7 ways to green clean—and cut costs

Homemade cleaning products are not only more environmentally-friendly and less toxic, they can help you cut costs as well. Here are seven do-it-yourself ways to clean-up at home with products that might be in your kitchen right now. 

Freshen up. Make your own air freshener using 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon vinegar (or lemon juice), and 2 cups hot water. Pour the mix into a spray bottle and spritz away to remove odors. Note that while white vinegar has a slight scent while wet, when dries, it leaves no odor. 

Boost detergent. To reduce the amount of laundry detergent you need to use (especially if you have hard water) add baking soda or washing soda. These minerals soften the water, which increases the detergent’s power. For liquid detergent, add 1/2 cup of soda at the beginning of the wash. For powdered detergent, add 1/2 cup of soda during the rinse cycle.

Get squeaky-clean. Just add 3 tablespoons vinegar per 1 quart water in a spray bottle and you've got a safe, eco-friendly window cleaner. Some recommend using half vinegar and half water. For extra-dirty windows try this: 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap, 3 tablespoons vinegar, and 2 cups of water. Shake well. The best way to get streak-free windows? Use newspaper instead of paper towels to wipe them.

Lift stains and spots. Cream of tartar lifts stains from sinks and tubs, and removes spots from aluminum pans. A mild alternative to chlorine bleach that can be used for stain removal and mild bleaching and killing germs. Available in drug stores and supermarkets. This common baking ingredient is a mild acid that can be used as a sink and bathtub stain remover. It can also be used to remove spots from aluminum cookware.

Cut grime and grease. Use baking soda to clean up in the kitchen. For a "soft-scrub" for countertops, mix baking soda and liquid soap to until you get a consistency you like. The amounts don’t have to be perfect. Make only as much as you need, as it dries up quickly. To clean extra-greasy ovens, mix together 1 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup of washing soda, then add enough water to make a paste; apply the paste to oven surfaces and let soak overnight. The next morning, lift off soda mixture and grime; rinse surfaces well (gloves are recommended as washing soda may irritate skin). 

Try borax in the bathroom. Sold in most grocery stores, borax is a water softener and sanitizer. For a good all-purpose bathroom sanitizer, mix 2 teaspoons of borax, 4 tablespoons of vinegar, and 3 to 4 cups of hot water in a spray bottle. For extra cleaning power, add 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap to the mixture. To clean your toilet bowl, pour 1 cup of borax into the toilet before going to bed. In the morning, scrub and flush. For an extra-strength cleaner, add 1/4 cup vinegar to the borax.

Play it safe. Whether you’re using commercial or homemade cleaners, it’s important to follow safety precautions. Avoid splashing household cleaners on your skin or in your face and check labels to see if respiratory masks, rubber gloves, goggles, or other protective measures are recommended. People with heart or lung disease and pregnant women should try to avoid products that contain chemical solvents. And since contact lenses can absorb vapors and hold them against the eye, causing irritation or eye damage, anyone who normally wears contacts should remove them and put on eyeglasses before handling such products. If you find that the cleaners you’re using irritate your nose, eyes and/or lungs, follow your instincts and stop using them. Finally, be sure to clearly label containers of homemade cleaners, and keep all cleaners out of reach of children and pets.

For more advice on homemade cleaning products, see the Green Buying Guide on www.GreenerChoices.org, and see our new report on glass cleaner warnings.

Comments

[temizlik urunleri]

I am interested in green cleaning products. Good information useful article thanks

[Tracey]

I LOVE Shaklee products! They are concentrated and so safe. My 6 year old daughter has her very own cleaning bottle of Basic H2...no way I'd do that with a store bought " green" cleaner.

Feel free to ask me anything about Shaklee.

Tracey :)

[Talya Bernstein Galaganov]

I would love to find a "green" alternative to Tide. I have tried the Bi-O-Kleen (not the premium, the regular), and it didn't hold a candle. Consumer Reports tested Method, which doesn't seem to have done so well. Has anyone tried Shaklee or the Bi-O-Kleen Premium? Any other alternatives? I have little kids, so I need something that can get out orange juice, spaghetti sauce, ground in dirt, melted chocolate, and peach juice, as well as green juices.

[Green Cleaning]

Great squeaky clean recipe! Ill have to try that. I love natural recipes for cleaning. It makes cleaning even more clean! This is a great one for scrubbing!
Mix 1 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup liquid castile (vegetable-based) soap in a glass jar. You can add more soap if you want a creamier soft scrub. Stir. Add 2 teaspoons vegetable glycerin (available at most natural food stores and many drugstores) if you want it to keep it for up to a year; otherwise, it will harden. You can add a couple of drops of a favorite organic essential oil (extracted from plant parts) if you want a pleasant scent–or try almond or peppermint castile soap.

[RS]

Great tips! May I add that hydrogen peroxide cut in half with water is a great all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant, and much better for the environment than chlorine bleach. I use hydrogen peroxide for my kitchen counter, my bathroom sink, my toilet, and my shower. It works great and has no odor!

[K Austin]

A good laundry stain remover is a mixture of vinegar, liquid soap and water. Mix in an old, clean spray bottle....1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup liquid soap and the rest water. Shake gently, spray on stains, then launder.

Another whitening agent is powdered laundry detergent and vinegar. Place yellowed whites in sink with cold water. Add 1/4 cup powdered laundry detergent (cheapy's work well) and 1/2 cup vinegar. Mix well with wooden spoon and let soak for at least 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. No need to rinse before washing in machine.

To keep new bright colors bright, place in sink with cold water and 1/2 cup vinegar, soak 10-15 minutes, then launder. Brights will take forever to fade after this!

[Lisa Chase]

Talking about saving money. I have found a fantastic new product that keeps fruits and veggies fresher and safer in your refrigerator for weeks. It's the Mini Mate. Toss the baking soda box away. The minimate destroys germs, air-born bacteria making your food safer.

With everyone watching $$$'s these days. This is a product that you will notice savings on not having to throw away spoiled food anymore.

I recently came off of a 12 day vacation arriving home late, and very hungry. I thought for sure that I would have nothing fresh in the refrigerator. To my pleasant surprise, all of my produce was still crispy and fresh. I was able to prepare a healthy meal after a long trip.
Thank you Mini Mate....