Clean - Green - Non Toxic - Cheap!

Spring Is In The Air - Clean It!

Here in South Texas you can tell Spring has Sprung by the yellowish green pine pollen that dusts everything for about 2 weeks! Aside from indicating Spring is here, the pollen causes a plethora of side effects. From  coating cars to blowing into homes from raised windows, this stuff is a mess. Not to mention the allergies that people experience from the onset of the fine dust falling.

We all know that "Spring Cleaning" is a great time to rid the house of musty smells from winter. Our homes can be a fertile breeding ground for toxic stuff. So changing air filters, shaking out and washing throw rugs, sweeping and vacuuming dust bunnies with a new vac. bag is a start.

Clean with Chemicals?

How about those heavy duty cleaners to mop and scrub with? Do we  really need to add more toxins to the cleaning process?? Aren't we trying to rid the house of toxins? Bleach for instance seems to be a "main stay" for a lot of people. Yet the chlorine fumes are so toxic they have actually been used in chemical warfare!!!

Bleach can release chlorine gas and cause damage to the respiratory system. I've know a couple of people that had to be hospitalized using bleach combining with other cleaners! It can cause choking, chest pains, coughing, eye irritation, the list goes on and on.

Some of the top 10 most toxic things used you may have already guessed. Things like ammonia, oven cleaners and drain cleaners. But how about air freshers & anti bacterial cleaners, bad stuff!


CLEAN GREEN NON- TOXIC CLEANING

We probably can't get away from every chemical in our household, but we can greatly reduce & replace them with about 2 -4 products.

• Baking Soda- Natural abrasive & natural whitener. 100% non toxic. Won't hurt septic systems. And it's CHEAP!! Get a 5 pound bag at your big box stores for pennies on the dollar compared to other cleaners.

• White Vinegar -  Disinfectant & natural whitener. 100% non toxic. At a about $3 a gallon, it's CHEAP!!!

• Lemon juice - Natural whitener and disinfectant. 100% non toxic Can buy a huge bottle of "real lemon" and keep in the fridge if you can't get fresh lemons. I personally like to get lemons on sale, squeeze them and pour the juice into ice cube trays. Each frozen cube is about a TBLS of lemon juice. 

• Grapefruit Seed EXTRACT - GSE - this is a miracle ingredient. Natural disinfectant. I add about 10-13 drops of this into my DIY Veggie spray, it kills all the "yuck" on fresh fruits and veggies from the store. I also spray my DIY "veggie wash" in the kitchen sink as a natural disinfectant.(Watch for DIY Veggie Spray recipe on a future blog)

BATHROOM: 

Natural Soap I've used for years!

DIY Toilet bowl & bathroom cleaner: Put white vinegar into a spray bottle & baking soda into a large salt shaker. Flush toilet, spray toilet bowl inside with white vinegar, shake the baking soda on it, walk a way for an hour or the rest of the day. (I pour about a TLBS or hydrogen peroxide into the bowl water to further whiten it & about a TBLS of liquid natural soap before I walk away) Wisk the bowl. Spray a cloth with white vinegar and wipe down the lid, then the seat. Voila! Clean, no chemicals!!!

Before I walk out of the bathroom, I also spray the sink with vinegar, dust it with a good coating of baking soda. I use an old bath "puff" to clean the sink out, add a drop or two of natural soap, if you want a few "suds" to feel like it's a "cleaner".

Shower - Best trick ever is buy a squeegee for the shower & hang it in there!! After taking every shower, simply squeegee the shower walls, you will never have water stains or mildew to contend with. Takes 2 or 3 minutes, rather than laboring for 2 or 3 hours down the road. ALWAYS looks great!. Once a week, you got it, spray white vinegar & dust the shower floor or tub with baking soda - you're DIY "soft scrub". Again I use an old shower puff and scrub the tub, rinse and you're done!

Laundry

ECO Friendly- FREE & Clear Laundry

I stopped using bleach or bleach related products. When I want to "boost" my whites, I add a 1/4 cup baking soda, and half cup white vinegar. If they're really dirty, I'll add a few TBLS of hydrogen peroxided. I use a natural laundry soap that is chemical and dye free. My whites are white and zero harmful chemicals.

You can "pre-treat" tough stains with a paste of soda, vinegar & peroxide. Of course not on delicate fabrics.

Windows

White vinegar and old news papers, will give you crystal clean windows minus the "lint".

Cheap Plumber

Before you call the Plumber for a backed up sink or toilet, use a cup of baking soda, a cup of vinegar and 2 cups of boiling water, pour down the drain or toilet and listen to the "action". It's like a science experiment! When the soda and vinegar "collide, it causes a volcanic like action, that can "move" the worst of clogs.

These few ingredients, most from your kitchen cabinet, can save you hundreds of dollars in cleaning. Better yet, they will keep you and your family healthier!

What's your Green Cleaning Tip???

Helping You to Select The Best Health,


Sherry