If you've ever wondered about the amount of chemicals and toxins found in most household cleaners, or in a myriad of other common items from furniture polish to fabric sprays and shampoos, your concern is well founded. Harsh cleansers found in many household items can be as abrasive to your health as they are to your home. Herbal-based products provide a simple, natural and in most cases, cost effective alternative. This week, I've put together a little list of some of my favorite tips and tricks for using natural herbal substitutions to clean up and touch up around the house.
One basic to remember - the staples of the natural cleaning cabinet are vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice and a variety of herbs and essential oils. You won't sacrifice antibacterial benefits with natural cleaners. In fact, pure lavender beats carbolic acid as a disinfectant. A few drops of lavender oil steeped in a bottle of warmed vinegar make a lovely and effective all purpose cleaner and disinfectant. Consider substituting Rosemary or Thyme, both potent antiseptics as well. Here are a few more tips and tricks:
- Wood sorrel makes a handy natural bleach due to the large concentrations of oxalic acid. Juice from the leaves will remove rust spots from white cottons or linens, and can even reduce ink stains.
- Brazil nuts, Walnuts and Hazel nuts make excellent polishes. Brazil in particular is effective in darkening white marks on polished furniture. Just cut a nut to expose the surface and rub it over the surface in the direction of the grain. Let the oil dry just a little and then polish with a clean dry cloth.
- Horsetail makes a fine metal polish. Bather a small bunch of stems (more for larger projects) and use to shine metal such as pans or pewter objects. Be sure to wash the pans before using them for cooking.
- Mud-stained carpets? Brush off any excess mud, then use a raw potato to remove any residual stain that won't brush off.
- Polish tin with a piece of raw onion. Copper can be cleaned with equal parts vinegar and salt, rinsed well and burnished with a soft cloth.
- If you have a slate tile floor, try rubbing it with a cloth dipped in milk to bring up the sheen and patina of the natural slate.
- Herbs have long been used to freshen clothes or linen closets. You can use potpourri recipes or any suitable mixture of dried aromatic herbs and sew them into small rectangular cotton bags for hanging in closets or placing in drawers. Hang smaller bags of herbs from hangers to protect woolens or freshen other clothing.
