Debunking The Top 10 Eco-Cleaning Myths

With the majority of the cleaning chemicals being hazardous to the users, many people are now turning to user-friendly products. Some natural cleaning product recipes have been passed down from older generations, but many are surrounded by myths. Actually, this is one of the reasons why most people shy away from using homemade solutions. They don’t know what’s false and what’s true and what will actually work and what wont. In this article, we look at some of the common myths surrounding 10 of your grandma’s eco-cleaning solutions.

Eco-cleaning Myths Debunked

1. Cleaning and Unclogging Pipes with Coffee – FALSE

It’s one of the most told lies about unclogging and cleaning pipes. Note that coffee cannot help with the clogged system. It does not scrub properties to be used as unclogging material. What the grounds will do is clogging the system even more, when they mix with leftovers in the pipes. Coffee will also make the clog in the plumbing system very hard to clean. Instead of this, try other homemade solutions such as a mixture of baking soda and vinegar for a clogged system. If the solution fizzes, rinse it down with hot water to unclog the system.

2. Cleaning Pots with Tomato Sauce – TRUE

I know this has come as a surprise, but it’s the truth. Don’t just use tomato sauce for making your food yummy. Tomato sauce is a great solution to your blackening metallic pots and pans. It works very well on stainless steel pots. The working mechanism is very easy- for stainless steel products, they have a layer of copper which is oxidised to form the black stains at the bottom. Tomato sauce contains acetic acid that helps in wiping out the black stains. Just apply a thick layer of tomato sauce on the base of the pot and leave it for 30 minutes. Then wipe it away, and the black stain will disappear with it.

3. Plant Helps in Dust Control – TRUE

It is true that having plants can help in getting rid of dust in your homes. Dust is always a problem in all homes. No matter how hard you try to wipe it off, you will always have to deal with it. Try removing it now, and after 10 minutes it will start building up. Trees work by attracting dust particles in the air. All you have to do is wiping the dust off the tree with a dump cloth. Apart from controlling dust, plants also improve the quality of air in circulation. They are great for allergic people such as anaemia since it removes triggers (dust) in the air. If well planned, they can be used to improve interior designs.

4. Vinegar as a Multipurpose Cleaning Agent – FALSE

Although vinegar can be used in cleaning different parts of the house, it’s not a multi-purpose cleaning agent. It is important to note that vinegar contains a very aggressive acid that may react with some household products. For instance, it will react with rubber seals in the plumbing system, and this will definitely cause damage. Vinegar can also destroy natural stones such as granite and marble.

5. Wearing Glove is Hygienic – FALSE

It is funny how we rush for gloves anytime we are doing something that’s perceived dirty. Ask anyone why they are using gloves, and they will tell you that need protection against germs and bacteria. But this is far from the truth. Gloves might even be worse than what is on the outside. The inside of the gloves provides the perfect habitat for the bacteria due to the temperatures and humidity provided by the latex surface. Always make sure that you are disinfecting your gloves after you clean your drains or every after use. Next time, don’t say that you are wearing gloves for hygienic purposes, it might be safer working bare handed.

6. Sparkling Water Removes Stain – TRUE

This has been proven to work especially on laundry. If your shirt or curtain has some annoying stains, grab a bottle with sparkling water and let the carbon dioxide dissolve into the stained spot. It’s important to note however that the solution does not work for the fat and oil stain. It is also crucial to check the amount of carbon dioxide in the sparkling water since it determines the ease of removing stains- the more, the better. With this method, you only need to saturate the spot and use a dry and absorbent cloth to dab the stain. Do not rub the stain, dab it.

7. Lemon Juice for Exhaust Duct- TRUE

Lemon juice will work incredibly in making your exhaust duct shine again. As the time goes by, the exhaust duct will start accumulating some oil stains. These spots make the valve look bad and unhygienic, but with a lemon, you can clean it them effortlessly. All you need is to cut the lemon in half and rub it all over the metal surface. The fruit contains an acid that quickly removes fats and oils. If there are any stubborn stains left, use detergent to wipe them away.

8. Oil Can Get Rid Of Sticky Residues on Doors – TRUE

If you have sticky residues and glue on the door, oils will do wonders in removing them. If you have stubborn glue, apply some butter or oil, and it will come out by itself. These two contains fatty acids that dissolve glue very effectively. Similarly, you can mix the olive oils with a pinch of salt and use the mixture to remove sticky residues all over your home, particularly the kitchen.

9. Unclog Your Toilet with Coke – PARTIALLY TRUE

Though there has been a lot of hype on how coke can help in unclogging a toilet, not all the information is accurate. It is true that the mixture will generate a lot of pressure that can unclog your toilet, but it can also be too great and destroy the pipes. Therefore, coke can actually work, but it might end up causing damage to your system.

10. Toothpaste Can Clean Silver Jewellery and Silverware – TRUE

If your silver jewellery is starting to look dull, try toothpaste and it will sine up great. Get your toothpaste and toothbrush and scrub the ornament thoroughly until it shines like new. Rinse off the toothpaste by dipping the silverware in warm water. This will remove toothpaste residues and the oxidised silver particles. If properly scrubbed, your jewellery will look as good as new.