Natural Solutions for your Dirty Furniture

In a world where we are all increasingly aware of our impact on the environment, the demand for natural cleaning products has increased significantly. Beyond their negligible environmental impact, natural cleaning solutions have the advantage of being completely safe for use around children and animals and are free of unpleasant chemical odours and their scary price tags. The following options are all economical, accessible, and effective, and are probably waiting inside your fridge or pantry right now.

Lemon is one of nature’s most versatile superfoods. It is delicious in sweet and savoury dishes, works as a powerful detoxifying agent and, depending on our needs, is also a common ingredient in cleaning products because of its antiseptic and antibacterial qualities. Half a cup of pure lemon juice mixed with ½ cup of olive oil makes an effective encaustic (in addition to be the basis of a fantastic homemade dressing!). This mixture is especially useful for cleaning wood floors and furniture since olive oil adds moisture and helps prevent cracks.

Because of its disinfecting and deodorizing properties, white vinegar is another effective all-purpose cleaner that is often added to makeshift cleaning mixtures. Combined with oil, it is an exemplary encaustic, the acidity of vinegar raising wood dust. Stay away from apple cider vinegar or balsamic varieties to avoid unwanted stains.

Finally, a large cup of black tea will not only motivate you to clean up but will also be an excellent revitalizing agent for your furniture. All you need to do is brew a large cup with 3 or 4 tea bags in boiling water and let it steep until it cools down. After removing the tea bags, you can liberally apply this infusion to your furniture and then move on. The tannic acid in the tea removes residue and restores a natural glow.