Try the following green cleaning recipes and let me know what you think:
- Tub and sink cleaner: sprinkle baking soda on porcelain fixtures and rub with a wet rag. Rinse well to avoid a hazy film.
- Window and mirror cleaner: put 1/4 cup of vinegar in a 16-ounce spray bottle and fill to the top with water. A few drops of detergent may be added to prevent streaks. Spray on surfaces. Rub with a diaper, or other lint-free rag, or sheet of newspaper.
- Dusting: use a soft cloth slightly dampened with water.
- Spot cleaner: 1/4 cup of borax and 2 cups of water. Dissolve in water, sponge on stain and let it dry or pre-treat before washing.
- Drain cleaner: pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain first, then 1/2 cup of vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes. Then pour down a tea kettle full of boiling water. Repeat if needed.
- Oven cleaner: do not use this cleaner on self-cleaning ovens. Mix 1 cup of baking soda with enough water to make paste. Apply to oven surfaces and let stand a little while. Use the scouring pad for scrubbing most surfaces. A spatula or bread knife is effective to get under large food deposits.
What each ingredient does:
- Baking soda: helps to clean and deodorize, will act as a scouring agent, polisher, stain remover, fabric softener. Use to clean plastic, vinyl, carpet, silver, stainless steel, drains, and refreshes your fridge.
- Borax: helps to clean and deodorize. Use on wallpaper, painted walls, and floors. Use it with your detergents to remove stains and boost the cleaning power.
- Vinegar: helps remove stains, wax buildup and mildew. Use to clean windows, fireplaces, grout, paint brushes, glass, and coffee pots.
For more information on green cleaning: www.healthhouse.org and www.watoxics.org.
For information about what’s in commercial household products, their potential health effects, and using safety in handling these products, visit: http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov.
