Natural Household Cleaners – Help for Allergy Sufferers
While medications do work, and should be taken as prescribed, one of the best ways to deal with allergies is to get rid of the items causing the allergic reaction, or allergen. Avoiding flowers and pets can be relatively simple, but what happens when your allergies stem not from what you have in your house, but what you use to clean it? Harsh chemicals such as ammonia, bleach, even some strong fragrances found in many cleaning supplies can wreak havoc on those who are allergy prone or have sensitive skin. In addition to aggravating ones allergies, these harsh chemicals can be hazardous to the environment, as well as young children or animals.
With all the things that could go wrong with store bought household cleaners, are their really any options out there? The answer is yes, and you might be surprised as to how close and simple they are. The following paragraphs will describe a few of the tried and true cleaning agents that you can find in just about any kitchen or pantry. Give them a try and chances are you’ll have a brand new set of household cleaners that will help alleviate or even eliminate your allergies.
Natural Household Cleaner # 1: Vinegar
Surprised? That liquid that was kept in your mother’s cupboard to use with your favorite recipes is actually a great all purpose cleaner. Its acidic nature can cut through just about any form of grease that you can come across. In addition, it’s fairly easy to prepare, and as you know from grocery shopping, it is dirt cheap. The easiest way to use vinegar as a cleaning agent is to dilute it by mixing it with an equal part of water in a spray bottle that you can get at any craft store. And if you’re worried about your house smelling like vinegar, don’t worry; the smell will evaporate once the vinegar dries. Besides, if you decide to go with the apple cider vinegar, you might not want the scent to go away all that quickly.
Another reason why vinegar is so useful is its versatility. Depending on how strong you mix it, it can tackle just about everything from where your young son spilled his juice to the worst soap scum on your bathroom tub door. A brief word of caution, though, vinegar is acidic, so don’t use it on such things as marble or granite stone counter tops. It will damage both by eating away at it.
Natural Household Cleaner # 2 Baking Soda
Baking soda has long been used as a freshener in the freezer or refrigerator as a way to keep foods smelling their best. However, a great way to get away from all though harsh, bleach filled abrasive cleaners is to replace them with a little bit of elbow grease and a paste made from some water and baking soda. Simply rub the paste on the area you want to clean, rub and rinse off. Chances are you’ll notice that this does just a good a job as those harsher scrubs for a fraction of the cost.
Natural Household Cleaner # 3: Lemon Juice
Like the vinegar before it, lemon juice is a great all purpose cleaner, but has the ability to leave the area smelling of fresh lemons. Again, make sure you dilute it, and try not to use it on any marble surfaces or granite top counters as it will most likely damage them. If you’re unsure, test a spot that most people won’t see. You’ll know fairly quickly if lemon juice is safe to use on the object.
Natural Household Cleaner # 4: Borax
If you’re looking for an alternative to the harshness of bleach, you might want to consider looking into Borax or sodium borate. This naturally occurring mineral is known for its ability to kill mold and bacteria with proper use. The easiest way to create the proper mixture is to combine 1/2 cup of borax with 1 gallon of hot water and use as you would for anywhere you wanted to use bleach. An alternative method is to mix it with your vinegar to give your all purpose cleaner that added boost. A strong word of caution, though; borax is poisonous to kids and pets, so be sure to kept it well labeled and completely out of the reach of any small, curious hands or paws in your house.
Natural Household Cleaner # 5: A Natural Wood Polish
If you’re anything like my mom, you have a lot of wood in your house. Wood tables, wood chairs, wood floors, even a wooden cradle for when the grandkids come over to visit. And if you’re anything like me, the prices for all those wood dusting sprays seem just a bit outrageous. If so, take a look at your pantry, chances are you already have all the ingredients necessary to make a great wood furniture polish. Simply combine 2 parts olive oil to 1 part lemon juice or vinegar and place it in a spray bottle. The acid of the vinegar or lemon juice will pull the dirt to the surface of the wood for easy cleaning, and the olive oil will be absorbed quickly into the wood adding a layer of much need moisture. Of course, just about any oil will work, but I prefer olive oil or canola simply because of their lighter aroma.
These are but a few of the different natural household cleaners that can be used on a regular basis. Unlike the harsh, chemical filled counterparts that you find in the store, these natural household cleaners show that you don’t have to clean with products that can trigger your allergies, or worse yet cause harm to your family or the environment. In addition, they are much more cost effective to use in the long run.
