Like using white vinegar as an all purpose cleaner?
Thanks
5 thoughts on “Does anyone know any "green living" tips for cleaners?”
bree167
To clean your oven you can use salt,..pour salt on crud and spills when oven is warm then let oven cool and wipe off .The salt absorbs the crud and spills easy cleaning
mshonnie
Disinfect cutting boards
To disinfect and clean your wood cutting boards or butcher block countertop, wipe them with full-strength white vinegar after each use. The acetic acid in the vinegar is a good disinfectant, effective against such harmful bugs as E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus. Never use water and dishwashing detergent, because it can weaken surface wood fibers. When your wooden cutting surface needs deodorizing as well as disinfecting, spread some baking soda over it and then spray on undiluted white vinegar. Let it foam and bubble for five to ten minutes, then rinse with a cloth dipped in clean cold water.
Disinfect toilet bowls
Pour 2 cups white vinegar into the bowl and let the solution soak overnight before flushing. Including this vinegar soak in your weekly cleaning regimen will also help keep away those ugly water rings that typically appear just above the water level.
Cleaning Heavily Soiled Hands
Moisten cornmeal with apple cider vinegar. Scrub hands, rinse in cold water and pat dry
Good Luck !
Queen of the Dust Mites
Nummy: Going "green" with your cleaners means doing two things. First, cleaning without harsh chemicals and second, cleaning with renewable resources.
Most household cleaners are made with toxic by products of petrochemicals. On top of that they had "perfumes" and "fragrances" and many times use formaldehyde and parabens to "fix" these fragrances.
If you can tolerate the smell, citrus-based products are "green" alternatives. Citrus oil cleans well and citrus is a renewable resource. Unfortunately, citrus has a very strong smell….and you might not want your house smelling like you scrubbed it with an orange or a lemon. You also have to check the labels of these products, because many are just the same old toxic cleaners that they dumped a little citrus oil into and try to trick you.
Another "green" alternative is soy-based cleaners. Soy has been used commercially for years as a cleaner because it is very powerful. Soy cleaners are also typically low-sudsing and soy is a re-newable resource. I like soy because it has no odor.
You mentioned vinegar, which cleans well, but you have to be careful with it because it is acidic, and many household surfaces should not be cleaned with acidic substances. For example. vinegar might make your ceramic tile shine, but it will ruin the grout between the tiles over time.
I am sharing two links. The first is for an article about the dangers of formaldehyde in the home and the second is to a page that has lots of soy cleaners on it. You can read both to get more ideas about going green. If you have a health food or organic food store in your area, they might have some soy or citrus cleaners.
Good luck with going green, you will probably find that you are doing more for your personal health than the planet’s.
ksukelley
Here is a recipe from Discovery/Planet Green:
All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 tsp washing soda
A dab of liquid soap
2 cups hot tap water
Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.
Tip: If you’re out of washing soda, use 2 1/2 tsp of borax, instead.
Mildly acidic white vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits from smooth surfaces, yet is gentle enough to use in solution to clean hardwood flooring. White vinegar is a natural deodorizer, absorbing odors instead of covering them up. (And no, your bathroom won’t smell like a salad! Any vinegar aroma disappears when dry.) With no coloring agents, white vinegar won’t stain grout on tiled surfaces. Because it cuts detergent residue, white vinegar makes a great fabric softener substitute for families with sensitive skin.
Try these recipes to harness the cleaning power of white vinegar:
Homemade Spray Cleaner Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
In the kitchen, use vinegar-and-water spray to clean countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces and backsplash areas.
In the bathroom, use vinegar spray cleaner to clean countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet.
For really tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, pump up the cleaning power by removing the sprayer element and heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot. Spray shower walls with the warmed generously, allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The heat helps soften stubborn soap scum and loosens hard water deposits.
undiluted white vinegar
Undiluted white vinegar straight from the jug makes quick work of tougher cleaning problems involving hard water deposits or soap scum.
Use undiluted white vinegar to scrub the inside of the toilet bowl. Before you begin, dump a bucket of water into the toilet to force water out of the bowl and allow access to the sides. Pour undiluted white vinegar around the bowl and scrub with a toilet brush to remove stains and odor. Use a pumice stone to remove any remaining hard water rings.
