Hygiene at home is one of the most important conditions for a healthy lifestyle. Nowadays, stores offer a huge amount of cleaning products, which remove dirt and destroy bacteria. However, the home-made cleaning detergents still remain powerful allies when it comes to the cleanliness of our houses.
With the exception of modern steam jets with many specialised attachments that clean surfaces with the help of steam, all other preparations on the market can in one way or another lead to allergies, or redness.
Fortunately, many of the commercially available cleaning agents can be replaced by far cheaper and safer ones. And guess what?! You can prepare them at home with materials from your kitchen cupboard. Below are 5 of the most useful home-made cleaning detergents.
1. Vinegar solution – among the most useful home-made cleaning detergents
With the infamous vinegar solution you can clean clothes, furniture, or even hard water stains.
Ingredients:
- 1 coffee cup of clean water
- 1 coffee cup of vinegar
- The peel of one lemon
- Sprigs of rosemary
Preparation:
- Mix the water and vinegar. Add the rosemary.
- Grate the peel of one lemon and add it.
- Let the mixture steep for 2-3 days .
- Strain and pour into a clean atomiser.
2. Universal cleaning liquid for kitchen, windows and mirrors
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup hard alcohol
- 10 drops of lemon essential oil
- 10 drops of lavender oil
- 1 and ½ cups of water
Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake before use. Spray contaminated surfaces and wait 20 minutes before wiping with a microfiber cloth. For windows, use newspapers to rub the glass surface.
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3. Vinegar and eucalyptus – one of the most useful home-made cleaning detergents for leather
Natural leather needs regular, specific maintenance to look good and serve us for a long time. Fortunately, there are many home-made cleaning detergents that can help us in this endeavour.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 1 cup of warm water
- 6 drops of eucalyptus oil
Mix the ingredients in a suitable bowl. Using a cloth moistened with water, clean the skin from the dust. Then dip a clean cloth in the prepared product and clean the surface of the leather with it. Using a dry microfiber or cotton cloth, dry the skin.
Alternatively, you can mix vinegar, olive oil and lemon. The recipe is similar to the previous one, but with slight changes. It is suitable for both natural and artificial leather and in all cases gives shine and elasticity to the products.
Ingredients:
- ¼ apple cider vinegar
- ¼ olive oil
- 10 drops of lemon or orange essential oil
Mix the ingredients in a suitable bowl. Wipe the skin from dust. Using household paper or a cotton cloth, apply the detergent to the leather products and let it work for 15-20 minutes. Use a clean, dry cloth to remove product residue and polish the leather.
Tip: Always pre-apply a portion of the product to a very small area of the leather upholstery and wait 10 minutes to observe for a reaction before treating the entire surface.
4. Home-made degreaser
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of warm water
- 2 tbsp. of baking soda
- 2 tsp. castile soap
- 15 drops of lemon essential oil
Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle. Spray on oily spots. Leave for 15 – 20 min. and wipe the stains with a damp cloth.
5. Baking soda among the most handy home-made cleaning detergents for washing dishes
An effective and skin-safe preparation with an all-natural composition.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of distilled water
- 1 cup liquid castile soap
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. glycerin
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 10 drops of rosemary essential oil
- 5 drops of tea tree essential oil
Pour the water into a pot and let it boil. Add the rest of the ingredients. Transfer the mixture to an airtight glass container.
Some helpful tips for home-made cleaning detergents
- Add essential oils last.
- Before using the mixtures, shake the bottles well.
- Store the finished products in dark bottles. Note that the shelf life is no more than 6 months. Keep away from children and pets. It is preferable to skip the essential oils in the above recipes if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Final notes
Commercially available cleaning agents are effective, but at the same time quite aggressive. They contain many harmful and potentially allergenic ingredients that can cause a number of health problems. Because of this, many people prefer to use alternative home-made cleaning detergents, which have an equally good effect in cleaning and are health-friendly.
And if you feel that home cleaning is not your cup of tea, you can always delegate that tedious task to a professional cleaning company. Feel free to contact us and request a home cleaning quote. You can find more info about our domestic cleaning services at Merci Cleaning London or on our official Facebook page.
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