Your Green Abode by Tara Rae Miner

Author:Tara Rae Miner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Mountaineers Books
Published: 2010-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

BACK TO THE BASICS

There are common-sense alternatives to cleaning without chemicals. You probably have most of what you need on hand and would use them if it weren’t so easy to grab a bottle and spray or pour. But we’ve all been seduced by the quick and easy promise of chemicals. Now that we’re beginning to realize that this promise isn’t worth the toxic trade-off, it’s time to get back to basics. It turns out those basics are green. They also cost a whole lot less than all those colorful containers lining the cleaning-product aisle.

First up, distilled white vinegar. It’s the main ingredient in many homemade cleaning recipes, including cleaners for glass, tub and tile, toilet bowls, floors, windows, drains, and mildew. This is because of its deodorizing and sanitizing properties and acidic nature, which help it dispel bacteria, germs, and mold. Vinegar works well as a fabric softener too, dissolving detergent residue and helping to wash away smells, even those wrapped up in your partner’s stinky white gym socks.

Next on the list, baking soda. The folks at Arm & Hammer don’t lie when they boast of their product’s many uses (visit their website for a lengthy list). Because it’s abrasive, use it as a scouring powder to make sinks, counters, and tubs sparkle. It takes a little extra effort on your part, but since you’ll be breathing easier you might not even notice the added labor. You may already know that baking soda will absorb carpet and fridge odors; thanks to the fact that it creates a good pH level in the wash, it’ll deodorize your laundry, too, as well as make it brighter.

Third, liquid castile soap. It’s the sudsy base for a lot of homemade cleaning recipes. Plus, you can use it to wash your hands. Castile soap is very mild. It used to be made exclusively from olive oil, but now you’ll find it made from other vegetable oils too. Unlike in other liquid soaps, you won’t find any petroleum products and their associated contaminants.

On to essential oils, or concentrated plant oils. These are derived from bark, flower petals, roots, or fruits. Talk about getting back to basics: essential oils have been used for centuries for cleaning. Today you can find them online or in small vials in your local health-food store. Some are antibacterial, including cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, rose, rosemary, tea tree, and thyme.

Try using lemon oil (not the commercial variety made from petroleum distillate) as furniture polish, eucalyptus to cut grease, thyme as a cleaning disinfectant. Do keep in mind that essential oils are potent and some may irritate your skin. And they are the one green-cleaning item that isn’t cheap (we paid 11 each for our 1-ounce bottles), but they are concentrated—one bottle will last you a year.

Last but not least, there’s water. It’s the universal solvent in many green-cleaning recipes and is much better for you than the petroleum-based solvents found in many conventional cleaners. You can’t get any safer or simpler.

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