Green your clean by ridding your home of toxic substances and making your own household cleaners.
Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
Your toddler spends a lot of his time on the floor. Your dog has an affinity for licking the shower stall. Your husband fails to rinse all the soap off the dishes. The products you choose to clean your house affect your family's health in a number of ways. Bring peace of mind to the home by using natural, nontoxic ingredients to make windows sparkle and countertops shine. The necessary materials can be found in your pantry or cupboard and might even prove to be a money-saving strategy for your domestic routine.
Natural Kitchen Spray
Wash out an old 32-oz. spray bottle. Fill it with 2 cups white vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda. Fill the rest of the bottle with warm water. For scrubbing counter or stove tops, combine baking soda with a vegetable-based liquid soap until you get a paste and achieve the level of abrasion you desire (see References 5). You can also try a pure lemon juice and water solution for freshening kitchen sinks. Sanitize wooden cutting boards with hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar kept in separate containers to spray individually.
Nontoxic Bathroom Cleaner
Because of water and soap buildup, you'll need to rely on baking soda for a majority of your bathroom cleaning. Sprinkle some on the edge of your toilet bowl cleaning brush. Make a paste with 2 parts baking soda and 1 part water -- depending on your needs -- and apply it to a scrub brush for the bathtub. Use borax for deodorizing by mixing a few teaspoons of it with a few teaspoons of white vinegar, then add it to a spray bottle and fill it up with water (see References 4).
Organic Furniture Polish
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends combining 1 tsp. lemon juice with 1 pint vegetable oil. Apply the solution to a soft cloth to wipe onto your furniture. The recipe is also good for stair banisters and unpainted chair rails. (See References 1)
Wax-Free Floor Cleaner
Depending on the type of floors and the need for a deep or surface clean, plain hot water will nearly always suffice. It will protect both linoleum and wood floors, and drying with a soft cloth or towel will make them shine without wax or other toxic cleaners. For an impressive shine on your hardwood floors, wipe them with linseed oil, found in most hardware stores. To rid your linoleum floors of grease buildup, mix 1/4 cup washing soda with 1 tbsp. vegetable-based soap, 1/4 cup vinegar and 2 gallons of hot water. (See References 5)
- Environmental Protection Agency: Source Reduction Alternatives for the Home
- Environmental Protection Agency: Wastes-What You Can Do
- California Coastal Commission: Alternatives to Traditional Cleaning Products
- City of Lexington, Kentucky: Safe Alternatives to Household Cleaners
- Consumer Reports: Greener Choices
Vanessa Stolarski spent 12 years in publishing and 15 years in the restaurant business. She has served as food and wine editor for a newspaper in Washington, D.C., managing editor for "Northern Virginia" magazine and contributing writer for regional and parenting magazines. She has won multiple Virginia Press Awards. She works with sustainable farms to promote consumer awareness and has extensive expertise in infant-toddler nutrition.
- Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
