What do vinegar, lemons and baking soda have in common? Besides being household items, they are all ingredients in effective, cheap, and non-toxic cleaning products. If you have these items in your home then you are just minutes away from green cleaning products.
Many normal, household cleansers can have undesirable consequences. Some cleaners, like bleach, are obviously toxic and if used or stored improperly, can poison children and pets. Another problem that many people may not be aware of is the negative effect that many household cleansers and disinfectants can have on air quality within a home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, air in the home is consistently filled with 2-5 times more potentially harmful chemicals than the outdoors. The EPA maintains that a portion of this can be attributed to the use and storage of toxic cleansers and disinfectants. Besides negatively affecting your family’s health, these products can also harm the environment if they are not property disposed of and get into our soil or water supply.
So why not save some money and rid your house of these toxic products at the same time? Here are some simple, homemade cleansers that will help you tackle household chores using non-toxic ingredients*.
- To Clean Windows
Mix ¼ cup white vinegar, two cups water and ½ teaspoon of liquid soap to create a streak free window cleaner. - To Unclog Drains
Pour ¼ cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by ½ cup of vinegar. Keep the drain tightly closed until the fizzing has subsided and then flush it out with hot water. - To Clean Ovens
Mix together ¾ cup baking soda, ¼ salt and ¼ water to create a thick paste. Apply this throughout the inside of the oven. Wait over night, and in the morning, remove the build-up with a spatula and then rinse.
You can find many more simple and useful recipes at EarthEasy.com
If professional cleaners are necessary, please remember to dispose of them properly. Check the label to see if they need to be taken to a hazardous waste recycling site. Better yet, try some of the non-toxic and sustainable cleansers and disinfectants we recommend on our website.
Have some green tricks or advice for cleaning up the house? We always welcome your ideas and would love to share it with the Ponte community.
Till next time,
The Green Team
*Recipes found at http://www.worldwatch.org. As with all cleansers, try a sample of your homemade cleaner on an inconspicuous spot to ensure there is no unusual reaction with the surface.
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