Go green at home with natural home cleaning choices to keep your bathroom, kitchen and even good wood furniture in top condition. Natural products and homemade cleaning solutions can help you keep your home clean, safe and smelling fresh without toxic chemicals. Use vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and soap as the basis for your naturally green and clean home, or opt for commercially based products that rely on coconut derivatives or other natural products.
Function
Natural cleaning products, whether you make your own or buy commercially available products, clean your home without harsh and potentially toxic chemicals. These products have a lower overall environmental impact and can be safer for you, your children and family pets, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Natural cleaning products can handle any cleaning job in your home, including disinfecting counters, cleaning toilets and even removing mold or mildew.
Labeling
You may find products in your stores labeled with the Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment seal. This seal signifies that the product is made with the safest ingredients and minimizes the use of "chemicals of concern." While the Design for the Environment seal indicates that this product meets the EPA standard for safety, it does not imply that the ingredients are natural or naturally derived. Smaller companies may not pursue this qualification but may still offer safe, good-quality natural cleaning products. "Consumer Reports" recommends going to greenerchoices.org to look for products whose labels have been independently verified as green.
Types
Commercially available cleaning products marketed as green may include chemical solvents and cleaning agents or naturally derived ones, like cleansers developed from coconut oil. Homemade cleaning products rely upon easily available non-toxic, natural ingredients you may already have in your cabinets. You can make cleaning solutions suitable for counters, toilets, tile and even good wood furniture.
Recipes
Combine equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle for a convenient all-purpose cleaner for your kitchen and bathroom, suggests Organized Home. Mix 1/4 cup of vinegar into a gallon of warm water to mop your ceramic or vinyl tile or linoleum floors. Undiluted vinegar works well on grout or hard water deposits and can be used to clean your toilet bowl. Sprinkle baking soda on surfaces, and use a damp sponge or cloth when you need gentle abrasive action. Baking soda can deodorize drains, carpeting or your refrigerator. Stir together lemon juice and olive oil to polish your wood furniture, and use straight cut lemons to clean tough stains on your counters, cutting boards or plastic kitchen ware.
Considerations
While choosing commercially available, environmentally friendly cleaning products can allow you to lower your environmental impact, they still have some drawbacks. Fragrances or coloring agents in these products may pose a risk of irritation, particularly if you have sensitive skin or allergies. Making your own cleaning products can eliminate any risk of irritations or discomforts and allow you to choose ingredients you can tolerate.
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