Clean House, Green Solutions!

I’ve really been on a mission to make my life “more green” lately.  There are so many reasons why it’s important to “think green”.  It’s great for the earth, it teaches our children good values about how they dispose of items and how their actions can impact the earth on a larger scale.  Even my 2 and 3 year old girls have become eco-conscientious.  I say you can never start too early!

Keep in mind though, that it’s never too late to start either.  I’ve put together some great tips that I found through Better Homes and Gardens (one of my favorite magazines!) on making your own “green cleaners” right at home.  This will jump start you on your way to being green.  I’ve tried several of them and surprisingly, many work better than the comparable store-bought cleanser.  Try them out for yourself to see the results!

The Basic Ingredients of Do-It-Yourself Cleaners

• Baking Soda - This works best on proteins, grease, and animal messes. Because it’s slightly abrasive, it can be used for scouring — and, of course, it’s a natural deodorizer.
• Distilled White Vinegar -This mild acid works on alkaline substances, dissolving scale, inhibiting mold, and cutting soap scum. It’s terrific for stains such as coffee, rust, and tea.
• Simple Soap -Try castile soap, made with olive oil, or a vegetable-based soap. Both attach to soil at the molecular level, so you can rinse dirt away with water.

Home Cleaner Recipes

Soft Scrub - Add enough soap to 1/8 cup baking soda to make a creamy mixture. Apply with sponge to clean; rinse the surface well. Use and discard.

Appliance Cleaner - Dry baking soda shines up small appliances and even removes bread wrappers burned onto the toaster. Try rubbing a teaspoon onto your grubby blender or food processor with a clean flannel cloth.

Toilet Cleaner/Deodorizer - Sprinkle toilet bowl with 1/4 cup baking soda. Drizzle with 1/4 cup vinegar, then scour with a toilet brush.

Oven Cleaner - Sprinkle oven with 1/2 cup baking soda (more if needed) and spray with water. Let sit for several hours or overnight before scraping up stains and spills. Rinse thoroughly with water.

Hardwood Floor Cleaner - In a pail or bucket, mix 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar in one gallon warm water. Mop wood or linoleum floors, then rinse with water, making sure not to leave large pools to dry.

Scented Cleanser - Baking soda and salt are mild abrasives that can easily take the place of commercial scrubbing powders. Salt is slightly more abrasive but still gentle enough for most surfaces. Mix your own scented cleanser by stirring a drop or two of essential oil into baking soda or salt using a wire whisk. Store the mixture in a small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. As the fragrance fades, refresh it with another drop of oil.

Lemon Scrubber - Borax and lemons are known for their cleaning and whitening powers, but each works differently. Because it is an alkali, borax is good for cutting grease, oil, and dirt. Lemons are slightly acidic, so they work well at eliminating soap scum and hard-water deposits. To get the benefits of both, dip a lemon half in borax and use it as a scrubber for the bathroom, kitchen counters, cupboards, and appliances — any surface that is likely to have both alkali and acidic dirt.  This recipe is great for cutting grease and soap scum.

Glass Cleaner - Make your own streak-free glass cleaner by mixing a solution of 2 cups water, 2 cups rubbing alcohol, and 1/2 cup ammonia. Put the mixture in a spray bottle (32 ounces or larger,) and use a clean, absorbent lint-free rag (soft cotton is ideal) to wipe the glass. The ammonia does most of the cleaning; the alcohol speeds up the drying time to help eliminate streaks.