice is nature's spot remover. It is acidic and has excellent antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It is a little known fact that lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent as well. Vinegar is a phenomenal, natural cleaning product that acts as a disinfectant. It is safe to use on most surfaces with the exception of tile grout. Vinegar can have quite a pungent smell. However, if you add lemon juice to vinegar, you can neutralise the smell. Baking soda is a fantastic substitute for commercial, abrasive cleansers. It is a strong deodoriser that is frequently used to eliminate odours in household fridges. Baking soda is far from caustic, unlike many commercial products.

Eco bathroom cleaning

Clean your bathtub and eliminate rust stains by mixing 2 teaspoons of lemon juice with 4 tablespoons of baking soda. Simply rub the paste into the stains and wait half an hour. It works like a charm. You can use pure vinegar to eliminate toilet rings. First flush your toilet, allow the water to drop then soak the sides of the toilet with vinegar. Use a brush to thoroughly scrub away the rings. If the inside of your toilet looks like a crime scene, pour 8 tbsps of white vinegar into your bowl. Let it sit for several minutes then add 8 tbsps of baking soda. You’ll instantly begin to hear the fizz. The fizz tells you that it is working. Add half a cup of vinegar to a bucket of hot water to mop your bathroom floor. You could add a few drops of lemon juice into your bucket as well.

Polish with olive oil

Start with a microfibre cloth and dust your wooden furniture. Mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Apply the mixture to a cloth and buff your furniture until you achieve the desired shine. This mixture will eliminate stains, smudges and fingerprints.

Clean the countertops with baking soda

Countertops, especially kitchen countertops, can take a beating. You can use lemons and baking soda to eliminate stains. If you encounter tough stains, pour lemon juice on the stain and wait several minutes. Usually the juice is acidic enough to eliminate most stains. If the stain persists, scrub the area with baking soda. For general counterpart cleaning, baking soda is abrasive but it doesn’t scratch. Sprinkle a light amount of baking soda onto countertops and use a damp rag to clean the area.

Eliminate odours with vinegar and baking soda

If you have young children or pets, you know that your carpet can trap some vile odours. Simply sprinkle baking soda onto your carpet, wait ten minutes, then vacuum. You can deodorise and clean your waste with white, distilled vinegar. You have two options. First, pour the vinegar directly into the drain with scalding hot water for a few minutes. If the odour persists, pour vinegar into an ice cube tray and allow them to freeze. You can periodically add the vinegar ice cubes to your disposal until the odours dissipate.

Clean your windows with vinegar and water

Commercial glass cleaners are overrated. Save your money spent on glass cleaners by making a mix of 1 cup of white vinegar with 450ml of water. Add the mixture to a spray bottle then clean your windows as usual. The vinegar component dissolves grime and fingerprints that accumulate on the glass.

Clean your cabinets with lemons and water



Cabinets, especially kitchen cabinets, can quickly accumulate dirt and grime. Cleaning them is easy using a combination of lemon juice and hot water. Combine 4 tbsps of lemon juice to 1litre of hot water. Apply the mixture to a damp cloth and rub down your cabinets. The lemon’s acidity will cut through almost any debris.

A fresher laundry room using vinegar

White, distilled vinegar can be used as a natural, fabric softener. Individuals with sensitive skin have reported harsh rashes and burns from commercial fabric softeners. Vinegar is a far gentler (and natural) option. Add 8 tbsps of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of your commercial, fabric softener. You can remove perspiration stains and odours using vinegar. Fill a spray bottle with white distilled vinegar and directly spray to collars and underarm areas of shirts prior to washing. You can brighten the colour of your clothes by adding vinegar. Just add a 8 tbsps of vinegar to your final rinse.

I hope this article prompts you to run to your supermarket to purchase lemons, vinegar, baking soda and olive oil. You’re going to save a tremendous amount of money and significantly improve you and your family’s health.

Harry G. Psaros is the publisher of Health, Nutrition and Wellness (HealthNutritionandWellness.com)