Dirty? 5 Simple Ways to Clean Green

Getting ready for Fall cleaning with chemical-stuffed products?  Here’s how to clean with natural ingredients: 

1. Make your own household cleaner. Many products you have lying around the house can be used for non-toxic cleaning solutions. Baking soda, distilled white vinegar, borax, tea tree oil, salt and lemons can all be used for eco-safe cleaning.  Solutions made from these products are an alternative to traditional harsh, toxic commercial products. Check here for more info on creating a complete non-toxic cleaning kit.

2. Use reusable materials like cotton washrags and choose natural bristle brushes instead of supermarket sponges which only last a few uses.  Cut old t-shirts into squares and keep them on hand for dusting.

3. Shop smarter. I commend those brands that are making an effort to use environmentally friendly ingredients in their products, but as consumers we have to know what to look for.  Just because a product is marketing itself as “green” doesn’t always mean it is.  Read the packaging on products and look for some key words like nontoxic, biodegradable, chlorine-free, phosphate-free, vegetable oil based, fragrance free and no dyes.

4. Don’t run the water while cleaning. Instead of running water while you clean-up the sink, shower or wherever – fill a bucket with water and a general-purpose cleaning solution. Scrub down completely before rinsing. For example, to rinse shower walls fill a watering can with h20 & soap, and pour water along top of walls letting it wash away nasty soap and grime build-up.

 5. Freshen your home naturally. Instead of using store-bought air fresheners (which are made with harsh chemicals to make them last longer), make your own potpourri. Boil cinnamon and cloves, then combine with dried flowers or oranges stuck with rinds.  Enclose the mixture in a bottle or drawer and wait for a delicious, “homey” smell.

Posted by Beth