As someone, who is always looking to make better choices for me and my family, I never get tired of trying new things. During the nesting phase of my pregnancy, I turned into a major clean freak. Back then, some of the fumes of my cleaning supplies would make me feel sick. With a baby on the way, I took a closer look at my cleaning solutions and decided it was time to go green.
I switched out most of my commercial cleaners with gentle but effective alternatives. Here are 5 green solutions for your cleaning needs:
I switched out most of my commercial cleaners with gentle but effective alternatives. Here are 5 green solutions for your cleaning needs:
- Vinegar: Versatile, natural and affordable, vinegar is a great alternative for an all purpose cleaner. Use it diluted in a spray bottle as a disinfectant, or together with baking soda to make a powerful cleaning scrub. The harsh smell goes away quickly and neutralizes odors. I use it to clean my fridge, scrub my sinks or to treat mold. It also is great to safely clean kids or animal toys.
- Baking soda: As mentioned above it works wonders if used with vinegar. Use for all your scrubbing needs, as it is a gentle, natural abrasive. I use it in combination with vinegar to free my bath tub from soap scum. Add a little lemon juice to get a wonderful, fresh smell. Sprinkled on rugs and carpets it neutralizes odors and is an effective flea repellent. A little trick for baked on food, whether on pans or stove tops - sprinkle on baking soda, spray with vinegar and cover with a dish towel for a few hours. Remove and scrub with more baking soda.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: Used as a non-toxic disinfectant, it is child and pet friendly. I use it to wipe down toilets, door knobs (especially during cold and flu season), or for the floor to clean up after one of my pets had an accident.
- Castile soap: All purpose cleaner with almost no limits. I use it to mop floors, wash dishes, to clean tiles in the bathroom, for stains on rugs, and so much more. We also use it to wash our hands and get the bar soaps for body care purposes. This is the brand we use. I love the lavender and peppermint aroma!
- Lemon juice: Great smell and great results. I use it as an deodorizer for my garbage disposal and to wipe down faucets in the kitchen and bathroom. It is also great to remove tough food stains on light cutting boards (wood or plastic), or to just add a fresh scent to your kitchen counter top.
I have yet to find a good natural solution for window cleaning. If you have one, please let me know!