Avoid Buzzwords
With so many cleaning products on grocery store shelves, it can be challenging to find one to use in your home. You can’t rely on the color of packaging or fancy television ads to determine if a cleaning product is going to be too harsh. Fortunately, you don’t need a doctorate in chemistry as there are certain buzzwords that indicate that a product is environmentally unfriendly. Potentially hazardous chemicals can often be identified when you see warnings that say “corrosive,” “flammable” and “hazardous.” These types of warnings indicate that toxins can be released into the water, soil, and air when they are used, so they should be avoided where possible.
DIY Cleaners
Fortunately, there are a number of ways to make non toxic, yet powerful cleaners at home. The chances are you have many of the basic ingredients already in your pantry. Two of the most effective, non toxic all purpose cleaners are baking soda and white vinegar. These can be used to deodorize and sanitize dishwashers and washing machines. All you need to do is put a cup of vinegar on the top shelf or in the detergent tray before you run a high heat wash cycle. You can also combine baking soda with water to scrub any stubborn stains or remove baked on gunk from ovens or cooktops. A power combo of white vinegar, water, and baking soda in a spray bottle can also provide an ideal all purpose surface cleaner.
Lemon Fresh
Lemons not only make a delicious ingredient for your gourmet experiments, but it can also make an organic cleaner. A half lemon in a bowl of water can help your microwave smell lemon fresh. Just pop a microwave safe bowl of water with a half lemon on a medium heat for a minute to clean and deodorize the microwave interior. You can then use a damp cloth to wipe away any splashes that have been loosened.
Lemons can also provide a great degreasing cleaner for stained chrome faucets and sinks. And, when you’re done cleaning, you can compost any leftovers, so there are no toxins, grime or waste.
Stainless Steel Shine
It is also important to realize that the outside of your appliances will need some attention. Although white vinegar is usually sufficient to clean the outside of white appliances, stainless steel finishes require a little extra care to maintain that shiny, appealing aesthetic. You can use white vinegar with olive oil to give your stainless steel appliances a good clean and create a flawless shine. Spray the surface with white vinegar and wipe down with a soft cloth in the direction of the grain. Then use a little olive oil on a soft cloth to gently polish the surface. This is not only completely eco friendly, but it is also totally food safe.
Keeping your home tidy with clean appliances don’t need to cost the earth, so you can do all your spring cleaning with a clean conscience. However, if you’re struggling to eliminate those nasty odors, it may be time to call in an appliance repair specialist. A professional technician can evaluate your appliance to determine any underlying issues that can be addressed to eliminate any bad smells and ensure that your appliances are clean and sanitary.