Clean shower heads that have been clogged with mineral deposits with undiluted white vinegar. Place 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar in a plastic food storage bag, and secure the bag to the shower head with a rubber band. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then rinse and buff the fixture to a shiny finish.
Add one cup of undiluted white vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softener. White vinegar softens clothes and cuts detergent residue–a plus for family members with sensitive skin.
baking soda
Baking soda’s mild abrasive action and natural deodorizing properties make it a powerful replacement for harsh commercial scouring powders. Put baking soda to work in your organized home:
Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy bathtub rings, scour vanities, or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink. For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10 to 20 minutes. Dirt, soap scum and deposits soften and are easier to remove.
Slow-running drains? Keep bathroom drains running freely by pouring 1/2 to 3/4 cup baking soda into the drain, and dribbling just enough hot water to wash the solution down. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then flush thoroughly with hot water. The deodorizing effect is an added bonus! [Do not use this method on blocked drains.]
rubbing alcohol
Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol provides the base for an evaporating cleaner to rival commercial window and glass cleaning solutions. Use this glass cleaning spray recipe for windows, mirrors, chrome fixtures and for a shiny finish on hard-surface ceramic tiles:
Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
ammonia
A strong alkaline solution, clear, non-sudsing ammonia creates stronger window and all-purpose cleaning recipes than acidic vinegar.
Choose non-sudsing varieties of household ammonia for these cleaning recipes. Suds may look like they’re working, but they’re tough to rinse and remove.
Try these formulations for spring cleaning or tough chores:
Strong Glass Cleaner Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon clear, non-sudsing ammonia
Strong All-Purpose Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 T clear, non-sudsing ammonia
1 T clear laundry detergent
2 cups water
furniture polish
Most of us no longer use hard-to-apply furniture wax, but rely on oil-based polish to keep furniture protected and shiny.
Our "salad dressing" version avoids the danger of silicone oil, found in most commercial polishes and sprays. Silicone oil can penetrate tiny cracks in furniture finish and enter the wood, causing problems in the event refinishing is needed. Lemon juice dissolves dirt and smudges, while olive oil shines and protects the wood:
Furniture Polish Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
Shake well and apply a small amount to a flannel cleaning rag or cleaning cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface. Turn cloth to a dry side and polish dry.
🙂
To clean your oven you can use salt,..pour salt on crud and spills when oven is warm then let oven cool and wipe off .The salt absorbs the crud and spills easy cleaning
Disinfect cutting boards
To disinfect and clean your wood cutting boards or butcher block countertop, wipe them with full-strength white vinegar after each use. The acetic acid in the vinegar is a good disinfectant, effective against such harmful bugs as E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus. Never use water and dishwashing detergent, because it can weaken surface wood fibers. When your wooden cutting surface needs deodorizing as well as disinfecting, spread some baking soda over it and then spray on undiluted white vinegar. Let it foam and bubble for five to ten minutes, then rinse with a cloth dipped in clean cold water.
Disinfect toilet bowls
Pour 2 cups white vinegar into the bowl and let the solution soak overnight before flushing. Including this vinegar soak in your weekly cleaning regimen will also help keep away those ugly water rings that typically appear just above the water level.
Cleaning Heavily Soiled Hands
Moisten cornmeal with apple cider vinegar. Scrub hands, rinse in cold water and pat dry
Good Luck !
Nummy: Going "green" with your cleaners means doing two things. First, cleaning without harsh chemicals and second, cleaning with renewable resources.
Most household cleaners are made with toxic by products of petrochemicals. On top of that they had "perfumes" and "fragrances" and many times use formaldehyde and parabens to "fix" these fragrances.
If you can tolerate the smell, citrus-based products are "green" alternatives. Citrus oil cleans well and citrus is a renewable resource. Unfortunately, citrus has a very strong smell….and you might not want your house smelling like you scrubbed it with an orange or a lemon. You also have to check the labels of these products, because many are just the same old toxic cleaners that they dumped a little citrus oil into and try to trick you.
Another "green" alternative is soy-based cleaners. Soy has been used commercially for years as a cleaner because it is very powerful. Soy cleaners are also typically low-sudsing and soy is a re-newable resource. I like soy because it has no odor.
You mentioned vinegar, which cleans well, but you have to be careful with it because it is acidic, and many household surfaces should not be cleaned with acidic substances. For example. vinegar might make your ceramic tile shine, but it will ruin the grout between the tiles over time.
