Cleaning Your Home the Green Way

Instead of putting childproof locks on all of the poisonous cleaning products in your home, why not use items that are safe to be around? Why worry about cleaning products making your skin break out or flushing your eyes if the product is too close to your face? Using environmentally friendly products to clean your home are just as effective and less dangerous.

Microfiber cloth: A quality microfiber cloth sold in Sear's locations is the Euro Clean brand. The product is thick, easy to wash and cleans tough stains on mirrors, sinks and stoves. It can be used to polish furniture and computer screens. I bought two a few years ago, and I have yet to use the other one because they last so long. What's best about this product is it removes toothpaste from mirrors without smearing and can be used to clean jewelry, too. The texture is tough enough so liquids don't drip from it the way paper towels would. Put the microfiber cloth in the washing machine and use it again.

Fruit bags: Freezer bags and fruit plastic bags will keep fruit fresh for a little while, but the green bags are sturdy enough to be used again and again. By using these, you can avoid wasting the flimsy plastic in grocery stores and keep fruit ripe for a longer amount of time. They're easy to wash with the rest of your dishes and can sit on the dish rack to air-dry.

Bathroom cleaner: Instead of stronger products that may affect asthma or other breathing-related issues, use baking soda or vinegar to clean your toilet, bathtub and sink.

Furniture Polish: Mix vinegar oil and lemon together to create a smooth service while polishing wood. The lemon leaves a natural lemon smell and the vinegar oil gives your furniture an even finish.

Carpet cleaner: Baking soda is not only useful for killing roaches, but it's also a way to sanitize and clean carpet. Instead of risking vacuum powder getting on your clothes or accidentally ingesting it while laying on the floor, baking soda is something you can use in food anyway.

Drain cloggers: Mix half a cup of baking soda and vinegar together to unclog drains. This is also effective to get rid of mildew that sometimes collects in your sink drains.

Plant Feed, Cleaner: Instead of using plant spray, use soap and water to clean your plant leaves. If you don't feel like brushing every single leaf, shake it up in a water bottle and spray as usual. Make sure to rinse the leaves off so soap does not stick to the leaves.

Air freshener: Instead of using up your electricity with plug-in deodorizers and air fresheners that can accidentally spray on your skin or head, place cedar chips, lavender flowers and mints in your nightstands, closets, behind your couch and in corners of your home. This will get rid of that stale smell in areas of your home that don't have proper ventilation like your closets. Don't overdo it though and knock yourself out every time you walk into a room.