ecobites.com

Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

There is no easier way to start making your home more environmentally friendly than by considering the substances that you use to maintain it. Here are some homemade cleaning options, including some stronger mixtures for those who are making a progessive transition to natural housekeeping.

 Your Basic Green Ingredients

Baking Soda  (Bicarbonate of soda / Sodium bicarbonate) This gentle, moderately alkaline, non toxic abrasive cuts through grease and oil because it reacts with the fatty acids to form mild detergents. Use it to clean, deodorize and buff. You can use it to clean your teeth and as an underarm deodorant!

Lemon Juice this natural bleach can be used for many purposes, such as removing stains, deodorizing, and inhibiting mold.

Soap unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates. The best choice - Castile or vegetable based soap. Pure soap is 100% biodegradable and does not pollute the environment.

Salt  a natural gentle abrasive and disinfectant, salt is useful for clearing drains and scouring kitchen utensils.

Borax  (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors.

White Vinegar  this type of vinegar has a key role in alternative household cleaning because of  its acidic properties, although it is not a general cleaner. This moderatley strong acid can remove bathroom scum and hard water deposits as well as dicoloration from metals such as aluminium, brass and copper. Vinegar can also remove rust stains and rust on iron. White vinegar makes an ideal cleaner for the bathroom. Do not use brown or balsamic as the color can stain.

Washing Soda or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.

Isopropyl Alcohol is often used as a disinfectant. ( There is some indication that isopropyl alcohol buildup contributes to illness in the body.) Visit  http://drclark.ch/g)

Cornstarch  can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.

Citrus Solvent  cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities).Take care when removing your home's paintwork : before 1950, lead was routinely added to paint.

Trisodium phosphate (TSP) - a mixture of soda ash and phosphoric acid. TSP is toxic if swallowed, but it can be used on many jobs, such as cleaning drains or removing old paint, that would normally require much more caustic and poisonous chemicals, it does not create any fumes.

Formulas Combinations of the above basic products can provide less harmful substitutions for many commercial home products. In most cases, they're also less expensive. The other key component of the green cleaning kit is elbow grease. But you won't need too much of  it  if your approach is a small amount of cleaning effort on a regular basis.

Natural Housekeeping Cleaners

Note: These formulas and substitutions are offered to help minimize the use of toxic substances in your home, and reduce the environmental harm caused by the manufacture, use and disposal of toxics. Results may vary and cannot be guaranteed to be 100% safe and effective. Before applying any cleaning formulations, test in small hidden areas if possible. Always use caution with any new product in your home.  
 
Make sure to keep all homemade formulas out of the reach of children and pets and label each one.

All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.

Another alternative is microfiber cloths which lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt. There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last for several years. A cotton mop will last longer than a synethetic refillable sponge.

Air Freshener

Natural fragrances such as vanilla smell better than artificial air fresheners and contain no high-irritant chemicals.Commercial air fresheners mask smells and coat nasal passages to diminish the sense of smell.

Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.

Having houseplants helps reduce odors in the home.

Prevent cooking odors by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp in 1 cup water) on the stove while cooking. To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.

Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove.

Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room.

For a toilet freshener, place a few drops of  favorite essential oil on the toilet roll and everytime it spins you get a release of fragrance.

Bathroom Mold

Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

Carpet Stains

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.

For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.

Dishwasher Soap

Mix equal parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard.

Commercial low-phosphate detergents are not themselves harmful, but phosphates nourish algae which use up oxygen in waterways. A detergent substitution is to use liquid soap or grate castile in hot water. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs.

Basic Diswashing Liquid

Grate 1 3/4 oz (50g) of pure soap into a large saucepan and cover with 4 cups of cold water. Bring to the boil, add 1/2 cup washing soda crystals and stir until it is dissolved. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons eucalyptus oil, 1/2 cup vinegar + a few drops of lemon or lavender pure essential oil. Pour into a bucket, add 9 1/2 pt (4.5L) of hot water, then stir in 16 more cups of cold water. When cool, transfer to smaller containers and label. To use; add 1 teaspoon to 10 1/2 pt (5L)water when washing up or use 1 cup per load in a dishwasher. Note: it does not remove coffee and tea stains.Cold water total 10 1/2 pt (5L)

Disinfectant

Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle.

Drain Cleaner

Many commercial produced drain cleaners contain lye and aluminium, and are highly toxic and corrosive. They can even damage drainpipes if used incorrectly. Pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup vinegar. The resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into soap and glycerine, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution: only use this method with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used. Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.

Blocked Drains

Use rubber plunger to clean grease-blocked drains.

Oven Cleaner

To avoid the need for harsh caustic oven cleaners, don't let the oven get too dirty. Wipe surfaces with a hot damp cloth after each use.

Make a paste of bicarb soda and water. Apply with a spatula to the inside of the warmed oven.  Leave to dry, then clean off with a stiff brush or scourer and very hot water.

Oven Racks

Use the laundry sink to soak racks in washing soda dissolved in hot water.

Fabric Softener

To reduce static cling, dampen your hands, then shake out your clothes as you remove them from the drier. Line-drying clothing is another green alternative.

The average person generates over a ton of dirty clothes every year. try to re- wear clothes as much as possible - hang them  on hangers when having a shower to refresh. Correct clothes care will help you avoid costly dry-cleaning bills. Brush clothes to remove lint and surface dirt and occasionally air them outside.

Windows + Mirrors

Clean with a solution of 1/2 cup of white vinegar mixed with 1 L of water. They can also be rubbed dry with newspaper.  If windows are very grimy, use soapy water as a pre-wash.

Decanters + Vases Clean with uncooked rice and a little tea with a few tea leaves.

Tea + Coffee Stains Rub cups and mugs with salt or lemon juice or scour with steel wool.

You can remove some stains from glassware by gently rubbing the item with half a lemon, seeds removed.

Floors

Clean lino tiles and floors (and bench tops) with one tablespoon of lemon essence diluted in 1/2 bucket of water, or wash with vinegar and soap.  Polished wooden floorboards and tiled floors can also be washed with vinegar and soap.

Most floor surfaces can be easily cleaned using a solution of vinegar and water. For damp-mopping wood floors: mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water. Add 15 drops of pure peppermint oil; shake to mix. Beeswax is sutiable for all interior wood, lending the timber lustre and golden tones. Pure beeswax conditions and protects wooden surfaces.

Furniture Polish

For varnished wood add a few drops of lemon oil into a 1/2 cup warm water. Mix well and spray onto a soft cotton cloth. Cloth should only be slightly damp. Wipe furniture with the cloth, and finish by wiping once more using a dry soft cotton cloth.

Unvarnished Wood

Mix two teaspoons each of olive oil and lemon juice and apply a small amount to a soft cotton cloth. Wring the cloth to spread the mixture further into the material and apply to the furniture using wide strokes. This helps distribute the oil evenly.

Lime Deposits

Reduce lime deposits in the teakettle with1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm.

Metal Cleaners + Polishes

Brass + Bronze polish with a soft cloth dipped in lemon and baking-soda solution, or vinegar and salt solution.

Chrome polish with apple cider vinegar.

Gold clean with a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour.

Copper using a soft cloth, rub with vinegar. Polish with a soft cloth.

Stainless Steel clean with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar.

Wash silver cutlery as soon as possible. Some food stains are harder to remove using gentle green methods if you leave them too long.

Happy cleaning.