Cleaning Without Chemicals

Whether you are preparing your home for sale or just performing regular cleaning and maintenance, you probably have a collection of cleaners and chemicals to help get the job done. But as more and more people experience allergies to strong chemicals and sensitivities to the powerful odours and perfumes they contains, it is worthwhile to consider a more natural approach. There are many cleaning agents available that are less hazardous to your health, less expensive to use, better for the environment, and less likely to leave irritating odours behind.

To assemble a pantry of natural cleaning products, start with baking soda, white vinegar, kosher salt, lemon juice, borax, and hydrogen peroxide, all available from your local supermarket or drug store. You may already have these in your home! These ingredients, and a few others, can be combined to clean effectively without harmful fumes or any more elbow grease than their more toxic counterparts.

Try these simple recipes to tackle some of your toughest cleaning tasks naturally:

Oven Cleaning
A simple paste of baking soda and water, spread on the interior walls of your oven, is a helpful way to prep for the self-cleaning cycle - or a handy way to skip self-cleaning altogether. Check this link for details.

Tub and Soap Scum
A simple combination of 2 parts baking soda, 1 part salt, and 1 part borax makes a scouring powder that will have your tub, shower, or kitchen sink glowing in no time.

Windows
White vinegar is a great substitute for conventional window-cleaner. If you don't like the scent, soak some citrus peels in vinegar for a few days and dilute slightly with water. the resulting solution can be used for all kinds of household disinfecting, and it will leave a fresher, more pleasant scent.

When potential buyers visit your home, they evaluate it with all their senses, and a strong odour of disinfectant may not be welcome. Why choose a harsh chemical when a gentler, less toxic option is available? You can find more tips and learn more about healthy cleaning from the website of the Environment Working Group. And for more information about preparing and staging your home for sale, please contact our office!