Cleaning Green: 5 Terrific Tricks and Tips

When it comes to house cleaning, going green is often thought to be impossible to do. After all, don’t you need harsh chemicals to clean hard-to-kill mold, mildew, bacteria and general grime? In fact, most people think that you can’t get your house clean and go green. However, this is a fallacy. In fact, you can disinfect, remove stains and wash just about anything with a little bit of baking soda, white vinegar and water. The following are a few green cleaning tips:

1. Make an all purpose cleaner for counter tops and floors using 4 tablespoons of baking soda for every quart of warm water. This is a great solution for bathroom counters, sinks and table tops, too.
2. Clean baked on food off your oven or stove top not by running a three hour self-cleaning cycle, but by using a typical product found in almost every pantry across America: table salt. Just pour the salt on the baked on gunk while the oven or stove top is still warm, then wait for it to cool, and use a damp sponge to wipe it off. You might have to do a little scraping if it has been baked on for some time, but generally very little extra effort is required.
3. Clean your toilet without commercial toilet bowl cleaner. Instead, flush your toilet and, while the sides of the bowl are still wet, sprinkle on some baking soda. Let it sit for a few minutes to help deodorize your toilet. Then, soak the sides of the bowl with white vinegar, and use your toilet bowl brush to scrub it clean. You’re cleaning and disinfecting your toilet using ingredients you probably have in your pantry while keeping the environment safe at the same time.
4. Save energy when laundering clothes by allowing them to air dry rather than using a dryer. This is easy during the warmer months and leaves them with a soft scent,too. Turn your clothes inside out to prevent any fading. During the cooler months, dry your clothes in your home using a portable clothes hanging rack.
5. Clean your floors using a mixture of an eighth cup dish soap, an eighth cup white vinegar and a gallon of warm water. This will help remove dirt and debris while disinfecting the floors. It will leave them shiny clean, too.

There are all kinds of ways to disinfect and clean your home using everyday products that have less of an impact on the environment than harsh chemical cleaners. When in doubt, try a vinegar water mixture as it tends to work on just about anything, even windows!