Guest Author - Julie E. Fletcher

In the quest to become ‘green’ many companies that manufacture cleansers have jumped on the environmental bandwagon. But, do you really need to spend more money to become green when you clean? If you factor in the plastic from the bottle, pump, and paper label, then the adhesive to hold the label on, those so called ‘green’ cleaners really are not that green. Just the process of manufacturing has a large impact on the enviroment.

You can reduce this impact on the world and on you by making your own cleansers from ingredients you may have on hand right now. Vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice are base ingredients for nearly every homemade cleaning product. In some recipes you may need to add a drop or two of normal dishwashing detergent, though any soap will do. Vegetable based soaps are preferable for keeping your cleaner as green as possible.

Not only will you find that your home is fresher by using cleaners you have made, but your lungs will thank you as well. Many of the mainstream chemical cleaners readily available in the stores today are more dangerous than what we use them to eliminate. Just read some of the ingredients on the label, then do a quick search to find out the list of possible effects from them. Nausea, allergic reaction, vomiting, burns…wow. Not something I want around my children at all. I would much prefer to have a cleaner that is made from edible ingredients.

Kids have a tendency to be curious and very small children will drink something brightly colored with an interesting smell. There have been instances of poisoning even when the parent had been very careful to keep the cleaning product out of reach. By using safe cleaners you make yourself, you will reduce that worry of poisoning.

Here are a few ideas for cleaning Green:

Baking soda:

Use as you would any scouring powder.
Dip half of a cut lemon into baking soda and scour hard to remove dirt.
Mix one tablespoon baking soda with one tablespoon borax powder to make your own dishwasher detergent.
Pour a tablespoon into your hand and work into your hair during a shower for a deep clean.

Lemons:
Use the juice to clean counters, shine sinks, and other surfaces.
Use it to remove stickers and other adhesives.
Save the peels, dry in an oven to release the aromatic oils for a fresh smell in the kitchen.
Run fresh peels through your garbage disposal.
Lemon juice will also work wonders on the skin. (not for sensitive skin)

Vinegar:
Run vinegar with water through your coffee pot once a month to remove buildup.
If you have a teapot, boil vinegar and water in it to remove scales.
One cup of vinegar is a green fabric softener. The smell dissipates after drying.
Vinegar kills mold on and in the fridge and bathroom.

With those three powerhouse cleaners, who needs chemicals?