Natural cleaning has never been easier with these eco tips

Switching to an eco-friendly cleaning routine is definitely worth considering. When you start to think of all of the plastic waste, the harsh chemicals and toxic ingredients in standard cleaning products, it seems like a no brainer to go natural. Not to mention that using natural cleaning products will save you lots of money. 

We're sharing some of our favourite natural cleaning tips that will save you both time and money.

Before we launch into our tips, these are our top natural cleaning products you need to have in your cleaning cupboard:

• Bicarbonate of soda
• Natural bleach
• White vinegar
• Lemons
• Marseille soap
• Castile soap
• Antibacterial cleaning sprays

So, what are our top eco-friendly cleaning tips?

1. Spray shower walls and glass after your shower

The quickest and most effective way of keeping your shower clean the natural way, is to spray it with a mixture of water and white vinegar after your shower. Personally, we keep a spray bottle handy and it saves so much time!

2. Place old newspapers at the bottom of your kitchen bin

A simple way to soak up any bin liquids that leak out of your bin bag, and save time later when cleaning it out. You can even add a couple of drops of essential oil to keep the bin smelling fresh.

3. Remove wooden surface scratches with a walnut

Walnuts are great for getting rid of any scratches on wooden surface, just crack open a walnut and rub the nut inside on the surface. The oils will help to smooth out any unsightly marks.

4. Clean a microwave with a lemon

Lemons are such a simple and cheap cleaning hack. To clean out your microwave, squeeze the juice of a lemon into a bowl with water, turn on the microwave for 2 minutes and leave the bowl standing for 5-10 mins. The steam will loosen any food and other grime. 

5. Dust blinds with a damp sock

You don't need any fancy cleaning supplies to dust out your blinds. Grab an old sock and dampen it in the sink, then run it along the blinds and pop in the washing machine once you're done!

6. Clear out a blocked drain with bicarbonate of soda and vinegar

You can use this chemical reaction for all your sinks. Pour some bicarbonate of soda down your drain followed by white vinegar. Pop a cloth on top to keep the reaction in the drain and leave overnight. Clean out with boiling water the next morning, you'll be amazed at the results.

It's so effective, experts recommend bicarbonate of soda as an incredible natural cleaning hack.

7. Wash your clothes on a slower spin

Not only does a slower washing machine spin reduce your energy consumption and cost, but it'll also save you time ironing. A slower spin (ideally 800rpm) will produce less creases, just give them a shake when you hang them to dry.

8. Use an old toothbrush to cleaning grouting

Don't compost your old wooden toothbrush yet, use it for those small cleaning jobs. An old toothbrush is great for cleaning tile grouting with a natural mix. We've found the best cleaning mixture is paste of bicarbonate of soda, natural bleach and a small amount of water. 

9. Leave antibacterial sprays on surfaces for 1 minute

For antibacterial sprays to work effectively, the spray should be left on a surface for 30-60 seconds before wiping off. This way the spray has time to disinfect the surface. 

10. Remove sticky residues with olive oil and salt

The likelihood is that you'll already have these staples in your kitchen cupboard. Mix olive oil with a bit of salt and rub in on the sticky surface. The oil will help to remove and stickiness and the salt works as an abrasiveness. You just have to then wipe it with soap and hot water and the stickiness will be gone. 

11. Clean chopping boards with salt & lemon

As lemon has antibacterial qualities it's perfect to use when cleaning chopping boards. Pour coarse salt onto your chopping board first and then rub half a lemon all over the board. Leave it for a few minutes and then rinse. 

12. Freshen up your fridge with bicarbonate of soda 

Leave a bowl or cup of bicarbonate of soda open in your fridge. The soda will help to stop any smells from developing. Remember to change after 3 months when the bicarbonate stops being effective.

13. Save money with a multipurpose soap

For an ultimate money saving tip, use multipurpose natural cleaners like Marseille soap and Castile soap each with multiple uses around the home from laundry detergent, to multipurpose sprays and floor cleaners.

Conclusion

There is no downside to using natural cleaning products to clean your home. These natural swaps with stop you and your family from breathing in any nasty toxins while still living in a clean environment.

Implementing these natural swaps will help to speed up your cleaning routine and reduce any unnecessary costs. It's a win-win!

Are there any natural cleaning hacks we've missed? Let us know in the comments!