Green Clean Your Home

green, green cleaning, natural cleaners, earth friendly cleaners, biodegradable cleaners

How to Go Green and Clean at Home. One quick and easy way to cut down on dangerous chemicals in your home is to use natural cleaners.

Nearly all household cleaning needs can be met using five less-toxic, inexpensive products available at most grocery stores:

1. soap (nonpetrochemical-based)

2. baking soda

3. washing soda (a hydrated sodium carbonate)

4. borax

5. white vinegar.

Fortunately, there are also many manufacturers keeping pace with our commitment to clean homes and a clean environment. Look for new, ``earth-friendly'' cleaners at your favorite grocery store regularly.

Be Safe While You Clean.

The key to safe cleaning - regardless of the cleaning products you're using - is providing adequate ventilation in the area being cleaning. Wear gloves and avoid eye exposure to cleaners and fumes -- green or otherwise.

Minimize your family's exposure to chemicals by steering clear of these ingredients in both green and commercial cleaners:

-- ammonia (glass cleaners)

-- glycol and butyl ethers (all-purpose cleaners)-- terrenes (a chemical in virtually all citrus or natural cleaners)

-- formaldehyde, phosphates and perfumes.

These chemicals can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, nausea and headaches in the short term. Long-term exposure can damage the liver, kidneys and the central nervous system.

Read the label of cleaning products, and look for green products that are dye-free, perfume-free, phosphate-free, biodegradable, low toxic and highly concentrated.

1. Bathroom Basics

-- Cast iron:

To safely clean cast-iron sinks and lavatories, rinse with water and dry thoroughly after each use.

For stubborn stains, abrasives may be used sparingly. (Try not to make this your regular cleaning choice. You can do this by simply cleaning more frequently.)

Washing soda and borax are good alternatives to chemical cleaners, and a lemon half can be used to scrub away mild stains.

-- Ceramic tile:

Scrub ceramic tile floors and counter-tops with a nonabrasive, all-purpose natural cleaner such as baking soda mixed with water. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

-- The easiest -- and safest -- way to keep tiled shower walls clean.

Wipe them down with a towel or squeegee after each use.

-- Cleaning stained or mildewed grout.

Use a diluted bleach mix (3/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water) and rinse thoroughly.

2. Kitchen Clean Ups.

-- Laminates.

Vinegar and water work well for general flooring and counter-top cleaning, as does liquid dish-washing detergent and water.

To remove tough spots or stains, buff the area with acetone nail polish remover, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.

To kill counter-top germs, use a nonabrasive disinfectant weekly, such as a bleach and water solution.

-- Vinyl.

Vinyl floors require only regular sweeping and damp mopping with water. For those grimy jobs, a cleaner with a surfactant will provide more uniform cleaning and drying.

For regular weekly cleanings, use a water-based, neutral cleaner.

-- Hardwood floors.

Whether oak, maple, ash or beech, cleaning them is about as safe and easy as it gets.

Simply vacuum or dust mop once a week and wipe up spills immediately -- standing water can warp wood - and the bulk of your cleaning job is done.

-- Solid Surfaces.

Clean with a damp cloth and hand dishwashing liquid mixed with water or a nonabrasive mild cleanser.

For extra safety in the kitchen, disinfect countertops weekly, using a bleach and water solution that is safe for the surface.

Here are a few products you might need to get started green cleaning: