Green Cleaning Solutions- 4/10

Products to Avoid: Alcohol, Ammonia, Chlorine, Formaldehyde, Acids, Lye, Propellants. Buy pure Cellulose Sponges

Ammonia Alternative /
  • Use vinegar, salt & water mixture to clean surfaces, baking soda and water for bathroom.

Appliance Cleaner /
  • Dry baking soda shines small appliances & even removes bread wrappers burned on toasters. Rub on with clean flannel cloth.

Bleach Clothes /
  • Add ¼ cup lemon juice to the wash or rinse cycle.
  • Add ½ cup washing soda to detergent. (Pink & Green)

Burner Pan Cleanup / In large pot, place burner pans, cover with water. Boil & add 1/4 cup automatic dishwasher detergent. After 10 minutes, use tongs to remove. Most grime can be removed with swipe of sponge.
Candles / Clean using nylons wrapped into a loop (figure 8) with rubber band. Run cloth along candle in 1 direction a few times. Nat Home, 11-12/08
Carpet Cleaner /
  • Light stains – mix equal parts white vinegar & water in spray bottle, apply directly to stain. Let sit, then clean gently with brush or sponge using warm, soapy water. Heavy-duty: Combine ¼ cup salt, ¼ cup borax & ¼ cup vinegar. Rub paste into carpet, leave a few hours, then vacuum. DL 3/10

All-Purpose Cleaning Solutions /
  • Dilute one part Dr. Bonner soaps to 40 parts water for light cleaning. Use 50-50 or full strength for heavy cleaning.
  • Use ½ tsp. washing soda, a dab of liquid soap & 2 cups hot tap water.
  • Mix 1 cup white vinegar & 1 cup water. For tough grime, heat 15 seconds in microwave until almost hot, then spray & let stand 15-20 minutes. Can add 20-30 drops essential oil.
  • Mix 1 qt. warm water, 1 teas. liquid soap, 1 teas. borax & ¼ cup undiluted white vinegar
  • Put ½ tsp. washing soda, ½ tsp. borax, ½ tsp. vegetable based soap, 2 tbs. vinegar & 2 cups hot water in spray bottle. Shake well until all solid bits dissolve. Increase borax to 1 tsp for extra power. Spray, wipe clean with cloth or sponge.
  • For an herbal spray, combine 8 drops essential oils, ½ teas. liquid dishwashing soap, ½ teas. distilled white vinegar & 16 oz warm water in spray bottle.
  • Lemon Fresh Cleaner: Mix 1 cup liquid soap blend*, ¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice, ¼ eyedropper of tea tree extract & 6 cups warm water. Mix & shake well. Put in plastic spray bottle, spray on, wipe off. Store in cool dark place. Shelf life approximately 9-10 months. *Liquid Soap Blend: ¼ cup glycerin soap flakes (use cheese grater to grate gentle castile or glycerin non-foaming soap)and ¾ cup boiling water. Mix flakes & water until flakes dissolve. Pour into bottle, label Gentle Liquid Soap Base. Shelf life 4-6 mos.
  • No-Rinse Green Clean (Nat Home 5-6/08) Mix 1 cup white distilled vinegar, 2 cups hot water & 5-10 drops lavender essential oil. Mix & stir or shake thoroughly. (can also add 2 tsp. baking soda)
  • Rub area with ½ lemon dipped in borax, then rinse. (Abrasive)
  • Non-abrasive Cleaner – ¼ cup borax, castile soap, ½ teas. lemon essential oil. Combine to form thick paste. Scrub & rinse. NH 7-8/09

Clothes / Replace mothballs with cedar chips or sachet made from lavender flowers, rosemary, mint or white peppercorns. (Gaiam)
Countertops /
  • 1 cup citrus oil in 1 gallon hot water
  • Mix baking soda & water to desired consistency, apply, let sit overnight, rinse.
  • Cover with paste of baking soda & water. Let set 2 minutes, wipe. Or, create paste of cream of tartar & lemon juice. Rub in, let soak, rinse.

Countertops, Granite /
  • Put 2 tbs. biodegradable liquid soap & 3-¾ cups water in 32 oz. spray bottle. Shake. Keeps indefinitely. Avoid abrasive materials & take care with acids like vinegar, citrus, tomatoes. Sealants can’t totally protect granite long term (& they don’t claim to.) If you seal, use water-based, low odor sealer (

Crayon-Wall /
  • Spritz with WD40. Let sit, wipe with cloth, wash.

