Simplified Cleaning

Reduce the amount of household cleaners you use in your regular cleaning routine. If broken down to basics, all cleaning could be efficiently preformed by two basic substances; vinegar and baking soda. Whereas some people are not yet prepared to leave behind the isles of sparkling white chemicals claiming to clean tar off a cashmere sweater without harming the fabric or the environment, might I suggest at least downsizing.

Select two cleaners for your bathroom; one to clean the toilet the other for the other surfaces in the bathroom, sinks, tub, counters, outside of toilet, etc. Use old t-shirts as bathroom rags. Don't be shy around the toliet. Once flushed, the bowl is filled with clean water, the same as comes from the tap, so dig in and scrub away!

The same surface cleaner used can be used in the rest of the house. Make sure it has some disinfectant properties and it will be your kitchen counters' best friend.

You will need only two other cleaners for the rest of the house: a solution to clean hard floors (tile, linoleum, wood) and one to clean glass. Remember, generic brands have the same ingredients and the expensive ones, most of the cost is wrapped in advertising for name brands.

In all, you should have 4 cleaners for your whole home. Add a vacuum and some old rags to the mix and you have just simplified your whole household cleaning routine. Not to mention the drastic reduction of toxic chemicals available for accidental consumption by children. If you do feel brave enough to move strictly to baking soda and vinegar, there will be no toxic chemical.

When possible, by earth friendly brands, those solvents absent of bleach or ammonia. Bleach and ammonia are both powerful, but they can easily be subsituted by the power of natural herbs and essential oils. A wise housewife will pick cleaners that are biodegrable so that when she is ready to recycle her own water (gray water systems) she can easily dispose of any waste water on her property without harming her yard.