How to Clean Green
Forget the industrial cleaners and acids: a few household basics are all you need to breathe fresh air into your home.
Up next in How to Go Green at Home (26 videos)
To save the planet, start with your house; this Howcast video series gives you tips on how to keep a green home.
You Will Need
- Windows that open
- Natural fiber sponges
- Cotton cleaning cloths or rags
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Lemons
- Olive oil
- And some borax
- Fresh flowers and cinnamon sticks
Steps
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Step 1
Let fresh air in
Open your windows and let the fresh air in. Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom to boost indoor air quality even further.
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Step 2
Shine with vinegar
Vinegar cuts grease and dirt. For cleaning windows, fill a spray bottle with water combined with one quarter cup white vinegar. Add one teaspoon of lemon juice for a fresh smell.
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Step 3
Absorb and scrub baking soda
Use baking soda to absorb odors. It can also double as a scrubbing solution for countertops and tile.
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Step 4
Clean with vinegar and salt
Mix vinegar with salt for a powerful cleaning solution.
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Use natural fiber sponges and cotton cleaning cloths or rags instead of paper towels. Throw cloths in the laundry and re-use.
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Step 5
Wash floors with vinegar and water
Add a half cup of vinegar to a gallon of warm water for floor cleaner. To make it stronger, add some Ivory soap flakes or vegetable oil-based liquid soap, but you'll have to rinse afterward.
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Step 6
Disinfect with Borax
Combine a half cup of Borax (sodium borate) with a gallon of hot water to make disinfectant. Add a few sprigs of lavender or rosemary for a fresh smell.
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Instead of using synthetic air fresheners, put out a bunch of fresh flowers or boil a couple of cinnamon sticks in water.
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Step 7
Polish furniture with olive oil and vinegar
Keep your furniture polished to perfection with a mixture of one teaspoon olive oil and a half cup of vinegar.
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Almost ninety percent of all poison exposures occur in the home, an amount that could be greatly reduced by switching to non-toxic cleaners.
