i) Hot Water
Hot water is perhaps the most effective natural cleaning product available today. In fact, some products cannot work if they are not mixed with hot water. Heated water has the power to melt and wash away grease and oil stains. The heat carried by hot water can break the bonds of substances, thereby giving water its cleaning power. Whether you're washing dishes, clothes or tiled surfaces, hot water can serve you well.
ii) White Vinegar
This cleaning product contains acetic acid which has the power to remove calcium buildup in utensils, sinks, windows and toilets among other things. White vinegar is also known to cut through soap scum and grease, making it a potent stain remover. As the vinegar evaporates, it carries with it foul odors. These properties make white vinegar an effective cleaning agent and disinfectant especially for bathrooms, kitchens and toilets.
iii) Lemon Juice
The most effective dish-washing products contain natural lemon juice. This is because lemon juice is packed with citric acid, an effective stain remover, deodorizer, disinfectant and whitener. Use fresh lemon juice to clean windows, dirty dishes, washing clothes, cleaning tiles and grout as well as wiping surfaces, such as tables and countertops. Lemon juice has the ability to inhibit mold growth and can be used to clean bathrooms, kitchens and all other places which are at risk of developing mold. You can also use lemon juice to wipe windows.
iv) Salt
Salt is a natural disinfectant and a gentle abrasive. When added to baking soda, salt becomes an effective grease remover. It also has the power to remove burn marks and stains from the edges of china ware and dishes. Salt can also be used to clear clogged kitchen drains.
Baking soda, as the name suggests, is used in baking. However, it is also an effective natural cleaner. The substance is known chemically as sodium bicarbonate and has properties which make it a potent natural cleaning agent. For instance, the compound normally reacts with fatty acids contained in grease stains. It is great for cleaning clothes since it softens water, removes stains and whitens clothes. As a natural scouring powder, baking soda can be used for scratching kitchen surfaces as well as other tiled surfaces.
vi) Soap Nut
There are natural soaps made from plant extracts. Ritha, a tree which grows in Nepal and India, produces a fruit which is known as soap nut. The shell of the nut contains saponin, a natural surfactant, which is biodegradable, renewable and all-natural. Just put three to four pairs of half shells in a cotton bag and drop into your washing machine. This should last up to six washes.