Disinfectant /
  • Mix 20 drops of oil & 1 cup water in spray bottle. (Lavender, tea tree & thyme are proven disinfectants)
  • 1 cup white distilled vinegar, 10 drops essential oil of tea tree, 8 drops each essential oil of lavender, rosemary, oregano, thyme and 5 drops essential oil of peppermint Organic Spa 11-12/09
  • Combine ¾ cup baking soda, ¼ cup borax, 3 tbs. liquid castile soap, 1 tlb. white vinegar & 35 drops eucalyptus essential oil (or 20 eucalyptus & 15 lemon oil) to form a paste. Store in a sealed container. Dab paste on dampened sponge & apply to tub, sink, etc. Rinse with fresh water or wipe with clean damp sponge. Body & Soul
  • Vinegar alone is a great disinfectant. (
  • 2 teas. borax, ¼ cup vinegar and 3-4 cups hot water. For extra power, add ¼ teas. liquid soap

Dishwasher /
  • Run cycle with 1 cup white vinegar to clean up
  • Prevent mineral buildup from staining inside. 1x per month, pour 1 cup of white vinegar into detergent holder after dishwasher fills with water for 1st cycle. Also dissolves existing deposits.
  • Put baking soda in bottom
  • Dishwasher Rinse Agent: Vinegar (NH 1-2/10)

Drains /
  • Each week, pour ½ cup baking soda, then 1 (or ½) cup white vinegar after, a bit at a time. Follow with hottest tap water (or boiling water) or
  • Pour 1 cup baking soda into drain, followed by 1 cup white vinegar. Let sit overnight. Flush with kettle of boiling water & plunge a few times.
  • Hair–2 cup washing soda (pour in drain), followed by a gallon of boiling water. Nat. Home 7-8/06
  • For drain cleaner, pour a cup of washing soda down drain. Allow to sit 30 minutes, flush with 3 cups hot water. Once a month. – Del Liv 3/10

Dusting /
  • Use old stockings over hand. Dust clings like glue.

Fabric Softener /
  • Add ½ cup white vinegar to rinse cycle – reduce skin irritation, soften clothes, remove static electricity.

Floor /
  • Mix 1/8 cup plant-based liquid soap, 1/8 cup distilled white vinegar, 1 gallon water and 10 drops essential oil. Mop as usual. For ceramic or stone floors, eliminate soap & use ¼ cup vinegar (no film). Don’t use on un-scaled floors.
  • Wood Floors: Add 1 cup citrus oil to 1 gallon hot water. Mop with sponge.
  • Wood Floors: Steep black tea, cool to room temperature. Dip a mop or soft cloth into mixture, ring well before using.
  • Hardwood Floor: Add ¼ cup distilled white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water. Mop & rinse. Don’t leave a pool of water on floor.

Flowers /
  • Add 2 tbs. vinegar & 1 teas. sugar per quart of water

Furniture Polish
(see wood polish, also)
Scratches /
  • Mix ½ teas. oil (olive, jojoba, etc.) and ¼ cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice in a glass jar. Mix. Use with soft rag. Cover & store indefinitely.
  • Mix 1 cup olive oil and ½ cup lemon juice (or ¼ cup olive oil & 1 tsp. lemon juice or vinegar). Spray on cloth, spread evenly on furniture. Turn cloth to dry side & polish dry.
  • Mix ¼ cup vinegar & ½ cup olive oil, distribute evenly & buff. Can add 25 drops orange essential oil. Pink & Green
  • 1 part lemon juice, 2 parts olive or vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup olive oil & ¼ cup white distilled vinegar, 20-30 drops lemon essential oil (Publix Greenwise)
  • Use 1 part lemon juice & 1 part oil, then rub with soft cloth
  • Use a teaspoon of instant coffee dissolved in a teaspoon of water – MEN, 8-9/09

Garbage Disposal /
  • Mix 1 cup vinegar with enough water to fill an ice cube tray, freeze, then put cubes down the disposal. Rinse with cold water for 1 minute. VT 4/06
  • Drop in a few ice cubes, some lemon slices & start

Glass /
  • Vinegar & water—2 tbs. cornstarch, ½ cup white vinegar & 1 gal. warm water-use microfiber cloth

Grease Stain /
  • Kitchen – sprinkle salt on stain & wipe with sponge (except wine – it sets wine stains)

Hairspray Residue /
  • On mirror or glass: pour solution of 1/3 liquid fabric softener & 2/3 water into spray bottle. Spray & wipe off immediately.

