Green Cleaning

I generally clean using natural products. There are few things out there in the general market that I can tolerate health-wise, never mind the damage most commerical cleaners do to the environment. A few massive headaches after inhaling fumes from a certain bathroom cleaner and I knew I needed to find a friendlier way to have a clean house.

I like that there are many natural cleaning products on the market these days but I am cautious. I don't want to be lead to believe that these things are natural only to find out the rules regulating the industry and the ability to market something as natural are lax. I do not trust government regulations to tell me what is truly organic and good for the Earth.

Most manufactured cleaners are petroleum based, (aka: made with fossil fuels). We are trying to lesson our dependency on fossil fuels and oil and so many regular cleaning products don't make the cut.

I buy these natural brands of cleaning products (when on sale) and use sparingly. I will often use them when I need a quick clean and don't have time to whip up a new batch of homemade cleaner, or when I want that "clean smell".

Many homemade products do not emit a smell. Clean does not have a smell and these smells are just added agents to make consumers feel that an area is clean, not that it actually is. And let's not forget that homemade cleaners are a fraction of the cost of commercial cleaners.

Here are a few recipes that I use all the time.

Window Cleaner

1 cup of vinegar and four cups of water. Mix in a spray bottle and use with a soft cloth.

All Purpose Cleaner

3 tbsp of vinegar
1/2 cup of washing soda
1/2 cup of vegetable based liquid soap
2 cups of hot water

mix and place in a spray bottle

Non-Abrasive Soft Scrubber
1/4 cup borax
Vegetable-oil based liquid soap (such as Murphys Oil Soap)
1/2 teaspoon lemon oil

In a bowl, mix the borax with enough soap to form a creamy paste. Add lemon oil and blend well. Scoop a small amount of the mixture onto a sponge, wash the surface, then rinse well.


Toilet Bowl Cleaner
1 cup borax,
1/2 cup white vinegar

Flush to wet the sides of the bowl. Sprinkle the borax around the toilet bowl, then spray with vinegar. Leave for several hours or overnight before scrubbing with a toilet brush.


Tub & Tile

Vinegar and Baking Soda. To remove film buildup on bathtubs, apply vinegar full-strength to a sponge and wipe. Next, use baking soda as you would scouring powder. Rub with a damp sponge and rinse thoroughly with clean water.