April 1, 2013

Conventional cleaning products may be loaded with unsafe chemicals (no telling which ones as their formulas are protected as trade secrets…), but fortunately they’re not the only spring cleaning option. Green cleaners made with common natural, non-toxic ingredients are safer and cheaper to use, and they clean just as well.  Here are some recipes for green and healthier housekeeping in any season:

(**Note that although washing soda is a natural minerals, it’s also caustic. Keep it out of reach of children! If you prefer not to use washing soda, try swapping it out for other natural ingredients. Or just omit.)

Combine 1 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup of **washing soda with enough water to make a paste. Apply to oven surfaces and let sit overnight. Wipe and rinse. If you’d prefer not to use washing soda, try making a paste with only baking soda.

Mix 1 2/3 cups baking soda, 1/2 cup liquid soap and 1/2 cup water. Mix thoroughly then add 2 tablespoons white vinegar. Apply immediately, scrub, and wipe. For a mildly abrasive scouring scrub, just blend baking soda and plant-based liquid soap to your preferred consistency.

Apply a 1:1 blend of olive oil and white vinegar, and polish with a soft cloth.

Combine a 1:1 mixture of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. (To remove the waxy build-up left behind by conventional glass cleaners, add 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap to 1 cup each of water and white vinegar.)

Mix two cups of water and two teaspoons of tea tree oil in a spray bottle, shake well, spray, and let stand for a few hours before wiping. Hydrogen peroxide will also work.

Use 1/4 cup washing soda, 1 tablespoon of liquid soap, 6 tablespoons of cornstarch, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and two gallons of hot water on linoleum and no-wax floors. For wood floors, use 1 cup of vinegar in a bucket of hot water.