Eco-friendly cleaning products
Try out some simple and effective alternatives for potentially harmful cleaning chemicals.
Four safer substances to use in eco-friendly cleaning
- Vinegar- used most commonly to remove mildrew, stains and wax build up. it is useful when cleaning coffee pots, glass, grout and windows.
- Pure soap- is multifunctional cleaning anything from dishes to vehicles.
- Baking soda- great for cleaning, deodorizing and polishing. It can be used as a stain remover or fabric softner and can be used on almost an material from plastic to refrigerators and drains.
- Borax- deodorizes, removes stains and is useful for walls and floors.
Top-of-the-line all-purpose spray cleaner
- 2 mL vegetable oil-based soap
- 2 mL washing soda
- 5 mL borax
- 25 mL vinegar or lemon juice
- 500 mL hot water
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until well mixed. Spray, wipe clean and rinse as you would with any spray cleaner.
Chemical Fertilizers
Use compost, manure or fish fertilizer to enrich soil
Drain Cleaner
- 60 mL baking soda
- 125 mL vinegar
Pour soda, then vinegar and close drain until fizzing stops. Flush with boiling water.
Insecticides
Wash or spray plants with soapy water. For major problems, call a professional.
Oven Cleaner
Absorb fresh spills by sprinkling with table salt while still warm. When cool, brush and wipe off. Soften baked-on spills with borax and lemon juice paste.
Vinegar
- Shine your appliance exteriors with a solution of one part vinegar to four parts water
- Pour a solution of equal parts water and vinegar into the resevoir of a drip coffee machine and run it througth the brew cycle.
- Rinse by running water through the brew cycle
Spray the mirror in your bathroom lightly with a mixture of one part vinegar to four parts water, then wipe the mirror with a long sinlge stroke. - Every time you lift your cleaning cloth, you leave a small pile of lint, which the mirror magnifies.
Tub and tile Cleaner
Use baking soda for routine cleaning; a borax and lemon juice paste for tough soap scum.
Window/glass cleaner and descaler
- 60 mL vinegar
- 250 mL water
Perfect for cleaning windows as well as your kettle or iron. Removing scale in your small appliances will increase energy efficiency by helping it work faster.
Mix and label in a pump spray bottle.
Drain cleaner
- 250 mL baking soda
- 250 mL salt
- 125 mL white vinegar
- 1 Kettle boiling water
Combine baking soda, salt and vinegar down the drain and leave for 15 minutes. Flush with boiling water.
Fabric softner
- Add 50 mL baking soda to the wash cycle or 50 mL vinegar to the rinse cycle to soften your laundry.
Happy cleaning!
Further information
780-449-5514
Last updated: Monday, August 15, 2011
Page ID: 2193