Green Cleaning Tips
For many cleaning tasks around the home, you can use products that you might already have on hand:
A vinegar and water solution can be used to clean and freshen many surfaces around the home, including walls and cupboards. It also works well to clean windows.
Baking soda can be used not only to help adsorb odors around the house, but also to help clean areas such as bathtubs that you don’t want to scratch. Baking soda can also be used to adsorb odors around the home, including in refrigerators and closets.
Lemon juice can be used to help dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. When added to a vinegar/water cleaning mixture, it also helps neutralize the vinegar smell.
Cornstarch (as well as baking soda) can be used to help deodorize rugs and carpets. Sprinkle about 1 cup per room, then vacuum after 30 minutes.
If you do find yourself needing to purchase store-bought cleaners, look for products that do not contain additives such as fragrances.
Keep in mind that surfaces where bacteria can grow need to be both cleaned and disinfected. For example, kitchen counters and sinks should be washed with a mild detergent mixed with hot water. After rinsing with clean water, these surfaces should be disinfected using a Safer Choice labeled disinfectant or a mild bleach-based solution (1 cap of household bleach to a gallon of hot water). For specialty countertop surfaces, be sure to use the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning and disinfecting agents.
