green cleaning

Green cleaning products for tough stains

amie · April 30, 2013 ·

Stains happen. However, many cleaning products available in stores contain toxic chemicals that are dangerous to you and the environment. They’re also expensive! There are several highly effective, safe homemade stain removers that will knock out even the toughest stains. Remember, it’s always best to tackle a stain as soon as possible. When that’s not reality these super-stain fighters can still work their magic:

Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide:

Mix one part Dishwashing Liquid Soap with two parts hydrogen peroxide. Either combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and spray on a cloth, douse the stain directly with the mixture, or allow washable items to soak in it prior to throwing them in the washer. This is a serious, all-purpose stain remover. For an even stronger formula, add a few tablespoons of baking soda. Old red wine stains, dirt, chocolate, yellow armpit stains, and other food stains will start to disappear in front of your eyes. Rub the mixture into the stain with a cloth or toothbrush and let it sit for about an hour, dab away the foam, and launder if necessary. This is also effective on carpets and non-washable items, including mattresses. Again, rub it in, allow it to sit, and dab away foam.

Coarse Salt and Lemon Juice or Coarse Salt and Club Soda:

Coarse salt works especially well for stains on hard surfaces. Are your counter tops discolored from an old tomato sauce stain or a red wine spill? Cover the stain with salt, moisten the salt with lemon juice, let sit for several minutes, and then scrub. Pour salt over urine and vomit stains on hard surfaces as well. Scrub and then rinse with club soda. For coffee or soda stains on the carpet, cover with coarse salt, allow the salt to soak up any liquid, and then vacuum. Good as new!

White Vinegar and Baking Soda:

Nix carpet stains by creating a paste of distilled white vinegar and baking soda. Use a toothbrush to work the mixture into the carpet fibers. Let it dry and then vacuum the paste up. Old stains may require more than one treatment. This is also effective on pet stains, particularly pet urine, as it deodorizes too.

Baking Soda, Liquid Dish Soap, Water, and White Vinegar:

You don’t need a heavy duty cleaner to eliminate stains and mildew in your bathtub and on tiles. Instead, combine 1 1/2 cups of baking soda, 1/2 cup of liquid dishwashing soap, and 1/2 cup of water. Just prior to using the scrub, add a few tablespoons of distilled white vinegar. Wait until the last minute, or the vinegar and baking soda will cause a reaction. Apply the mix, scrub, and wipe clean. Baking soda can be used solo to soak up greasy stains or even added to your laundry detergent to boost its effectiveness.

Cream of Tartar and Hydrogen Peroxide:

Clean rust stains from sinks, porcelain and fixtures or revive discolored aluminum pans by making a paste of cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide. Let it dissolve the stains, scrub, and rinse with warm water. When you’re unsure of what a stain is, gently rubbing this paste on the stain and rinsing will work in many cases. You can even use cream of tartar on its own to clean tiles. Let it settle and then wipe it off.

Do you have any other recipes for a homemade stain remover?

Tips for cleaning if you have allergies

amie · April 15, 2013 ·

Your home is supposed to be a sanctuary, but if it’s a cause of allergic symptoms it becomes a source of discomfort. Maintaining daily housekeeping chores will eliminate dust, pet dander, pollen, mold, and other undesirable housemates. Keep your house clean to diminish allergy symptoms and use the right products to avoid further irritation.

While the person in the household suffering from allergies should avoid extensive cleaning, this isn’t always a reality. Contacting a green cleaning company, particularly if your house needs a deep clean or you can’t keep up with the maintenance, can be an enormous help. Times when you have to go it alone, you will want to:

