Tackle spring cleaning around your home without exposing your family to the harmful chemicals found in common household cleaning products. Open your cupboards to find these 4 nontoxic items to clean everything from windows, to walls and wine stains.
Salt
Whether it’s table, kosher, or sea salt – all are the ideal texture for blasting away dirt and stains around the house. Use it on…
Copper-bottomed pots and pans: Shine copper with a paste made from equal parts salt, flour and vinegar. Rub on with a soft cloth, let sit for an hour, then wipe off and buff with a clean cloth.
Wine-Stained Carpet: Blot all moisture from the spill then sprinkle the area with salt. Let sit for 15 minutes so the salt can absorb any remaining wine, then clean the area with a mixture of 1/3 cup white vinegar and 2/3 cup water.
Artificial flowers: Shake away dust and dirt from fake flora by placing them in paper bags and gently shaking. Discard salt and put your flowers back on display.
Lemon
The acid in lemon juice naturally removes dirt and rust stains, leaving behind a fresh, clean scent. Use it on…
Microwave: For a splatter-free, squeaky-clean microwave, nuke 1 cup water and the juice of 1 lemon in a microwave-safe bowl for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the bowl and wipe down walls with a cloth.
Hands: Rid hands of unpleasant, long-lasting smells from handling fish, onions or garlic by squeezing on lemon juice, rubbing and rinsing clean.
Cutting boards: Get rid of unsightly food stains from both plastic and wood cutting boards by squeezing fresh lemon juice onto the surface, rubbing with the lemon half, then letting it sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse clean.
Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar inhibits the growth of mold, mildew and some bacteria, and is under $2/quart at the grocery store. Use it in…
The Coffeemaker: Get better tasting coffee by removing mineral deposits from your drip coffeemaker. Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the water chamber and run a brewing cycle. Run several more cycles of clean water to rinse.
The Dishwasher: Eliminate soap build-up, and reduce water spots on your glassware, by running your empty dishwasher on its hottest cycle with a cup of vinegar in the top rack.
The Windows: Clean windows with a streak free solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Spray and wipe clean with old newspaper or lint-free cloth.
Toothpaste
The mild abrasives found in toothpaste makes items cleaned with it really shine. Stick to basic paste in lieu of whitening or tarter control formulas. Use it on…
Jewelry: Make dull jewelry sparkle again by scrubbing it with a dab of toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. Polish with a soft towel for a shiny finish. (Do not use on pearls.)
Walls: Rub a damp cloth with toothpaste on walls to remove waxy crayon artwork left by Jr. While you’re at it, use the paste to patch up any unsightly nail holes.
Piano Keys: Get rid of dark spots on your ivory keys by gently scrubbing them with toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. Wipe clean.