Keep those bugs out of your home and garden, and clean up easily, without causing any harm to your family or animals!
Keeping your home clean and your property free of pests does not mean you need to have cabinets full of chemical-laden cleaners and pesticides. Not only are many of these products bad for your family and pets, but they could also be harming the environment. If you’re ready to make the switch over to healthier products, but are not sure where to start, then take a look at these natural ingredients that will keep your home clean and your family safe.
Collecting Basic Supplies
Before you delve into cleaning, it is important to start filling up your cupboards with a few basic items. Vinegar, lemon juice, sea salt, and baking soda can be used in a number of different combinations to clean practically anything in your home. If you have just four products around the house for cleaning, then it should be these basic ingredients. They are all perfectly safe for families with younger children and pets while still being tough on messes. It is also a good idea to get a supply of empty squirt bottles, steel wool, and some old towels or clothes to use as rags.
1. Citrus Vinegar
Citrus vinegar can be used as a multi-purpose cleaner on practically any surface imaginable. The only surface that may need to be avoided is untreated wood as it can warp from moisture. The easiest way to make citrus vinegar is to slice up a lemon (or orange) peel, put it in jar, fill the jar with vinegar, and then let it sit for a week or longer. You can then strain out the vinegar and put it into one of your squirt bottles to use on kitchen appliances, desks, counters, and even windows for a streak-free shine.
2. Essential Oils
Keeping your home smelling fresh does not mean that you need to bombard your family with chemicals from a spray can. Instead, you may want to invest in a few bottles of your favorite essential oils to improve the smell of everything from dirty clothes to your sink. While most essential oils can be ingested, it is important to check all labels as some can be toxic at higher doses. Placing a few drops on the backside of your pillow, the collection tub of your vacuum, and your washer's basin can work wonders.
3. Salt and Baking Soda for Abrasive Cleaning
For difficult grime, you can either use sea salt or baking soda to scrub away bacteria. A simple paste of warm water and baking soda can remove difficult stains and debris in bathtubs, ovens, and sinks. If you still have some lemons around, you can cut one in half, cover the exposed flesh with salt, and clean everything from cast iron pots to coffee stains on the counter.
4. Attract Insectivores
One simple way to get rid of unwanted pests such as ants and termites is to make your property inviting to insect-eating birds. Birds with the biggest appetites for bugs include bluejays, sparrows, orioles, and woodpeckers. The best way to go about this is to give them a place to rest, eat, and hydrate. Bird feeders far off the ground and under the shade of a tree will give them a place to perch and keep an eye out for any bugs that may attack your lawn, garden, or home.
5. Natural Pesticides
While hiring a pest control company may be an effective way to keep pests out of your home and garden, they traditionally use harsh chemicals. To keep pests away from your property naturally, the key is to use ingredients that will allow useful animals to stick around while removing unwanted guests. This is another area where a few drops of essential oils such as clover oil can be mixed with water and sprayed around your property to kill off ants, cockroaches, and even invasive bacterium in your garden.
6. Homemade Exfoliators
Hygiene products can be packed with unwanted chemicals, additives, and dyes. Luckily, exfoliation mixes can be made from a wide variety of healthy, affordable, and natural ingredients. Some of the best exfoliants include sugar, coffee grounds, and sea salt (keep away from your eyes). These can be added with liquid or viscous materials such as honey, yogurt, or coconut oil to make a thick paste that not only works wonderfully, but also smells great.
These few natural ingredients are only the beginning when it comes to keeping your home as clean as possible without the need for toxins and chemicals.
