We are still on our mission to be more environmentally friendly. It’s been challenging, and cleaning has sometimes started debates at home about what we should use. I don’t want chemicals ingested by my children and yet I want a cleaner greener home.
Here are my Ten Tips to a Cleaner, Greener Home:
1.) I use walnut oil as furniture polish on my darker woods and olive oil on my lighter wood furniture. It works well and doesn’t have any harsh chemicals or alcohol that eventually would dry out my wood.
2.) I use vinegar to clean my floors and windows. I dilute it with water and use it to mop and wipe down mirrors. The smell doesn’t linger long and the result is a squeaky clean floor.
3.) I cut the sleeves off shirts and rip the seams up the side to create cleaning rags. No sense in piling up the landfill when we can use it to clean, wipe up messes and do a variety of around the house things that I don’t want my good towels being used for by the children.
4.) Vinegar left to sit in a toilet overnight and then swished with the toilet brush will leave a clean bowl. The soaking helps eliminate hard water deposits and makes it easy to manage. I typically use the brush to scrub the bowl until there is very little water left. Then I pour in about 2/3 cup vinegar and let sit overnight, or if we are heading out of town.
5.) I clean my garbage disposal by quartering limes, lemons, or oranges and putting down the disposal while it runs. This cleans the disposal and leaves an amazing citrus clean smell throughout the house.
6.) Baking Soda and water mixed into a paste is excellent for polishing silverware and the bottom of pans. Just rub it on, then wipe it off. It may take some elbow grease but it will leave a great shine!
7.) Cleaning the oven is a snap. Simply wipe out the bottom of your oven. Add 1/2 cup ammonia and let sit overnight. In the morning, wipe clean.
8.) Add 1 cup of vinegar to each load of laundry. It’s a great stain release and will even take out perspiration stains. It whitens whites. You may want to check colored loads for colorfastness first.
9.) Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet and let sit for ten minutes, then vacuum. You’ll be deodorizing your carpet and vacuuming at the same time.
10.) Cat litter works excellent to absorb oil from the driveway or a garage. Pour cat litter on the spill and let sit for 24 hours. Sweep up and repeat if necessary.
What are your favorite tips for a cleaner greener home?
“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Mrs. Meyer’s blogging program, making me eligible to get a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate click here“