Green Cleaning 101 with Jack's Mom, Heather
Yes, I know, the Pine Sol lady says that you can smell the clean if your home smells like the forest in the Pacific Northwest, but a really clean home really shouldn't smell like anything - except clean!
An overhaul of your cleaning supplies is such an easy and economical change that you can make to your home. Most cleaning tasks (even the yucky ones) can be handled with a combination of a few basic tools. So how do you get started? For one thing, throw away - yes, just get rid of all the products you have in your home with Chlorine Bleach. It is evil and unnecessary and causes a host of health and environmental issues that we can all do without. [1]. Next, make a trip to your local buy in bulk store, dollar store or supermarket to stock up on the basics. Buy the cheapest kind you can because vinegar is vinegar no matter how fancy or plain the packaging is. Buy the largest size you can safely store in your home as well because these don't go bad and you will use them often.
OK, here is your shopping list:
- Baking Soda - be sure to read the label as there are a million ways to use this product!
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Rubbing Alchohol
- Cheap Olive Oil - not the stuff you use for salads!
- Vinegar - white, household vinegar is all you need
- Phosphate free dish soap
- Spray bottles
You may also want to get fancy and buy some essential oils in whatever fragrance you prefer. They seem pretty expensive, but they go a long way and are infinitely cheaper than the pre-fragranced cleaners in the store. Add a total of 30-70 drops of your favorite Essential Oils to any of these recipes. The aromatherapy almost makes cleaning bearable - almost!
Cleaning Recipes
Window and Glass Cleaner
2 cups water
1 cup vinegar
1 tsp liquid detergent
Furniture Polish
My cousin owns a fine furniture store and was appalled to see me dusting with store bought spray. Evidently, all that stuff does is add a coating of wax to your furniture that attracts more dust! She recommends that you use a damp cloth (old receiving blankets are ideal for this purpose), add a little of this polish and buff well.
¼ cup vinegar
½ cup olive oil
25 drops Orange EO
All Purpose Cleaner
Kitchen and bathroom disinfectant - NOT FOR GRANITE
2 cups water
1 cup vinegar
2 tsp baking soda
Tub & Tile Cleaner
I just spray this after every shower and leave it on.
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
½ cup hydrogen peroxide
40 drops Tea Tree oil - a natural disinfectant!
Air Freshener
1 cup water
1 ½ ounces of rubbing alcohol
45 drops eucalyptus oil
45 drops orange oil
[1] Breathing in the fumes of cleaners containing a high concentration of chlorine can irritate the lungs. This is particularly dangerous for people suffering from heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema. And the risks are compounded when the cleaners are used in small, poorly ventilated rooms, such as the bathroom. Chlorine is also a highly corrosive substance, capable of damaging skin, eyes, and other membranes. Chlorine was listed as a hazardous air pollutant in the 1990 Clean Air Act, and exposure to chlorine in the workplace is regulated by federal standards.
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