Green cleaning is simple and affordable. Using non-toxic, green cleaners help keep your family safe and healthy without sacrificing the sparkle and shine of a clean and sanitary home.
Here are some recipes to try:
For an everyday all-purpose cleaner, use baking soda or white vinegar. Dissolve 2 tbsp. soda or 1/2 cup vinegar in a spray bottle with a quart of warm water. Use as you would any spray cleanser. For scrub jobs, use baking soda with a small amount of water, then rinse. You can also add 1/2 tsp. liquid Castile soap to a vinegar mix to help lift sticky stains.
To clean the bathroom, sprinkle the toilet bowl with baking soda, then add white vinegar and scrub it with a brush. Clean the tub, tile and countertops by cutting a lemon in half, dipping it in borax or baking soda and using it to scrub. Rinse and dry the surface. Clear slow drains by mixing 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar with a pot of boiling water. pour the mixture down the drain immediately. Flush with tap water.
For kitchen cleaning, scrub grease spots with undiluted vinegar and rock salt. Bleach out stains with hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine bleach. Clean glass using 1 quart warm water with 1/4 cup vinegar or 2 tbsp lemon juice mixed in.
For a great hand sanitizer, mix 4 oz. of beach sand with 1 oz. of pumice powder and enough glycerin to make a moist mixture. Store in a jar or tub, and use about 1 tablespoon at a time. Soap is a legitimate disinfectant, so wash your hands with vegetable-based Castile soap. If you’re concerned about infections, add 10 drops of tea tree oil to 4 oz. of liquid Castile soap. Tea tree oil is antifungal, antibacterial and all-natural.
For furniture, walls, and floors, polish wood furniture with a mixture of 1/2 tsp olive or jojoba oil and 1/4 cup vinegar. Mix the ingredients in a jar, and use a soft rag to apply polish in small amounts. If you have crayon marks or scuffs on the walls, rub them with toothpaste and a damp cloth. Don’t use toothpaste on wallpaper unless it’s vinyl. For linoleum and tile floors, mix 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup Castile soap and 2 gallons warm water in a bucket. Mop as usual.
For healthy deodorizing, simmer cinnamon, cloves, or other spices in a small pot of water. Remove kitchen food odors by setting out a dish of vinegar or boiling 1 tbsp. vinegar in 1 cup water. Alternatively, spray cutting boards and surfaces with vinegar at night, and the odor will dissipate by morning. For carpet odors, sprinkle with baking soda and let sit for half an hour before vacuuming.
