Cleaning Green ~ Recipes and Ideas

My sisters and brother all remember "cleaning day" it happened every Saturday morning, with each of us taking certain areas of the house where we dusted, wiped down mirrors, cleaned walls, vacuumed and took out garbage. Twice a year we did a deep cleaning of the whole house that usually took place in the Spring (Spring Cleaning) and then again in late Fall.

We had a few store-bought cleaner but as a general rule our family CLEANED GREEN with cleaning solutions that mom mixed up. We were cleaning green before it was Cool to clean without chemicals and before our world was taken over by products that were harmful. Unfortunately in time this all changed but now I'm changing once again, searching out ways to use friendly products that can once again be created in my kitchen. Here are some ideas and recipes that are helping me and should work for you.

Household Cleaners:

For cleaning bathroom tile and fixtures, mix 1/2 cup vinegar with 2 cups rubbing alcohol and about 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Add this to a gallon of water.

To clean bathroom toilets, sprinkle in baking soda, swish the baking soda in and let sit for 10 minutes then scrub with a brush.

For windows and mirrors, make up a mixture of equal parts of vinegar and water. Fill up a spray bottle, Spray on windows or mirrors, wipe off with crumpled up newspapers (my grandmother & my mom's favorite) or use paper towels.

Need a general all-purpose cleaner then mix 2 teaspoons each of borax and baking soda in 1 quart water. Put in a spray bottle.

If you have rust stains in your bathtub or sink, pour hydrogen peroxide and sprinkle on a little cream of tartar on the rust site. Let it sit for a half hour or so, then wipe clean.

Using products that are easily found in your kitchen is a great way to take a first step in helping clean up the world around you, plus you will save money.

Cleaning with Baking Soda ~ In the Kitchen

I remember as a small girl, mom would sprinkle Baking Soda in the sink and scrub away the stains, she and a generation of women like her did the same thing. The box of baking soda was stored in throughout the kitchen: in the pantry, the refrigerator, the freezer and under the sink.

In the Kitchen...

Make a paste of Baking Soda and water for cleaning:
Coffee and Tea stains out of cups,
Stains and baked on coffee in coffeepots,
Scrubbing copper bottomed pots and pans,
Stains out of sinks,
Off of Stove tops & burner rings,
and to gently clean porcelain and stainless steel.

Deodorizing with Baking Soda:
Place an open box of Baking Soda in the Refrigerator & Freezer,
Sprinkle it in the bottom of garbage/trash cans,
Sprinkle over cutting boards overnight