Heel Marks
WD /
  • Use baking soda & damp sponge or
  • Lightly rub scuff mark with typewriter eraser or
  • Dip soft cloth in silver polish and wipe spot until it disappears. Wipe off remaining polish with clean cloth.
  • Use pencil eraser on linoleum WD 8/6/02

Humidifier /
  • Use a couple of tablespoons of common bleach twice a week in humidifier to clean slime and scale & kill bacteria.

Iron /
  • To clean, mix ½ cup white vinegar & ½ cup water. Plug iron in, set to steam, hold in the air horizontally & let steam evaporate completely or fill with 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup water. Adjust to steam setting & heat 3-5 minutes. Unplug and place flat on a cake rack in the sink. Allow solution to drip for half an hour, then rinse several times.
  • Clean faceplate: Cool, wipe with wet sponge & sprinkle of baking soda or dishwashing liquid.

Laundry /
  • Use ¼ to 1/3 cup Dr. Bronner soap for one regular load. Dash of baking soda makes it even better.
  • All Purpose Laundry Soap – Mix ½ cup baking soda, ½ cup powdered castile soap (or ¾ cup unpacked soap flakes from glycerin or castile soap), ¼ cup washing soda and ¼ cup Borax. Use like commercial detergent – ½ cup per full load. The finer the flakes, the longer the shelf life. Air dry before mixing for longer shelf life. 4 months to more than 1 year.
  • Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent (courtesy of SoapsGoneBuy.com)
Ingredients:
3 pints water
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated
1/2 cup Washing Soda (not baking soda, please!)
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
2-gallon bucket to mix it in
Additional hot water
Directions:
Mix Fels Naptha in a saucepan with 3 pints hot water. Heat on low until dissolved. Stir in washing soda & borax. Stir until thickened, remove from heat. Add 1 quart hot water to a two-gallon bucket. Add soap mixture, mix well. Fill bucket to about 3 inches from the top with additional hot water, mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load. Note: This detergent will not make suds, which makes it perfect for front-loading HE washers
  • For really dirty clothes (or if they look tired), add ½ cup Borax to wash water, or soak 30 minutes. Positively Green, Winter 2008
  • Disinfect laundry by adding 1 teas. of tea tree oil. Prevents bacterial & fungal infections. NatHome
Clothes Softener:
  • Add a ¼ cup white vinegar to rinse cycle. Real Green Summer 2009
  • Add 2 new tennis balls to the dryer to remove static electricity (WD 3/3/09)

Laundry Safeguards /
  • Don’t put clothes in the dryer that have been in contact with paint, oil or flammables - can ignite fabric. Dry on line.
  • When washing dark clothes for the 1st time, use cold water and add salt to set color. Will also brighten dark clothes washed several times.
  • To restore black color (which can look brown after awhile), add coffee or strong tea to rinse water.

Metal Cleaners & Polishes / Brass & Copper:
  • Use lemon juice & add salt for tough jobs.
  • Polish tarnished brass by sprinkling baking soda on item. Take half a lemon and squeeze juice over baking soda, then scrub with the lemon or
  • Dip cut side of half lemon in salt & rub. Rinse with cold water and buff or
  • Polish with paste made of equal parts salt, four and vinegar. Rinse, buff with soft dry cloth. Remove corrosion by rubbing with lemon wedge dipped in vinegar and salt (FC 11/89)
Gold:
  • Mix ¼ cup liquid castile soap, 2 cups warm water & 1 teas. ammonia. Store in glass bottle. Wash gold, dry, polish with soft cloth. 6 mos. shelf life.
  • Use toothpaste. Can use brush. Rinse.
Copper:
  • Mix equal parts ketchup & water. Apply to copper, wipe off.
  • Pour 1 cup kosher salt in open dish. Dip cut side of a lemon in salt (1/8” crust) & scrub copper. Squeeze lemon when surface is dry. Rinse, wash & dry. Nat Home 9-10/08
Silver
  • Soak in lemon juice, then rinse with hot water & polish dry. Can also use aluminum foil. Fill pan with water, add 1 tbs. salt, baking soda & a few sheets of aluminum foil. Leave 1 hour, then rinse with hot water & polish dry or
  • Wash silver in mild soapy water to remove dirt. Place sheet of aluminum foil in bottom of large pot & put silver pieces on top. In separate pot, mix a quart of boiling water with ¼ cup baking soda & 2 tbs. salt (Double or triple to cover larger pieces) b& s 3/10
  • Store with aluminum foil to keep tarnish free.
  • Make a paste of baking soda & water. Put in clean damp sponge & rub into silver. Rinse with hot water and polish. For badly tarnished silver, leave baking soda paste on for an hour or so.
  • Toothpaste Rub, use traditional, not gel. Rinse with warm water & dry with cloth. Be cautious.
  • Tarnish: Place cut lemons & water in tarnished pan & add tarnished utensils. Stew on low for 1 hour or so, until stains are gone.

