Green Cleaning Tips
Green Cleaning
Tips show you some of the easiest ways to be a
friend of the earth. Green cleaning products are
easy on the environment, and homemade cleansers
are not only better for the earth, but they are
better (and less expensive) for you. Isn't it
nice to think you're cleaning your home without
causing indoor air pollution, risking your skin,
or having to worry about locking the cleanser
you're using away because you're afraid of the
baby getting into it? Well, you might still want
to caution your little ones away, but homemade
and earth-friendly cleaners are definitely more
human friendly too.
Compiled here are a few good recipes for
homemade house cleaners that are easy on you and
the environment. These recipes have been
gathered from far and wide, a credit to people
everywhere who share them in an effort to help
our Earth. Let's get started!
Laundry Soap
2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (grate it into small
shavings)
1 cup Washing Soda (make sure it's washing soda)
1 cup Borax
Mix well and store in an airtight plastic
container.
Use 2 tablespoons per full load.
Fabric Softener
White vinegar. That's it. Use a 1/2 cup per
load. You cloths won't smell vinegary, and will
come out of the dryer fresh and soft.
Spray Cleaner
1/4 cup vinegar
4 cups warm water
Mix in a spray bottle, add 1 tablespoon
vegetable based liquid soap (like Sun & Earth,
Trader’s Joe’s brands, Seventh Generation)
25 drops of essential oil for scent
Shake Gently before each use
Disinfectant
Add 30 drops of tea tree oil to the Spray
Cleaner above.
Or
Clean surface as usual - then spray with 3%
hydrogen peroxide.
Let sit 10 minutes and wipe.
Furniture Polish
1/2 cup lemon juice and 1 teaspoon olive oil
Apply to a soft cloth and rub into grain.
Remove and polish with a clean cloth.
Toilet Cleaner
Pour in 1 cup Borax, 1/2 cup white vinegar and
leave overnight.
OR
Flush to wet the sides of the bowl. Sprinkle
Borax around the toilet bowl; drizzle with
vinegar.
Leave for several hours before scrubbing with a
toilet brush.
Tub or Shower Cleaner
Use non-chlorinated cleanser (e.g. Bon Ami).
For tough stains, try a citrus-based cleaner at
full strength (undiluted).
Use undiluted white vinegar on hard water
deposits.
Carpet Deodorizer
Sprinkle carpet liberally with baking soda. Wait
15 minutes and vacuum.
Dish Soap
Fill a squeeze bottle with about 20 ounces of
with castile soap (castile soap is made from
vegetable products).
Add one teaspoon of lemon oil and a half dozen
drops or so of your favorite essential oil.
Note: Always be careful with essential oils,
they can be very hard on skin if not diluted in
a carrier oil or liquid.
There you have it - a great start for your
homemade, Earth-friendly cleaning cupboard. In
addition to being ecologically friendly, they
will be easy on your wallet, and still do a
great job.
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