Green Tips for Cleaning Without Chemicals

Becoming environmentally responsible is not just good for the planet, but also for personal health, as toxic chemicals can cause serious damage to the skin, lungs, eyes and other organs. Some chemicals have even been shown to cause cancer and birth defects over time. Children and animals are especially susceptible to these dangers, as they tend to unknowingly ingest these toxins.

Unfortunately, the average household contains many kinds of these toxins in the form of cleaning products. The residue from cleaning liquids and powders can remain in the home for a long time, further increasing the chance that they will become consumed by a child or pet. Using green products will help to dramatically reduce the number of toxins in the home and will also provide a cheaper alternative to brand cleaners. Here are several readily available green products that can be used to meet any cleaning task:

Baking soda is not only a great way to deodorize a smelly refrigerator, but it can also be used as a mild abrasive that won’t scratch surfaces. Just add a little water to it and you can remove stains from nearly every surface. It also mixes well with vinegar to remove oven buildup without creating poisonous fumes.

Vinegar has many other uses because it works as a powerful soap scum remover and disinfectant. Mix it with water to clean toilets, sinks, windows and linoleum floors. It can also be used to bleach counter stains and remove dirt from blinds. Unlike chlorine bleach, vinegar can be combined with other green cleaners to add extra power when fighting stubborn stains.

Soft soaps such as Castile can also be used to clean nearly anything without harsh effects. When added to water, they can be used to remove dirt from marble countertops, kitchen stovetops and even car exteriors. Soft soaps can also be added to vinegar to remove grease or to baking soda to scour toilets and tubs.

Citrus fruits such as lemons not only smell wonderful, but they are also highly acidic and make great grease cutters. You can use cut lemons, for example, to make stainless steel kitchen surfaces shine again. Lemon juice can also clean the filthiest microwaves and will remove lingering food odors when mixed with water.

Olive oil is not only great for cooking but it can also be used to preserve natural wood surfaces, all while leaving a pleasant smell. You can also combine it with vinegar to create a mild polish for wood floors and leather furniture.

Abrasive products need only water to work as powerful cleaning tools. Pumice stones, for example, can be used underwater to remove the most difficult lime stains from toilets. Stainless steel sponges, while typically used to scour pots and pans, also removes rust from outdoor grills and bird droppings from car windshields.

The uses above for these green products represent only a small number of the cleaning tasks they can perform. Best of all, they help you go green with your wallet by costing a lot less than conventional cleaning supplies.

Brandi Tolleson is a freelance writer residing in the Los Angeles area who writes on topics like environmentally safe practices and ecommerce.

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