Guest Author - Lili Pintea-Reed

People frequently write and ask if there are ways to clean one's house without a great expense, or using products with long chemical names. People with pets are particularly concerned about phenol containing products which are toxic to cats, and certainly not good for other pets. There are two inexpensive products that easily fit this need. One you most likely have in your cupboard right now. They are vinegar and borax.

VINEGAR:

Spray Disinfectant:
Just plain vinegar in a recycled spray bottle will kill 90 percent of germs. Just spray and wipe like the "toxic stuff." It won't hurt your pets and I think has a nice scent -- much nicer than toxic chlorine products!

Window Cleaner:
Place half water and half vinegar in a recycled spray bottle. Add a couple drops of dish detergent. Shake and spray. Wipe with old newspapers. Your windows will shine!

Floor Cleaner #1:
Place a cup of vinegar in a pail of water. Mop away. No rinsing required!

Borax:

Sink Scrubber:
Take borax right from the box. Place on damp sponge and wipe away grime.

Floor Cleaner #2:
Add a half cup of borax to a gallon of water. Mop away. Rinsing is recommended, but not necessary.

Oven Cleaner:
Sprinkle borax on oven floor. Dampen and let sit over night. The next day scrape away debris and rinse clean.

Toilet Cleaner:
Add a cup to the bowl and let soak overnight. The next day scrub off grime.

Carpet freshner:
Mix one part borax to three parts baking soda. Sprinkle on the carpet. Let sit overnight and vacuum the next day. This mix kills fleas and repels and kills other insects like roaches (ukkk I know).

Some other Products which also will help.

Baking Soda:

Non-Scratch Scrubber:
Sprinkle on area a dampen. Scrub with an old plastic net onion bag. Removes spills and stained from areas you don't want to scratch like stove tops or plastic made bathroom sinks and tubs.

More Eco Suggestions:
If you also want to present a low eco profile on tile and hardwood floors, don't electric vacuum. Sweep with a broom. Lightly damp mop with vinegar mixture only half strength to get up the fine dust. Clean floors with no vacuuming.

For carpets get a hand push non electric carpet sweeper. A quick push a day will keep carpets tidy and neat.