If you’ve been reading Mommies with Cents for any length of time, you know what a fan I am of cleaning with homemade cleaners that are earth friendly. I started looking into green cleaning while I was pregnant with my first child and didn’t want to be exposed to harsh chemicals. I was in “nesting mode” and cleaning everything I could get my hands on, including cleaning our baseboards with a toothbrush! This third time around, I am still waiting for the nesting to set in- 3 weeks to go- where are you, nesting insticts?!
The following are my 10 tips for a greener, cleaner home:
- Use Vinegar– I use a vinegar solution of about 50% white vinegar/50% water with a squirt or two of dish soap mixed in a spray bottle. This multi-purpose solution can be used just about anywhere and is great on windows, mirrors and for cutting grease in the kitchen.
- Use Baking Soda– Wherever you need a little extra scrubbing power, baking soda works great yet is gentle enough not to scratch surfaces.
- Use baking soda AND Vinegar– if you have a clogged drain pour some baking soda down it, followed by some vinegar. It will bubble and fizz. Follow with boiling hot water and your drain should clear!
- Use Salt– for extra tough jobs, salt is more abrasive than vinegar and scrubs up surfaces quite well!
- Use rags– Old t-shirts and cloth diapers make great cleaning cloths. Don’t waste paper towels when you can use something that can be washed and used over and over- especially if it was something you may have tossed anyway!
- Scent your home with spices– rather than using aerosol sprays, try scenting your home by simmering some spices on the stove top. I love fall scents like cinnamon and clove. Just put a stick or two of cinnamon and a handful of clove buds in a pan with some water and simmer on the stove! Mmmm!
- Clean with Steam– I love my Haan Slim & Light floor cleaner and portable steam cleaner. Both are great for cleaning without chemicals or even botanicals for that matter! Just water (steam) and heat and both do a wonderful job of cleaning almost anything around the house!
- Buy Earth Friendly Cleaners– if you don’t want to make your own, there are plenty of products on the market to keep your home safe for your family, try different ones until you find one you love!
- Make your sponge last longer– sponges can harbor bacteria and germs but I just can’t give up using one in the kitchen. To keep the germs at bay and to keep from having to replace it as often, just get it wet and stick it in the microwave for 3 minutes. It kills all the germs. You can also run it through the dishwasher.
- Clean your dishwasher with Kool Aid– speaking of dishwashers, if yours smells funky, run it empty with a packet of Lemonade Kool Aid. Not sure why, but it works!
We’d love to hear your own tips on having a greener, cleaner home. Please share with us by leaving a comment!
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I do most of these but the kool-aid tip was news to me. Very interesting.. I’ll have to consider trying that.