The Green Cleaning Guide
Did you ever stop to think about how much talk there is about saving our environment from the over use of everyday toxic chemicals. But regardless of how much talk there is regarding green cleanig, most people dont give much thought to it due to not knowing where to start.
We at Enviro-One want to give you a head start by pointing you in the right direction. Below you will find a guide to green cleaning.
Natural Air Fresheners - Remove the source of the odor and open the windows to ventilate the area, otherwise you are just masking the
problem.
Cut a fresh lemon and
squeeze the juice into a bowl and leave it out. (Using the
cut lemon without squeezing is often just as effective.)
Apply pure vanilla extract
(or any essential oil) to a cot-ton ball and place into a saucer. Use in the car, house or fridge.
Place cloves and cinnamon in a pot and boil in water.
Allow them to simmer on the stove.
Keep vinegar in a spray bottle and use as needed on
cutting boards and toilet rims. The smell of vinegar will disappear within a few hours along with the odor.
Natural Cat litter box Freshener -
Cover the bottom of the litter box with baking soda be-fore adding new litter.
Garbage Odors -
Remove the stinky bag of trash, sprinkle borax or baking soda into the base of the can and place a new bag over
if done properly. Contact Summit Recycling Project for
more information on how to get started.
Refrigerators, closets and other enclosed areas
Refrigerators, closets and other enclosed areas
Keep a box of opened baking soda out and exchange it for a new one about every 3 months.
Natural All-Purpose Cleaners - Combine 1⁄2 teaspoon of washing soda, a dab of liquid soap and 2 cups of hot water in a
spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dis-solved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge/rag.
Mix 2 Tablespoons of baking soda and 1 pint of warm
water in a spray bottle, shake to dissolve the baking soda. Spray on the area and scrub
clean with a sponge/rag. Adding a squeeze of lemon or splash of vine
gar to the bottle will help to cut grease.
Mix 2-3 drops of dishwashing soap,
about 2 Tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice (bottled lemon juice is
fine), 1 teaspoon of borax, and 1 quart of water and wipe or spray onto
the area to be cleaned. Wipe dry with a cloth.
Metal Polishes & Cleaners - Brass - Mix a 1⁄2 teaspoon of salt, a 1⁄2 cup of vinegar, and just enough flour to form a paste. Apply thickly. Let it sit for
15 minutes to a 1/2 hour. Rinse thoroughly with water to avoid corrosion.
Polish using Worcestershire sauce.
Pour ketchup onto the brass and distribute evenly, let it sit, then wipe it dry.
Mold and Mildew Removers -
Mix equal parts of vinegar and borax in warm water and use to wipe affected areas clean. This should be made
fresh each time you use the recipe- it will not be effective if
it sits for too long.
Mildew specific -
Scrub mildew spots with a so-lution of a half cup of borax
mixed with one gallon of water. This is most effective when a
nylon scouring pad is used. To prevent mold and mildew from re-growing, don’t rinse off the borax.
Make a vinegar and salt paste and scrub affected areas.
Mold specific -
Combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil and two cups of wa-ter in a spray bottle, shake and apply to problem areas.
Do not rinse. Leave in spray bottle, as it has a long shelf life.
Combine 20 drops of citrus seed extract with two cups
of water in a spray bottle and apply to area. Do not rinse. This has a long shelf life so keep what you don’t use.
Pour straight vinegar into a spray bottle and apply to areas with mold. This is an effective remover as straight
vinegar kills 82% of mold. Do not rinse. The smell will subside within a few hours.
For major problems, apply heat to the area.
Natural Surface Cleaners -
Mix one quart of hot water, one teaspoon of vegetable oil-based soap, one teaspoon of borax and two tablespoons of vinegar in a spray bottle. Use and store the rest.
Mix a 1⁄2 cup of vinegar and a quart of warm water and
apply to the surface to be cleaned using a spray bottle.
Dissolve baking soda in hot water for a general cleaner.
Use in a spray bottle.
Use weak acids, like vinegar and lemon juice, to cut
grease.
Natural Upholstery Cleaner -
Mix 1⁄4 cup liquid soap and 3 tablespoons of water into a
foam and rub into upholstery with a cot-ton cloth, then rinse with a clean sponge
and water. Use as you would a commer-cial brand.
Can be used for cleaning carpets a well.
Sounds complicated, try Enviro-One Multi-Use Green Cleaner.
