Safe Substitutes for Chemical Cleaners

Browse the household cleaning aisle of any store and you will find dozens of cleaning products from handy mops with expensive throw-away pads to cans of bubbles that magically dissolve bathtub rings. Unfortunately, many commercial household cleaners contain harsh chemical ingredients, and they are expensive. Why pay a high price for potentially harmful chemical cleaners when you can use safe and affordable substitutes? Consider going back to many of the safe substitutes used decades ago, and stop throwing away money on chemical cleaners. Instead of using chemical cleaners, try the following safe substitutes my grandmother used, and save money while protecting your health as well as the environment.

Precautionary Statement Before Using Substitues

As with any cleaners, if you are unsure about the safety of the following cleaning substitutes, proceed with caution. Test inconspicuous areas when in doubt, and always use commonsense when trying home remedies or cleaning substitutes.

Substitutes for Bathroom Cleaners

Instead of using cans or spray bottles of chemical products for dissolving soap scum, dirt, and bathtub rings, use ordinary baking soda. Make a paste with a small amount of water, and scrub away bathroom grime. It will not take any more elbow grease to make the bathroom shine, and this safe alternative will cost much less than potentially harmful chemical products.

Safe Window Cleaner Substitutes

Next time you run out of glass cleaner, do not buy an expensive bottle of colored ammonia water. Instead, get out ordinary white vinegar, a clean spray bottle, and a few sheets of black and white newsprint. Combine one-fourth of a cup of white vinegar with two cups of water, and liberally spray it on the glass. Scrunch a sheet of black and white newsprint, and briskly wipe away any dirt, grime, nose prints, fingerprints, and any other unsightly marks. This is a great way to make use of old newspapers while working with safe substitutes for chemical cleaners.

Safe Substitutes for Grease Cutting Formulas

Grease cutter can be quite expensive, and when reading product label ingredients, consider the high percentage of useless additives. Next time the stove or laminate countertops and other hard surfaces require a grease-cutting formula, combine two parts white vinegar with one part lemon juice and one part water. The grease will magically dissolve while it is wiped away while leaving behind a fresh clean scent.

Safe Wallpaper Cleaner

Are you noticing dirt, fingerprints, and grime on wallpaper? Instead of using potentially harmful chemicals that could remove color and damage the surface, get out a piece of fresh white bread. Knead the bread into a ball, and use the bread to safely erase away dirt and grime. This is one of the best substitutes for chemical cleaners and expensive magical erasers that fall apart very quickly.

Safe Substitutes for Whitening Whites

Chlorine bleach is a potentially harmful chemical, and when used improperly it can weaken the fibers of clothing. Instead of using bleach to whiten and brighten white laundry, do what people did over a century ago and soak whites and linens in sour milk. Allow yellowed items to soak for at least one hour before washing as usual. This is a good way to use milk that would have otherwise been wasted while whitening whites the old-fashioned way.

Safe Alternative for Polishing Silver

Many people these days have chosen not to display silver because of the necessary rubbing and scrubbing to keep it looking presentable. It does not take long for silver to become tarnished. If you love the look of genuine silver but do not want to use chemical cleaners and tarnish removers, try one of the safe substitutes of decades past. Cut a raw potato in half and dip it in baking soda. Use this clever cleaning substitute to rub away dust, tarnish, and grime. The potato can be cut to reach nooks and crannies, and it a cheap substitute for chemical cleaners that do not always work as magically as they claim.

Safe Substitutes for Brightening Colors

Expensive chemical cleaners for brightening the laundry are not necessary. Instead of putting money down the drain, add a little unsweetened lemon juice to the wash water. Laundry will be brighter than ever for far less than the cost of chemical cleaners.

Safe Method for Cleaning Marble

Marble cleaners can be quite expensive. Instead of using potentially harmful marble cleaners that are way overpriced, mix salt and lemon juice to create a paste. Use a soft damp rag to wipe away dirt and grime before polishing the marble to a brilliant shine.

Safe Substitutes for Cleaning the Kitchen Sink

Cleaners containing potentially harmful chemicals are not necessary for cleaning and shining the kitchen sink. Make a paste using ordinary baking soda, and gently scrub away all traces of grease and grime. Follow up with a solution of vinegar and water to give it a fresh clean scent and a brilliant shine.

Safe Oven Cleaner Substitutes Without the Caustic Fumes

Many ovens these days are very easy to clean. All it takes is the touch of button to bake away grease and grime, but not everyone has a self-cleaning oven. For some it takes elbow grease to clean away baked-on foods that spattered and spilled. Instead of using harsh chemical cleaners that can burn the skin and irritate the lungs, try one of the best substitutes for caustic oven cleaners. Combine baking soda with water to make a thick paste, and apply it to particularly difficult areas. Allow it to soak into baked-on foods overnight, and in the morning it will be easier to scrub them away without worrying about fumes and skin irritation caused by harsh chemicals.

Safe Substitutes for Deodorizing the Home

Air-fresheners and deodorizers are a big money-making business. Everyone wants their home to smell clean and fresh, but commercial products that contain chemicals are not necessary. The best scents are natural and can be grown in a garden or in a simple container. Consider growing fragrant lavender, and bring it indoors to fill your home with a delightful floral scent and magnificent color. During the months of winter, use dried lavender to add fragrance to the home, and touch it up with essential oil as necessary. Chemical products will never match the true scents of nature or the safe substitutes that can save hundreds of dollars each year.