Cleaning products that don't put you at risk!
Look for:
1. Baking soda:
-scrub shiny materials without scratching
-deodorize and extinguish grease fires
(deodorizer in the refrigerator, carpets, drains)
-clean and polish aluminum, chrome, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel and tin.
-softens fabrics and removes certain stains.
2. Borax is a naturally occurring mineral, soluble in water.
-deodorize, inhibit the growth of mildew and mold
-boost the cleaning power of soap or detergent
-remove stains
-used with attractants such as sugar to kill cockroaches.
3. Cornstarch
-clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets
-starch clothes
4. Lemon juice
-freshener
-clean glass
-remove stains from aluminum, clothes and porcelain
-it is a mild lightener or bleach if used with sunlight
5. Vinegar
-contains about 5% acetic acid, which makes it a mild acid
-can dissolve mineral deposits and grease
-remove traces of soap, mildew or wax buildup
-polish some metals and deodorize
-clean brick or stone
-clean out the metallic taste in coffeepots
-shine windows without streaking
-Vinegar is normally used in a solution with water, but it can be used undiluted.
1. Baking soda:
-scrub shiny materials without scratching
-deodorize and extinguish grease fires
(deodorizer in the refrigerator, carpets, drains)
-clean and polish aluminum, chrome, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel and tin.
-softens fabrics and removes certain stains.
2. Borax is a naturally occurring mineral, soluble in water.
-deodorize, inhibit the growth of mildew and mold
-boost the cleaning power of soap or detergent
-remove stains
-used with attractants such as sugar to kill cockroaches.
3. Cornstarch
-clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets
-starch clothes
4. Lemon juice
-freshener
-clean glass
-remove stains from aluminum, clothes and porcelain
-it is a mild lightener or bleach if used with sunlight
5. Vinegar
-contains about 5% acetic acid, which makes it a mild acid
-can dissolve mineral deposits and grease
-remove traces of soap, mildew or wax buildup
-polish some metals and deodorize
-clean brick or stone
-clean out the metallic taste in coffeepots
-shine windows without streaking
-Vinegar is normally used in a solution with water, but it can be used undiluted.
Is your drain clogged?
This recipe will free minor clogs and help to prevent future clogs: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain first, then 1/2-cup vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes. Then pour down a teakettle full of boiling water. Repeat if needed. If the clog is stubborn, use a plunger. If very stubborn, use a mechanical snake.
Floor cleaner and polish can be as simple as a few drops of vinegar in the cleaning water to remove soap traces.
For vinyl or linoleum, add a capful of baby oil to the water to preserve and polish.
Window and glass cleaning is easy with vinegar mixed with water. Avoid streaks by cleaning windows on a cloudy day and use newspaper to apply and wipe the windows clean unless you are sensitive to newsprint.
For more information about green cleaning, visit these helpful Web sites: www.safer-products.org, www.checnet.org, www.cehn.org and www.neetf.org
