SIMPLE WAYS TO CLEAN GREEN (condensed by permission: Green America)
Make your own nontoxic cleaners, or find eco-friendly products from Green America's Green Business Network™ members. Ingredients that are probably already in your home will tackle most cleaning jobs. Your home will sparkle, germs will still run in fear from your sponges and rags, and your indoor air will be better than ever.
The Basics Stock your cupboards with these products, and you can clean just about anything:
1) White vinegar: An antifungal that also kills germs and bacteria.
2) Baking soda: Eliminates odors and works as a gentle scouring powder..
3) Borax: Borax, the common name for the natural mineral compound sodium borate,
eliminates odors, removes dirt, and acts as an antifungal and possible disinfectant.
Use with care around children and pets, as it can be toxic if swallowed..
4) Hydrogen peroxide (3% concentration): A nontoxic bleach/stain remover, as well
as a proven disinfectant. .
5) Club soda (fresh): A stain remover and polisher. .
6) Lemon juice: A pleasant-smelling nontoxic bleach, grease-cutter, and stain remover..
7) Liquid castile soap: An all-purpose cleaner, grease-cutter, and disinfectant.
“Castile” means the soap is vegetable-based, not animal-fat-based. .
8) Corn meal: Great at picking up carpet spills. .
9) Olive oil: Makes a wonderful furniture polish. .
The Basics at Work Now that you know what products you need, grab a few clean, empty spray bottles; some rags and sponges; and a bucket of water, and you’re ready to clean your house the green way.
All-purpose cleaners: An all-purpose cleaner is just that —something you can use for just about every surface in your home, from kitchen counters and appliances to bathroom surfaces and walls. Put 2 Tbsp. white vinegar and 1 tsp. borax into a 16 oz. spray bottle. Fill the rest with very hot water and shake to blend until the borax is dissolved. Add 1/4 cup of liquid castile soap only after you’ve completed the above steps. The spray will keep indefinitely. For an even simpler solution, try cleaning with two cups of club soda in a spray bottle.
Hard floor cleaner: Use for all hard floors (except when directed by the manufacturer to avoid even mild detergents): Combine 1/4 liquid castile soap, up to 1/2 cup white vinegar or lemon juice, and 2 gallons of warm water in a large plastic bucket. Use with a mop or sponge.
Carpet cleaner: Blending 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup cornmeal. Sprinkle mixture over rug and rub with a cloth. Let rest for several hours or overnight, then vacuum. To remove stains from your carpet, mix 1/4 cup liquid castile soap and 1/3 cup water in a blender until foamy. Spread the mixture on the carpet and let sit for a few minutes, then scrub the stain with a brush or clean rag. Also, club soda will remove many acidic stains, like coffee, wine, or juice. To deal with big carpet spills, pour cornmeal on the spill, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum.
Glass cleaner: Club soda in a spray bottle. Add 1 tsp. of lemon juice to increase your window cleaner’s degreasing power. Logan recommends using a terry-cloth cotton rag for best results.
Bathroom surface cleaners: The all-purpose cleaners recommended above, or baking soda or borax as a scouring powder. For a softer scrub, combine 1/2 cup baking soda with enough liquid soap to achieve a frosting-like consistency. Club soda works wonders on plumbing fixtures.
Toilet cleaner: Sprinkle baking soda or borax, or pour white vinegar into the toilet, and let sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a good toilet brush.
Oven cleaner: Cover the oven floor with baking soda, spray with water until very damp, and let set overnight. Spray with water every few hours before you go to bed to keep damp. In the morning, clean out the baking soda, and the stuck-on gunk will be loosened and ready to scrub off.
Mold remover: Bond recommends combining 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar with 1 cup water. Spray on mold and do not rinse. She also recommends treating mold with a spray mixture of 2 tsp. tea tree oil and 2 cups water.
Wood polish: To polish wood furniture, dab olive oil onto a soft cloth and rub.
Germs and Other Concerns
You may be worried about do-it-yourself green cleaners not being able to kill germs
effectively. Researchers at Tufts New England Medical Center, on the other hand,
worry that we’re killing too many microorganisms, saying that disinfectants found
in household cleaners may contribute to drug resistant bacteria. The CHEC says that
ordinary soap and water do the job well enough to keep our families safe, barring
someone with a seriously compromised immune system.
For most of us, the best way to prevent the spread of harmful microorganisms is
to wash our hands frequently. Also, disinfect any sponges you’re using weekly by
boiling them in water for three minutes and then microwaving them for a minute or
two. Launder dish rags every week.
If you prefer over-the-counter products, look for green cleaners made with natural ingredients. Check your local health food store, or consult the box below for screened green cleaning product companies listed in our National Green Pages™.
• Aberdeen Enterprises/BioGreen—321/639-3324.
• American Formulating & Manufacturing (AFM)—800/239-0321.
• Bi-O-Kleen Industries—800/477-0188.
• Citra-Solv, LLC—800/343-6588.
• Descale-It Products Co.—520/294-5676. • Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soaps—760/743-2211.
• ECO-Source—613/239-4951.
• Ecover—800/449-4925.
• Gaiam—800/869-3603.
• Global Balance Co.—617/527-5639.
• Green Planet Products LLC—678/521-0036.
• GreenBulldog.com—601/212-7580.
• Helyn’s Clean Solutions—860/871-1808.
• LifeKind Products Inc.—800/284-4983.
• Mia Rose Products—800/292-6339.
• Natural Choices Home Safe Products—866/699-2667.
• Naturally Home—888/696-8113.
• Naturally Yours—888/801-7347.
• Orbeco—415/647-0207.
• Rochester Midland Corp.—800/836-162.
• Seaside Naturals LLC—800/870-1697.
• Seventh Generation—802/658-3773.
• Sun & Earth—800/596-7233, x11.
• Treecycle—406/626-0200.
• Vermont Soap Organics—802/388-4302.
• Annie B. Bond Better Basics for the Home (Three Rivers Press, 1999) and Home Enlightenment
(Rodale, 2005) offer plenty of recipes and advice for green cleaning and living.
• The Children’s Health Environmental Coalition—310/820-2030. A nonprofit dedicated
to educating people about preventable children’s health and developmental problems
caused by toxins in their environments.
This handout has been adapted from the original article by permission (in order to fit on one page) and can be read in its entirety at http://www.GreenAmericaToday.org/pubs/realgreen/articles/greencleaners.cfm