How to Use Environmentally Friendly Cleaners

Not only is it less expensive to use natural ingredients for cleaning our homes and work places, but it is also healthier. Research indicates that many household cleaners pose health risks in the way of poisons, asthma, and so forth. Many furniture polishes are highly flammable putting our homes at a higher risk for fires. Mixing certain chemicals can be deadly, so why not learn how to clean naturally?

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• white vinegar
• baking soda
• borax
• salt
• lemon juice
• water
• spray bottle
• cleaning rags
• olive oil or vegetable oil
• corn starch
• cotton balls
• vanilla

1. To wash your clothes choose white vinegar, baking soda or borax in your washer. For particularly dirty laundry soak first in 1 Tbsp. borax and 1 gallon water for an hour, then wash as usual.

2. Sprinkle baking soda or corn starch in the carpet before vacuuming to help remove dirt and odors.

3. Use white vinegar and water to get windows and glass squeaky clean.

4. Polish your furniture with 1/2 cup olive oil or vegetable oil with 1 tbsp. lemon juice.

5. Sprinkle equal parts baking soda and borax, add white vinegar and scrub toilet with a toilet bowl brush. If stains are stubborn let soak overnight, or while you are away from home.

6. Dip half a lemon in borax and rub on mildew in tub or shower. A mixture of vinegar and borax can also be used. Let sit, then scrub.

7. Use a strainer in the drains to help catch hair and grease, but if your drain gets clogged try a mixture of equal parts vinegar, baking soda and salt. Let stand 15 minutes. (You will see it bubbling out the clog.) Then follow with boiling water.

8. Place lemon juice in a glass measuring cup in the microwave to deodorize and loosen soil in your oven. Heat 1 minute on high. Wipe out easily.

9. Use either cream hair rinse or baking soda and water to clean stainless steel and chrome faucets.

10. Place an open box of baking soda in the fridge for a fresher smell, or dip a cotton ball in vanilla extract and place on a saucer in the fridge.
    Replace the cotton ball every couple of days. Replace the baking soda after 30 days.

11. To make your own home made fabric starch mix 2 tbsp. cornstarch and 1 pint of water. Shake well. Spray clothes and iron for a crisper look.

Tips & Warnings

• Save on storage space by just making enough for one time use if you want.
• Keep white vinegar, baking soda, and salt in both the kitchen and the bathroom to have products readily available. That way you can take advantage of a few spare moments here and there to clean.
• Use rubber gloves if your skin is sensitive to any of these products.

Resources

• Lemons are Not Just for Lemonade
• Don't Toss the Salt: 42 Uses
• Forty Uses for Baking Soda
• Over a Dozen Uses for Hair Conditioner

[xivyisazombiex]

on 10/6/2009 anything eco-friendly is positive in my book.

[highcloud]

on 10/2/2009 I love these tips!!! Great article. 5*

[goodselfme]

on 9/25/2009 I like these all for cleaning and to be eco-friendly.My favorite is white vinegar since I like the smell.

[langleycornwell]

on 9/16/2009 Thanks for the good article on using an eco friendly cleaners. I never thought about using corn starch in the carpet.

[hazelknows]

on 9/14/2009 Graet tips on how to use enviromentally friendly cleaners. I am saving this one