Eco Friendly Cleaning Tips

Eco Friendly Cleaning Tips
If you're moving to a new home, there's definitely going to be cleaning involved— more than likely both when you move out and when you move in.  With all of the talk about the dangers of toxins emitted through many household cleaners to our health, people are beginning to search out eco-friendly cleaners. They're safer for pets, better for allergies, biodegradable, and simply provide cleaner air. 

Think about this…if you have to wear protective gloves to protect your skin from the harsh chemicals in a cleaner; it's safe to assume those same chemicals are harsh on everything (including your lungs).  Try living in a less toxic environment and studies show your overall health will improve.

Take a look at these eco-friendly cleaning tips that are designed to help eliminate dangerous toxins from your home…and get it clean.

I think you'll find that it's easy to find eco-friendly cleaners in stores and online these days. Products like Sun & Earth, Green Works, Simplegreen and Method  are front-and -center in most stores, and they're rather affordable. But if you're looking to go green and save even more money, there are some cleaners you can make from household projects:  

• Eco friendly laundry soap can be made with 2 cups of natural grated soap, 1 cup of Borax, and 1 cup of washing soda (this is in the same family as baking soda, but has been processed differently, so make sure you get the right one— you can usually find it in the laundry section at the grocery store).  Mix all ingredients well and place in an air tight container.  You should only need a couple of teaspoons per wash.
• To clean wood, use 1 part olive oil with equal parts lemon juice and apply to wood.  Rub and polish with a dry cloth.
• To clean your toilet bowl, use 8 tablespoons of baking soda in your bowl.  Allow to sit overnight.  Sprinkle soda on a damp cloth to clean the seat and cistern.
• Windows can be cleaned with ˝ cup of vinegar, 2 cups water, and one small squirt of Castile soap in a spray bottle.  Spray the eco-friendly solution on the window and wipe-off with newspaper.
• Use a lemon to clean your kitchen counters by dipping the cut side of the lemon into baking soda and wipe down counters.  Clean-off residue with wet sponge/cloth.  (FYI may discolor stainless steel or delicate stones.)
• Vinegar is also great for cleaning your coffeemaker.  Pour equal parts vinegar to equal parts water into the water chamber.  Switch on the brew cycle and allow it to run halfway through.  Turn off and allow mixture to stand for an hour.  Turn back on to complete cycle.  Finish by running several cycles of clean water through coffeemaker before using.

An important eco friendly tip to pay close attention to is to toss all cleaners that have signal words like "Poison," "Dangerous," or "Toxic" directly on the label.  It's easy to use common household items like vinegar, lemon, etc. to clean your home and eliminate toxins.  Preserve your health and go green in your home.