Easy Guide to Green Cleaning

by Sarah Jane Dunaway

$10

5 Minutes

Easy

With a newborn on the horizon, I’m a lot more conscious of my efforts in green cleaning and ways to cut the harsh chemicals I bring into our home. Of course, it’s just better for us and the environment, regardless of having children in the home. Transitioning to green cleaning can seem overwhelming, but if you make gradual changes overtime you’ll be eco-friendly before you know it, especially with today’s guide to green cleaning.

guide to green cleaning, cleaning tips, go green

The Necessities:

For superior green cleaning, invest in the basics–vinegar, salt, borax, lemon juice, olive oil, castile soap, rubbing alcohol and baking soda.

Bathroom Cleaner:

Use baking soda and vinegar to clean your toilet. Pour some rubbing alcohol into a container of baby wipes and use as an alternative to harsher cleaning wipes for bathroom use. For the faucets in your bathroom, get them to shine with a little rubbing alcohol. Simply pour a little alcohol on a cotton ball and use to wipe down the faucets.

Furniture Polish:

Avoid harsh chemicals found in most furniture polish brands with this homemade alternative. Combine 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice. Apply using a soft cloth. For any marred areas of your wood furniture–from hot serving dishes or water rings–immediately apply a homemade paste combining lemon oil and salt. Spread the mixture over the stained area and lightly buff off with a clean, soft cloth.

Garbage Disposal Deodorizer:

Pour 1/3 cup of baking soda into your garbage disposal. Follow with 1/2 cup of vinegar. Let it sit and bubble, then turn on the water and run your disposal for a couple of minutes. All done!

Hardwood Floors:

Use a combination of equal parts vinegar and hot water. Add a few drops of olive oil and mop away.

Kitchen Cleaner:

This is probably the one cleaner I use the most often! Simply use white vinegar in a spray bottle to help disinfect countertops and other areas of your kitchen. For tougher grease stains sprinkle a little baking soda over the spill, let sit for a minute or so, then wipe off.

Kitchen Floors:

Mop using a mixture of vinegar and water. The vinegar smell will go away once the floor dries.

Laundry Bleach

Ditch the harsh bleach and switch to vinegar instead!

Metal Polish:

Put away your metal polish and instead pick up a slice of lemon. Slice one lemon, dip into salt and rub over your copper or brass antiques. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Or, make a paste using equal parts of salt, vinegar and flour. Rub onto your brass or copper item with a soft cloth. Cover the entire surface until is the paste is completely dry. Wipe off the dried paste with a clean, soft cloth.

Mildew Smells:

Prevent mildew smells by adding 1/4 cup of vinegar to the washer when cleaning sheets, towels and other household linens.

Tub & Tile Cleaner:

Use borax or baking soda with vinegar for your tub and tile scrubber. To remove buildup around your shower head, pour some vinegar in a small ziplock bag and use a rubber band to secure over your shower head.

Window Washer:

Combine 4 tbsp lemon juice with a half-gallon of water. Additionally you can use vinegar or witch hazel (1/4 cup of vinegar to 2-3 cups of water). Wipe down windows using an old t-shirt, cloth diaper or lint-free cloth.

Wood Cleaner:

Clean kitchen cabinets and other woodwork with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and hot water. Add a few drops of olive oil and clean with a soft cloth.

Vinyl Stains:

Use a little lemon juice to rub off any stains on vinyl items such as furniture or tile flooring.

Enjoyed the project?

You can do it! Saved to your projects

Frequently asked questions

Have a question about this project?

Ask a Question

3 of 4 questions

Mary Jo on May 13, 2017

I'm all for natural, BUT you have to know the materials you are cleaning. You shouldn't use vinegar on granite or marble. I don't know much about other surfaces, but I learned the hard way on marble and was warned on Granite. What ever surface you clean, make sure you do your research on what is safe on that material! Thank you for sharing these ideas. Think about vinegar in your laundry on the towels, and epson salts to soften. Look into using tea tree oil and other essential oils for natural cleaning.

0
Mct22445528 on May 13, 2017

how to get old pet stains out of carpet?

0
Mct22445528 on May 13, 2017

how to get old pet stains out of carpet?

0

Comments

Join the conversation

2 comments

Rhonda B on Nov 16, 2014
Great information! Thanks for sharing!

Like Reply
Joanie on May 13, 2017

I have a serious pitted kitchen flooring......ready for new one!! I'm gonna try the vinegar and water and see if it gets the dirt OUT of the pits. Thank you for all the tips!! Happy Mother's Day!

2 Reply

Top stories

Easy Guide to Green Cleaning

Enjoyed the project?

Frequently asked questions

Have a question about this project?

Comments

Join the conversation

Popular Project Book

9 Budget Ways to Add Gleaming Metallic Accents

Popular Project Book

Don't Hang Your Wreath Before You See These 12 Updates

Other

More

Top stories

Easy Guide to Green Cleaning

Enjoyed the project?

Popular Project Book

Popular Project Book

Related DIY Projects