You don't need harsh chemicals or detergents to have a clean and healthy home. There are plenty of environmentally friendly products that can get even the toughest cleaning jobs done--and you probably have most of them in your home already. Green cleaning solutions are better for you, your family, the environment and your wallet.
Baking Soda
You can also use baking soda as a deodorizer, mild abrasive or drain cleaner. For deodorizing, put baking soda in an open bowl and leave it in your refrigerator or a room to absorb odor. It can also be sprinkled onto a smelly carpet, left for an hour and then vacuumed to remove odor. The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare recommends mixing it in equal parts with water and vinegar to make a gentle scrubbing solution for tubs and tile surfaces. For slow drains, pour 1 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup vinegar. After 10 minutes, pour a teakettle of boiling water down the drain.
Vinegar
The Oregon Metro website advises mixing full strength vinegar with salt to clean grease off of surfaces. Even though it is tough enough to clean grease, it's also mild enough to clean wood floors; the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare suggests mixing 1/4 cup vinegar with 1 gallon of water to damp mop wood floors. Wipe dry after washing to avoid water damage. To clean windows, put 1/4 cup vinegar in a spray bottle and fill with water. Spray on windows and wipe off with newspapers.
Lemons
Don't throw away lemons after squeezing them for juice. Boil the rinds in 2 cups of water and let the water cool to room temperature. Strain solids and store the lemon water in a spray bottle to spritz as an air freshener. You can also use the lemon juice in your homemade cleaning solutions to add a pleasant smell. The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare suggest the following recipe as an all-purpose cleaner: 1 quart warm water, 1 tsp. borax, 1 tsp. liquid soap, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Castile Soap
Castile soap is "a mild soap made of olive oil and sodium hydroxide," according to the King County Public Health Department. A few drops mixed with water makes an excellent all-purpose cleaner. For a sparkling clean toilet bowl, add a few drops of castile soap to your toilet along with a sprinkle of baking soda, scrub with a toilet brush and flush. If you have dried-on gunk on your countertops or floors, sprinkle the area with baking soda. Wet a rag in warm water and put a few drops of castile soap on it. Scrub the area until the gunk is gone, then rinse with water and dry.
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