Microwave / Mix ½ cup distilled white vinegar & ½ cup water in microwave-safe bowl & bring to rolling boil in microwave. Dissolves odors & baked-on food. Finish with sponge soaked in pure vinegar. Nat Hom
Mildew, Mold /
  • Scrub dirty surface with borax or baking soda
  • Use full-strength vinegar. To control mold, spray with diluted vinegar on a regular basis.
  • Mix 2 teas. tea tree oil & 2 cups water. Combine in spray bottle. Shake to blend & spray on problem areas. Don’t rinse. Indefinite shelf life. (can add to steam cleaner for carpets – 2 teas. to ½ gal water) Body & Soul
  • 1 teas. Borax, 3 tbs. Vinegar, 2 cups hot tap water, spray.

Mineral Deposits /
  • (Glass or Stainless) Mix equal parts of white vinegar & water.

Mirrors / Scrub obvious streaks & staining with sponge, not a cloth. Dip crumpled newspaper in a solution of 1 part white vinegar & 5 parts warm water. Wipe in big circles, moving left to right, top to bottom. Switch newspaper pages as needed. Wipe with dry piece of newspaper. wd 3-10
Odor / Remove odors from hands - rubbing vinegar & salt together (removes garlic, spice smell) WD 2/1/09
Oven or Drain Cleaner /
  • Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and ¼ cup white vinegar. Mix into paste & use scrub pad to clean oven.
  • Stubborn oven cleaner: Add ¼ cup ammonia to above. Preheat oven to lowest setting. Put ammonia in bowl or pan & let sit in oven 4-6 hours. Remove ammonia, add other 2 ingredients to form paste. Scrub oven. Mist with water & wipe clean.
  • 1 cup baking soda, ¼ cup washing soda. Add water to make paste. Apply, leave overnight.

Oven Spills /
  • Sprinkle with salt while warm, wait until oven cools, wipe up.
  • 5 parts salt to 1 cinnamon – pour on spill immediately after turning oven off. Remove when cool.

Pans
Dirty /
  • Fill pan with warm water. Add fabric softener sheet. Leave one hour. FC 10-17-06 *WORKS
  • Scrape off burned food, cover bottom with layer of baking soda. Add 2 cups hot water & squirt of dish detergent. Let stand overnight.
  • Fill pan ¼ full of water, add 5 tbs. baking soda & bring to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, let soak a few hours or overnight. Stain should easily wash away.

Aluminum /
  • Clean darkened aluminum pans by boiling in them 2 tsp. of cream of tartar mixed in a quart of water for 10 minutes.
  • Anodized Aluminum – For discoloration, boil 2 tbs. cream of tartar & 1 qt. water. Let sit 10-25 minutes. For exterior, apply with sponge. RS 11/08

Cast Iron /
  • Scouring with salt won’t remove seasoning (Also try salt & vegetable oil.) Nat Home

Copper
Bottom /
  • Rub with equal combination or vinegar & salt or
  • Cut lemon in half, dip in salt & rub over copper. Wash with soapy water & drip dry.
  • Use sour milk in shallow dish pan. Set copper pan inside or
  • Clean brass & copper using vinegar & lemon, add salt if needed

Stainless /
  • To brighten, rub with soft cloth moistened with white vinegar. (RS 11/08)

Pest Repellents /
  • Minty Pest Repellent – Drop 3-4 drops peppermint essential oil each organic cotton balls. Allow to dry. Tuck into corners where insects hide. Re-scent weekly. Body & Soul
  • Ants – Soapy water eliminates trails. Prevention 8/05
  • Ants – Mix 8 oz. water with 1 teas. peppermint essential oil in spritz bottle. Shake well. Spray countertops, baseboards, etc. Body & Soul
  • Mix 3 tb. cinnamon & 1 cup diatomaceous earth or ground-up grapefruit & orange peels. Scatter.
  • Ants & Cockroaches – Mix borax with water & a little sugar. (Keep Borax away from pets)
  • Moths in clothes – Freeze clothes at beginning & end of season. Prevention 8/05
  • Slugs & Snails – sprinkle used coffee grounds on soil. WD 8/1/06
  • Termites – avoid whole house fumigation. Usually only around porches. Try Bora-Care. Prevention 8/05