When it comes to using cleaning products, the best option is always to get something tried and true that you know will get the job done.
Sadly, it is rare to find safe and environmentally friendly cleaning products to use on your porch at the grocery store.
Aside from the potential health risks it poses for you and your family, it is not suitable for the garden. This is especially true if you are growing fruits and vegetables for personal consumption.
Thankfully, there are stores that sell house cleaning products that can help you clean your porch without harming your plants and flowers.
Home Cleaning Products That Won’t Harm Your Garden
1. Water
Often overlooked, water is a powerful cleaning agent. Sometimes water alone, without added chemicals, is enough to clean your house as long as it has some force behind it.
For tough dirt and grime, you can use a power washer.
However, you should refrain from using it for cleaning porches as the pressure can damage the wood if not applied properly. You can use a water hose with a spray nozzle to wash away dirt.
You might need to do a bit of work by scrubbing all the dirt and grime off. If you think about it, it’s a lot better than using harmful products seeping into your garden.
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2. Oxygenated Bleach
If you want to clean your house thoroughly without the harmful effects of chlorine bleach, try using oxygenated bleach. Oxygenated bleach works the same way as chlorine but without the adverse side effects.
Chlorine, the main component in chlorine bleach, is a poisonous gas that can rapidly spread if mixed with other cleaning agents such as vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and ammonia.
Oxygenated bleach, on the other hand, has sodium percarbonate. This ingredient, when mixed with water, can release tons of bubbles that will help scrub the dirt and grime away.
In a gallon of water, add two cups of oxygenated bleach. This mixture will be enough to clean your home. Notice how it does not emit any harmful fumes.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a powerful cleaning agent that you can use to keep your porch and deck sparkling clean. It has sodium bicarbonate that is safe to use for cleaning that will not cause any harm to your plants.
This ingredient is actually safe for ingestion as it is used in baking and can also be used to treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
It is actually great for controlling the build-up of powdery mildew. You can also use baking soda to neutralize fridge odors, It works by interacting with the odor particles rather than just masking the smell.
A cup of baking soda at the back of the fridge is enough to neutralize odors and clean your refrigerator.
To make an all-purpose cleaning recipe, mix four tablespoons of baking soda in one quart of warm water.
4. Dishwashing Liquid
If you think dishwashing liquid can only be used to clean your dishes and as a surfactant for most natural herbicides, think again.
Dish soap is actually an all-purpose cleaner that you can use around the house, indoors and outdoors.
It is safe for your plants — in fact, while cleaning your house, you can spray it onto your plants to keep whiteflies, scale, mites, and aphids away.
Mix three tablespoons of dish soap with a gallon of water, and you now have an all-purpose cleaner.
Fortunately for most homeowners, there are thousands of garden-friendly products available today that even house cleaning companies use.
If you think about it, people were engaged in house cleaning long before these harmful cleaning products were made.
So, it is really possible to switch to safe and sustainable products – you just have to look for them.
