Chemical Free Cleaning: How Effective Is It?

I don’t know how it comes, but the more advanced our technology becomes, the more we tend to go back into the times when life wasn’t that complicated. We now have cleaning products that can help us clean virtually anything almost effortless, yet we seek alternative solutions that are free from harsh chemicals. We have awesome cooking utensils, gorgeous kitchens, yet we re-discover the benefits of raw food diets. We have modern hospitals, well-trained doctors, efficient drugs, yet there are times when we choose natural ailments. The list could go on to leaving our cars in the garage in favor of using bicycles and so on. Regarding chemical free cleaning, after publishing a few tips and tricks, I’ve got questions from readers wanting to know more about eco-friendly cleaning methods.

There are two ways of chemical-free cleaning: by using natural substances such as vinegar, lemon peel or salt, and by using the power of hot steam to disintegrate tough dirt and grime and to sanitize surfaces. Both methods are natural, however their efficacy depends very much on particular situations. In case of steam cleaners, the vapor jet power and the water tank capacity can make the difference between thorough and superficial cleaning.

While I mostly tend to believe that this is a fade of our times, I can’t ignore the benefits of going for natural solutions in certain situations. I can understand that an allergic person can significantly raise her quality of life by using a Ladybug XLT 2300 Dry Vapor Steam Cleaner Tancs Equipped, but I must confess that I’m not really prepared to pay the $1699, even though I’m perfectly aware that it cleans and disinfects at the same time, thanks to its TANCS system. If you wonder what TANCS stands for, please find out that it means Thermal Accelerated Nano Crystal Sanitation. I know it must be much better than all cheap steam cleaners I’ve been using, because it could be used up to 3-4 hours continuously, not like my actual steamer which needs refilling every 15 minutes. It’s great, but my house is small, I can do it all in about 30 minutes, so why bother paying that much for an amazing benefit I’m not going to enjoy anyway? However, if I had a big house, kids and pets who’d come in with all sort of germs and bacteria, if I suffered from severe allergy to dust mites or mold, I wouldn’t think twice before getting one of these commercial grade Ladybug vapor cleaners. I’m convinced of their effectiveness and I’ll tell you why in a moment.

How Steam Cleaning Works

If you ever put your hand in hot steam by mistake, then you probably know that it can be really hot. It burns. It kills germs and bacteria in a split second. When directed through a nozzle, steam turns into a powerful tool, able to dislocate even the most stubborn dirt, grime, old oil stains and other similar things that are very hard to clean with common cleaning products and appliances. So, steam cleaners use this force to remove the dirt, then they use either vacuuming or wiping with an absorbent cloth to finish cleaning and to leave surfaces perfect and shiny. Such devices are also known as steam mops. However, there are smaller, handheld steam cleaners, which have the advantage of being able to clean even in hard to reach places. They are very efficient in cleaning the stove and the oven, good enough to clean the grout if you have enough patience to move the cleaning head slowly along the lines between tiles, but on upholstery and carpets their performance is rather average, as they don’t have enough power to clean deep into the fabric fibers. Besides, their water tank is rather small, so you can’t expect to do a lot of cleaning between reloads.

Chemical Free Cleaning Tips And Tricks

Last but not least, here’s a list of tips and tricks that might help you make a smooth transition from your usual methods to chemical free cleaning:

• Steamers are great for most cleaning tasks in the household. They are suitable for most surfaces. However, some laminated flooring manufacturers don’t recommend them. I don’t know why, because I use mine on my laminated floors and they are in perfect shape even after a couple of years of cleaning.
• Vinegar and other acid substances are ideal for cleaning grease.
• Grease stains on floors can be easily removed with salt. Just cover the stain with a lot of salt, then wait for a few minutes. The salt will absorb the grease. It doesn’t work on old stains, though, so make sure you add the salt as soon as you dropped the grease on the floor.
• Baking soda is a very efficient drain cleaner.  If you put it into the drain, then pour some vinegar, you’ll see they make a chemical reaction which will result in a cleaned drain.
• Liquid soap mixed with baking soda and vinegar acts as an all purpose cleaner for all bathroom and kitchen fixtures. Use a toothbrush to clean even in places that are harder to reach.
• Lemon juice and water mixed in equal parts make a great window cleaner.

Have you tried any chemical free cleaning tips? Do you care sharing them with us? I’d appreciate your comments on the trend of giving up harsh detergents in favor of eco-friendly methods and substances.