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Many people keep a wide supply of chemicals for cleaning their home in the kitchen. Having a cabinet full of toxic cleaners can be dangerous if you have animals or young children in your home. Before World War II the many kinds of chemical cleaners used today simply were not available and people had to use safe, cheap, and readily available ways to clean and care for their homes. Soap, vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, cornstarch, and more were used to lift out spots and stains, deodorize, disinfect, scrub, wash clothes, and many of the other household chores. By removing some of these hazardous chemicals from your home and replacing them with safer cleaning methods you can make your home a less dangerous place. Here are the top five chemicals you can easily replace.

Disinfectants are some of the most common cleaning supplies purchased. People buy the sprays, wipes, and solutions to rid their homes of germs, bacteria, and mold. Yet these chemicals can be deadly to other living creatures as well. Instead of buying the chemical disinfectants you can try mixing two teaspoons of Australian tea tree oil with two cups of water. This mixture creates a safe and effective disinfectant spray that can be used on grout, mold, mildew, and more. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to your wash when cleaning clothes. Cleaning most surfaces with just soap and hot water will also kill most germs and bacteria safely and easily.

Bleach is another harsh chemical that many people use in their homes. Yet bleach can be dangerous if inhaled or swallowed. Rather than cleaning with bleach try a mixture of lemon juice and vinegar. This combination creates a great cleaning agent that can remove most stains on any surface. If you use bleach to whiten your clothes there is a safer alternative for that as well. Hang the dirty clothing outside in the sun. The same way that the sun whitens bones of animals it also whitens stains on clothing. Use a little lemon juice on tougher stains before hanging them out.

Scrubbing powder is another common cleaner found in kitchens. While the chemical powders can clean counter tops and sinks, they also contain silicia and chlorine which can be deadly if inhaled and creates a toxic gas when mixed with other cleaners. Baking soda, however, can clean just as well as the store bought cleaners on many surfaces and is still safe to have in your kitchen. With just a bit of baking soda you can clean surfaces, shine metal, deodorize, and soften hard water.

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