 Greening Your Cleaners
Many persons/people don't realize that the cleaners, disinfectants and pesticides they use on a regular basis are toxic chemicals that pose a threat to both human health and the environment. To reduce toxicity try the following and see if they work for you:
Window cleaners
- Mix two tablespoons of vinegar in 1 quart of water. Use more vinegar as needed.
Oven cleaners
Use one of the following methods:
- Mix 1 part vinegar to about 4 parts water. Put into a spray bottle. Spray onto cool oven surface. Use green scrubber to wipe the oven clean. Use baking soda on stubborn spots.
- Mix together in a spray bottle 2 tablespoons liquid soap (not detergent), 2 teaspoons borax, and warm water to fill the bottle. Make sure the salts are completely dissolved to avoid clogging the squirting mechanism. When applying, hold the bottle very close to the oven surface. Leave the solution on for 20 minutes, then scrub with steel wool and a non-chlorine scouring powder.
Moth balls
- Use cedar chips or bay leaf instead.
All-purpose cleaners
- Mix 2 tablespoons baking soda with 1 pint warm water in a spray bottle. Add a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of vinegar to cut grease.
Drain cleaners
Use one of the following mixtures:
- Pour one or two handfuls of baking soda followed by ½ cup white vinegar down the drain pipe and cover tightly for one minute. The chemical reaction between the two substances will form a fizzy pressure in the drain and dislodge any obstructive matter. Rinse with hot water.
- Pour ½ cup salt and ½ cup baking soda followed by lots of hot water.
Disinfectant
- Mix ½ cup of borax in 1 gallon hot water. Regular cleaning with plain soap and water will keep germs under control.
Floor/Furniture polish
- Use 1 part lemon juice to 2 parts olive oil and apply a thin coat. Rub in well with a soft cloth. Or mix three parts olive oil and one part vinegar.
Brass and Copper cleaner
Try one of these mixtures:
- Make a paste of lemon juice and salt.
- Sprinkle a slice of lemon with baking soda.
Laundry detergent
- Instead of using a detergent-based cleaner, try a product made from natural soap. Soap is made from natural minerals and fats and has been used with no ill effects for hundreds of years. You can find natural soap flakes in many supermarkets and natural food stores, or you can grate bar soap to use in the laundry.
- To remove perspiration and odors, use 1 cup plain baking soda, white vinegar, or borax per washer load of clothes.
Bleach
- Buy a powdered non-chlorine bleach. This product contains borax or sodium perborate.
Odours
- Baking soda can be sprinkled onto pets as long as it is not allowed to fall into their eyes or nose.
- In the refrigerator, half a lemon or an open box of baking soda should remove any food odours.
- Use half a lemon in the garbage pail to reduce the scent created by decaying waste.
- Baking soda can be used in the bottom of ashtrays to remove tobacco odour.
- Remove odours from cutting boards using vinegar and baking soda.
- To remove urine odours from furniture, mattresses etc, dampen and sprinkle borax on the spots.
- Urine odours on rugs can be removed using vinegar or club soda.
Cooking
- Salt or baking soda can be used to put out grease fires (Remember sugar cannot be used).
- Vinegar in water while poaching eggs keeps the shell intact and salt in the water helps the shell to peel more easily.
Cleaning
- To clean lipstick off clothes rub toothpaste on the stain.
- To clean crayons off of walls try either an eraser or toothpaste or heat using a hairdryer and wipe.
- To remove mildew use equal amounts of vinegar and borax in warm water.
- Vinegar can help to remove rust on nuts and bolts as well as calcium deposits on cookware.
- To clean perspiration stains from clothing use baking soda or soak in salt water.
- To clean blood stains soak in cold salt water, then wash and if the fabric can take it, boil the area.
- Burnt pots and pans can be cleaned using a paste of water and baking soda rubbed on and left to sit for an hour.
- Burnt pots may also be cleaned by boiling with vinegar and baking soda.
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