Frugal and Baby Safe Ways to Clean Your Home

Sure, you’ve put baby locks on your cabinets and closed off your kitchen, but did you know that your baby could still ingest household chemicals? What happens when your little taste tester licks the window you’ve just washed or drops her food (and then promptly eats it!) on the floor you’ve just mopped? In spite of your best precautions, small amounts of these cleaners can make their way into your baby’s mouth.

The good news is, when it comes to cleaning, baby-safe cleaners are also frugal! In fact, if you have white vinegar, baking soda, and some lemon juice, there is nothing you can’t clean. If you are new to natural cleaning, here’s how to do it:

Floors

• Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar with a gallon of hot water and use to mop floors. For hardwood floors, lightly mist the floors with the vinegar/water solution and mop with a dry dust mop or cotton cloth.
• Make a paste of baking soda and water as a scrub to remove scuff marks from floors.

Windows

• Mix one part vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle. Spray directly onto windows and wipe with old newspaper to avoid streaking.
• Alternatively, you can spritz straight lemon juice onto windows and wipe with newspaper.

Freshening

• Sprinkle the bottom of garbage cans and litter boxes with baking soda.
• Sprinkle carpets and rugs with baking soda and allow to sit for a few minutes before vacuuming.
• Sprinkle baking soda inside of shoes to eliminate odors.

Sinks and Tubs

• Liberally sprinkle damp tubs and sinks with baking soda. Scrub with a soft cloth and then rinse clean.
• Make a paste of vinegar and table salt to clean fixtures or to remove soap scum build up.
• Mix one part vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle. Spray onto all surfaces (tile, tub, basin, fixtures) and wipe clean.
• Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into slow drains, followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Allow to sit and foam for a few minutes. Flush drains with hot water.
• Cut a lemon into fourths and run it through the garbage disposal to eliminate odors.

Countertops

• Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply to stains (like grape juice rings). Allow to sit for a few minutes then scrub clean.
• Mix one part vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle. Spray onto countertops and wipe clean.

Appliances

• Mix one part white vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle. Spray onto a soft cloth and wipe appliances.
• To clean your oven, sprinkle a light layer of baking soda over the bottom of a <b>cool</b> oven. Spritz the baking soda with plain water and allow to sit overnight (note: if you get up in the middle of the night for anything, it wouldn’t hurt to spritz the baking soda with water again). In the morning, wipe with a damp cloth. The baked on gunk should wipe away with the baking soda. Use a baking soda and water paste to clean the sides and top of the oven.