GREEN CLEANING

Do we really want to live in an environment filled with petroleum, chlorine, and phosphate based products? Do you want to breathe, eat and wear them every day? Chances are you/we are doing just that in our daily lives. But have no fear, there are many changes you can make today to make your home healthier and more green and it doesn't take much. WIth a few common household ingredients you can clean everything, including your conscious, in an effective and green manner.

My wife and I used to clean the kitchen with clorox bleach spray until we discovered how easy it was to clean with natural products that cost less and work just as good. Baking soda and lemon juice is a powerful combination that sizzles when mixed. The citric acid cuts through grease while the baking soda acts as an abrasive and whitener. Simply sprinkle baking soda on surfaces like kitchen sinks, stove tops, countertops, refrigerators, linoleum floors, showers, and bathtubs in the same manner you would use Comet or Ajax. Then dilute 1/2 cup of lemon juice with water in a household spray bottle and spray the solution directly onto the baking soda. The mixture should begin to fizz. Scrub as you would normally and rinse well so there is no film or residue left behind. Baking soda and lemon solution is also a powerful agent in removing coffee and tea stains from mugs. Simply add a few spoons of baking soda in each mug, add the lemon solution and scrub well. BSL (Baking Soda Lemon) is also great in cleaning toilets. Place 1 cup of baking soda in toilet bowl then add lemon solution. Scrub with toilet brush and let sit for a few minutes before you flush.

*DO NOT USE THE BAKING SODA LEMON MIXTURE ON WOOD SURFACES.

To clean sealed wood floors you can use a weak solution of vinegar and water. 1 part vinegar to 6 parts water. Just mix solution in bucket and and mop normally.

To polish floors put 3 cups of water into a spray bottle and add 4 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar. Shake the bottle up and you have a fantastic wood polish. It is a good idea to test the polish on some wooden furniture first.

Another great product for cleaning the house is vinegar. The most cost-effective vinegar to use is the standard white distilled vinegar. In a spray bottle dilute a half cup of white vinegar with water and use it to clean glass surfaces and countertops. You will smell the distinct vinegar smell but that will recede in a few minutes.

To clean windows simply spray the vinegar water solution(VWS) directly on the window like windex. Newspaper works great in wiping windows clean and is a great way to save paper towels. Make sure to use newprint sections of the paper only and throw them in the recycle bin when you are done.

VInegar and water is also a great way to clean your carpets. When using a carpet shampooer, like the ones you rent at the supermarket, use a solution of 1 part vinegar 3 parts water in place of the detergent you have to buy separately when you rent the machine. If you have pet or other tough stains on your carpet, I reccomend using non-diluted pure vinegar in small amounts to clean and eliminate odors.

Apart from cleaning agents made from baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice there are many great natural cleaning products you can find in markets like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. Dishsoaps and laundry detergent are some the more practical products it is worth to invest in instead using homemade agents.