Top Cleaning Ingredients

There are so many cleaning products to choose from at the store. After countless tests, we just keep going back to natural options. They’re simple, effective, and not full of unpronounceable chemicals. Below are some of our favorites - they can be used for everything from wiping bathroom tile to adding a fresh scent to your living room.

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Baking soda
This is a great all-purpose cleaner. Because of its exfoliating properties, baking soda removes scum from your bathtub, burnt food from pots and pans, and scuff marks from shoes. It also helps deodorize - you can mix it with a bit of water and wash your refrigerator to get rid of lingering food smells. Best of all, baking soda is inexpensive and easy to find in stores. 

Salt
The scrubbing power of salt is ideal for household cleaning. It can be used to get rid of shower scum and oven spills. Salt also absorbs grease, oil, and cooking residue from pans. Additionally, it's a deodorizer and fights unpleasant smells around your house. For instance, it’s an effective way to get rid of odors from the garbage disposal. It’s very versatile!

White vinegar
If you have stubborn stains on hard-to-clean surfaces like windows and walls, vinegar will do the trick. It's a diluted form of acetic acid that forms through fermentation of natural carbohydrates. Mixed with water, it works wonders on rain spots, grease, and more. Vinegar is also great for removing sticky residue, cleaning shower heads, and cleaning up soap scum. Just make sure not to use it on granite or marble, as it can etch it.

Washing soda
This product - also known as soda ash or sodium carbonate - is an amazing stain fighter. That makes it ideal for handmade laundry soap. When mixed with other ingredients like shredded soap, baking soda, and borax, it helps your clothes stay clean and fresh. It’s also a water softener and can be used to clean tough materials like grease and wax. Washing soda can cause skin irritation, so we recommend wearing gloves and long sleeves. It can also irritate the nose and throat, so you can wear a mask if you like.

Essential oils
One of the best things about a clean house is a fresh, crisp scent. Essential oils can be used in room sprays, candles, and cleaning products. Lavender 40/42 essential oil on a towel makes a great homemade dryer sheet - it will make your clothes smell delightfully floral and earthy.