Handy Ideas for Green Cleaning

Nowadays, chemical-based cleaning products are used on basically everything in both our homes and workplaces – clothes, furniture, floors, windows, etc. However, one needs to know that these so called conventional cleaning products are as helpful as they are harmful. They are petroleum-based and can really damage your health if not used properly. So, instead of using such dangerous substances, why not consider employing in your cleaning process natural methods and products that are both safer and cheaper.

Utilize green cleaning products. As the environmental and health impact of the chemical cleaning products become more and more tangible, companies start selling various kinds of so called ‘green’ cleaning products. Many of them are biodegradable, made of renewable resources (rather than petroleum) and most importantly – non-toxic. But if you do not feel like going for commercial products, home-made cleaning agents will do just as good of a job. As much as it is hard to believe, baking soda and vinegar can clean almost everything. Just mix any of these with a little warm water and you will have a multipurpose cleaner.

If you are having serious troubles with a clogged drain in your household, worry not, there is an easy way to deal with it. If the sink in the kitchen is built up with lots of fat from cooking oils, pour a jug of boiling water down the drain in order to flush oils and fat away. And when it is time for unclogging, try the very powerful baking soda. Pour baking soda in the drain, followed by boiling water. However, if you strife for the strongest solution, try half a cup of white vinegar plus half a cup of baking soda. Mix it, pour it down the drain and let it stay overnight. Afterward, wash away with cold water.

Even the delicate wood surfaces can be cleaned with natural home cleaning products. Everybody knows the nasty water circles damp glasses and cups tend to leave on wooden tables. These can be easily gotten rid of by applying toothpaste and polishing the surface with a dry cloth. However, for different kinds of stains, use the mixture of oil and vinegar. It does sound really strange, but it works. One teaspoon of oil, mixed in a cup of vinegar will do the job just fine.

The windows. Here, you can once again call on the vinegar to get the job done. Mix with water, add just a little detergent (for a pleasant smell) and pour in a spray bottle. Now you have the perfect window cleaning agent. Use a newspaper for wiping, as cotton rags only smear the glass surface.

The oven. Nowadays many people buy self-cleaning ovens. However, in order for them to get self-cleaned, they heat up to a really high temperature, which itself consumes lots of electricity, which will have a negative impact on your power bill. If you would like to avoid this, once again, rely on ‘green’ cleaning. In this case, it is baking soda. Make sure the oven is completely cool and then sprinkle some soda on the bottom of the oven. Using a spray bottle, spray just a little bit of water. When soda and water mix, they will break down food participles. Keep spraying the soda for the next couple of hours so that you keep it damp. Finish off by scraping off the soda from the bottom of the oven. You will be amazed as the burnt food residue is scraped off along with the soda.

Around each household there are dozens of natural products that can be used for the purpose of safe and healthy cleaning. One just needs to be smart about it and experiment a little.