|
2. Make your own natural cleaning supplies:
White vinegar: Dilute with water to disinfect, deodorize, cut grease and remove mildew. Use full-strength on tough stains. To clean the toilet, pour a bucket of water down the toilet and then refill the bowl with vinegar and scrub. Mix one quarter cup vinegar with 1 qt. water to wash windows. (Use old newspapers to clean windows.) Add one cup vinegar to the rinse cycle of your laundry as a fabric softener. Lemon juice can be used as a replacement for vinegar in all cases.
Baking soda: Make a baking soda paste by mixing equal parts water and soda. Use as a scouring cleanser (do not use on aluminum). Salt or borax work the same way. Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on a carpet before vacuuming to deodorize.
Boiling water: Pour 2-4 quarts down the drain weekly to remove clogs. For strong clogs, use a half-cup of baking soda mixed with a half-cup of vinegar, then follow 15 minutes later with boiling water.
Baking soda and vinegar: Mix equal parts together and leave a dish of the mixture sit overnight in a closed oven prior to cleaning. Avoid using the "self-cleaning oven" option--it increases energy use by 20%.
Lemon juice and oil: Mix 1 tsp. lemon juice with three-quarters cup olive or vegetable oil to polish furniture.
Hydrogen peroxide: Use as a substitute for bleach. Lemon juice works in the same way.
CAUTION: NEVER mix conventional cleaning products. They can create toxic fumes.
3. Do your dishes right
If you hand-wash dishes, use natural, biodegradable dish soap, which can be found at health food stores or on-line. Save time, energy and water by running full loads of dishes in your dishwasher. Set it to the shortest cycle possible and turn off the “boost” which uses heat to dry dishes. Let the dishes air dry instead. Look for phosphate-free dishwasher detergent; phosphates contaminate groundwater and aquatic ecosystems.
4. Wash clothes with care
Wash full laundry loads, and use a short, cold-water cycle. Most laundry detergents contain EDTA or NTA, which are reproductive toxins. Look for eco-friendly products that are free of phosphates and other toxins at your local health food store. Old-fashioned washing sodas, such as borax, are another low-toxic alternative. To increase the power of your washing machine, add a 3-inch diameter bouncing ball to your laundry load—it creates a “washboard” effect. Add vinegar to the rinse cycle as fabric softener.
5. Eliminate bleach
Chlorine bleach creates toxic compounds in wastewater that accumulates in humans and wildlife. Try lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide or bleach-free product alternatives.
6. Pay attention to packaging
Look for concentrated cleaners and follow directions carefully to avoid using in excess. When diluting a concentrated cleaner in water, always use the minimal amount needed to get the job done.
|