Green Cleaning Your House

Commercial cleansers are not only harmful to people and the environment, but also expensive. Give these green alternatives a try!

Bathroom And Kitchen 

Baking Soda and Water

Dust surfaces with baking soda, then scrub with a moist sponge or cloth. 

If you have stains, knead the baking soda and water into a paste and let set for a while before you remove. This method works great for stainless steel sinks, cutting boards, containers, refrigerators, oven tops and more.

Sprinkle a toilet brush with baking soda and scrub away! Occasionally disinfect your toilet by scrubbing with borax instead. Wipe the outside of the toilet clean with straight vinegar.

Kosher Salt and Water: If you need a tougher abrasive sprinkle on kosher salt, and scrub with a wet cloth or sponge.

Conventional oven cleaning chemicals are loaded with toxic ingredients, including ethers, ethylene glycol, lye (sodium and potassium hydroxide), methylene chloride and petroleum distillates. The products are harmful to skin and eyes, and the fumes are unhealthy. Instead, go natural!

Coat the inside of your dirty appliance with a paste made from water and baking soda. Let stand overnight. Then, don gloves and scour off that grime. Make spotless with a moist cloth.

A stopped-up sink or tub is a real hassle, but pouring toxic chemicals like Drano on them isn’t so wise. Not only will that pollute our waterways, but the products can cause chemical burns and are highly dangerous if ingested. Do you really want that in your home?

Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the problem drain, followed by 2 cups of boiling water. If that isn’t doing it for you, chase the baking soda with a 1/2 cup of vinegar and cover tightly, allowing the vigorous fizzing of the chemical reaction to break up the gunk. Then flush that with one gallon of boiling water.

Lemon Juice or Vinegar

Got stains, mildew or grease streaks? Spray or douse with lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit a few minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush.

Tea Tree Oil

Disinfectant: Instead of using bleach, make your own disinfectant by mixing 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap and 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil. Spray or rub on countertops and other kitchen surfaces.

Windows And Mirrors

Instead of using harsh-smelling sprays, try this highly effective, simple solution.

White Vinegar, Water and Newspaper

Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking.

If you’re out of vinegar or don’t like its smell, you can substitute undiluted lemon juice or club soda.

Carpets And Rugs

Keeping carpets clean is less daunting than you might think, even after a season of tracked-in dirt and salt.

Beat Those Rugs

Take any removable rugs outside and beat the dust and hair out with a broom.

Club Soda

You’ve probably heard the old tip that club soda works well on carpet stains. It’s true, but you have to attack the mess right away. Lift off any solids, then liberally pour on club soda. Blot with an old rag. The soda’s carbonation brings the spill to the surface, and the salts in the soda thwart staining.

Cornmeal

For big spills, dump cornmeal on the mess, wait 5 to 15 minutes, and vacuum up the gunk.

Spot Cleaner

Make your own by mixing: 1/4 cup liquid soap or detergent in a blender, with 1/3 cup water. Mix until foamy. Spray on, then rinse with vinegar.

To Deodorize

Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on the carpet or rug, using about 1 cup per medium-sized room. Vacuum after 30 minutes.

Wood Furniture

Mix equal parts of lemon juice and olive and oil. Apply a small amount to a cloth, and rub onto the furniture in long, even strokes.