There are many common household items found in your home that can be used for cleaning and to address health issues. We will examine some of those today.
Baking Soda
Sodium bicarbonate commonly known as baking soda is able to absorb odors in your refrigerator. It can do the same under your armpits. Being only a mild abrasive it will clean your teeth, dishes, and tub without scratching them. Here are more tips for using baking soda
General Cleaner
Add 4 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart of water, or sprinkle on a wet sponge.
Mouth Rinse
Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 4 cups of water.
Ease itchiness from poison ivy or bug bites
Mix with water to make a paste and put on your skin.
Deodorant
Pat some under your arm.
For fresh laundry
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the wash.
Vinegar and Your Body
If you follow a healthy diet and take your medication as prescribed, 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar may ease the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. It may soothe dandruff or itchiness from psoriasis but could bother your scalp or skin.
Vinegar and Your Home
Use distilled vinegar to clean glass or:
Kill food germs. Leave surface visibly wet for 10 minutes to kill salmonella. Vinegar isn’t effective on most viruses and bacteria.
Clean pet stains. Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with 1 quart of water. Dab the area and let sit for 10 minutes. Vi.egar can fade colors so test on a small area first.
Get Rid of sweat stains. Spray collars and armpits, let soak for 24 hours before washing.
Clean your coffee pot. Use a 1:1 mix of vinegar and water such as 3 cups of water to 3 cups of vinegar. Run through your coffee pot like you would coffee.
Remove soap scum. Clean your shower head and curtain with full strength white vinegar.
Get Rid of odors. Place small cups with 1-2 ounces of vinegar around your house.
Petroleum Jelly. Using this oily moisturizer can soothe dry skin as well as your nails and cuticles. It readily treats diaper rash and ease symptoms of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Bleach. Chlorine bleach is an economical and strong way to kill germs. It kills the virus that causes Covid-19 and the bacteria in your toilet bowl. Mix 4 teaspoons of bleach with 1 quart of room temperature water. Open windows for ventilation. Wipe the surface and leave visibly wet for at least one minute. Make a new batch every 24 hours. Never mix bleach with any cleaning product. This will make toxic fumes.
Hydrogen Peroxide. Ear wax buildup can be cleared with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. Rinsing with half hydrogen peroxide and half water can kill the bacteria that causes gingivitis. Try not to swallow any. Swallowing a little is ok but large amountscan harm your stomach or make you throw up. Although it has been a long time practice using hydrogen peroxide should not be used to clean wounds. It may worsen scarring or cause inflammation. Soap and water would be better.
Rubbing(Isopropyl) Alcohol. It can kill germs but evaporates very fast. The wetness needs to linger for 30 seconds to kill germs. For that reason rubbing alcohol should be used on small, hard surfaces. That includes your phone, computer keyboard, remote control, or any device with a touchscreen. Just be careful to not soak your electronics or get any liquid near openings.
Ammonia. Ammonia is found in other cleaning products like glass cleaner. Because it evaporates quickly, it gives windows a streak free shine. It can be used on its own. To clean your oven, put 1/2 cup inside a glass container. Leave inside a cold oven overnight. The fumes will break down the grease and makes it easier to wipe off later. Do not turn on your oven, ammonia can catch fire. Never mix with bleach.
Mayonnaise. Full fat mayo can get rid of water stains on your wood table. Spread the mayonnaise out and let sit for several hours. For old stains let it sit overnight. Repeat if necessary.
Virgin Coconut Oil. Along with being a natural moisturizer, coconut oil is an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. It helps some skin conditions like atopic dermatitis. If you have oily skin don’t slather it all over your face as it could clog pores. It can protect your hair if put on prior to taking a shower. It is also an effective way to remove eye makeup.
Baby Oil. It is best to use baby oil on your legs, hands, and feet as using it on your face may clog your pores.it may also ease the dryness and itchiness from dandruff or scalp eczema. Let the baby oil soak on your head for about one hour, run a comb through your hair and wash it.
Ketchup. Believe it or not ketchup can clean your silver. The acetic acid in ketchup breaks down the chemicals that make silver dull. Put ketchup in a dish and drop in the silver. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Wash off the ketchup with warm water and a dry cloth.
Test some of these household products for yourself and see how they work for you. It may save you money.
