By Lisa Wetherell from lightinghouse.com.au
You’ve got visitors coming over in an hour, and your house is a mess.
Naturally, you would start dumping scattered items into the closet. But then you quickly realize that the windows, kitchen tiles, and bathroom also need scrubbing.
To make things worse, you’re out of cleaning supplies. Running to the supermarket now can’t possibly be an option. It won’t only be counterproductive; it would also burn a hole in your pocket.
Luckily, you own a few common kitchen items to remedy the situation. But can they make your house sparkling clean within just an hour?
Here are five home remedy techniques to help you during a cleaning emergency.
Benefits of Natural Home Remedies
There are many advantages to using natural home remedies in cleaning your house.
- Safe – For one, natural remedies improve indoor air quality, so you don’t have to worry about anyone getting sick. Maybe the kids could even assist you in the cleaning process.
- Cheap – Because the ingredients are essential kitchen items, it saves you quite a bit of time and money from buying all those harsh cleaning products.
- Hassle-Free – Most importantly, these ingredients are quick to prepare and apply.
Gathering the Materials
- White vinegar – Known as the acidic wonder, this ingredient prevents growth of molds and bacteria.
- Baking soda – This strong kitchen material absorbs odor and naturally whitens surfaces.
- Lemon – Lemon juice removes rust and dirt and lightens stains.
- Essential oils – These plant extracts kill fungus and virus and leave a delicious aroma.
- Liquid soap – A multipurpose solution, this ingredient is economical and effective.
The Challenge
Doors, windows, glasses
Time allotted: 10 minutes
The goal of speed cleaning is to make your home inviting. That doesn’t mean that you need to deep-clean every surface in your house. But you do need to prioritize items that guests will see first. With that said, doors, windows, and other glass surfaces should be the first on your list. Use this homemade glass cleanser.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- ½ lemon
Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients in one glass spray bottle. If you feel uncomfortable with the vinegar smell, balance it out by substituting 10 drops of essential oil for the lemon. Spray on glass surfaces and wipe dry with newspapers.
Floors
Time allotted: 10 minutes
Upon entering your house, your visitor’s focus will now land on your floors. A sparkling floor evokes a welcoming vibe and shows how well you’ve maintained the home.
But remember: you don’t have to do every floor area—just the ones that your guests will see. Here’s one method to keeping your floors clean.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 gallon of warm water
Instructions:
Mix vinegar into the water, and soak the mop all the way. Mop the most obvious areas like the entryway, living room, dining room, and kitchen. Afterwards, wipe the floor clean with a dry cloth.
Bathroom, Toilet, and Tiles
Time allotted: 15 minutes
While it’s everyone’s least favorite part of the house to clean, the bathroom is still the most visited room in the house. Here’s a way to scrub grout off the toilet and tiles.
Ingredients:
For tiles:
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2/3 cup baking soda
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup liquid soap
For toilet:
- 1 cup white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon essential oil
- ½ cup baking soda
Instructions:
Start with mixing the baking soda and liquid soap into a bowl. Next, dilute the solution with water and white vinegar. Stir to dissolve the lumpy substances before pouring into a glass spray bottle. Shake well before spraying on bathroom surfaces. Scrub, and then rinse off.
To clean the toilet, mix the vinegar and essential oil in a glass spray bottle, and spray all over the toilet. Sprinkle with baking soda to bring the solution to a fizz. Finish scrubbing the toilet, rinse with warm water, and flush.
Kitchen and Dining Area
Time: 10 minutes
It’s natural for guests to stay over for a meal. Sometimes, they might even help you cook. So, it’s important to keep the kitchen and dining areas spick and span. To achieve this, you would need to degrease the countertops and other surfaces.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 2 drops liquid soap
- 10 drops essential oils
Instructions:
Add vinegar, liquid soap, and baking soda in a glass bottle spray. Then, pour warm water into the mixture up to the bottle’s neck. Gently shake before spraying across all surfaces. Finally, wipe dry with microfiber cloth or newspapers.
To clean the kitchen drain, pour ½ cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar into it. Wait for the fizzing sound before pouring boiling water.
Air Freshener
Time allotted: 5 minutes
While you’ve gotten used to it, some visitors will still notice the lingering smell of your previous cooking. So, deodorizing the house, especially the kitchen, is an essential final part. Here’s a homemade air freshener for every part of the house.
Ingredients:
- 15 drops essential oils
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a glass spray bottle, and spray to every corner of the house. You may also use this formula to deodorize the toilet. It’s safer and milder than the harmful hydrochloric acid and chloric bleach that you usually use.
Time’s Up!
Cleaning the house on short notice may be stressful, especially when you don’t have the usual tools to start the job. But common items that are lying around in your kitchen can save your day.
Natural home remedies are safe, cheap, and hassle-free, making them ideal solutions to house cleaning. Five essential home items can usually do the trick.
Attend first to the most visited rooms, such as the bathroom, kitchen, entryway, and living room.
After finishing the task, you’ll still have time left for yourself. Check spaces for clutter that you missed, or freshen up before meeting your guests.
