With all the commercials and advertisements about cleaning agents, most of us are starting to think that unless we’re using bleach or any other strong cleaning items that are being advertised by these big companies, our house isn’t 99.9% germ-free. That’s not always the case and those options aren’t really the safest. If it’s killing germs, bacterias or molds, then it’s probably going to harm any other living thing that comes in contact with it. Probably the only reason why humans aren’t directly affected by it, aside from a few chemical burns or skin allergies that it has caused us, because we never really assumed or deeply thought that whatever goes down the drain makes its way into our oceans and rivers– polluting bodies of water and harming every marine life that lives underwater. Not only that but even those who are on land, whether it’s animals or human beings, we’re all affected.

With this in mind, I’ve listed a couple of cleaning items that aren’t toxic and are amazing alternatives than the toxic ones. I personally think that they do the job just fine, (and sometimes twice as good!)

Olive Oil

Metal objects can become dull because of constant contact with dust, changes in temperature and other environmental substances. Not only can olive oil be used as a beauty treatment, but it can also be used to give your metal pieces back to its shining glory. All you have to do is add baking soda to a small amount of olive oil and rub it to the metal that needs cleaning. Leave it on for about 10 minutes then wipe it off with a damp cloth.

You can also use olive oil to brighten up dried up wooden furniture or stains. All you have to do is create a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil and wipe it over the wood’s surface and watch it return to its former glory.

Vinegar

This is probably the most versatile cleaning agent there is. From windows, coffee makers, to killing grass without the use of pesticides, vinegar can do it all for you. For simple cleaning, just mix vinegar with water and use a sponge to clean blinds and countertops. For your coffee maker, you can fill the reservoir with vinegar and run the coffee maker through a brewing cycle, then rinse by repeating the process using distilled water. For unwanted grass or as weed remover, you can just pour vinegar on that spot and repeat as needed. Not to mention, for floors that don’t require wax, such as tiles, you can also use this to mop your floors and disinfect it.

Hot Sauce

Okay, don’t freak out. Hot sauce can clean copper! If you’re skeptical, ask a person whose collecting old pennies and you’ll be surprised at how they can clean even the oldest pennies just by letting them soak in a bowl of hot sauce for a few minutes. Remember to use gloves because it’s called hot sauce for a reason.

All you have to do is get a glass bowl and fill it up with hot sauce. The fun part is, if you have old packets of hot sauce from pizza deliveries that have been in your pantry for quite some time already, you can use that. You don’t have to purchase a fresh bottle from the store if you want to do this. Place all the pennies that you need to clean in a bowl and make sure that all the sides are covered. Let it sit for a few minutes and watch as the gunk melt away. Rinse and enjoy your good as new pennies. If it’s a piece of furniture that you need to clean, find a way to soak the part that needs cleaning then just wipe it off with a wet cloth afterward.

White Wine

For those who are wine lovers, you probably already know that you can remove red wine stains using a white wine. For those who don’t know about this, all you have to do is run cool water through the stain and spot clean the area by pouring white wine on the stained area and rinsing it with soap and water after. If the stain is still visible, you can repeat the steps 2-3 times.