Wear a dust mask and plastic gloves. Shower after the job and wash the clothes you wore in hot water.
Use a damp microfiber cloth to catch dust before it starts circulating in the room.
Invest in a vacuum with a High Efficiency Particulate Air Filtration System, or HEPA. Unlike standard vacuums, one with a HEPA filter will catch airborne allergens, such as dust mites, and will not re-release them into the air. Vacuum regularly and wash area rugs. It’s also helpful to have your carpet shampooed occasionally. When vacuuming pay attention to corners and move furniture.
Allergy-proof pillows, mattresses, and box spring with dust mite-proof covers. A washable mattress will protect you even further.
Wash bed linens at least once per week in hot water.
Clean curtains, blinds, and shades. During allergy season keep the windows closed and use air conditioning. Wipe any condensation and mold from the window sills.
Dust and clean furniture, such as bookshelves, dressers, and tables.
De-clutter frequently. Store items, like children’s toys, in plastic containers.
Immediately wash your dishes after each use. Don’t overlook the sink, garbage disposal, and faucets either. This will prevent mold.
Wipe down your refrigerator and throw away old food. See our post for tips on cleaning your refrigerator.
Put trash in a can with an insect-proof lid and take it out daily. Disinfect that trash can.
Don’t allow clutter to accumulate on kitchen countertops. disinfect counters and cabinets with equal parts distilled white vinegar and water to avoid irritation. Add lemon if you’d like to neutralize the smell. Move appliances and empty the toaster pan to banish crumbs. Also, clean out your oven drip pan regularly.
Store plastic bags and food in sealed plastic containers.
Use a towel to dry the shower after each use. Regularly scrub the shower, faucets, sinks, toilets, and tubs with green cleaning products. Wash shower curtains, rugs, and bath linens in hot water frequently.
For areas such as the basement, repair leaks and water damage. Store all items in sealed containers.

Now that you have the basics for allergy-proofing your residence, keep in mind that many conventional cleaning products contain irritants. Avoid anything that lists the following ingredients:

Formaldehyde
Ammonia
Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs)
Chlorine bleach
Sodium lauryl sulphate
D-limonene
Butyl cellosolve
Sodium hypochlorite
Naptha
Fragrances
Sulfuric acid
Lye
Phosphates
Hydrochloric acid
Triethanolamine (TEA)

Remember, if you’re ever in doubt about a product, call the manufacturer. Making homemade green cleaning products (all labeled) is the best route. Follow this guide for a cleaner, safer, and allergy-proof home.

3 green spring cleaning tips

amie · April 8, 2013 ·

Spring is here and the climate is beginning to follow suit. With this particular season change, many people enjoy removing the collected dust and stuffiness from winter’s hibernation with a vigorous spring cleaning. As the temperatures begin to rise and the sun shines for more hours per day, all houses can benefit from a thorough cleaning and reorganization. But while a clean house is always better than a messy one, exactly how you go about cleaning deeply affects the space you live in, as well as the environment at large. It’s important to prioritize how you clean in the spring. Following these simple tips makes it easy to achieve. Whether you’re doing the dusting yourself or hiring a professional maid service that already uses eco-friendly cleaning techniques or is willing to do the job according to your recommendations, you can revamp your house for spring and summer and inhale truly fresh air when the job is done.

Do Away With Chemical Air Fresheners
There’s no need to infiltrate your dwelling with toxic chemicals in order to achieve a pleasant smell. The scent of the chemicals is never as good as a natural product, so go for the real thing! Fill the house with fresh flowers or burn essential oils. If you have neither of these handy, boil a pot of water with orange peels or spices of your choice.

Reduce Paper Use
Much of what leads to clutter around the house is paper-oriented. Bulk mail is the major culprit here and it contributes largely to the 2,500 pounds of paper the average American family throws away each year. Identify the bulk mail senders, ask to be removed from their lists, and start paying your bills electronically. This small step can greatly reduce the annoying stacks of unnecessary mail tucked away in your kitchen or office.

Embrace The Art Of Reuse
Spring is an ideal time to sort through all of your belongings and identify heaps of unwanted items. You can donate these items or you can choose to cleverly reuse them. If you can find helpful reuses for these items you can create a more efficient place and reduce the need to fill the void of discarded old things with new things simultaneously. Lonely socks can be used to dust or clean and old newspapers are great for cleaning windows. Even if you find that you don’t have a good reuse for what you no longer want, making a habit out of eyeing your material possessions in this way will help your house to be both more organized and eco-friendly.

