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 Coffee Maker Cleaner -
Pour a pint of vinegar into the reservoir of the coffee maker and add enough water to fill it to
capacity. Turn on the coffee maker. Allow it to brew one cup of the solution, then turn off coffee maker. Let it stand for a 1/2 hour, then turn coffee maker back on. When finished brewing, rinse out the pot,
then fill the reservoir with water and let it brew. Repeat the last step. (After brewing, the water/vinegar solution
can be poured around a clean stainless steel sink to make it sparkle!)
Natural Degreasers -
Wipe or spray area with vinegar or fresh lemon juice or use a citrus-based cleaner and wipe clean.
Sprinkle baking soda on grease splatters, use a moist
sponge to scrub and wipe clean. Rinse well as baking soda does leave behind a gritty (but clean) residue.
Deodorizers Cooking odors -
Set out a dish of vinegar. Or boil 1 tablespoon of vine-gar in one cup of water. The vinegar smell will dissipate
within an hour and take all other smells with it as well.
Add a few drops of clove oil to a simmering pot of
water.
Garbage disposal odors -
Grind lemons in the disposal.
Grind ice and citrus fruits (it is ok to just use the peels) in the disposal.
Not only does this freshen, but the ice will clean and sharpen the blades as
well.
Onion odors -
Add a few drops of vinegar to soapy water and use as needed. Can be used on hands, utensils, and cutting
boards.
Dish Washing Soap -
Commercial non Commercial non--toxic products to try: Enviro-One Multi-use green cleaner.
Drains Clog Prevention -
Put a strainer in all drains. Never pour any type of grease down them.
Pour boiling water down the drains on a weekly basis to
prevent grime buildup.
Pour a 1/4 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed
by two ounces of vinegar. Cover the drain and allow it to sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with 2 quarts of boiling water.
Use this treatment regularly. *Don’t be alarmed- the chemical reaction that takes place creates a lot of noise.
Pour equal parts salt and baking soda (about a 1/2 cup
each) down the drain and follow with plenty of hot water.
Clearing a clog -
Place a plunger over the drain to form suction and push and pull vigorously. Only do this with water in the
sink/tub.
Remove the drain cover and look to see if you can see the source of the
clog - remove it manually with your hand or a wire hanger.
Use a drain snake if the above methods don’t work. These are afford-able and available at most hardware
stores. Or better yet borrow or rent one.
For more information, read “Know How to Clear a Slow
Sink Drain” from Planet Know How or go to GuideTo-Plumbing.com
Oven Cleaners -
Mix one part vinegar to four parts water. Pour into a spray bottle. Spray onto (cool) oven surfaces and scrub
the oven clean. Use baking soda or a citrus-based cleaner on problem spots.
Pour 2 tablespoons of liquid soap, 2 teaspoons of borax
into a spray bottle and add warm water to fill it (about one quart). Shake to ensure the borax is completely dissolved. Spray on oven surfaces and leave the solution for 20 minutes. Return and scrub with steel wool and/or non-chlorine scouring powder (such as Bon Ami
or even straight borax).
Combine baking soda, salt and water to
form a paste. Scrub the oven surface and rinse clean.
Non-Chlorinated Scouring Powder (e.g. Bon Ami) is also an effective and safe cleaner for the ovens interior
and glass oven door. Use a razor blade or spatula for tough spots.
Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven,
then cover the grime with enough baking soda so that the surface is totally white. Sprinkle more water over the
top. Let the mixture stand overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the following orning. Once the better part
of the grease is removed, dab a bit of liquid soap on a sponge or nylon scouring pad and wash the remaining
residue from the oven. To remove spots, use a very fine steel wool or a wet cleaning pumice bar.
Pots & Pans -
BurnedBurned--on Foodon Food
Soak the pots/pans in hot water with a teaspoon or two of baking soda.
If the above does not work, try pouring equal parts of
vinegar and water to cover the burnt area. Boil and re-move from heat, soak overnight and then wash as usual. Stainless Steel PolishStainless Steel Polish
Create a paste using baking soda and water and rub onto the stainless steel surface to polish.
Apply vinegar (through a spray or on a sponge) to a
clean surface, wipe and then rinse with warm water.
A cleanser like Bon Ami is also a safe and effective polish.
Tea Kettle -
Boil one part vinegar with two parts water in kettle for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly,
then boil full kettle of water for 15 minutes.
Sounds complicated, try Enviro-One Multi-Use Green Cleaner.
