It is no longer a secret that many cleaning products are not good for the environment. Many of them are not biodegradable or are very aggressive for the environment and people. Even though our need for hygiene and cleanliness is even more important than usual, there are good and more natural alternatives. These fulfil their purpose in exactly the same way as conventional cleaners, without the harmful side effects. What's more, we can also do without more plastic packaging. In this article, we would like to look at a few natural household remedies that our grandparents already knew.
The correct use of natural cleaning agents always depends on which surfaces and soiling are being treated.
For example, if the problem is limescale deposits in the bathroom or kitchen, then Vinegar ideal. Alternatively, you can also Citric acid use. This has the same limescale-dissolving effect. Vinegar is also one of the most commonly used natural products in the household. It can be used in many different ways. In addition to removing limescale deposits, including in kettles, for example, it can also be used to remove light blockages in the drain or to disinfect the refrigerator.
You can also give yourself a stainless steel cleaner in future. The use of Potato peelings. The starch it contains also makes steel surfaces shine again. This means you can also recycle food waste sustainably.
If you have children at home and are worried about them coming into contact with corrosive, toxic cleaners, you can also avoid using aggressive drain cleaners. A mixture of Soda and vinegar fulfils the same purpose. They also cost only a fraction of conventional cleaners.
In our article on the 5 Uses of baking powder We have already shown how versatile and helpful this product is in the household. Whether you have a blocked drain, want to neutralise unpleasant odours or want to get rid of stubborn discolouration. Baking powder or baking soda (contained in baking powder) is a real superhero in the household.
Discolouration and grey stains on laundry do not mean that you have to resort to bleach straight away. If you have a grey stain on white laundry, you can also use baking soda or baking powder. Mix a teaspoon into the laundry or soak the fabric in a baking soda solution for an hour before washing. If you leave the laundry to air dry in the sun at the end, the UV rays will also help to slightly bleach the greyed laundry. And it's all completely natural.
Soaps of natural origin, such as the Curd or bile soap. What is the difference between these soaps and what can they be used for? Curd soap is odourless and contains fatty acids obtained from sodium chloride. These fatty acids and salts have a cleansing effect similar to that of surfactants. Curd soap is therefore particularly suitable for removing stains that are not soluble in water alone, such as grease stains or stains from mineral oils.
Bile soap now differs from curd soap in that it contains a few more components. Bovine bile is added to the basic mixture of curd soap to produce bile soap. This has two advantages. Firstly, a liquid soap can also be produced in this way. Secondly, it makes the bile soap more suitable for cleaning textiles. The bile acid it contains has a strong cleaning effect to remove stains from blood, starch, grease, protein and fruit stains. Wet the area to be cleaned and rub the soap into the stain with a little pressure. Depending on the degree of soiling, you can leave the soap to work for a while and then clean the clothes in the washing machine. This serves as a pre-wash cleaner. For smaller stains, you can also wash the soap out again and the stain will usually be gone. Please make sure that you only use the bile soap for these purposes. Bile soap is not suitable for cleansing the skin. You should also only use the curd soap to clean your hands, otherwise it will degrease the skin too much and destroy the natural barrier. This can lead to eczema and skin irritation.
Which natural cleaning products do you already use in your household? Let us know in the comments.