Why you should consider green cleaning

amie · April 2, 2013 ·

“Nature provides a free lunch but only if we control our appetites” – William Ruckelshaus

Due to gas emissions, deforestation, population, and other factors, we now have to face the reality of nature’s depleting resources. Environmentalists have been promoting sustainable growth with a movement often referred to as “green” or “eco.” There is a growing awareness of the importance of recycling and other measures to control the over-exploitation of nature. It makes sense to go green, which entails always considering the benefits to the environment. Everything that harms the environment will affect us in return. Perhaps these effects won’t be felt immediately, however, they will be felt by generations to come. Here are some key reasons why you should consider green cleaning to lessen the impact on the Earth:

Green cleaning products are an excellent alternative for those who have allergic reactions or asthma symptoms due to strong smells and chemicals. The products don’t contain the ingredients that can cause asthma.
Organic and biodegradable products are the most Earth-friendly and the least toxic.
Not only do green cleaning products protect the health and safety of the environment, they also protect the health and safety of humans and create a healthier home.
Conventional cleaning products can be dangerous to pets.
When we rinse solvents and bleach, which are components of many detergents, some of them never go away.
Going green, preserves the air quality in the house, making it safer for people, especially children. In fact, the EPA has stated that indoor air pollution can be significantly worse than outdoor air pollution.
Products with no sulfates and those that produce a little amount of suds, require less water to wash away.
With eco-friendly products there is a reduced chance of eye and skin irritation, chemical burns, and accidental poisoning.
If you create your own green cleaning concoctions, you can save a significant amount of money.
Dangerous toxins found in conventional cleaning formulas enter our bodies through the skin and when we breathe and drink water.

If you’ve been wondering how to go green, here are a few tips:

If you purchase green products, look for the green seal. In Canada, there is the Eco logo on product labels.
Make your own products. Just be sure to label them and keep them out of reach of children and pets.
Ask the maid service you hire to use green cleaning products.
Stock your house with green cleaning essentials that can be used to ensure it is spotless. A few examples that you should have on hand include:
- White vinegar: This serves as an anti-fungal and disinfectant. Use it to prevent mold, disinfect toys, deodorize and clean pet accidents, disinfect bathrooms and kitchens, and eliminate unpleasant smells. Fill half of a spray bottle with white vinegar and the other half with water. If the odor bothers you, neutralize it with lemon juice.
- Baking soda: There are a variety of product recipes that call for baking soda. It acts as an excellent deodorizer and gentle scouring agent. It can be used to deodorize litter boxes, the refrigerator, cabinets, and diaper pails, as well as clean counters, and more.
- Hydrogen peroxide: Look for a 3% concentration. Hydrogen peroxide is a nontoxic bleach and helps to remove stains and disinfect.
- Lemon juice: Mix half lemon juice and half water in a spray bottle to freshen the air. It’s also an effective de-greaser and stain remover.

Why do you consider green cleaning important?

Green cleaning products for your bathroom

amie · March 25, 2013 ·

Bleach has been a favorite household cleaner, especially in the bathroom. Though it keeps sinks and bathtubs and other porcelain fixtures spotless and germ-free there are a few green cleaning products that you can use instead

Most bleach contains chlorine, which has powerful whitening and antimicrobial properties. However, its impact on your bathroom comes with negative consequences for you and the environment.

When used with vinegar or ammonia, it can emit toxic gases.
Industrial-grade solutions emit air and water pollutants that kill off land and aquatic life.
Anyone who swallows or touches bleach can suffer major health problems, some of them fatal.

Luckily, there are other ordinary cleaning products you can use to disinfect the bathroom in a way that is safe to your health and the environment. Here are some of them:

Hydrogen Peroxide: People have been treating cuts and scrapes with this product for years, and its antibacterial properties also make it a safe way to sanitize your bathroom. Hydrogen peroxide also has the great whitening effects, but without the toxic fumes.

White Vinegar: Normally used as a cooking ingredient, vinegar is a mildly acidic natural product that is great for killing germs in your bathroom. It also has an unpleasant smell, however, so if that bother you, mix the vinegar with warm water, or add a few drops of lemon juice to create a fragrant bathroom cleaner.

Baking Soda: Sodium bicarbonate (the chemical name for baking soda) is used for everything from cooking and extinguishing grease fires to brushing teeth and curing indigestion. It also neutralizes odors and controls fungus growth, making it a perfect cleanser for use in the bathroom.

If you want to eliminate the risks associated with chlorine bleach, use these other common eco-friendly cleaning products to keep your bathroom spotless all over.