I am sharing two links. The first is for an article about the dangers of formaldehyde in the home and the second is to a page that has lots of soy cleaners on it. You can read both to get more ideas about going green. If you have a health food or organic food store in your area, they might have some soy or citrus cleaners.
Good luck with going green, you will probably find that you are doing more for your personal health than the planet’s.
Here is a recipe from Discovery/Planet Green:
All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 tsp washing soda
A dab of liquid soap
2 cups hot tap water
Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.
Tip: If you’re out of washing soda, use 2 1/2 tsp of borax, instead.
See Planet Green for more @
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/green-clean/assemble-a-green-cleaning-kit.php
Kudos to you for making the switch!
white vinegar
Mildly acidic white vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits from smooth surfaces, yet is gentle enough to use in solution to clean hardwood flooring. White vinegar is a natural deodorizer, absorbing odors instead of covering them up. (And no, your bathroom won’t smell like a salad! Any vinegar aroma disappears when dry.) With no coloring agents, white vinegar won’t stain grout on tiled surfaces. Because it cuts detergent residue, white vinegar makes a great fabric softener substitute for families with sensitive skin.
Try these recipes to harness the cleaning power of white vinegar:
Homemade Spray Cleaner Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
In the kitchen, use vinegar-and-water spray to clean countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces and backsplash areas.
In the bathroom, use vinegar spray cleaner to clean countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet.
For really tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, pump up the cleaning power by removing the sprayer element and heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot. Spray shower walls with the warmed generously, allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The heat helps soften stubborn soap scum and loosens hard water deposits.
undiluted white vinegar
Undiluted white vinegar straight from the jug makes quick work of tougher cleaning problems involving hard water deposits or soap scum.
Use undiluted white vinegar to scrub the inside of the toilet bowl. Before you begin, dump a bucket of water into the toilet to force water out of the bowl and allow access to the sides. Pour undiluted white vinegar around the bowl and scrub with a toilet brush to remove stains and odor. Use a pumice stone to remove any remaining hard water rings.
Clean shower heads that have been clogged with mineral deposits with undiluted white vinegar. Place 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar in a plastic food storage bag, and secure the bag to the shower head with a rubber band. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then rinse and buff the fixture to a shiny finish.
Add one cup of undiluted white vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softener. White vinegar softens clothes and cuts detergent residue–a plus for family members with sensitive skin.
baking soda
Baking soda’s mild abrasive action and natural deodorizing properties make it a powerful replacement for harsh commercial scouring powders. Put baking soda to work in your organized home:
Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy bathtub rings, scour vanities, or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink. For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10 to 20 minutes. Dirt, soap scum and deposits soften and are easier to remove.
Slow-running drains? Keep bathroom drains running freely by pouring 1/2 to 3/4 cup baking soda into the drain, and dribbling just enough hot water to wash the solution down. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then flush thoroughly with hot water. The deodorizing effect is an added bonus! [Do not use this method on blocked drains.]
rubbing alcohol
Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol provides the base for an evaporating cleaner to rival commercial window and glass cleaning solutions. Use this glass cleaning spray recipe for windows, mirrors, chrome fixtures and for a shiny finish on hard-surface ceramic tiles:
Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
ammonia
A strong alkaline solution, clear, non-sudsing ammonia creates stronger window and all-purpose cleaning recipes than acidic vinegar.
Choose non-sudsing varieties of household ammonia for these cleaning recipes. Suds may look like they’re working, but they’re tough to rinse and remove.
Try these formulations for spring cleaning or tough chores:
Strong Glass Cleaner Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon clear, non-sudsing ammonia
Strong All-Purpose Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 T clear, non-sudsing ammonia
1 T clear laundry detergent
2 cups water
furniture polish
Most of us no longer use hard-to-apply furniture wax, but rely on oil-based polish to keep furniture protected and shiny.
Our "salad dressing" version avoids the danger of silicone oil, found in most commercial polishes and sprays. Silicone oil can penetrate tiny cracks in furniture finish and enter the wood, causing problems in the event refinishing is needed. Lemon juice dissolves dirt and smudges, while olive oil shines and protects the wood:
Furniture Polish Recipe
Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
Shake well and apply a small amount to a flannel cleaning rag or cleaning cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface. Turn cloth to a dry side and polish dry.
🙂