Cleaning is one of the necessary evils of life, and most people look for the easiest, fastest way to get a dirty job done. Recently, there has been much attention brought to the dangerous chemicals and cleaning practices used in most homes. Many are realizing that in their attempt to make their home safe, clean, and sanitary for their families, they are actually exposing them to chemicals and products that can do more harm than good. While some cannot feel as if they are getting the job done properly without the smell and foam that chemical cleaners provide, there are plenty of natural cleaning solutions that have been around for centuries that are just as effective.

• Vinegar – A 50/50 solution of vinegar and water can work wonders for cleaning just about any surface in your home, and to the surprise of many, the smell doesn’t linger too long. Place it in a spray bottle to clean counters, tables, cabinets and more, or pour the solution into a bucket and use a sponge, brush, or mop to clean larger areas. This will become your go-to solution when cleaning with natural products.

• Lemon – Lemon juice can be used to remove hard water deposits from sinks and other surfaces in the kitchen. You can also drop lemon pieces into the garbage disposal to help remove foul odors.

• Baking Soda – Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and can also be a fantastic scrub. Combine it with lemon juice to help combat stains on hard surfaces, or just place a box into the refrigerator to remove odors.

• Newsprint – If you need to clean your windows, but don’t want to use an ammonia laden glass cleaner, try using a piece of newspaper, along with some vinegar solution or diluted lemon juice. Your windows will come out sparkling, without the harsh smell and dangers of consumer cleaning products.

• Water – Plain old hot water can be just as effective for washing dishes as a highly toxic chemical dish soap. Soak dishes in extremely hot water, and use a scrubber to remove stuck on food particles. If you simply must have soap for your dishes, find an organic, chemical and dye free soap to assure that your family’s food is not being exposed to chemicals.

Take a long look at the labels on the chemicals that you are using to clean your kitchen and ask yourself if you really want your family touching, breathing, and ingesting these products as they go throughout their day. If the answer is no, why not try introducing safer, more natural methods of cleaning into your household. Your family’s long term health and the environment will be all the better for your decision.