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Green Diva Mom Cleaning
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Posted by Stacey Stultz on Aug.15, 2008
Would you purposely spread a toxic substance on your counter tops and floors? Of course not! But moms everywhere are unknowingly doing this very thing. Most conventional cleaners contain ammonia (link to ammonia) and chlorine bleach (link to chlorine bleach) and other noxious substances. Like Ellen Sandbeck says in her book, Green Housekeeping, ‘Clean it, don’t contaminate it!’
Green cleaning is a way to keep chemicals out of your family’s home and body. There are many wonderful green cleaning books out. You can use a combination of purchased and home-made green cleaning solutions for floors, counter tops, appliance and bathroom surfaces. Here are a few easy ways to get started today!
*As with all cleaners: test in inconspicuous area before use. NEVER use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide on marble or other natural stone! Hydrogen peroxide is a natural whitener and will whiten surfaces if allowed to pool.
Appliance tops, most counter tops, toilet seats, and bathtubs: in a new spray bottle, add 1 part water and 1 part vinegar. The vinegar scent will soon dissipate. To disinfect, follow with full-strength 3% hydrogen peroxide. We keep a dark colored spray bottle of vinegar solution and 3% hydrogen peroxide handy.
Disinfect fruit and most surfaces: Spray with full strength white vinegar and follow up with full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a natural whitener and will whiten your countertops, wooden cutting boards, grout and tile if allowed to pool. Keep hydrogen peroxide in a dark colored spray bottle for ease of use and to prevent degradation.
Commodes: flush, add ½ cup of borax, swish with brush, soak 30 minutes and flush!
Linoleum floors: add ½ cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water, mop.
Tile floors: damp mop with a couple drops of Dr. Bonner’s Castile Soap for tough jobs.
Shower mildew: hydrogen peroxide full strength. Keep in mind that hydrogen peroxide is bleach and may whiten colored grout. For a powdered cleanser, use a little borax on a wet sponge.
Windows and mirrors: club soda. Put club soda in a dark spray bottle, spray and squeegee dry. A squeegee makes cleaning glass and mirrors quick, lint free and saves paper towels.
Stubborn baked on foods and sink stains, as well as brighten copper-bottom pots: cut a lemon in half, sprinkle with salt and scrub. Lemon and salt will also brighten copper pot bottoms. Afterwards, slice the lemon thinly and feed through your sink disposal for a fresh smelling and clean drain!
Non-toxic mild abrasive: make a baking soda paste with water and scrub.
Cutting boards: use separate cutting boards for produce and meats. To disinfect, first wash cutting board and knives in hot soapy water. Then, spray with full strength white vinegar and follow up with full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Non-toxic oven scrub: make a baking soda paste with water and add a little elbow grease. Clean up paste with water. Green Diva Tip- prevent having to clean your oven by lining the bottom with foil and simply replace the foil when soiled!
Laundry: use borax to pre-soak stains or an oxygen bleach for whitening. Use washing soda as a boost to your natural laundry detergent. Follow directions on box for these products. For hand washing, try Dr. Bonner’s Castile Soap or borax.
Laundry softener: add ¾ cup of vinegar to wash cycle. Tip, we put the vinegar in our fabric softener cup.
Mineral deposits on shower head: soak shower head in vinegar and scrub.
Clean Safe! Clean Green! What can be better?
| What about cleaning with Ammonia? Although many store bought cleaners and homemade cleaning solution recipes contain ammonia, it is dangerous. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, ammonia is a toxic substance. It is corrosive, irritating to the body, able to burn skin, and can cause blindness if splashed into eyes. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts126.html |
| What about cleaning with Chlorine Bleach? Chlorine bleach should be avoided. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, chlorine is irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat. It can cause lung damage and death with short-term exposure http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp172-c1-b.pdf. Instead of using chorine bleach, try one of the many wonderful oxygen bleaches now available. We like Ecover’s Non-Chlorine Laundry Bleach and Seventh Generation’s Chlorine Free Bleach. |
Posted under Green Cleaning, Home Environment.
Article By: Stacey Stultz
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July 20th, 2009 on 12:46 am
Hi,
On tv tonight I saw a commercial on JLTV, AND THE GREEN DIVA WAS SHOWING a way to clean a stainless steel sink. I went to greendiva tv, to find the solution she mentioned to get a better view. I could not find it. I think she mixed, vinegar, baking soda, and I am not sure of the rest, maybe perioxide. Not sure. I would like to know the solutions she used. She put it in a jar with the measurements. Can you help.
Rachel