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Want to clean your home the greener way? Here are some tried and true remedies that will leave your home sparkling, without releasing toxins into the environment.

#10 - Cleaning the coffeemaker

Fill the water reservoir with undiluted white vinegar, turn the coffeemaker on. Allow about one cup of vinegar to filter into the pot. Shut the coffeemaker off and let stand for an hour. Turn the coffeemaker back on and allow the rest of the vinegar to flow through. Follow with at least three reservoirs of water.

#9 - Clogged showerheads

Place ½ cup of white vinegar in a plastic bag (just make sure there are no holes in the bag!). Place the showerhead in the bag and secure the bag with a plastic band. Let stand overnight and rinse with warm water.

#8 - Slow running drains

Pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain and SLOWLY add hot water until the mixture is washed down the drain. Let stand overnight and flush thoroughly with hot water. The baking soda also acts as a natural deodorizer. Please note, this is NOT a remedy for clogged drains.

#7 - Furniture Polish

Mix 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts olive oil. Shake well and use a flannel cleaning cloth to apply evenly. Polish dry with another dry flannel cloth.

#6 - Carpet and Upholstery Deodorizer

Mix 1 cup of baking soda, 3 tbsp of corn starch and 1/3 cup of perfumed talcum powder. Sprinkle on dry rug/carpet/upholstery and let stand for about 15 minutes. Vacuum as usual.

#5 - Air Fresheners

• Add enough drops of your favourite essential oil to cotton balls, just enough to make them slightly damp. Place on a saucer, out of sight if you wish, just make sure that there is airflow.
• Pour white vinegar and lemon or orange juice into a small bowl. Place where needed and replace every four days or as needed.

#4 - Mould and Mildew remover

Mix ¾ cup chlorine bleach with 4 litres (one gallon) of water. Apply to the affected area (spot test first!) and rinse. This works very well on tile and grout. Use an old toothbrush to small areas and hard to get at corners.

#3 - General purpose cleaner

Keep a spray bottle handy filled with one part white vinegar and one part water. Great for countertops in the bathroom and kitchen, spot cleaning the floor.

#2 - Window cleaners

• To clean outside, mix 1 cup ammonia with 4 litres of warm water in a bucket. Apply with a window mop and squeegee dry. Use crumpled newspaper to remove any left over water and bring a shine to the glass.
• To clean inside, in a spray bottle, mix 1 tbsp ammonia, 1 cup water and 1 cup rubbing alcohol.

Hints: Do not clean windows in direct sunlight. Clean the outside vertically, and the inside horizontally (or vice versa). Should you have streaks, you’ll be able to tell whether they’re inside or outside.

#1 - Oven cleaner

½ cup of ammonia in a shallow container, place it in the oven and close the door. Allow to stand overnight. Wipe residue with newspapers. If stubborn stains remain, scour with fine steel wool, then wash the area with warm soapy water and rinse. Repeat as necessary.

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Katarina_HD

Posted on May 19, 2008, 5:44 pm

I've always had a sensitivity to chemical cleaners and have been using, vinegar and essential oils now to clean my home for almost 10 years. Nowadays, you can actually buy 'green' cleaning products which work but I find the good old fashioned stuff like the ones you mention here are really best. Great article!

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