Against hair in the drain, against dust and dirt rage in most homes chemical weapons. Housewives only want to fulfill their duties - but the environment absorbs hundreds of thousands of tons of detergents every year. The health authorities say: The apartment is not a small operating room, disinfectants are superfluous. Environmentalists advise to muck out: way with pipe and drain cleaners, toilet bowls and air fresheners, oven and grill cleaners - they are harmful to health. Back to nature: acid, soap and stone - nothing else needs cleanliness.
Always use sparingly with cleaning agents
Although environmentally friendly substances have long since become available, most of the cleaners use the principle of double-dose cleaning. But natural cleaning agents are also sharp. Soap etches with alkalis, vinegar cleaner irritates the respiratory tract with acids. Even for the eco-helpers: you should use them in small doses. Better to scrub a bit stronger and a little longer - that's good for the environment and the purse as well.
All Purpose cleaner
They contain soaps or surfactants - wash-active substances, e.g. from coconut oil and starch and are usually readily degradable. Additional helpers for persistent cases: citric, acetic, or lactic acid. All-purpose cleaners are also available under the name "Neutral Cleaner" (skin-friendly because not so alkaline). It removes grease and oil, lime rims of glass and ceramics, of plastic and painted wood, enamel and stone. For hard water, access to an acidic all-purpose cleaner - or add a dash of vinegar to the cleaning solution.
soft soap
For four and a half thousand years people have used the random product of fat and ash. Today it is usually made from vegetable oils and potash. The lye of the soap are quite sharp - it is therefore recommended to use it only for insensitive surfaces of raw wood, stone and plastic.
dish soap
The soap solution works not only in the service of dishwashers. It works in a gentle way also in the cleaning water for windows, mirrors and furniture. The citric acid contained therein binds odor and at the same time prevents limescale.
vinegar
He dissolves limescale, also urine stone in the toilet, and drives bacteria into flight. It is available everywhere and ready for immediate use: household vinegar, pure or two shot glasses on five liters of water. The concentrated vinegar essence must be diluted with four times the amount of water.
citric acid
The alternative to vinegar looks a bit milder. In the trade one finds it also under the designation "bio-Kalklöser".
scouring powder
The quartz flours in it sand away the coarse dirt - so only suitable for insensitive surfaces.
whiting
You can get this finely ground chalk or lime in the drugstore. Mix with water or spirit to paste, it is considered a scouring alternative for sensitive surfaces.
spirit
Methylated spirits or ethyl alcohol is readily biodegradable but flammable. Pure, it is an effective stain remover, a splash in the cleaning water ensures high gloss on window and tile.
Gallseife
Concentrated bovine bile plus soap is available under this name in the trade. Gall soap removes and bleaches stains. Attention: Use only for colourfast upholstery, textiles and carpets.
