A Housekeeping Cleaning Kit For Your Home
Housekeeping cleaning agents are chemicals used to remove dust, dirt, stains and bad odors from various surfaces. These popular old fashioned cleaners that you’ll probably have around, will more than likely replace many of the toxic chemical cleaners that you find on the store shelves. There are several ways to save money using these household products instead of commercial cleaners, as a matter of fact. You may also find these types of products to be a lot less harsh on your lungs and skin than many commercial cleaners.
One way to cut down on housekeeping cleaning agents is to use a baking soda-based cleaner in your cleaning kit. Simply mix a small amount of baking soda with water to create a paste. Use this paste to absorb stains, grease, and pet stains, and let it dry. This product will remove grease stains as well as odor. Some of these products are safe for dishes and other utensils, but they should never be used on marble, granite, glass or ceramic tile. The acid in these cleaners can etch and scratch the surface underneath, causing dullness and staining.
Another way to save money is to purchase a mild household cleaning agent, such as liquid soap flakes or pure soap. Many housekeeping cleaners do not contain any lye or detergents, and they are usually made from natural ingredients. Lye and detergents are byproducts created from crude oil or other organic materials. Pure soap flakes are completely natural and are the least expensive cleaning agents available.
Mixing a small amount of vinegar and water together will create a cleaning agent known as vinegar cleaner. This cleaning agent will work well on glass, mirrors, and mirrors. However, it is caustic and should be used sparingly around metal and wood surfaces. You can dilute the vinegar with water if you are unsure about its effects on these materials.
Some people like to use white vinegar and warm water mixed together. Washing soda is similar to vinegar, except that washing soda is made from sugar instead of from crude oil. This substance is commonly found in many homemade cleaning solutions. Since white vinegar and washing soda are both mild acids, combining them can produce a cleaning solution that is safe for dishes and utensils, but is not recommended for cleaning most plastics and metal items.
Using lemon juice mixed with water is another alternative for cleaning solutions. Lemon juice and white vinegar make a wonderful combination for removing stains from glass and mirrors. They are also recommended as mild acid cleaners, although they may cause discoloration and temporary discoloration in some types of fabrics. Lemon juice and white vinegar are safe when used as directed and do not cause lasting discoloration or staining on metal or wood surfaces.
Borax is made from baking soda and is used primarily for cleaning upholstery, but it is also great as a natural cleaning agent for fabrics, including linoleum and other synthetic fabrics. Although borax is slightly abrasive, it has a softening effect that neutralizes harsh cleaning ingredients. It is safe to mix borax with white vinegar or washing soda, although do not use these cleaners in areas where they will come into contact with latex gloves or any other type of protective clothing. Cleaning borax with other household cleaners should be avoided, as it can degrade the quality of your materials. If you decide to use borax as a cleaning agent, be sure to apply the solution carefully to avoid staining or discoloring the fabric.
Stains can be removed quickly and effectively by using one of the housekeeping cleaning agents discussed above. However, if the stains are deep and stubborn, you may want to consider lemon juice or vinegar as an alternative to soap and bleach. Lemon juice and vinegar are mild cleaning agents, and they can remove stains from paper, fabric, and fabric softener, and can be used on colored items to remove stains.
