Thursday, July 22, 2010

The Green Clean

Give your home a fresh sparkle with simple, nontoxic ingredients you may already have on hand.

Green cleaning is amazing for Mother Earth, good for our familie's health and the best part. Awesome for your wallet. Following is a simple guide to makeing and using eco-friendly cleaning formulas that will ensure a glowing and healthy home.

The Kitchen
Oven:
to soften baked-on spills mix 2 teaspoons of Borax Powder (made from natural Mineral) with 2 tablespoons liquid soap and enough water to fill a spray bottle. After applying, scrub off stains with a steel wool and chlorine-free scouring powder.
(Tip: line a lower rack with aluminum foil.)

Countertops:
some essential Oils- including those derived from lemons, grapefruit,and oranges- are antiseptic and antiviral, so they'll be extra tough on Gems. One Caveat: D-limonene, a sustance found in ortange peels, can cause severe allergic reactions in some people when in dought, use hot water and soap to kill germs, and let your countertops air dry.

Linoleum Floors:
Unlike standard detergents. vegetable-based surfactants use biodegradable oil derived from plants- including soy, coconuts, and corn- to attract grease and dirt. Another plus: Eco-Friendly cleaners often forgo phosphates, a detergent additive that suffocates freshwater ecosystems.

spray windows and mirrors with white vinegar, a classic eco-friendly cleaner:
dry with washable cloths.

The Bathroom:
Bathtub
Sodium carbonate, the mineral in what is also known as washing powder is a natural abrasive that gives you scrubbing power to remove soap scum without toxins.

Toilet:
The source of the tartness in tomatos and citrus fruit, citric acid attacks and dislodges the mineral deposits that can hold grime onto the bowl- and it doesn't have a harsh smell, like some toilet bowl cleaners.

Mirrors:
The classic way to clean: Spray the mirror with White Vinegar. To make the process even more eco, use recycled newspaper or a washable white cloths rather than paper towels.

The Living Room:
Coffee Table:
Made from the waxy coating of a palm leaf, Carnauba wax is a natural, nontoxic emolient that gives wood surfaces a nice smooth luster.

Carpet:
Green cleaner: Club soda. The carbonation (and often salt) in club soda helps lift stains. Pour onto spills as quickly as possible, leave for a few minutes, then blot. Keep a six-pack of screw-top club soda bottles in your pantry for quick cleanups.

Air:
If you're allergic to some plants, you might have a problem with a lavander, a common natural fragrance. Instead opt for Cinnamon or Vanilla Essential Oils. Because hydrocarbon propellants are highly flammable, eliminate the aerosol in favor of a pump spray.

Happy and Healthy Cleaning.

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