Going Green Cheap - Cleaning Around the House and Outside
Lemon Juice - Make your own furniture polish by combining ½ teaspoon olive oil and ¼ cup fresh lemon juice in a squeeze bottle. Shake well and squeeze a little onto a cloth and apply to wood surfaces. Cut grease and soil on windows using a solution of 4 tablespoons of lemon juice to 1 gallon of water.
Baking soda - Pouring about a cup of baking soda down any drain or toilet is good for freshening and avoiding clogged drains. Rinse through with water afterwards. Hairbrushes and combs can be cleaned by placing them in a solution of 3 tablespoons baking soda in a sink full of water. To remove stubborn stains from most surfaces, make a paste from 3 parts baking soda to one part water and apply. Let it sit a few minutes, and then wipe clean. Replace powder carpet deodorizers with baking soda by sprinkling on your carpet, waiting for 10-15 minutes, and then vacuuming as usual. Clean children's toys by using ¼ cup baking soda in 1 quart warm water. Either soak the items or wipe with a cloth, then rinse. The same solution can also be used to clean lawn furniture and children's pools. Oily stains on the deck wood can be absorbed by sprinkling with baking soda and letting it sit for 1 hour, repeating if necessary. For light oil spills in the garage mix equal parts baking soda and cornmeal and sprinkle on the stain, let dry, and then sweep or vacuum. For tougher spots, sprinkle baking soda, let stand, and then scrub with a wet brush. Clean your window and door screens by scrubbing them with a damp wire brush dipped in baking soda, then rinsing off.
Vinegar - White distilled vinegar can be used to remove stickers on furniture and other surfaces by applying to the surface, waiting at least 10 minutes, then rubbing off. Help get rid of carpet stains by spraying with a mixture of half vinegar, half water. Let stand for about 2 minutes, and then blot. Repeat if necessary. Soak shower heads in vinegar overnight to remove corrosion or chemical build-up. You can also spray it in places where mildew is likely to help with prevention. If mildew is already a problem, use a paste of equal parts salt and vinegar to scrub on the affected areas. Mix equal parts of water and vinegar to make a streak-free window cleaner, especially if used with newspapers.
Eco-friendly cleaning doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. Chances are you already have these products in your home for other uses. And every little change you make can end up making a difference.
Published by JustMeof3
Writer, sometime web designer and graphic artist. View profile
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12 Comments
Post a CommentI recently became educated in how harmful the cleaning products can be in your home. After I researched this, I tried several products and tried making some of the homemade products but what I found was many of them did not work as well as say Windex etc. After some research and a recommendation from a friend I found one that works well and is Greener than most products. In fact it contains 100% enzymes which can be found in the human body and are completely non-toxic and safe near children and pets. Check it out http://www.wowgreen.net/12541 Hope you like them! Look foward to hearing how people liked them.
I got some of those cleaning products, thanks DOnny for posting that. They work great and after reading up about them on the site it definately looks like it is the best way to go for Greening your cleaning products. I definatly recomend these products to everyone. If you missed his message goto http://www.wowgreen.net/12541
If you have been there before clear your browser data beause they made some good improvements to the site including a shop online function. I had a problem at first because I could not see the changes and once I cleared my internet data, it worked. Hope you guys like these products as much as me.
Lastly, if you have any questions for them, make sure you click the "Contact Sales Department", this is how you talk directly with the Sales Team. The "Contact Us" button on the main bar takes you to the corpotae info contact.
I recently became educated in how harmful the cleaning products can be in your home. After I researched this, I tried several products and tried making some of the homemade products but what I found was many of them did not work as well as say Windex etc. After some research and a recommendation from a friend I found one that works well and is Greener than most products. In fact it contains 100% enzymes which can be found in the human body and are completely non-toxic and safe near children and pets. Check it out http://www.wowgreen.net/Default.aspx?ID=12541 Hope you like them! They have a great package that replaces all your home cleaning items. Look foward to hearing how people liked them.
so smart i cant wait to go green
I am going to print this. Thanks!
And who would put stickers on my furniture, pray tell? Not my kids...:)
never thought about using cornmeal
I clean with baking soda and vinegar. They are fantastic and so cheap! Great article!
Great article! I'm always trying to incorporate eco-friendly tips into my life. Thanks for sharing these.
Uh, stickers! I remember when my son went through the "sticker" phase. I had no idea vinegar would remove them.