Going Green: Green Cleaning Products You Probably Already Have at Home

According to the 2007 report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, household cleaners account for 216,228 or 8.7% of exposures. Nearly 60% of exposures to household cleaners are in children under the age of five. It's no wonder that many people are taking a second look at their cleaning products and thinking about alternatives. Most people would be surprised to learn that they probably already have several green cleaning powerhouses in their cabinet. What are these paragons of green cleaning? Read on to find out.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural all-purpose cleaner, disinfectant and deodorizer. A shallow plate of vinegar placed in a room absorbs odors. To clean and polish tarnished copper, boil the item in a pot with 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon salt. For a quick toilet bowl cleaner, mix 1 cup vinegar with ¼ cup baking soda, pour into bowl and wait 5 minutes, then use scrub brush to clean. To clean soap scum from fixtures, make a vinegar/water solution, wipe fixtures, and then rinse with clean water. The same solution can be used to make your windows sparkle. Have a clogged drain? Try pouring ¼ cup of baking soda followed by ½ cup of vinegar down the drain, plug and wait 10 minutes, then flush with boiling water.

Baking Soda

Baking soda deodorizes and cleans. A box in the refrigerator absorbs food odors. Sprinkle a little baking soda over your carpet before vacuuming. Make a paste of baking soda, salt and water to clean your oven. For a general all-purpose green cleaning product, add 4 tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of warm water and shake.

Lemons

Lemons are not only great cleaners, but they leave your home smelling nice. Does your microwave look like a food bomb went off in it? Half fill a coffee cup with water and squeeze some lemon juice into it. Microwave on high 5-7 minutes. Leave the door shut and wait 10 minutes, then wipe microwave clean. For an easy handheld cleaner, cut a lemon in half and sprinkle cut side with baking soda. Use to scrub dishes and countertops. For a great-smelling furniture polish, mix ½ cup of lemon juice with a cup of olive oil. Apply with a soft cloth to make your hardwood furniture glow.

As you can see, it's easy to make your own green cleaning products with items you already have around your house. For more recipes for homemade cleaners that are good for you and the environment, I suggest borrowing or purchasing the book Green Up Your Cleanup by Jill Schoff. And remember a green home is a clean home.

Source:

Bronstein, Alvin C., Spyker, Daniel A., Cantilena JR, Louis R., Green, Jody L., Rumack, Barry H. and Heard, Stuart E.(2008) '2007 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 25^th Annual Report', Clinical Toxicology, 46:10,927 - 1057