Everyone has heard of ways to contribute to the environment from buying renewable energy credits, recycling, and changing your light bulbs. Another easy way to go green is changing the way you clean your home. Swap out those toxic, odorous, chemically based products for natural items you already have lying around the house.
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Liquid Castile Soap (a mild soap made of olive oil and sodium hydroxide)
- Scouring Pad
- Cotton Washcloth or a Sponge
- Spray Bottles
- Newspaper
- Olive Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
Fill a spray bottle with ¼ c white vinegar and the rest with water. Use newspaper to clean the surface. Newspapers reduce the amount of streaks you would usually get with paper towels.
Tub and Sink Cleaner
Sprinkle surface with baking soda and use a wet rag to scrub. For additional cleaning power, add liquid Castile soap, and rinse well to prevent film from covering the surfaces.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Sprinkle baking soda inside of the bowl, add a few drops of liquid soap and scrub the bowl with a brush.
Creamy All-Purpose Scrubber/Cleaner
Pour ½ cup of baking soda into a bowl or container and add enough liquid soap to make a creamy texture. Add cleaner to sponge and clean surface(s).
Oven Cleaner
Sprinkle bottom of oven with water and generously cover the grime with enough baking soda to cover the surface. Then sprinkle some more water on top of it and let it soak overnight. The next day the grease and grime should have loosened up by then. Wash the remaining residue with a sponge and liquid soap.
Furniture Polish
Mix ½ teaspoon of olive oil along with ¼ of vinegar or lemon juice in a jar. Dab a washcloth into the mixture and wipe on the wood surface.
Mold Killers
Combine 2 teaspoons tea tree oil and 2 cups water in a spray bottle. This spray will work on common problem areas where you find mold or mildew.
