Gransnet forums

House and home

How to have a sparkling clean home without using harmful cleaning products?

(65 Posts)
Kandinsky Thu 18-Sept-25 09:02:20

I was reading somewhere recently that lung cancer is on the rise in women who have never smoked, and one of the theories is harmful chemicals in cleaning products - but how do you get your home clean without using these products?
I’ve tried the whole ‘white vinegar & baking soda’ thing but it doesn’t always work.
Any tips?

GrannyGravy13 Sat 20-Sept-25 11:10:16

Susie 50 I am asthmatic DH hoovered throughout the house with shake and vac many years ago, I arrived home from shopping and within the hour I was being blue lighted to hospital.

It really is my nemesis.

FranP Sat 20-Sept-25 14:09:18

Kandinsky

Thanks everyone.

And if all else fails I’ll take this advice

I suggest you go out everyday and don't cook anything, or use any appliances or do any laundry grin

I had a quote "housework is a waste of time, you do it and six months later you have to do it again" <lol>

I must admit, I am a fan of the newer microfibre cloths. Hot water and a cloth cleans a lot without anything else.

valdavi Sat 20-Sept-25 18:45:09

25Avalon

I find a steam cleaner very good for lots of cleaning tasks, my hob for one as it soon whips any grease off. Otherwise Astonishing white vinegar with lemon can be bought at most supermarkets. Magic erasers have many uses - good at cleaning tea stains off cups, and those nasty stains under toilet seats ( don’t use the same eraser for both). Pure beeswax is expensive but makes a good polish. Clean glass with warm water and buff with newspaper.

Newspaper - so useful for protecting the worktop while sorting DIY stuff, painting, etc - so good to polish glass.
But no-one I know buys printed papers any more - is newspaper going to be the new "carrier bag"? that everyone had excess of & now misses?

Gwyllt Sat 20-Sept-25 21:12:13

Another fan of microfibres clothes and a bit of dishwasher But I might add we live in a very soft water area so it does help tremendously
Just a bit of vinegar for the windows when and off I get round to them

25Avalon Sun 21-Sept-25 00:06:38

Valdavi I buy a newspaper on a Saturday. I still see plenty for sale every day. I find it useful not only to light my wood burner stove but also to clean the glass door. You damp the paper, dip it into woodash so you get a sort of paste, then rub the glass with it. Any black comes off a treat.

johnhoward Thu 09-Oct-25 07:50:02

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

roninmerle Mon 29-Dec-25 11:31:01

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Oreo Mon 29-Dec-25 14:04:38

loopyloo

Makes me feel good for not doing much cleaning.

😂

Oreo Mon 29-Dec-25 14:06:06

Fairy liquid is good for myriad jobs around the house.

Allsorts Mon 29-Dec-25 14:09:49

White vinegar and bicarb is my go to, also fresh lemons. My favourite is Fairy liquid. Just Domestios for toilets.

fancyflowers Mon 29-Dec-25 16:42:43

I use a cup of white vinegar, a cup of water, with a dash of bleach and a dash of washing up liquid. That works for me for most things.

Witzend Mon 29-Dec-25 16:50:46

Luckygirl3

I have gone for the option of abandoning the idea of a sparklingly clean home - works for me!

Me too!
And I do sometimes wonder whether the obsession in so many people with ‘hygiene’ and germ-free everything, could account for so many allergies and cases of autism in children. However much of these ‘disinfecting’ sprays must some pregnant women inhale?

Homestead62 Mon 29-Dec-25 19:08:24

I use dishwashing detergent for most cleaning, an anti-bac spray for areas I've worked with raw meat ,and Cif in the bathrooms. I do use an eco loo cleaner but occasionally I do have to put bleach down the loo( at a different day) as I don't find the eco cleaner cleans the loo enough at times. I use things from Ethical Superstore on occasion. I do not like Ecozone dish detergent either, I found Tesco 's the best or M&S.

Usedtobeblonde Mon 29-Dec-25 20:11:39

I bought the Purdy and Figg set, bottle, cloths and oil.
Wasn’t at all happy ,everything was smeared and didn’t look sparkling at all.
I cancelled the subscription easily but it was a costly mistake and still 3 concentrates in the cupboard.