Green Cleaning ideas for your home
December 10, 2009 Posted by Administrator in : Cleaning Advice , trackbackWhile it might seem rather arcane to use natural ingredients for cleaning, most modern synthetic cleaning products are based on the same principles of chemistry that allow tea tree oil to remove mould.
Not only are these natural ingredients equally effective as branded products, most can be found in your kitchen cupboards and are entirely non-toxic. Meaning you can clean every inch of your home safe in the knowledge that you’re doing it in an environmentally friendly manner using ingredients that cost – ounce for ounce – about one-tenth of the price of their commercial counterpart. Making and trying your own toxic-free cleaning equipment takes no time at all with these simple directions.
First off, you’re going to need some essential, basic ingredients – which you can mix-and-match to find the best cleaning solution. They are: baking soda, white distilled vinegar, tea tree oil, washing soda and a good liquid soap or detergent. To mix and apply the solutions you’ll want, ideally, 6 clean spray bottles and 2 glass jars handy.
Now you’re ready to get cleaning – green style! Let’s start with the most straightforward but versatile cleaning solution:
Multi-purpose cleaner
All you need for this is 1/2 teaspoons of washing soda, a dab of liquid soap and 2 cups hot tap water. Then simply combine the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag. Simples!
Window cleaning
For this one, you’ll need to mix 1/4 teaspoons of liquid detergent, 3 tablespoons of vinegar
and 2 cups of water, again, into a clean spray bottle. Shake it good and use as you would a regular branded product. The soap in this recipe is important, as it cuts the wax residue from the branded products you might have used in the past.
Oven cleaning
The notoriously hard-to-clean feature of every home: the oven can turn into a grimy mess without regular cleaning. To stay on top of this, measure 1 cup (or more) of baking soda, fill a jar of water and prepare have liquid detergent at-the-ready.
Clean by sprinkling water generously over the floor of the oven. Cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface is virtually turned white. Then sprinkle some more water on top and let the mixture set overnight. The grime will loosen considerably by the next day, allowing you to wipe away the grease. Once you’ve cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent (or soap) onto a sponge and wash the remaining residue. If this recipe doesn’t work for you, use more baking soda and water next time! Don’t worry, just pile it in.
Mould removing
This spray is a proven winner with removing mould and mildew. It works particularly well on mouldy ceilings and mouldy shower curtains. The key ingredient in this mix is tea tree oil, which can be expensive, but a little goes a very long way. All you have to do is combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil and 2 cups water in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. And voila, you done.
Now we want to hear from you. Have you got any green cleaning tip that you would to share with us? Please use our comments to share your eco-friendly cleaning tips.
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Comments»
I fully advocate the use of natural cleaning products. They are eco-friendly, safe for the family and actually often do a better job then their counterparts. Some great examples there, even some that I have never tried.
I also believe in using natural products as they are safe and non acidic in nature that cause no harm while using. These products should be promoted more to protect the nature.
i’ve just used your window cleaning recipe and i had to come back and let you know that it worked an absolute treat. and no more breathing in the nasty fumes from synthetic cleaners. thanks so much
We are glad to hear that our window cleanign tips worked well on your windows
After the success with the window cleaning recipe i then decided to try your multi-purpose cleaner and again it worked a treat for wiping down kitchen surfaces etc. thanks for the tips
These tips are very useful, anyone wouldn’t worry about the strong effects of chemicals and at the same time helping the environment.
great article especially for those on a budget, also if you don’t like to use strong chemical try using lemon juice, it works just as well.
Well not quite sure if Green Cleaning is the right way to do the job, but yes the greener the merrier.
Good advice there. I found this site via a friend of mines facebook profile! We run a eco-friendly carpet cleaning business here in Bournemouth. We use very little water, there’s no fumes ctreated via our machines and use eco-freindly detergants and chems. We are thinking of starting a oven cleaning service and this advice about ovem cleaning will be very useful!
Cheers Jason
very good information you write it very clean. I’m very lucky to get
this info from you.
we couldn’t live without our vinegar and lemon nowadays – they are so versatile and effective its amazing!
i agree. white vinegar is amazing for cleaning windows and mirrors. just use a bit with some old newspaper for a streak free finish
Great advices, we will test all and get back with a new post here about results of them. Thanks.
All the best,
Excel Cleaning
Hello everyone thanks. Clean & Co Reading Ltd, here! All great products all give great results, Defiantly use these methods in the future. Thank you.
eco freindly oven cleaning products works just as well. When the oven gets to a certain point its will always require alot of hard work. chemical or no chemical.
A great way to clean mirrors and anything else for that matter that needs to shine is a good old micro fibre cloth aka magic cloth. Takes away all smears.